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TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING DEFEND 250 EAST SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Tom Vialle has successfully defended his 250SX East title in the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship following tonight's title-deciding final round of the season, on a night where Chase Sexton also raced to his seventh 450SX victory of the year at Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium.

At 24 years of age, Vialle adds a second AMA Supercross title to his resume onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, in addition to the pair of MX2 World Championships that he earned in 2020 and 2022. After an incredibly hard-fought season this year, Vialle demonstrated a never-give-up spirit, with his fighting mentality ultimately sealing the title.

Originally from Avignon, France, Vialle relocated to the U.S. ahead of the 2023 season, where he made a highly-anticipated American Supercross debut and gained experience in the stadium-based discipline, before charging to a maiden 250SX East Championship in 2024.

Since then, Vialle has pieced together convincing indoor and outdoor campaigns as part of the wider SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), becoming a title contender in each series. This year’s 250SX East division championship didn’t come easily, however, as the defending champion began the opening two rounds at Tampa and Detroit outside of the podium positions.

Second-place results at the following two rounds in Daytona and Indianapolis, followed by third in Birmingham, initially earned Vialle the red plate, before the torrential rain in Foxborough resulted in a troubled 22nd-place result. P6 in Philadelphia and third on the podium at East Rutherford were then followed by a pivotal victory in Pittsburgh, putting him back in the title hunt upon regaining the points lead, with a dramatic P3 at Utah's 250SX Showdown sealing the championship.

Vialle and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will now focus on the upcoming AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which commences at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on Saturday, May 24th.

Tom Vialle: "I can’t believe this, to be honest! I got a good start behind Haiden [Deegan], and I was feeling good, then I started to make a couple of mistakes, and both Seth [Hammaker] and RJ [Hampshire] got me, so then I was about five seconds back. I saw them both down in the corner, and I couldn’t believe it – I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ There were still about four laps to go, and I just did it from there to clinch the title. The speed was really high this year from everyone and I lost a lot of points in the mud at Foxborough, but overall I just tried to stay steady, and that’s what paid off in the end. I came to the United States to win Supercross titles, so to have two now is insane! Two championships are hard to win, so this feels really good to achieve this with the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team.”

Also riding the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, 250SX West contender Julien Beaumer continued the solid momentum gained last weekend in Denver by charging to the top spot in the overall combined qualifying times, before racing to what was a well-deserved western division Heat Race win.

Upon battling at the front of the field throughout the Showdown Main Event, Beaumer would finish with a P2 score and also elevated himself to second position in the western division's final standings. One win and a further four podiums mark a successful sophomore season for the number 23, who will look to take that form into Pro Motocross later this month.

Julien Beaumer: "I’m really happy with how my riding was in these last two rounds, it really came back around, and my biggest takeaway from this championship is just consistency. I had that mid-season slump and a couple of tough races, so for me, it’s about being consistent. Tonight I was racing hard for position there in the Main Event, and we’re happy to come away with second place.”

In 450SX, Chase Sexton powered to the fastest qualifying time equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in Salt Lake City, beginning his title quest in the best possible fashion on the dry, slick Rice-Eccles Stadium track surface.

An important Heat Race victory set up the number 4 strongly for the Main Event, in which Sexton made fast, decisive moves to hit the front of the pack, clearing out to a 10-second margin of victory and claiming his seventh 450SX win of the series. As a result, he was credited second position in the standings after what was an inspired season-long fight until the very end across a 17-round duration.

Sexton opened the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship by claiming his first Anaheim 1 victory, quickly followed by winning the Glendale Triple Crown. In finishing on the podium a total of 12 times and collecting an additional five wins, the 2023 450SX Champion pieced together one of his most impressive seasons to date – just two points shy of the crown in the end.

Chase Sexton: "Today, I think I did everything that I could’ve done. Obviously, we came up short on the championship, which is a bummer and it’s a tough pill to swallow, but Cooper [Webb] had a great season. We were able to achieve seven race wins this year, and throughout the season I became a much more complete rider, having learned from some of my mistakes, so I’ll take that and head into the outdoors. I am proud of what we were able to achieve together with the team and am happy to beat my personal season win record with seven this year.”

