Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has announced a significant restructuring of its MXGP management ahead of the 2027 season, with long-serving team manager Joel Smets departing the organisation and Stefan Simpson stepping into the role.
Smets, a five-time world champion who claimed his final title on KTM SX-F technology, had been an integral part of the factory team’s management and advisory staff since 2015. During his tenure, the Belgian played a crucial role in developing Grand Prix winners and world champions including Tom Vialle, Jorge Prado, and Andrea Adamo. KTM Motorsport expressed heartfelt thanks to Smets for his contributions to the programme’s success.
Simpson, an Austria-based Scotsman, brings extensive experience to the position. The former Red Bull KTM mechanic from 2009 and 2010 has accumulated over 15 years of technical and R&D expertise within the company. For the past two years, Simpson has held a crucial development management position directly related to the race team, making him well-positioned to oversee the full motocross Grand Prix operation at KTM Motorsports.
The appointment comes as Red Bull KTM looks to maintain its elite competitiveness in both MXGP and MX2 divisions. In 2026, the factory team demonstrated its strength by winning Grands Prix with three of its four riders and holding both red plates with the KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F motorcycles. KTM also acknowledged other loyal staff members who have been part of the MXGP success story since the inception of the current world championship formula in 2004.
“The last fifteen years of my career has been building up to this position. There are some big shoes to fill,” Simpson said. “I want to thank Robert and Pit for believing in me. It was an opportunity to seize, and I will give it everything. We have a good group of people, and the company are fully behind us for the seasons ahead, so I’m confident. This team has won many titles and we’re already full steam ahead for 2027.”
Robert Jonas, KTM Director Offroad Racing, commented: “As the years pass a race team reinvents itself and the priority for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is to keep the high quality and consistency to regularly fight for world championships. Stefan brings knowledge of the sport and the company but also the KTM mentality to competition and we know the project will be in very good hands.”
Confirmation of the full athlete roster for 2027 and beyond will be announced shortly.
Photo: KTM Media
