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Colt Nichols Returns to Yamaha With ROKiT Partzilla PRMX for 2027

The 2021 250SX East champion joins Team ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha on a YZ450F, keeps his #45 and is already testing with the team in Florida ahead of the January 9 opener at Anaheim.

Trail Roamer Editorial TeamOct 31, 2026 · Updated · 4 min read
Nichols in team colors after signing with ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha for 2027. - Credit: Team ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha

Colt 45 is back in blue. On October 27, Team ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha announced that Colt Nichols, the 2021 250SX East champion, has signed for the 2027 season. He'll race the new Yamaha YZ450F in the 450 class, he's keeping his signature #45, and he's already been testing with the team at its facility in Florida.

For Nichols, it's a homecoming. The brand that carried him to his 250 title is the same one he's lining up on again in January, and by the sound of it, he's settled in fast.

What the team announced

The team's statement, carried by Supercross Live and Racer X, is short. It confirms Nichols for 2027, calls him the 2021 250SX East Champion, and says he "has had an amazing career and looks to build on that success in 2027." It also says he'll run his signature number 45, "Colt 45," and that he's already testing with the team in Florida.

Here's how Nichols put it:

"I've been talking to the team and working with Julien for several months and I'm happy we have been able to put a deal together that gets me back on a Yamaha where I've had a lot of success," Nichols said. "I'm happy to be back on the Yamaha and this new YZ450 feels like home already."

And team owner Julien Perrier:

"We are excited to have a rider of Colt's caliber and we think he will fit right in with the team."

The statement doesn't give a contract length, and it doesn't say whether he's racing Supercross only or the full SuperMotocross season. We'll update this when the team says more.

Where he's coming from

Nichols spent 2026 with Twisted Tea Suzuki, according to Cycle News and MotoOnline. That's the same team Justin Barcia joins for 2027. Cycle News lays out the path since his title: he moved up to the 450 class with Honda HRC, then signed with the factory Beta squad, and most recently raced for Twisted Tea Suzuki alongside Jason Anderson.

MotoOnline adds the 2026 numbers: 15th in the 450SX standings, 16th in the SMX post-season, and just four Pro Motocross appearances. Those numbers make the PRMX deal a reset, a chance for a veteran to show what he can do on a bike he says already feels like home.

A new Yamaha team, too

PRMX is switching brands as well. The team announced in early October that it's moving to Yamaha for 2027, with the team saying the goal is to become the leading private team in the sport. Cycle News and MotoOnline both note the move is from Kawasaki, and MotoOnline says it ends a decade on Kawasaki machinery for the Canadian-owned team.

Nichols' team statement doesn't name his teammates. MotoOnline reports that Mitchell Harrison returns alongside him in the 450 class after leading the team's results the past two seasons, and that the 250 roster will be Hamden Hudson, Jack Chambers, Gavin Towers and Evan Ferry. MotoOnline also says team manager Kraig Riese stays on. The team hasn't put out a full roster announcement yet.

Why it matters now

Silly season is nearly done, and 2027 rosters are taking shape fast. In the past few weeks we've seen Casey Cochran join Star Yamaha, Malcolm Stewart sign with Kawasaki, Joey Savatgy go to Ducati, Husqvarna line up its satellite teams, and Chase Sexton and Kawasaki part ways. Nichols landing at PRMX puts one more experienced rider on a Yamaha.

For Nichols fans, there's a lot to like. He's back on the brand where he won his title, he's got his old number, and he's already putting laps on the new bike.

When we'll see him

The 2027 season opens at Anaheim 1 on January 9, the first round on the 2027 Supercross schedule. That's when we'll see the #45 on a PRMX Yamaha for the first time in a race.

Sources

FAQ

What team is Colt Nichols racing for in 2027?
Team ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha, which announced his signing on October 27, 2026.
What bike and number will Colt Nichols race?
He'll race the Yamaha YZ450F in the 450 class and run his signature #45, known as "Colt 45."
What has Colt Nichols won?
He's the 2021 250SX East champion, a title he won on a Yamaha.
Who will be Nichols' teammate?
The team's statement doesn't name one. MotoOnline reports Mitchell Harrison returns in the 450 class alongside him.
How long is his deal, and will he race the full SMX season?
The team hasn't said. The announcement covers the 2027 season without a contract length or a race schedule.
When is Nichols' first race with PRMX?
The 2027 season opens at Anaheim 1 on January 9.

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