Jalek Swoll is not done racing. Phoenix Racing Honda announced on November 12, 2026 that the 26-year-old Floridian has signed a multi-year agreement with the Salisbury, North Carolina team, starting with the 2027 SuperMotocross season. Swoll will race the Honda CRF250R in the East Region of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Championship, followed by the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs.
The signing ends weeks of speculation. After an injury-interrupted final season with Triumph Factory Racing, Swoll had publicly joked about walking away from racing — a tease he later admitted fooled plenty of people. The reality is simpler: he is changing teams, not retiring, with a program willing to build patiently around him.
A Proven 250-Class Resume
Swoll, from Belleview, Florida, has been a professional since 2019, when he made his debut after winning the AMA Nicky Hayden Amateur Horizon Award, the honor given to the standout amateur graduating to the pro ranks. He established himself quickly in the 250 class. In 2021 he finished fifth in the 250SX West Region championship and captured his first career AMA Pro Motocross overall victory that same summer.
Since then, Swoll has added multiple outdoor podiums and built a reputation as a rider whose speed has never been the question. When healthy, he can run near the front in both Supercross and motocross — as he did with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna and then Triumph.
From Building Triumph to a Fresh Start on Honda
Swoll joined Triumph Factory Racing in 2024 and played a significant role in helping the British manufacturer establish its American Supercross and Pro Motocross program with the TF 250-X. He scored a top-10 in his first race on the bike in Detroit, earned his first top-five with the manufacturer at Nashville, and stood on the podium at Unadilla during that first season.
The results kept coming when he was on the gate — including another podium finish at Unadilla during the 2026 Pro Motocross season — but injuries interrupted portions of his recent campaigns, including Achilles tendon injuries in back-to-back years. His 2026 Supercross season was cut short by an Achilles injury sustained at Birmingham. Phoenix's announcement leaned into that history rather than ignoring it: both Swoll and team management described a shared willingness to take time and avoid rushing his return.
"It's always a good feeling to work with a group of people who genuinely want you there and see the value in what you bring to the table," Swoll said in the team announcement, pointing to the team's willingness not to rush his return from injury. "I've been part of building a program up before, and I really like the people they've brought together. I'm hungry to get back out there, put in the work, and get this Honda up front."
A Familiar Face in the Phoenix Pit
One of the most important details of the move is who Swoll will be working with. The signing reunites him with Steve Westfall, Phoenix Racing Honda's technical director, who joined the team in September. Swoll previously worked with Westfall at both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna and Triumph, so the pair start this project with an established understanding of how the other works — a valuable shortcut for a rider learning a new motorcycle while his team elevates its 250 program.
Team owner David Eller said Phoenix wanted a rider who fit its program, could grow with it over multiple seasons, and still had something to prove — not simply the first proven race winner available. Team manager Gary Schlentz added that the team has invested significantly in personnel, processes and equipment for 2027, and can give Swoll the patience to return to his best.
Phoenix's Rebuilt 250 Program Takes Shape
Swoll is the second major piece of Phoenix Racing Honda's rebuilt pro 250 effort. He joins Avery Long, whose signing the team announced on October 27, giving Phoenix two confirmed riders for its 250SX East program aboard the CRF250R. Long brings momentum as an emerging talent in the class, while Swoll brings veteran experience, a Pro Motocross overall win and hard-won development knowledge from building a new program at Triumph. It is a complementary pairing: one rider on the rise, and one established front-runner looking to re-establish himself on new machinery.
Phoenix arrives at 2027 with momentum, too — the organization is coming off a historic GNCC weekend, winning both the overall bike Grand National title and the XC2 championship. The team has been direct that bringing that success to SuperMotocross will take the right people; Swoll is presented as another significant step.
What Comes Next
Swoll has already begun working with Phoenix's technical staff to learn the CRF250R and develop a competitive package for 2027. His first planned Supercross appearance for the team is the 250SX East opener at Tampa on February 6 — a defined target that leaves time to prepare properly rather than rushing back for the January West Coast rounds.
For Swoll, the mission is straightforward: stay healthy, rebuild momentum, and return to the consistent front-running results his speed has long promised. For Phoenix, a multi-year commitment to a rider of Swoll's pedigree is a statement about where its 250 program intends to go. Follow how the full grid is coming together on the 2027 Team Lineups hub.
Sources
Phoenix Racing Honda team announcement, via Racer X Online. Additional reporting: NBC Sports.
Featured image: Phoenix Racing Honda team logo card. Logo: Phoenix Racing Honda. No action photo with cleared editorial rights was available for this story at publication; no photograph from another publication was used.
