SPIRITED RIDE EARNS RED BULL KTM'S CHASE SEXTON DETROIT PODIUM FINISH

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton put in a spirited performance during Round 6 of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, charging from last place on the opening lap of the Main Event to finish in third position on the podium.

Sexton powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the top of the 450SX Class qualifying timesheets for the second successive round, notching pole position with a 47.353 laptime around the indoor Ford Field layout.

Continuing the momentum in his Heat Race, Sexton rocketed out of the gates and crossed the stripe behind teammate Aaron Plessinger, making it a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1-2 during the opening laps. Sexton would eventually make a pass on his teammate, and breeze to the Heat Race victory.

The Main Event didn’t get off to the best of starts for Sexton, who mistimed the gate and was held up whilst the field took off. However, in true championship form, the former red plate-holder clawed his way through the field, never giving up as he surged to third place to maintain the joint series lead.

Chase Sexton: "It wasn’t a win, although sometimes these are the ones that stick with you more because you put so much heart and fight into it. These types of rides mean a lot, even though it wasn’t a win, it was the best that I could do tonight.”

It was another holeshot for ‘The Cowboy’ in the Main Event, who held tough at the front of the 450SX Class during the early stages. Feeling the effects of being under the weather at around the halfway mark, Plessinger would finish his night in Detroit with P9.

Aaron Plessinger:  "I felt pretty good all day on the bike in Detroit, although off the bike wasn’t ideal. My chest was burning a bit, and it was a struggle. Holeshot the Heat Race, led the race and then got fourth. Same deal with the Main Event, I holeshot, led early on, and ended up finishing in ninth. We’ll go back, recover, and come out swinging in Arlington.”

Defending 250SX East Class Champion Tom Vialle opened his Detroit weekend by recording the fourth-fastest qualifying time onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before racing to fifth place in his Heat Race after a minor mishap.

A mid-field start for Vialle in the Main Event had the Frenchman's work cut out for him, as he steadily made his way forward throughout the duration of the race. In a solid performance, Vialle finished with a fourth-place finish in Round 2 of the Eastern Division.

Tom Vialle: "I finished fourth in Detroit, very close to the podium. We had a great Main Event, started around position six or seven, came back to third, and then they red-flagged the race toward the end. I ended up with fourth, although we’re going in the right direction – the speed is good, and we’ll get ready for Daytona in two weeks.”

Next Race: February 22 – Arlington, Texas

Results 450SX Class – Detroit
1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
4. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
7. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
9. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
10. Justin Hill (KTM)
18. Kevin Moranz (KTM)
20. Anthony Rodriguez (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 6 of 17 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 121 points
2. Cooper Webb, 121
3. Ken Roczen, 105
5. Malcolm Stewart, 95
7. Justin Barcia, 83
10. Justin Hill, 69
13. Aaron Plessinger, 53

Results 250SX East Class – Detroit
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
2. Max Anstie (Yamaha)
3. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
4. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
14. Gage Linville (KTM)
20. Ayden Shive (KTM)

Standings 250SX East Class 2025 after 2 of 10 rounds
1. Max Anstie, 47 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 38
3. Tom Vialle, 35
14. Gage Linville, 18
25. Ayden Shive, 2

KTM NEWS

THE 2026 KTM OFFROAD LINEUP IS COMING

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We’re kicking off a new season with clear goals and a bold approach. The 2026 KTM Offroad lineup is on its way, and this is where you’ll find everything you need to know. This page is your official source for the full launch timeline. As each category goes live, we’ll update it with all the latest info. Whether you're into full-size Motocross, Mini machines, Cross Country, or Enduro, we’ve got something coming your way.

