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

ELI TOMAC TO RETIRE AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2026 SMX POST-SEASON

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American motocross and supercross legend Eli Tomac has announced that he will retire from professional competition following the 2026 SMX World Championship post-season, bringing a close to one of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport. At 33 years of age, Tomac has enjoyed a memorable season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing this year, claiming four 450SX Main Event victories in the AMA Supercross Championship aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Tomac will go down as one of the greatest competitors ever, with his career spanning 17 professional seasons between 2010 and 2026. The Cortez, Colorado, native is ranked second on the all-time 450SX wins list with 57 Main Event victories, and fourth all-time in the AMA Pro Motocross 450MX wins list with a total of 32. As a two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022) and four-time 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022), Tomac has represented Team USA at the prestigious FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on six occasions – captaining the United States to victory at RedBud in 2022. Earlier in his career, Tomac captured the 2013 250MX title outdoors after achieving 12 overall wins within the category – including his pro debut at Hangtown's season-opening round in 2010 – prior to transitioning to the premier class full-time in 2014. He also earned the 250SX West Divisional Championship in 2012. In addition, Tomac extended his Daytona Supercross record with an eighth-career victory in 2026, was notably crowned the 2024 FIM World Supercross Champion in the SX1 Class, and he was also recognized in 2022 as an ESPY Award recipient in the prestigious Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports category. The entire Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team extends its gratitude and best wishes to Eli for the future, and looks forward to finishing the current season strongly together through the upcoming SMX Playoffs, culminating with the SMX World Championship Final in Ridgedale, Missouri, on September 26. Eli Tomac: "I will be stepping away from Supercross and motocross racing at the end of September, following the final three SMX rounds. This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my professional career, but I know in my heart that the time is now and that the time is right. I’ve won races and championships beyond my imagination. Racing has been the only thing I’ve woken up to and known the last 25 years, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything." Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "Eli exploded onto the scene well over a decade and a half ago, and if he wasn’t on your team, you sure wished he was, because you’d ultimately be fighting against him to try and win. Over the years, Eli has become the second-winningest rider in Supercross history and has won multiple national and Supercross championships. We’ve had the privilege of working with him this year, and it was no different – he was fighting for the title and for wins each and every week. Eli is an amazing rider, and for the team and myself, to see how he operates and to get a better understanding of his sportsmanship and work ethic was a gift after all those years that we competed against him. But, like all good things, they do eventually come to an end, and with that Eli has decided to retire at the end of this season. Our team is grateful for the opportunity we’ve had and know that whatever he does in the future, it will be successful. Eli is a hard worker, disciplined and dedicated, and we truly wish him and his family all the best." Eli Tomac Career Highlights Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022) 57-career 450SX Main Event victories (second all-time) Four-time AMA Pro Motocross 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022) 32-career 450MX overall victories (fourth all-time) 2013 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Champion 2012 AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion 2024 FIM World Supercross SX1 Champion A record eight-time Daytona Supercross winner (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026) ESPY Award recipient in 2022 (Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports)

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT IRONMAN NATIONAL

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing earned a double victory across 450MX and 250MX at the Ironman National on Saturday, with Jorge Prado and Julien Beaumer each claiming the overall wins at this weekend's final round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Indiana. Off the back of two consecutive second-place finishes, Prado qualified fastest aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION with a 2:07.134 lap time at the season-finale Ironman National, and took control of the lead in the early stages of Moto 1. The four-time world champion steadily extended his advantage at the front of the 450MX field as the race unfolded, eventually delivering his first Pro Motocross moto win by a convincing 11.566-second margin. A holeshot in Moto 2 saw the Spaniard race to another commanding victory, with his 1-1 scorecard securing his first-career overall win in American competition. Coupled with four additional podium finishes throughout the season, Prado claimed fourth in the final 450MX standings. Jorge Prado: "It was a perfect day! We were fastest in qualifying and went P1 in both motos – we saw some progression over the past weeks, and I’ve got to give it up to the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for allowing me to perform this way. I’m happy with my hard work and everything fell into place today for my first overall in the United States. This is why I came here – and I’m super-happy to be here – so thank you to everyone.” Four-time 450MX champion Eli Tomac was eighth-fastest on the combined qualifying timesheets, powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a seventh-place result in Moto 1. The 33-year-old improved to fifth position in Moto 2, earning the Colorado icon fifth overall for the weekend and completing what has been a convincing return to racing after missing the first half of the outdoor season. Eli Tomac: "Ironman was solid! It was one of my better rides of the season across both motos. I found a good flow in Moto 2, and it was nice to finish the day strong like that. I had a lot of fun on this track – it was one of the best tracks that I have ever ridden, in my opinion. For how technical it was, and the things that it offered for us to race, it shaped up well. So, I'm pretty happy with the weekend, and now we just need to work on some starts." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Aaron Plessinger recorded the ninth-fastest time in the morning’s qualifying sessions, before converting his top-10 start into an impressive fifth-place score in Moto 1. P9 in Moto 2 saw ‘The Cowboy’ achieve eighth overall at Ironman, marking another solid result in his late-season return to Pro Motocross competition. Aaron Plessinger: "Ironman was a good day! Qualifying went alright, my bike was feeling pretty good, but the cream of the crop was the first moto. I didn't get the greatest start, but I made my way through the pack and got up to fourth. Then Coop [Webb] got by me, and I ended up fifth, but it was a solid moto – I was pumped with that! Then in the second moto, I felt a little flat, but I salvaged what I could and scored 5-9 on the day for eighth overall. The track was awesome and formed up really well, so it was a good day. Now, we'll take this week off to recover and then get back into it for SMX." Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the 250MX category, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Beaumer qualified seventh-fastest on combined times. A fast start in Moto 1 saw him charge to the holeshot, eventually crossing the finish line in a hard-fought second position. A top-10 start in Moto 2 saw the 20-year-old rapidly work his way through the field, working his way into the lead to go on and take a deserving victory. His 2-1 scorecard earned him his second 250MX overall of the season. Four podium finishes – including round wins at Spring Creek and Ironman – saw Beaumer climb to second in the 250MX standings, capping off what has been a highly-successful Pro Motocross campaign. Julien Beaumer: "It was a great day at Ironman! In Moto 1, I got the holeshot and finished second, even if I didn't ride the greatest, but we made some good changes going into Moto 2. My riding was really good in that one, even if my start wasn't as strong, but I worked my way through the pack to first in the end! I'm stoked with the work that we did over the course of the season – we made a lot of progress outdoors and it's been rewarding to be back racing. We'll shift our focus to SMX now." The SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season is up next on the 31-round schedule, set to commence with Playoff 1 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on September 12. Results 450MX Class – Ironman National 1. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 5. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 16. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 11 of 11 rounds 1. Hunter Lawrence, 474 points 2. Jett Lawrence, 472 3. Haiden Deegan, 404 4. Jorge Prado, 401 5. RJ Hampshire, 346 12. Aaron Plessinger, 159 14. Eli Tomac, 121 25. Lucas Coenen, 44 27. Malcolm Stewart, 41 Results 250MX Class – Ironman National 1. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Chance Hymas (Honda) 3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) 11. Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna) Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 11 of 11 rounds 1. Cole Davies, 407 points 2. Julien Beaumer, 369 3. Levi Kitchen, 364 5. Ryder DiFrancesco, 326 15. Casey Cochran, 146 16. Daxton Bennick, 142 21. Sacha Coenen, 83