Teammate Aaron Plessinger – who this week was announced to have re-signed with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2026 – picked up a popular victory in the second 450SX Heat Race of the night onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, earning ‘The Cowboy’ an ideal gate selection for the final Main Event of the year.

Another holeshot followed by a conservative ride saw Plessinger race to a sixth-place result, completing the championship in sixth overall, and delivering five podium finishes alongside a second-career victory in the Foxborough mud.

Aaron Plessinger: "Salt Lake City was a pretty good race. I struggled to find a setting that worked for me in qualifying, but by the time we got to the Heat Race, it was working awesome! I got a holeshot there and won the thing, which was good. Holeshotted again in the Main, but I saw that I was around both Coop and Chase, and panicked a bit – I doubled the whole way down a rhythm lane and lost a lot of positions, then struggled to recover from there. That was my night in Salt Lake, but it's time to regroup and head outdoors. We'll be going for it!"

Next Race: May 24 – Pala, California

Results 450SX Class – Salt Lake City
1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
2. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
6. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
8. Justin Hill (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 17 of 17 rounds
1. Cooper Webb, 365 points
2. Chase Sexton, 363
3. Justin Cooper, 281
4. Malcolm Stewart, 277
6. Aaron Plessinger, 255
8. Justin Hill, 194
10. Justin Barcia, 185

Results 250SX Showdown – Salt Lake City
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
3. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250SX East Class 2025 after 10 of 10 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 180 points
2. Seth Hammaker, 177
3. RJ Hampshire, 173

Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 10 of 10 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 221 points
2. Julien Beaumer, 189
3. Cole Davies, 171

    KTM NEWS

    TOP-FIVE FINISH KEEPS 450SX RED PLATE FOR ELI TOMAC IN HOUSTON TRIPLE CROWN

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    Fourth position overall for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac marked another convincing result at Round 4 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Houston's NRG Stadium, with his Triple Crown performance – highlighted by a Race 3 victory – seeing him maintain the 450SX red plate. After an exceptional start to this year's SMX World Championship season, including two Main Event victories and a third-place result across the opening three rounds, Tomac entered this weekend targeting another competitive night in building on his 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old qualified P1 onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION with a flying 46.684 lap-time set in the opening session. A mid-field start in the opening race of the Triple Crown saw Tomac steadily climb forward, crossing the line in a hard-fought P3 as the checkered flag waved. Upon charging through the 450SX field in Race 2, the points-leader crashed while running P4, but was able to remount and salvage a spirited 13th-place finish. Victory in the third and final outing of the night was enough for the double 450SX Champion to claim fourth place overall, and contributed valuable points toward his Supercross championship tally entering Glendale next weekend. He now holds a four-point advantage in the standings. Eli Tomac: “That was such a high-speed on-off there, the triple on-off, and in the transition, I ended up stomping on my rear brake. Thankfully, I was able to get through my bars – I was like, ‘Wow, I really need to step through my bars right now.’ I felt a little tag by the bike, but the limbs are good, I’m good, and I’m excited I was able to get that rebound in the final race. If I’m going to toss one away, this is the one to do it at, and I'm just happy to get fourth overall, because that was a ride! Glad to move on to next week.” Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado was sixth-fastest in combined 450SX qualifying at Houston, before the four-time world champion powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a strong start and a P5 result in the opening Triple Crown race. A holeshot in the second one had the Spaniard leading a large portion of Race 2 on his way to third position, combined with 11th in Race 3 to earn seventh overall for the weekend. As a result, Prado has moved to eighth in the 450SX championship. Jorge Prado: "Riding-wise, I think this was a very good event. I think I rode well all day – I got a solid start in the first race, same as the second race, and then in the third one I just messed it up big time in the first corner. I was really, really behind in that one, and it was very hard to pass a lot of riders in such a short time, so I am disappointed with the end result because I think that I could've done way better. It is what it is, we'll take the learnings from tonight into next weekend in Arizona." Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger set the 12th-fastest time in 450SX qualifying during the afternoon, before taking a P12 result in the first of three finals. 'The Cowboy' then raced to 11th in Race 2, and a P13 score in the final outing saw him claim 13th overall. Aaron Plessinger: "Qualifying was going pretty well in Houston, before I cased a jump and hit my ankle pretty good. I got a decent start in the first Triple Crown race, but then made a few mistakes and dropped back – I was just really involved in those mid-field battles, which are tough. And then Race 2 was much the same – just didn't execute as well as I should. And then, for the third one, I got a decent start again and was riding alright, but then my ankle started hurting, which sent me back. Overall, not a great night, but we'll shift our focus to the next one in Glendale for a rebound." Next Race: February 7 – Glendale, Arizona Results 450SX Class – Houston 1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 4. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 7. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 8. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 11. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 13. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 17. Justin Hill (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 4 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 88 points 2. Hunter Lawrence, 84 3. Ken Roczen, 76 8. Jorge Prado, 56 11. RJ Hampshire, 38 13. Aaron Plessinger, 36 14. Malcolm Stewart, 36 16. Justin Hill, 28

