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TOP-FIVE FINISHES FOR TOM VIALLE AND CHASE SEXTON IN TAMPA SUPERCROSS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's reigning 250SX East Champion Tom Vialle has opened his defense with a measured P5 finish in Tampa's first round of the Eastern Regional series, as 450SX teammate Chase Sexton extended his advantage in the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship standings with a fifth-place result at Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa marked the opening round for the 250 SX East division, with two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle sporting the number 1 plate aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and ready to mount another title challenge this season.

After qualifying 10th at the conclusion of this afternoon's sessions, Vialle rallied in the night’s opening Heat Race, racing up front with the leader before posting a strong ride that earned the Frenchman a third-place finish.

Vialle paced himself during the 250SX East Main Event, with the track proving to be a significant challenge to the riders with its slick, hard-packed base. With that in mind, a measured performance at the season-opening round saw him register an eventual P5 result.

Tom Vialle: "I had a big crash through the whoops in qualifying, so I was lucky to get away with that one. I didn't feel great in practice or qualifying, although felt a bit better for the night show and P5 for our first Main Event of the year. It's not bad, and although it's not where we want to be, we'll build from here and get better for next weekend."

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Sexton powered his way to the top of the 450SX qualifying timesheets, achieving comfort early in the day on what proved to be a difficult circuit layout.

The momentum would continue for the number 4, who braved a chaotic first turn during his Heat Race to emerge in the mid-pack. From there, a patient ride eventuated in a late pass for the lead, with Sexton breezing to the race win from there.

The Main Event was going to plan for the championship red plate-holder, as he held the lead early, building upon his margin as the race continued. An untimely late-race fall saw Sexton surrender P1, and have to nurse his way home in order to consolidate and maximize points, which he would achieve with a gritty fifth place on the night.

Chase Sexton: "Not the way I wanted to end my night after a good day in Tampa. I was solid all day and qualified fastest, but on a bad lap in the Main Event I went down in the whoops while leading and damaged my front brake and throttle, so basically just had to salvage what I could, limping it home to finish out the race – not an ideal way to finish out the weekend. We’ll get to work again this week and come out swinging at Detroit."

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Aaron Plessinger raced to an impressive second-place finish during the night’s opening 450SX Heat Race, with recent progress paying dividends for 'The Cowboy' in Florida.

With starts now at a premium in the highly-competitive 450SX field, Plessinger suffered from track position in the Main Event, and was battling for position inside the top 10 throughout. Continuing to fight, he would finish the night with a P8 result, which marks his best finish of the year so far.

Aaron Plessinger: "The afternoon was tough, but we found a setting heading into the Heat Race and felt like I ripped in that one! I made a few good passes in the first couple of laps, then ended up second. Come the Main, my start was decent before I got shuffled back early, and just rode around in eighth from there. That was the best I had today, so we'll go back and do some homework before Detroit."

Next Race: February 15 – Detroit, Michigan

Results 450SX Class – Tampa
1. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)
5. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
8. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
9. Justin Hill (KTM)
14. Anthony Rodriguez (KTM)
19. Kevin Moranz (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 5 of 17 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 101 points
2. Cooper Webb, 96
3. Jason Anderson, 84
6. Malcolm Stewart, 77
9. Justin Barcia, 68
11. Justin Hill, 57
13. Aaron Plessinger, 40

Results 250SX East Class – Tampa
1. Max Anstie (Yamaha)
2. Daxton Bennick (Yamaha)
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
5. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2025 after 1 of 10 rounds
1. Max Anstie, 25 points
2. Cameron McAdoo, 20
3. Seth Hammaker, 18
5. Tom Vialle, 16

KTM NEWS

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AND ELI TOMAC RACE TO ANAHEIM 1 SUPERCROSS VICTORY

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing opened the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a pair of convincing podium performances tonight at Anaheim 1, where Eli Tomac captured a spectacular 450SX Main Event victory and with teammate Jorge Prado claiming third position. In his SMX World Championship debut with KTM, Tomac set the quickest time in Qualifying 1 and then was P2 on combined times onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION within the famed Angel Stadium. The decorated two-time 450SX Champion from Cortez, Colorado, managed a strong start in 450SX Heat 1, charging to second position and holding firm to secure a direct transfer into the Main Event. Following an initial race restart, the 33-year-old Tomac moved to the front of the field on the opening lap of the Main Event and controlled the race from the head of the pack, eventually taking the checkered flag with a closing advantage of 1.470 seconds in clinching the season-opening win – marking the 54th of his career in the premier division. Eli Tomac: "This one feels good! Leading from the get-go like that is tough, because you need to really maintain focus the whole time, but my motorcycle was the best it was all day in the Main Event after a slight adjustment from the Heat Race. We went in the right direction, and this is the perfect way to start a new season and with my new team in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. After a big off-season with both myself and the team testing and developing all over the place, it means a lot to achieve this early success together." Making his first appearance with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, multi-time MXGP World Champion Prado qualified an impressive sixth while acclimatizing to the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in race conditions, before he powered to the holeshot in the first 450SX Heat Race of the year to hold off a fast-finishing Tomac for P1. Upon launching to another impressive holeshot in the Main Event, the Spaniard rode a calculated race to earn a first-career Supercross podium finish, making for a significant Red Bull KTM Factory Racing double podium result. Jorge Prado: "This is really ahead of my expectations – the goal for this weekend was to just get through each session and do the best that I can. I had a great preparation leading into this year, but I am still so new to Supercross. Getting the Heat Race win was awesome, but I am really happy with my Main Event and to be on the podium. I rode within my limits, and still don't have a lot of words to describe my feelings right now, but all I can say is that hard work always pays off! It's great to start the season this way, so now we'll keep learning and look forward to a new opportunity next week." In a welcome return to competition, Aaron Plessinger was back in action at Anaheim 1 to open the 2026 season. 'The Cowboy' led his Heat Race early on, before contact with another rider ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier. After winning the LCQ, Plessinger raced his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION forward to 10th place in the Main Event, earning solid points at Round 1. Aaron Plessinger: "Obviously, this wasn't the Anaheim 1 that I wanted. It started well, but I hit the ground with Coop [Cooper Webb] in the Heat Race, which was unfortunate, but it happens. Good to get the Round 1 jitters out, and I had a few good starts today actually, which was nice. We have a good direction, my setup is in the ballpark, and I came from dead-last in the Main Event to 10th place, which I thought was a good way to rebound. It was a decent ending to a tough start, and now we'll go back and do some homework for next weekend." Next Race: January 17 – San Diego, California Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 1. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 3. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 10. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 14. Justin Hill (KTM) 18. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 22. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 1 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 25 points 2. Ken Roczen, 22 4. Jorge Prado, 17 10. Aaron Plessinger, 12 14. Justin Hill, 8 18. RJ Hampshire, 4 22. Malcolm Stewart, 0

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING EXTENDS THANKS TO CHASE SEXTON

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Following two seasons in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing thanks Chase Sexton for the success achieved together throughout 2024 and 2025. KTM and Sexton dominated the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in 2024, winning seven of 11 rounds en route to earning the 450MX title outdoors. Despite his title defense being cut short in 2025, this year's highlight came via a single overall victory at Washougal. Supercross saw the 26-year-old Illinois native finish third in the 450SX standings in 2024 and he improved to the runner-up position in 2025, falling short of the championship by only two points this season. In total, Sexton won nine 450SX Main Events onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, with seven of those this year – including Anaheim 1's high-profile opening round – making for the winningest season of his Supercross career. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing wishes Chase well for 2026 and beyond.