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.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Julien Beaumer will sit out the next two rounds of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship, aiming to regain 100 percent fitness with a goal of returning for Round 9 at Ironman Raceway in mid-August. Beaumer has been experiencing ongoing effects from his heavy crash during the second 250MX moto at High Point last month, with both the 19-year-old and the team collectively making the decision to miss the upcoming Spring Creek and Washougal Nationals. With an additional two-week break in the series scheduled following Washougal, it's anticipated that Beaumer will benefit from that extended time on the sidelines before completing the final three rounds of the outdoors at Ironman Raceway, Unadilla, and Budds Creek onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. After finishing inside the top-five at the opening two rounds of the Pro Motocross season, Beaumer has faced adversity in the following races. After qualifying P5 at RedBud on Saturday, he recorded 16-13 moto finishes for 16th overall and is currently ranked 13th in the championship standings. Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "The last few weeks we noticed Julien just seemed to be off his game and, after digging a bit deeper into his issues and in consultation with a doctor, it seems he is likely having lingering effects from his crash at Round 4 of the series. As our riders' health and safety is always our number one priority, we are taking the doctor’s advice and decided that at this point in time Julien will sit out both the Millville and Washougal rounds."
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
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, winner of the German and Latvian Grands Prix this season with his works KTM 450 SX-F, will miss round 13 of 20 of 2025 MXGP at the KymiRing and for the Finnish Grand Prix on 12-13 July.
