RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING'S CHASE SEXTON SPRINTS TO ANAHEIM 1 SUPERCROSS VICTORY
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Chase Sexton have started their 2025 AMA Supercross Championship in spectacular form by taking victory in the Anaheim 1 season-opening round, on a night where teammate Julien Beaumer earned the runner-up result in 250SX West.
After qualifying third-fastest, Sexton and his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION were unstoppable for the rest of the night, as the reigning Pro Motocross Champion took the holeshot and comfortably won his heat race by more than seven seconds.
Quick moves in the Main Event saw the 25-year-old Sexton surge into the lead during the opening laps. From there, he managed the race and claimed his first-ever Anaheim 1 victory.
Chase Sexton:"I’m still kind of processing tonight. It’s cool to win Anaheim 1 since it’s a pretty hyped race! I’ve come close in the past, so it was nice to come out on top tonight. I had a lot of fun riding today, had a good time on the track, which was really busy, and I think that kind of plays into my favor. We put a lot of work in during the off-season to get back to where I need to be, so it’s been a long road, but it makes this win feel even better."
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger experienced a steady night on his way to ninth in the Main Event. The 28-year-old qualified ninth fastest, then finished his Heat Race in P6. A chaotic start to the final saw Plessinger have to fight his way forward from near the back of the field, eventually crossing the finish line in P9.
Aaron Plessinger: "Anaheim 1 didn't go the way I wanted it to, but we’re walking out healthy. I was kind of sluggish all day, and I didn’t get off to a very good start in the Main Event, which made things harder for me. I’m going to go back and do some more testing this week, do some work, and come into San Diego with an improved feeling and aim to get back on the box."
It was also an exceptional opening round for Beaumer in the 250SX West division. Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, the 18-year-old charged to the top of the qualifying leaderboards, then won his Heat with a well-timed pass late in the race.
A strong start to the Main Event saw him quickly slot into P2 and he put in a series of calculated, fast laps to end his night with a well-deserved runner-up result – signifying his first career Supercross podium.
Julien Beaumer:"We’re in a lot better space mentally and physically than we were last year, and I have a lot more belief in myself that I can go the distance. Today I concentrated on minimizing the mistakes on race day, I rode with a lot more maturity than I did last season. I rode calmly, smoothly and tried to ride like I do at the test track. I feel like I achieved that and showed that I’m one of the title contenders this year."
Next Race: January 18 – San Diego, California
Results 450SX Class – Anaheim
1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)
6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
9. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
10. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 1 of 17 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 25 points
2. Ken Roczen, 22
3. Jason Anderson, 20
6. Justin Barcia, 15
9. Aaron Plessinger, 12
10. Malcolm Stewart, 11
Results 250SX West Class – Anaheim
1. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
3. Jordon Smith (Triumph)
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 1 of 10 rounds
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Tom Vialle has successfully defended his 250SX East title in the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship following tonight's title-deciding final round of the season, on a night where Chase Sexton also raced to his seventh 450SX victory of the year at Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium. At 24 years of age, Vialle adds a second AMA Supercross title to his resume onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, in addition to the pair of MX2 World Championships that he earned in 2020 and 2022. After an incredibly hard-fought season this year, Vialle demonstrated a never-give-up spirit, with his fighting mentality ultimately sealing the title. Originally from Avignon, France, Vialle relocated to the U.S. ahead of the 2023 season, where he made a highly-anticipated American Supercross debut and gained experience in the stadium-based discipline, before charging to a maiden 250SX East Championship in 2024. Since then, Vialle has pieced together convincing indoor and outdoor campaigns as part of the wider SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), becoming a title contender in each series. This year’s 250SX East division championship didn’t come easily, however, as the defending champion began the opening two rounds at Tampa and Detroit outside of the podium positions. Second-place results at the following two rounds in Daytona and Indianapolis, followed by third in Birmingham, initially earned Vialle the red plate, before the torrential rain in Foxborough resulted in a troubled 22nd-place result. P6 in Philadelphia and third on the podium at East Rutherford were then followed by a pivotal victory in Pittsburgh, putting him back in the title hunt upon regaining the points lead, with a dramatic P3 at Utah's 250SX Showdown sealing the championship. Vialle and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will now focus on the upcoming AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which commences at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on Saturday, May 24th. Tom Vialle: "I can’t believe this, to be honest! I got a good start behind Haiden [Deegan], and I was feeling good, then I started to make a couple of mistakes, and both Seth [Hammaker] and RJ [Hampshire] got me, so then I was about five seconds back. I saw them both down in the corner, and I couldn’t believe it – I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ There were still about four laps to go, and I just did it from there to clinch the title. The speed was really high this year from everyone and I lost a lot of points in the mud at Foxborough, but overall I just tried to stay steady, and that’s what paid off in the end. I came to