Six-time SMX Champion and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jeff Stanton will serve as Grand Marshal for the 53rd running of the 5.11 RedBud National this Saturday, 4th July 2026. The event marks Round 22 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship and the fifth race of the summer Pro Motocross Championship season.
The announcement was made by MX Sports Pro Racing in partnership with RedBud MX and the Ritchie Family. Stanton, a Michigan native from Sherwood—just 70 miles from the RedBud facility—will make an anticipated homecoming to the venue where he captured victory in 1989.
“Jeff Stanton is a hero to many racers and enthusiasts throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes. He was blessed with exceptional natural talent, but what set him apart was a determination and work ethic that turned into championships and built a Hall of Fame career,” said Amy Ritchie, Co-Owner of RedBud MX. “Given the significance of this year’s race taking place on America’s 250th Anniversary, we felt the timing was perfect to make him our Grand Marshal.”
Stanton’s decorated career saw him capture three Supercross and three Pro Motocross titles over eight years. What makes his six combined championships particularly impressive is that he won each respective title consecutively, sweeping both the 250cc Supercross and Pro Motocross championships in 1989, 1990, and 1992. This feat places Stanton in elite company alongside Ricky Carmichael as the only riders in history to accomplish the sweep on three or more occasions.
At RedBud specifically, Stanton never finished off the overall podium in six 250cc starts at the venue. His sole victory came during the 1989 event, cementing his connection to the iconic Michigan facility. Throughout his career, Stanton amassed 37 SMX wins in both 250cc and 500cc competition and became a star on the international stage with multiple U.S. Grand Prix victories and three Motocross of Nations triumphs with Team USA.
Inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000, six years after his final race, Stanton now shares his passion for off-road riding through Jeff Stanton Adventures, based in Michigan as the first official Triumph Accredited Adventure Partner in North America. He has served as an ambassador for Triumph and played a key role in the British manufacturer’s entry into SMX competition.
The 5.11 RedBud National takes place Saturday, 4th July, with on-track action starting at 8 a.m. ET, opening ceremonies at 12:15 p.m. ET, and motos for the 250SMX and 450SMX classes beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Live streaming coverage will air exclusively on Peacock, with Race Day Live starting at 10 a.m. ET.
Photo: MX Sports Pro Racing Media