    450SX PODIUM FINISH FOR ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT A2

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    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac continued his impressive start to the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, capturing a third-place finish following Round 3 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, and maintaining his lead in the 450SX standings. After taking the opening two 450SX race victories of the 2026 SMX World Championship season, Tomac and the team entered Anaheim 2 targeting another strong performance at the famed Southern California venue on Saturday, with the 33-year-old qualifying seventh onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION during the afternoon sessions. A strong start to his Heat Race saw the two-time Supercross Champion race with the lead group early, before making a decisive pass for the lead with two minutes remaining to claim victory heading into the night’s Main Event. Tomac launched well in the Main Event and circulated inside the top-five during the opening stages, positioning himself to mount a charge for the podium. Battling at the front of the field from that point, the Cortez, Colorado, native climbed to P3 and secured a third-consecutive podium result, strengthening his hold on the red plate as the series heads to Houston, Texas, next weekend. Eli Tomac: “I felt like I was in offense and defense mode the whole time during that Main Event – it was very busy! I was happy to claim a podium spot tonight, but also, there are a couple of things I think back to that maybe I could have done differently to try and stay in front of Hunter [Lawrence], but that's all should have, would have, could have at this point. This race had a bit of everything, but everyone is hauling the mail, and the pace was super-fast. It's good to finish with a podium here – if you had told me at the beginning of the series that I'd go 1-1-3, that's an awesome start, so I'm proud of the team." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Jorge Prado was also in fine form at Round 3, with the four-time world champion qualifying sixth before earning the holeshot on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and delivering a wire-to-wire victory in his Heat Race. Starting outside the top-10 in the Main Event, the Spaniard put his head down and completed an impressive charge toward the checkered flag, executing a series of passes to finish seventh by race’s end. As a result, Prado is currently listed in P9 overall following three rounds to begin season 2026. Jorge Prado: "Anaheim 2 was a positive night – I am very happy with my performance. Winning the Heat Race was good, and then I got cut off at the start of the Main Event, and I had to work through the pack from there. I came back to P7 and was very close to the top-five, so I like the rhythm I had, and the improvements that we made during the week, especially in my ability to come through the field. I'm also very happy with my bike, I think today was the best the bike has felt across the three rounds. There is still much to learn, although I think we are in a very good place right now, and I just can't wait for the next rounds – the team is doing a great job!" Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger recorded the 12th-fastest 450SX qualifying time before lining up alongside Prado in the night’s opening Heat Race. A heavy incident on the final lap while running in P2 dropped ‘The Cowboy’ to eighth position across the finish, but he was able to transfer directly into the Main Event. Making a fast start to the Main Event, Plessinger ran fifth during the opening laps and showed front-running speed early. As the race progressed, the 30-year-old began to feel the effects of his Heat Race crash and ultimately withdrew from the night’s racing. He will now focus on recovery ahead of next weekend's first Triple Crown round of the year in Houston. Aaron Plessinger: "I actually felt pretty good today, coming off having the flu for a couple of weeks. I was feeling it in my Heat Race and was closing in on Jorge with a lap to go when I hit something and was sent flying off the face of the jump, so I hit the ground really hard. I banged myself up real good. I was able to get up and cross the line in eighth, so I qualified for the Main without having to race the LCQ, which was a positive. I did my best in the Main Event and was good on opening laps, but honestly, my body really started to feel it midway into the race, and I just had to salvage what spots I could. I will regroup this week, get a bunch of therapy on my body, and hopefully have a better race in Houston next weekend.” Next Race: January 31 – Houston, Texas Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2 1. Chase Sexton (Kawasaki) 2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 3. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 7. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 9. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 12. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 15. Justin Hill (KTM) 22. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 3 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 70 points 2. Hunter Lawrence, 62 3. Chase Sexton, 57 9. Jorge Prado, 41 11. Aaron Plessinger, 27 12. RJ Hampshire, 27 14. Justin Hill, 23 15. Malcolm Stewart, 22

