Aron Katona excited to take next steps with KTM after contract extension
2025 EMX125 European Championship protagonist and promising teenage motocross prospect Aron Katona has extended his contract status with KTM Factory Racing. He will continue the following phases of his career in orange thanks to a long-term agreement.
The Hungarian was a top ten runner in the European series in 2024 with KTM 125 SX power. From the framework of the Racestore KTM Factory Rookies team in 2025, the 14-year-old (15 in August) has progressed with his speed and fitness to grasp his first podiums, moto checkered flags and overall victories. He rose to the top of the popular feeder series that filters to EMX250 and then to the FIM Motocross World Championship.
The KTM MXGP Academy star celebrated his maiden race win at St Jean d’Angely in France for the European Grand Prix, round two of twelve in EMX125, and followed the milestone with a double moto success and his first ‘overall’ at the Grand Prix of Sardinia. Aron also ruled the recent fifth fixture at the Swiss GP until a knee injury proved to be disruptive, and he is now on the recovery trail.
Katona, who impressed with his smooth and efficient riding style while benefiting from excellent backing from a supportive family, has inked a fresh deal to stay as part of the KTM Factory Racing structure and to maintain his trajectory up the professional motocross pyramid.
Aron Katona: “I’m really happy for this contract because I am coming closer to my dream with every step. It is unbelievable to be part of the KTM family like this. Thank you very much to everybody who has made it possible.”
Robert Jonas, KTM Vice President Offroad Racing: “Aron has been a great discovery, a real rough diamond. What impressed us was his advanced technique and riding: it stood out for a 14-year-old. We then got to know more about his attitude and his ambition, and these aspects match his talent. Together with our experience, our KTM SX and KTM SX-F machinery and our team structures we feel we have a powerful combination. Aron will bring us a lot of joy in the future.”
A weather-affected opening race of the 2026 SMX World Championship Playoffs at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado earn a hard-fought third position on the overall podium, with that result elevating him into the 450SMX points lead. Following a pair of dry on-track sessions during Friday practice, heavy rain in the region interrupted proceedings early on this morning, as the track crew worked tirelessly to prepare the circuit for the afternoon’s race schedule at SMX Playoff 1. When the gates dropped for 450SMX Moto 1, Prado powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the holeshot, holding the lead through the opening moments of the race. The Spaniard prioritized consistency in the mud, successfully navigating the conditions to secure a third-place result. The four-time world champion executed another strong start in Moto 2, battling for the final podium position during the race, and eventually crossed the line in P4. That saw him claim third overall for the round, taking charge of the 450SMX red plate entering Los Angeles next weekend. Jorge Prado: "I mean, I really don’t know what to say! Like I said after Moto 1, my worst races came in the mud this year, and now I finish up here on the box, which is amazing for me. It’s a big improvement, so I am super-happy, and proud of my progress, and the work from the whole team – if you look back a year ago to where I am now, it’s a huge difference. Now we are leading the SMX series and I can’t be more happy than this." Also up front off the start of Moto 1, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger crashed soon afterward, but displayed strong pace aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION as he fought his way through the field to 10th place. Sixth in Moto 2 marked a convincing outing for ‘The Cowboy’ in his home state of Ohio, taking seventh overall and climbing to eighth in the 450SMX standings. Aaron Plessinger: "I feel like Columbus was a pretty big missed opportunity for me, since we had lots of rain and lots of mud, which is usually my cup of tea. We got off to a really good start in Moto 1, but then Jorge [Prado] slid and kind of jumped into my wheel, but no blame on him – it was a racing incident. I ended up going down, and then it was a struggle from that point on, getting up to ninth and then going down again. Moto 2, I got off to a horrible start and went to the inside of turn one, which worked out, and then ended up battling Joey [Savatgy] for fifth pretty much the whole time. I just feel like I should've been better all around – there were a lot of moments that I should've capitalized on. We'll focus on Los Angeles now and look for a stronger round." The retiring Eli Tomac raced to 15-13 results in 450SMX across the shortened double-race format aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in SMX Playoff 1, with his sights now shifting toward next weekend’s second round of the post-season, where double points will be on offer. He's currently ninth in the championship, with only two race weekends remaining in his decorated career. Eli Tomac: "It was a long day in Columbus. The conditions were tough, and I had a hard time getting going today when it counted, but the positive is that we were able to salvage some points, and it was an enjoyable weekend outside of the weather today. I'm looking forward to LA next week and fighting back toward the front in these next two races coming up." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250SMX contender Julien Beaumer crashed out of a top-five position on the opening lap of Moto 1, before mounting a comeback ride in challenging conditions to finish 16th on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Another difficult outing in race two saw Beaumer finish 18th, placing him 10th in the standings heading into Playoff 2. Julien Beaumer: “It was a terrible day for me in the mud. We got a lot of rain – I felt great yesterday in the dry – but today was rough. It is what it is, we have double and triple points at the next two, so I need to execute across the next two rounds in what are hopefully some better conditions, and give myself a chance.” Next Race: September 19 – Los Angeles, California Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 3. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 7. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 11. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 14. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 16. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1 1. Jorge Prado, 42 points 2. Haiden Deegan, 40 3. Cooper Webb, 38 8. Aaron Plessinger, 22 9. Eli Tomac, 22 12. RJ Hampshire, 19 14. Malcolm Stewart, 16 Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 2. Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna) 3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) 18. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1 1. Levi Kitchen, 47 points 2. Ryder DiFrancesco, 42 3. Cole Davies, 37 4. Daxton Bennick, 34 10. Julien Beaumer, 21
Red Bull KTM inched closer to the finale of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship with a decent catch of results at the Grand Prix of China and the penultimate round of the series. Simon Längenfelder achieved 4th with the KTM 250 SX-F at the modern and impressive International off-road circuit in Shanghai.
The FIM Motocross World Championship rounded the flat, jumpy hard-pack of the Afyon Motor Sports Center for the Grand Prix of Turkey and Red Bull KTM emerged from round 17 of 19 with a decent 2nd place by Simon Laengenfelder in MX2.
