Image: Supplied.

Popular Monster Energy AMA Supercross contender Christian Craig will bolster an extensive international field at this weekend’s S-X Open Auckland in New Zealand, marking round two of the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Championship.

The Geico Honda regular, who filled in for Cole Seely at Honda HRC in the premier class for much of 2018 before being sidelined with injury, will race the event with the assistance of Penrite Honda Racing, expanding the outfit’s efforts as the Californian joins Justin Brayton and Brett Metcalfe.

“New Zealand is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a while, so having a race there heading into the Supercross World Championship really is perfect timing,” Craig commented.

“There’s going to be some really fast guys there too, so it’ll be awesome to go up against them. Dean [Wilson] and Chad [Reed], they’re both really in form at the moment, so to race them and see where we’re at will be really cool.”

The addition of Craig comes just days after it was announced fellow American Josh Hansen (Honda) would join the line-up consisting of Dean Wilson (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna), Brayton and Chad Reed (Autotrader Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing), along with Australian Supercross contenders Dan Reardon (Yamaha), Metcalfe, Luke Clout (KTM Motocross Racing Team) and more.