    ELI TOMAC AND RED BULL KTM EARN BACK-TO-BACK 450SX WINS IN SAN DIEGO

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    Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have made it back-to-back victories to open the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, extending their advantage at the top of the 450SX standings following Round 2 in San Diego tonight. Two-time Supercross champion Tomac set the fastest combined qualifying time in the premier class during Saturday's afternoon sessions, displaying immediate comfort onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at Snapdragon Stadium. The decorated racer from Cortez, Colorado, powered to a strong start in his Heat Race, finishing P2 to secure a favorable gate pick for the upcoming Main Event. Another fast start in the Main Event saw the 33-year-old exit the first rhythm lane in third position, which would set the tone for the remainder of the race toward the front of the field. A race-long back-and-forth fight for position saw red plate-holder Tomac take control of the lead with six minutes remaining, fending off additional challenges late in the race to deliver his second win of the season and the 55th of his career. Eli Tomac: “It was quite a back-and-forth race tonight! At the beginning, I tried to play the patience game as Hunter [Lawrence] and Ken [Roczen] were really dicing it out, so I tried to warm into the race from there. It was close racing all Main Event, but of course, it was a great night, and to get two race wins in a row is massive. I feel very happy with what I am working with right now. As far as winning two in a row to open the season, you dream of it, but making it happen is a whole different deal. So, it’s been a great start for us – I feel really at one with the KTM and it’s showing.” Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger’s night in San Diego also was a promising one, with the number 7 overcoming illness to finish third in his Heat Race, directly behind Tomac. Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, ‘The Cowboy’ featured among the top-five for a large portion of the Main Event, before recording a hard-fought P7 finish. With his combined results, Plessinger sits eighth in the 450SX Championship as the series returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim next Saturday. Aaron Plessinger: "San Diego was pretty good! I’ve been sick all week, but I was feeling better in practice than I did last weekend, and I was actually feeling really good going into the Heat Race. Once I got done with that one, my chest was on fire and I had a headache, so it was tough... No excuses, though. I went into the Main Event and did what I could – I was around sixth for a while, and then was there until the last lap before a lapped rider held me up. It's racing, but we’ll go back this week, return to 100 percent, and then be ready for A2.” In his second AMA Supercross appearance as part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, multi-time MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado posted the second-fastest 450SX qualifying time in the afternoon onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before capturing the holeshot in Heat 1 and racing to a P2 result, which continued his impressive form following a podium at the season-opener. Upon launching to a top 10 start in the Main Event, the Spaniard posted a measured performance on a deteriorating circuit, eventually claiming 13th position by the time the checkered flag flew to continue building important experience in the discipline. Jorge Prado: "Round 2 was a positive day. Even though the Main Event didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I was still P2 in qualifying and then was also second in the Heat Race, so up until then, things were going very well. Then in the Main, I missed the start and after that I was riding tight. I didn’t really ride like myself, I would say, and it was a bit of a struggle. I kind of fell into some other riders’ pace around me, so I’ll need to learn from this, and again, it's a good learning experience to be better in the future. We'll come back solid for A2." Next Race: January 24 – Anaheim, California Results 450SX Class – San Diego 1. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 7. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 10. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 12. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 13. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 14. Justin Hill (KTM) 19. Kevin Moranz (KTM) 21. Grant Harlan (KTM) Standings 450SX Class 2026 after 2 of 17 rounds 1. Eli Tomac, 50 points 2. Ken Roczen, 42 3. Hunter Lawrence, 40 8. Aaron Plessinger, 27 9. Jorge Prado, 26 14. Justin Hill, 16 15. RJ Hampshire, 14 16. Malcolm Stewart, 12