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RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING'S AARON PLESSINGER RULED OUT OF WASHOUGAL NATIONAL

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Aaron Plessinger has been ruled out of this weekend's Washougal round of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship to further address ongoing health issues that have affected him at the RedBud and Spring Creek Nationals in recent weeks.

Plessinger will be sidelined for Round 8 of the season in order to seek further medical advice while prioritizing his health and fitness, before aiming to return to racing onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION for the final three races of the outdoors.

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "The whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team is fully behind Aaron Plessinger, everyone’s favorite Cowboy. Our priority right now is making sure he receives the best medical advice and care possible. Aaron came into RedBud not at 100 percent, but he gave it his all and continued to push through to line up at Millville. Unfortunately, he felt the effects of his illness early on and, despite fighting hard in the first moto, was completely depleted and unable to recover for the second. By sitting out Washougal and heading into the break, it gives him a few weeks to focus on figuring out exactly what’s going on with his health. Most importantly, it allows him time to gain peace of mind and make the best decision on when he’s ready to return to racing."

Plessinger opened his Pro Motocross campaign with two podiums across the opening three rounds, with a season-high result of second overall coming in Round 2 at Hangtown. Illness forced him to withdraw from Moto 2 at RedBud and then, despite attempting to push through, he also was forced out of Millville during Moto 1 when it became clear that he wasn't fully recovered.

With two weekends off between Washougal and Round 9 at Ironman Raceway on August 9th, both Plessinger and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will work together to ensure he is in position to regain 100 percent fitness for the final stages of Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season. He is currently ranked third in the SMX standings.

KTM NEWS

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

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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

MXGP victory for Herlings in Turkey as Red Bull KTM win both classes once more

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MXGP entered the final three weeks and last three fixtures of the 2025 season with a trip to the flat, hardpacked Afyon circuit hosting the Grand Prix of Turkey. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings won for the second race in a row and for the fourth time with his 2025 KTM 450 SX-F. Simon Laengenfelder was the overall winner in MX2 with the KTM 250 SX-F – the sixth time the German has stood on top of the box in 2025 –as the series waved goodbye to European terrain. Red Bull KTM ruled both Qualification Heats and all four motos in Afyon.

ONGOING RECOVERY RULES AARON PLESSINGER OUT OF SMX FINALS SERIES

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing fan favorite Aaron Plessinger has unfortunately been ruled out of the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series, prioritizing his health while still working to regain 100 percent fitness. Plessinger sat out the final four rounds of the Pro Motocross season while aiming to recover in time for SMX Playoff 1 scheduled for this Saturday, September 6, at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, but the decision has now been made to focus on 2026. After finishing sixth in the 450SX standings at the conclusion of Supercross, 'The Cowboy' went on to claim P8 in 450MX outdoors despite missing the final portion of the series. As a result, he earned his place in the playoffs as the eighth seed overall. Although he will be unable to mount his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend, Plessinger will be on location to meet fans alongside his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Chase Sexton, Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer, who are all READY TO RACE and will be back on track for the playoffs. Aaron Plessinger: "Unfortunate news, but as much as I would like to race these next few races in SMX, what I've been dealing with is taking a little bit longer than expected to come back around, so I'm sitting these next three out. I will be at Charlotte though, signing autographs and hanging out so come and see me, but as far as training and racing goes, I will be getting ready for 2026 once I am back on the bike. For myself and also my health heading into next season, this is the best move. I just wanted to say good luck to all my team and all of my teammates – go get 'em, boys!" Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "As much as we love having Aaron at the races every weekend, recovery is the top priority and although he is on the mend he is still not one 100 percent just yet. With that, he will miss the three SMX rounds, but all is not lost for his race fans as The Cowboy will be in Charlotte this weekend to meet with fans and cheer on his teammates."