the United States to win Supercross titles, so to have two now is insane! Two championships are hard to win, so this feels really good to achieve this with the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team.” Also riding the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, 250SX West contender Julien Beaumer continued the solid momentum gained last weekend in Denver by charging to the top spot in the overall combined qualifying times, before racing to what was a well-deserved western division Heat Race win. Upon battling at the front of the field throughout the Showdown Main Event, Beaumer would finish with a P2 score and also elevated himself to second position in the western division's final standings. One win and a further four podiums mark a successful sophomore season for the number 23, who will look to take that form into Pro Motocross later this month. Julien Beaumer: "I’m really happy with how my riding was in these last two rounds, it really came back around, and my biggest takeaway from this championship is just consistency. I had that mid-season slump and a couple of tough races, so for me, it’s about being consistent. Tonight I was racing hard for position there in the Main Event, and we’re happy to come away with second place.” In 450SX, Chase Sexton powered to the fastest qualifying time equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in Salt Lake City, beginning his title quest in the best possible fashion on the dry, slick Rice-Eccles Stadium track surface. An important Heat Race victory set up the number 4 strongly for the Main Event, in which Sexton made fast, decisive moves to hit the front of the pack, clearing out to a 10-second margin of victory and claiming his seventh 450SX win of the series. As a result, he was credited second position in the standings after what was an inspired season-long fight until the very end across a 17-round duration. Sexton opened the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship by claiming his first Anaheim 1 victory, quickly followed by winning the Glendale Triple Crown. In finishing on the podium a total of 12 times and collecting an additional five wins, the 2023 450SX Champion pieced together one of his most impressive seasons to date – just two points shy of the crown in the end. Chase Sexton: "Today, I think I did everything that I could’ve done. Obviously, we came up short on the championship, which is a bummer and it’s a tough pill to swallow, but Cooper [Webb] had a great season. We were able to achieve seven race wins this year, and throughout the season I became a much more complete rider, having learned from some of my mistakes, so I’ll take that and head into the outdoors. I am proud of what we were able to achieve together with the team and am happy to beat my personal season win record with seven this year.” Teammate Aaron Plessinger – who this week was announced to have re-signed with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2026 – picked up a popular victory in the second 450SX Heat Race of the night onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, earning ‘The Cowboy’ an ideal gate selection for the final Main Event of the year. Another holeshot followed by a conservative ride saw Plessinger race to a sixth-place result, completing the championship in sixth overall, and delivering five podium finishes alongside a second-career victory in the Foxborough mud. Aaron Plessinger: "Salt Lake City was a pretty good race. I struggled to find a setting that worked for me in qualifying, but by the time we got to the Heat Race, it was working awesome! I got a holeshot there and won the thing, which was good. Holeshotted again in the Main, but I saw that I was around both Coop and Chase, and panicked a bit – I doubled the whole way down a rhythm lane and lost a lot of positions, then struggled to recover from there. That was my night in Salt Lake, but it's time to regroup and head outdoors. We'll be going for it!" Next Race: May 24 – Pala, California Results 450SX Class – Salt Lake City 1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha) 6. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. Justin Hill (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 17 of 17 rounds 1. Cooper Webb, 365 points 2. Chase Sexton, 363 3. Justin Cooper, 281 4. Malcolm Stewart, 277 6. Aaron Plessinger, 255 8. Justin Hill, 194 10. Justin Barcia, 185 Results 250SX Showdown – Salt Lake City 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 3. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 250SX East Class 2025 after 10 of 10 rounds 1. Tom Vialle, 180 points 2. Seth Hammaker, 177 3. RJ Hampshire, 173 Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 10 of 10 rounds 1. Haiden Deegan, 221 points 2. Julien Beaumer, 189 3. Cole Davies, 171
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has re-signed Aaron Plessinger for the 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), inclusive of the AMA Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championship. This latest contract extension between the pair signifies what will be a fifth-consecutive season together next year. 'The Cowboy' will race-on with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team managed by Ian Harrison, continuing what has been a successful collaboration. Plessinger will once again be READY TO RACE in the high-profile American series, equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. With a single round remaining in Supercross 2025, fan favorite Plessinger sits sixth position in the 450SX championship standings and with five podiums to his credit. That tally is underscored by a popular second-career premier class victory at the Foxborough round in April, building momentum throughout the 17-round duration. The 29-year-old Plessinger first joined Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in 2022 and has firmly established himself as one of the sport's most popular and competitive riders both indoors and outdoors. He has finished P3 in 450MX for the past two seasons and has also scored top-five finishes in the 31-round SMX World Championship series both of those years – fifth in 2023 and fourth in 2024. In addition to his success in the United States, Plessinger has represented Team USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on two