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

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.

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)