Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki will draft in Josh Grant as replacement rider for Wil Hahn, signing for the remainder of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season beginning this weekend in Detroit.

Grant was part of the team last year as a fill-in, including taking a moto win at Glen Helen’s United States Grand Prix, but didn’t secure a fulltime seat for 2016. He made a one-off appearance at Daytona, finishing seventh.

“Unfortunately, Wil got hurt and that sucks, but that’s just part of our sport,” Grant told Racer X Online. “I’ve been on the other end of that stick as well, but at the same time, the way this industry is working right now I was just like ‘alright, I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity’.

“They asked me if I’d want to do Toronto, but to get something going in that fast of a manor was pretty hard to do. We needed some time to kind of get ready, get on the bike and have some time to work on some things. I didn’t start riding until this Monday.”

Grant will stay on with Monster Energy Kawasaki for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series during the US summer as well, in addition to contesting the two American MXGP rounds scheduled later in the season.

“I’m contracted with Kawasaki to now do the rest of the supercross rounds, all 12 of the outdoor rounds and the MXGP races, which will be at Charlotte and at Glen Helen,” he explained. “I’m going to race pretty much for the rest of the year and I’m pretty excited about it.”