DEFENDING 450MX CHAMPION CHASE SEXTON FINISHES FIFTH IN REDBUD RETURN

Defending 450MX Champion Chase Sexton made a successful return to racing during Round 6 of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the RedBud National, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider scoring a top-five finish overall after showcasing front-running speed throughout the day.

In what is considered his home race on the schedule, Sexton powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION – which was sporting a unique livery in celebration of the 4th of July weekend – to the eighth fastest qualifying time, with RedBud marking his first appearance since exiting the Fox Raceway season-opener.

After scoring a P5 finish in Moto 1 at the iconic Michigan circuit, Sexton charged toward the front of the field in Moto 2, running as high as second place before a late mishap saw him finish fourth. Fifth overall was a convincing result upon return and a solid foundation to build from in the second half of the season.

Chase Sexton: "First race back at RedBud wasn't great results-wise, but I didn't really expect a whole lot coming into the round. Second moto, I was pleasantly surprised that even if I wasn't riding great, that my speed was still pretty good. I'm happy with the day – onward and upward from here to build into SMX and try to win some races."

450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the sixth-fastest qualifying time. A P6 finish in Moto 1 was another strong performance for ‘The Cowboy’, despite developing a fever that would ultimately end his weekend early. Together with the team, Plessinger elected to sit out Moto 2 for safety purposes and to prioritize his recovery, currently fifth overall in the point-standings.

In 250MX, Tom Vialle qualified sixth overall, before racing to the front of the pack in Moto 1 onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. After leading the race during its opening stages, Vialle would eventually claim third, before a fall in Moto 2 saw him eventually claim 21st, resulting in P13 for the weekend. After six rounds, Vialle holds P4 in the championship.

Tom Vialle: "Practice and qualifying were good, then I was leading Moto 1 for a while until about six or seven laps to go, where I ended up in third. Overall, my speed was much better there than previous rounds, which was good. Unfortunately, I had a crash at the start of the second moto in turn two. I kind of collided with another rider and I flew off the track, so I'm lucky to be alright. I did what I could to come back to 21st, so we'll get back to training in Florida and come out strong in Millville."

Equipped with his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, 250MX teammate Julien Beaumer qualified in a promising fifth position, before recording a more challenging 16-13 moto scorecard for 16th overall as the series heads to Spring Creek next weekend.

Julien Beaumer: “It was another pretty average day for me. Second moto was off to a better start, but then I crashed late and just struggled to get going again. We'll get some things figured out this week and come back to try again at Millville."

Next Race: July 12 – Spring Creek, Minnesota

Results 450MX Class – RedBud National
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
4. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
5. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
7. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
8. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
12. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 6 of 11 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 290 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 239
3. Justin Cooper, 221
5. Aaron Plessinger, 204
6. RJ Hampshire, 185
11. Malcolm Stewart, 105
17. Justin Barcia, 52
21. Chase Sexton, 35

Results 250MX Class – RedBud National
1. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
2. Jalek Swoll (Triumph)
3. Michael Mosiman (Yamaha)
6. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
13. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
16. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 6 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 274 points
2. Jo Shimoda, 236
3. Levi Kitchen, 189
4. Tom Vialle, 186
13. Julien Beaumer, 106
14. Ryder DiFrancesco, 91
16. Casey Cochran, 88

KTM NEWS

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING SIGNS RYDER DIFRANCESCO AND DAXTON BENNICK

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has signed Ryder DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick ahead of the 2027 SMX World Championship season, joining an expanded four-rider 250 program alongside Julien Beaumer and Sacha Coenen. The new-look roster will compete aboard KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery across the AMA Supercross Championship, Pro Motocross Championship, and SMX Finals post-season, further strengthening KTM's READY TO RACE commitment to the next generation of 250 class talent. DiFrancesco, 21, joins Red Bull KTM Factory Racing following a breakout 2026 season, finishing runner-up in the 250SMX World Championship, fifth in 250MX, and fourth in the 250SX Western Division standings. The Californian earned his first-career 250SX podium at Anaheim 1 and carried that momentum into the outdoors and playoffs with a collection of podium results, firmly establishing himself as a title challenger into the future. Ryder DiFrancesco: "I'm super-excited to be joining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. It's been one of the top-tier teams in the paddock since I can remember, so it's going to be a cool feeling being on the orange bike in 2027 – it only grows the confidence in myself and the team. The next thing to do now is to go out there and win. I'm excited, and the season can't come soon enough." Bennick, 20, is another exciting addition to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing effort after a strong 2026 campaign that saw him claim third in the 250SX East standings and secure his first 250SMX podium at SMX Playoff 1 in Columbus. The North Carolina native has continued to progress through the professional ranks since his highly-successful amateur career as part of the KTM Orange Brigade and will enter 2027 targeting title success. Daxton Bennick: "I'm so excited to be on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team next year. It's always been a dream of mine, so it's a super-cool and surreal moment for me. There are a lot of familiar faces on the team and also some new ones, and I think we're going to make a really good combination and go after the championships – I'm ready to get to work." The arrival of DiFrancesco and Bennick coincides with a significant expansion of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's 250 program, which will also feature Beaumer and incoming Belgian standout Coenen. Beaumer, 20, will return for his fourth season with the team after recently extending his contract through 2027 and beyond, while 19-year-old Coenen arrives from the MX2 World Championship following a Grand Prix campaign that saw him finish third in the 2026 standings. Nathan Ramsey, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 Team Manager: "What an incredible opportunity to be a part of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2027 and beyond. I will be managing the 250 race team, alongside of Ian and his crew on the 450 side. I believe this expansion and structure for the complete Red Bull KTM program is very strong and I look forward to having an unbelievable season. I couldn’t be happier to add Dax and Ryder to the team! They both had very strong seasons in 2026 and should absolutely be in the championship conversation in 2027. Dax and Ryder alongside Juju and Sacha make up a very young and extremely strong Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 effort for 2027! I am honored to be a part of this group moving forward and can’t wait to see what the future holds." Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Team Manager: "We are incredibly excited to introduce our strengthened Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 program, which will debut in 2027 with a four-rider lineup equipped with KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery. KTM has enjoyed significant success in the category for many years, and this next step further underlines the brand’s READY TO RACE commitment into the future." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s expanded 250 program will make its competitive debut at the opening round of the 2027 AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California, on January 9, marking an exciting renewed chapter for the Austrian manufacturer's presence in U.S. competition alongside its factory 450 team of reigning SMX World Champion Jorge Prado and new recruit Lucas Coenen.

Victory for Team Belgium & the Coenen brothers at packed MXoN in France

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The 79th FIM Motocross of Nations drew a huge record crowd of 105,000 to the ‘amphitheater’ setting of the Ernee circuit in northern France where Red Bull KTM’s Lucas and Sacha Coenen contributed to Team Belgium first victory in the annual contest since 2013. Red Bull KTM also had SMX champion Jorge Prado inspiring Team Spain to 2nd place and their first ever podium result.