occasions (2023-2024) since signing with KTM. The Ohio native's highlight came last year at Matterley Basin in the United Kingdom, where he stood second on the Nations podium as the American team's Open Class entry. Aaron Plessinger: "It means everything to me to be part of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2026. I love everybody and everything about this team, it's been an awesome four years together already, and it's flying by, but we're having such a good time. We've had some really, really good results, so to have the team want to keep me around and keep going together, it's really special to me. I can't wait for what the future brings and my focus right now is to get the best results that I can with the team. To build the fanbase that we have is really special as well, because without them and their support we wouldn't be anything. It's always cool to meet our fans, to interact with the KTM Junior Supercross kids and their families at the races, and that's what dirt bikes are all about. To get people on the bikes that we ride and to become KTM riders themselves, it's why we do what we do each race weekend, to give them that added spark and interest in the sport. I'm super-excited for the remainder of this season and now into next year!" Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "Looking back on Aaron’s career here at KTM as we move into his fifth year with the brand next year, it's clear how much of an impact he has had. He is more than just a racer, he is an incredible competitor on the track and a huge personality off it as well. From his long hair and cowboy hat to his unique riding style, Aaron truly stands out. He is, and will continue to be, a massive part of the KTM fanbase into 2026. He brings energy, positivity, and authenticity that resonate not only with our team and the other riders, but also with fans, sponsors, and the entire racing series. He's had another incredible season this year after a rough start, showing grit and determination, achieving five podiums and consistent top-five finishes so far, including a victory in Foxborough. We’re proud of who he is and even prouder to have him on our team. His influence extends far beyond results – his connection with people, both inside and outside the paddock, ensures he will be remembered and appreciated for years to come. He is truly one of a kind, and we are excited that Aaron has signed a contract extension for 2026 to continue racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing family."
A sixth victory of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship season tonight in Denver has enabled Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Chase Sexton to climb to within nine points of the 450SX points lead with a single round remaining in the series. In 250SX West, Julien Beaumer returned to the podium in what was a well-earned second-place finish. Sexton charged to the fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, clearing the field by over one second as he quickly acclimated to the track layout situated within the Empower Field at Mile High stadium. A convincing Heat Race victory set up the number 4 well for the Main Event, with 2023 champion Sexton wasting no time in getting to the front, racing to a decisive 10-second victory at the 16th round of the season, and capturing valuable points towards his championship aspirations. Chase Sexton: "I was pretty fired up from the first lap of the Main Event after we all got a bit close during the first rhythm lane. At that point, I just wanted to get to the lead, and I knew that I could run some good laps, so getting out front and breaking away was my goal. I made an aggressive move by my standards on [Cooper Webb], but we're both going for a championship and have a lot of respect for each other. At the same time, we both really want to win." 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the afternoon, before racing to a second-place finish in his Heat Race in what was his first visit to Denver. A steady ride by ‘The Cowboy’ in the Main Event saw Plessinger commence the race in P5, which is a position he would hold throughout the duration of the encounter, with a welcomed top-five performance the end result. Aaron Plessinger: "This was my first time in Denver, and it was tough! I had an exceptional qualifying, but after that, I struggled. If you know me, I'm more of a soft dirt kind of guy, so the conditions here were challenging. I still got a top-five out of it, so I can't really ask for a whole lot more – we're here and in the fight with the team, we turned the season around, and have one to go in Salt Lake." Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Beaumer arrived in Colorado with a laser-focused mentality, posting the fastest time in combined qualifying, before an early race fall in his Heat Race saw the number 23 move up the order from 16th to sixth position. A mid-field start saw Beaumer’s work cut out for him in the 250SX West Main Event, however, a determined ride saw the teenager charge his way through the field, relentlessly pursuing the front as he eventually finished in a well-earned second place. He's currently P3 in the standings entering next week's finale. Julien Beaumer: "I had a chip on my shoulder coming here in Denver. It's been a rough couple of weeks for me, and I felt like what I was doing during the week just wasn't translating. I had to come out tonight and perform, and I think I did that. Taking that beating in Philly made me realize that I needed to look at myself in the mirror and figure something out... We went to work after that." Next Race: May 10 – Salt Lake City, Utah Results 450SX Class – Denver 1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha) 4. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 5. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 12. Justin Hill (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 16 of 17 rounds 1. Cooper Webb, 347 points 2. Chase Sexton, 338 3. Ken Roczen, 271 5. Malcolm Stewart, 255 6. Aaron Plessinger, 239 7. Justin Barcia, 185 Results 250SX West Class – Denver 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 3. Garrett Marchbanks (Kawasaki) Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 9 of 10 rounds 1. Haiden Deegan, 196 points 2. Cole Davies, 171 3. Julien Beaumer, 167