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CHASE SEXTON AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING EARN CHARLOTTE SMX PLAYOFF PODIUM

A weather-affected commencement to the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoffs at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton earn second overall as a result of his Moto 1 score this afternoon, with the second 450SMX and 250SMX motos canceled following an extended delay due to lightning in the area.

Sexton powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the fastest time in combined qualifying while working his way back into racing after a stint on the sidelines, before charging to a hard-fought P2 finish in Moto 1 as he surged forward through the field.

With lightning emerging directly following the first 450SMX race, teams and riders were then placed in a holding pattern waiting for the weather to pass, however, it didn’t materialize as the event was eventually called altogether.

As a result, Sexton’s Moto 1 score is where he would finish overall in the first of three post-season rounds, with the next event taking place at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend. He has also climbed to second in the overall SMX standings.

Chase Sexton: "Round one of the Playoffs here in Charlotte was a good day. I qualified first, then finished second in Moto 1 after getting a really good start – I just went too wide and had to come back from fifth or so. I had a good flow, even if the track was really sketchy today, so I’m happy to be leaving healthy. We go into the next race nine points down, and we have double and triple points upcoming. It’s time to shine and have some good upcoming weekends.”

In 250SMX, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Tom Vialle qualified eighth fastest onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, navigating the ultra-technical zMAX Dragway layout to earn P7 in Moto 1 after making a strong start. Without contesting a second moto, the two-time MX2 world champion and reigning 250SX East title-holder collected seventh overall for the day.

Tom Vialle: “We couldn’t ride the second moto here in Charlotte because of the weather, which is unfortunate. I had a great start in Moto 1, and I think I was in fourth, but I was struggling a little bit with getting comfortable on the track – it was really deep all weekend on both Friday and Saturday. I finished seventh and that was the result for today, as they canceled the second moto. We’ll get back to training and be ready for next weekend and then the Final, which will be very important with all the points on the line.”

250SMX teammate Julien Beaumer endured a more difficult day at SMX Playoff 1, recording the 11th fastest time in the opening 250SMX qualifying session on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before an incident in the second timed session ended his weekend early. The 19-year-old was transported to hospital, where it was confirmed that he sustained a burst fracture of his L3 vertebra and has since undergone surgery to stabilize the injury.

Next Race: September 13 – St. Louis, Missouri

Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
5. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
13. Justin Hill (KTM)

Standings 450SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 47 points
2. Chase Sexton, 38
3. Justin Cooper, 36
7. RJ Hampshire, 29
9. Justin Barcia, 25
12. Malcolm Stewart, 20
13. Aaron Plessinger, 14

Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
3. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
6. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
7. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 50 points
2. Jo Shimoda, 42
3. Seth Hammaker, 34
4. Tom Vialle, 33
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, 23
14. Julien Beaumer, 15

KTM NEWS

TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING CLINCH THIRD IN 250SMX FINALS

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Tonight's 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle clinch third overall for the weekend and 250SMX standings following a dramatic season-ending round at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two-time MX2 World Champion and reigning 250SX East title-holder Vialle qualified fifth fastest onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before racing to a strong fourth-place finish in the opening moto. In Moto 2, Vialle progressed at a rapid rate throughout the race after a troubled start, finding himself running as high as P2 with the clock counting down. Ultimately, third in the final SMX race of the year contributed to the Frenchman earning third on the podium in Las Vegas, and delivering P3 in the series classification. The 2025 SMX season marked another convincing year for the 24-year-old, who claimed his second-consecutive 250SX East Championship in Supercross, as well as fifth in the Pro Motocross 250MX point standings. Tom Vialle: “The track was really fast today and I had a tough start in Moto 2, but I pushed hard until the very end! I'm pretty satisfied with third in the SMX Championship – I feel like I maximized what was possible for today. Overall, I'm happy with the way that I have ended my 250 career, I pushed as hard as I could in that second race, and I was satisfied in the end with how it worked out tonight." Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the 450SMX division, Chase Sexton qualified sixth as he adapted to the unique four-lane, dragway-based layout, which featured a range of hybrid-style conditions and obstacles to complete the SMX post-season. In Moto 1, Sexton completed the first lap in sixth before eventually crossing the finish-line in P7. While running inside the top-five in Moto 2, the 25-year-old would unfortunately crash heavily during the latter stages of the moto, later confirming a mild concussion and a weak shoulder that he will have further evaluated this upcoming week. Sexton's 2025 SMX season was highlighted by finishing second in the 450SX standings at the conclusion of Supercross, however, he would go on to miss a large portion of 450MX outdoors. Despite his incident in the Las Vegas SMX Final tonight, he was ranked eighth in the series. Results 450SMX Class – SMX Final 1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 6. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 10. Justin Hill (KTM) 14. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 450SMX Class 2025 after 3 of 3 rounds 1. Jett Lawrence, 166 points 2. Hunter Lawrence, 151 3. Eli Tomac, 135 7. RJ Hampshire, 109 8. Chase Sexton, 92 10. Justin Barcia, 86 12. Justin Hill, 62 19. Malcolm Stewart, 20 22. Aaron Plessinger, 14 Results 250SMX Class – SMX Final 1. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 2. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) 3. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. Lux Turner (KTM) 22. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) Standings 250SMX Class 2025 after 3 of 3 rounds 1. Jo Shimoda, 167 points 2. Seth Hammaker, 144 3. Tom Vialle, 127 12. Lux Turner, 56 16. Ryder DiFrancesco, 41 22. Julien Beaumer, 15