Monster Energy Kawasaki confirmed Malcolm Stewart and returning Garrett Marchbanks as its 2027 factory lineup on October 28. The team names the new KX450F-SR as their machine. Marchbanks earned a contract extension after his 2026 450SX Rookie of the Year campaign. These are late-October announcements, checked here on November 6. [1]
A new pairing, with one familiar face
Kawasaki credits Stewart with one podium and 14 top-ten SMX finishes in 2026, and Marchbanks with five top-five SMX finishes and sixth overall in the SMX World Championship. Stewart’s move also returns him to the manufacturer he raced for as a Team Green amateur. The announcement presents a two-rider program, pairing premier-class experience with Marchbanks’ second 450 season. [1]
What Kawasaki confirmed about Sexton
Five days earlier, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. announced that it and Chase Sexton had mutually agreed to separate, effective October 23. Its brief release notes their two 2026 450 Supercross wins in Anaheim and Salt Lake City and wishes Sexton well for 2027. It does not explain the separation or name his next team. [2]
No verified destination announcement was located in our November 6 review. We are leaving Sexton’s next seat open rather than treating the filled Kawasaki lineup as evidence of a deal elsewhere.
What to watch when racing starts
Our interest is how quickly the new pairing turns offseason work into repeatable race nights. Stewart’s adjustment and Marchbanks’ progression are separate stories worth following. Compare starts, heat transfers and main-event finishes over several rounds before calling the combination a success or a setback. A roster reveal establishes who is preparing together; it cannot tell us how the bike will suit each rider in competition.
Related: Inside Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s five-rider 2027 lineup.
Sources & race information
- Kawasaki and Chase Sexton separation: (effective immediately).
- Kawasaki 2027 roster announcement: (announced).
- Kawasaki team announcement via Supercross Live: Stewart joins Marchbanks.
- Kawasaki Motors Corp. release via Moto Now: Kawasaki and Chase Sexton part ways.
Sources checked Nov 6, 2026 (UTC). Team plans and rules are attributed to the primary releases and official regulations below. Check subsequent bulletins and announcements for updates; no unconfirmed rider destinations or race results are asserted.