Travis Pastrana, the action sports icon and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, will serve as Grand Marshal of the Yamaha Budds Creek National Presented by Carter CAT on 22nd August 2026. The Maryland native returns to his home race for the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross Championship and Round 27 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season.
The beloved athlete will participate in various festivities throughout the day at Budds Creek Motocross Park, including a special autograph session from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. local time. Following Saturday’s race, Pastrana will head north to Annapolis for the Nitro Circus 2.0 tour at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Sunday, 23rd August.
“The sport of motocross, action sports, and motorsports as a whole have never seen an athlete more gifted and dynamic than Travis Pastrana,” said Ezra Beasley, Organiser at Budds Creek Motocross Park. “No one transcended into the mainstream quite like this happy-go-lucky young kid from Annapolis, who simply loved going fast and pushing the limits of what’s possible.”
Pastrana’s prolific career in motocross began under the mentorship of Roger DeCoster at Suzuki, where he captured the 2000 AMA Motocross 125cc Championship as a rookie and the 2001 AMA Supercross East 125cc Championship. He also helped lead Team USA to victory at the 2000 FIM Motocross of Nations in France.
After stepping away from full-time racing competition following the 2005 season, Pastrana became a teenage freestyle motocross phenomenon, winning countless X Games Gold Medals and revolutionising the sport with tricks that once seemed impossible. His contributions to motorcycling were recognised with his induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
Beyond two wheels, Pastrana has achieved success in rally racing, NASCAR, and offshore powerboat racing. He created Nitro Circus, which evolved from a popular MTV show into a touring spectacle that continues to visit stadiums globally. More recently, he has become a central figure in the Gymkhana series, carrying on the legacy of his late mentor Ken Block.
The Yamaha Budds Creek National takes place on Saturday, 22nd August, with on-track action starting at 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 12:15 p.m. ET. Motos for the 250SMX Class, 450SMX Class, and WMX begin at 1:00 p.m. ET. Live network coverage of the second motos will air on NBC starting at 3:30 p.m. ET, with comprehensive streaming coverage available on Peacock from 10:00 a.m. ET.
Photo: Racer X Archives