CHASE SEXTON AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING EARN CHARLOTTE SMX PLAYOFF PODIUM

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A weather-affected commencement to the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoffs at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton earn second overall as a result of his Moto 1 score this afternoon, with the second 450SMX and 250SMX motos canceled following an extended delay due to lightning in the area. Sexton powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the fastest time in combined qualifying while working his way back into racing after a stint on the sidelines, before charging to a hard-fought P2 finish in Moto 1 as he surged forward through the field. With lightning emerging directly following the first 450SMX race, teams and riders were then placed in a holding pattern waiting for the weather to pass, however, it didn’t materialize as the event was eventually called altogether. As a result, Sexton’s Moto 1 score is where he would finish overall in the first of three post-season rounds, with the next event taking place at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend. He has also climbed to second in the overall SMX standings. Chase Sexton: "Round one of the Playoffs here in Charlotte was a good day. I qualified first, then finished second in Moto 1 after getting a really good start – I just went too wide and had to come back from fifth or so. I had a good flow, even if the track was really sketchy today, so I’m happy to be leaving healthy. We go into the next race nine points down, and we have double and triple points upcoming. It’s time to shine and have some good upcoming weekends.” In 250SMX, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Tom Vialle qualified eighth fastest onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, navigating the ultra-technical zMAX Dragway layout to earn P7 in Moto 1 after making a strong start. Without contesting a second moto, the two-time MX2 world champion and reigning 250SX East title-holder collected seventh overall for the day. Tom Vialle: “We couldn’t ride the second moto here in Charlotte because of the weather, which is unfortunate. I had a great start in Moto 1, and I think I was in fourth, but I was struggling a little bit with getting comfortable on the track – it was really deep all weekend on both Friday and Saturday. I finished seventh and that was the result for today, as they canceled the second moto. We’ll get back to training and be ready for next weekend and then the Final, which will be very important with all the points on the line.” 250SMX teammate Julien Beaumer endured a more difficult day at SMX Playoff 1, recording the 11th fastest time in the opening 250SMX qualifying session on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before an incident in the second timed session ended his weekend early. The 19-year-old was transported to hospital, where it was confirmed that he sustained a burst fracture of his L3 vertebra and has since undergone surgery to stabilize the injury. Next Race: September 13 – St. Louis, Missouri Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 2. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 5. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 13. Justin Hill (KTM) Standings 450SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds 1. Jett Lawrence, 47 points 2. Chase Sexton, 38 3. Justin Cooper, 36 7. RJ Hampshire, 29 9. Justin Barcia, 25 12. Malcolm Stewart, 20 13. Aaron Plessinger, 14 Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) 3. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 6. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) 7. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 250SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds 1. Haiden Deegan, 50 points 2. Jo Shimoda, 42 3. Seth Hammaker, 34 4. Tom Vialle, 33 9. Ryder DiFrancesco, 23 14. Julien Beaumer, 15

ONGOING RECOVERY RULES AARON PLESSINGER OUT OF SMX FINALS SERIES

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing fan favorite Aaron Plessinger has unfortunately been ruled out of the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series, prioritizing his health while still working to regain 100 percent fitness. Plessinger sat out the final four rounds of the Pro Motocross season while aiming to recover in time for SMX Playoff 1 scheduled for this Saturday, September 6, at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, but the decision has now been made to focus on 2026. After finishing sixth in the 450SX standings at the conclusion of Supercross, 'The Cowboy' went on to claim P8 in 450MX outdoors despite missing the final portion of the series. As a result, he earned his place in the playoffs as the eighth seed overall. Although he will be unable to mount his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend, Plessinger will be on location to meet fans alongside his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Chase Sexton, Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer, who are all READY TO RACE and will be back on track for the playoffs. Aaron Plessinger: "Unfortunate news, but as much as I would like to race these next few races in SMX, what I've been dealing with is taking a little bit longer than expected to come back around, so I'm sitting these next three out. I will be at Charlotte though, signing autographs and hanging out so come and see me, but as far as training and racing goes, I will be getting ready for 2026 once I am back on the bike. For myself and also my health heading into next season, this is the best move. I just wanted to say good luck to all my team and all of my teammates – go get 'em, boys!" Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "As much as we love having Aaron at the races every weekend, recovery is the top priority and although he is on the mend he is still not one 100 percent just yet. With that, he will miss the three SMX rounds, but all is not lost for his race fans as The Cowboy will be in Charlotte this weekend to meet with fans and cheer on his teammates."