Ryan Nitzen | October 16, 2023
It’s official. Chase Sexton joins the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for 2024 and beyond in a multi-year deal that starts with the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season. Sexton will defend his number one plate in the 2024 Supercross series before debuting a new career number 4 during the Pro Motocross schedule.
*Scroll down for update, October 16, 2023: Sexton visits KTM HQ for the first time
Chase Sexton joins the KTM Factory Racing Team for 2024 and beyond. Photos: KTM
“I’m extremely excited to join the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization,” Sexton said. “Not only is the equipment top-notch, but the team personnel and their drive to win is, too. From the first time I walked in those doors, Roger [De Coster], Ian [Harrison], the team, and the entire KTM company have been nothing but accommodating. I think we have a bright future together and I’m eager to get to work.”
Sexton still wears Alpinestars head to toe.
From KTM: Introducing Chase Sexton, the reigning 450SX Champion and latest addition to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ahead of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season.
The 24-year-old will begin to defend his 2023 AMA Supercross Championship onboard the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition when the gate drops in January at Anaheim 1, Ready to Race into an exciting new era for both himself and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization.
Sexton will sport number-one in Supercross before moving to number-four for outdoors.
Sexton has officially united with KTM to contest the AMA Supercross Championship, AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and high-profile SMX Finals Series in a multi-year commitment, also adopting a striking, new single-digit career number of four entering this next stage of his professional career.
But first, the Illinois-raised Sexton will line up with the No. one plate in his 450SX title defense and is already getting down to business in a bid to commence his highly-anticipated partnership with KTM at the highest of levels together from the outset.
Sexton at the KTM test track.
Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Our goal with Chase from the onset is to make him feel welcomed and truly at home with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. During these early days, we are working toward preparing a great race package for both Chase and the team to build from. I really think that we can deliver the full factory support system that he longs for and deserves, and I also feel strongly that Chase will continue to elevate the team and our riders to a stronger position. We look forward to being in the fight in 2024 and thank him for trusting in us.”
Sexton with Roger Decoster (left) and Ian Harrison (right).
Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports, North America: “We are always watching and looking at riders progressing through their early years and Chase’s progress has been very impressive. I am impressed by his determination and tenacity on the track, as well as his professionalism in the way that he handles himself off the track, and our entire U.S. team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work and grow with Chase in the coming years. Our brand values align with those of Chase, so collectively we are really excited to see what the future has in store for both of us and what we can all achieve together.”
Intro Video
Red Bull KTM’s new Supercross star visits KTM HQ for the first time
KTM swung open the doors to their Motorsports HQ this week and welcomed brand new AMA Supercross and Motocross racer—2023 450SX Champion—Chase Sexton, for the 24-year-old’s first visit and look around the factory.
The following is a press released from KTM…
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s fresh recruit travelled to Munderfing to meet the technical team and all the staff behind the creation of the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition that he will race in the 2024 AMA 450SX series, the AMA Pro Motocross 450 Class championship and the three-round ‘play-off’ SuperMotocross contest that ties up both ‘indoor’ and ‘outdoor’ disciplines. Sexton is one of the brightest stars of the busy and immensely popular U.S. racing scene after fighting all summer for the 2022 motocross crown (that went down to the final moto) and then ran hot into 2023 supercross where he was able to lift the coveted title.
Before an intense schedule of testing and preparation takes place with a view to Anaheim 1 in January—the opening date of supercross usually falls close to the launch of the Dakar rally and kicks the new international racing season off at full gas—Sexton had the full orange immersion in Austria.
He toured the 9500m2 Motorsport building where the machinery for motocross, Enduro, Rally and MotoGP are readied for almost 70 factory racers, and all the support vehicles, material and structures are housed. Then after a blast around the block with Member of the Board Hubert Trunkenpolz in a X-BOW GT-XR he threaded through the factory assembly lines in Mattighofen where he was able to watch the 2024 KTM 450 SX-F being built, the base of the motorcycle he’ll steer in competition next year, as the bike rolled away from processing. Lastly Chase was able to get familiar with the full KTM story and a racing heritage that now counts on nearly 340 different FIM world titles thanks to the vivid display in the KTM Motohall.
Chase will front 2024 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in North America with Aaron Plessinger, Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer as teammates.
Chase Sexton: “Very cool! It’s been special to come here and meet everybody, see how the heart of the KTM racing program and also where my race bike is born. Then in the Motohall learning all the history and the racing story of KTM is very motivating; it makes me want to get on the bike and ride right now. KTM are very successful, definitely a winning manufacturer, and my plan is to get them back on top and to keep that rolling. At the factory I’d never really seen anything like the assembly lines before and the variety of motorcycles being built and how fast they are done by hand. I won’t forget this day.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “When we brought Chase into our structure and family we knew we were welcoming a fantastic motorcycle racer, but also a very warm and positive character. Having him here and being able to show the spirit and the organization that will be right behind him next year was a crucial moment and the best way to officially begin our story. It means Chase can connect even more with us and the company when he is racing in our colors on the other side of the world and in a very important market and championship. It was good to see how impressed he was by everything, and I think it helps him know the full force that he can count on. We really believe in his talent and his mentality and I thank him for putting his trust in us. I’m looking forward to seeing what memories we can create together.”
