Image: Simon Cudby.

Malcolm Stewart has confirmed that he has re-signed with GEICO Honda for the 2016 season after a strong Western Regional 250SX campaign, finishing seventh overall.

Stewart’s deal for this year was a supercross-only arrangement that he secured late in the silly season, however his new contract will include the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series next season.

“I know everyone has been asking me if I will be racing outdoors,” Stewart wrote. “Unfortunately I won’t be racing this summer. Now before you guys jump on me, I’m going to tell you why. Well, when I first got offered a deal by [GEICO Honda], it was a 2015 SX-only deal, so I focused on only doing supercross, not really knowing what I was going to do for outdoors and 2016.

“GEICO has now offered me a full deal for 2016. The team already has four riders healthy, so they don’t need a fifth rider under the truck [in the outdoors this year]. I was told to sit out and enjoy the summer and be back ready to race in 2016. Again, I apologise to all my fans, but if you were in my shoes you would do the same thing! And I’m happy I got this deal already done!”

Stewart won the Oakland round of the 2015 series, also finishing on the podium at the Phoenix and Houston rounds on the schedule.