Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has confirmed the departure of Aaron Plessinger following five seasons with the Austrian manufacturer, bringing to a close a successful partnership that delivered 24 podiums and two premier class victories across AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross competition.
The popular American rider, known as ‘The Cowboy’, joined the factory team ahead of the 2022 season and quickly made his mark with a second-place finish at Oakland in just his second 450SX outing aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. His debut year also included two overall podiums in Pro Motocross at Southwick and Ironman.
Plessinger’s progress continued through 2023, with the Ohio native securing third overall in the 450MX championship standings alongside five combined podiums across both disciplines. He also represented Team USA at the Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France, competing in the MXGP category.
The 2024 season proved to be a career highlight, as Plessinger captured his maiden 450SX main event victory in San Diego and claimed the championship red plate. Further podiums at Anaheim 2 and Arlington followed before injury curtailed his indoor campaign. He bounced back outdoors with six podium finishes to claim third in the 450MX standings for the second consecutive year, before finishing fourth in the SuperMotocross World Championship. His season concluded with another MXoN appearance at Matterley Basin, where he contributed to Team USA’s runner-up finish in the Open class.
The 2025 campaign brought another victory at Foxborough alongside podiums at Daytona, Birmingham, Seattle and East Rutherford in Supercross, whilst Pro Motocross included top-three results at Hangtown and Thunder Valley before illness disrupted his season. Plessinger completed the 2026 SMX World Championship with the team despite injury setbacks, with his final race coming at the SMX Final in Ridgedale, Missouri.
“These have been some of the best five years of my life, and especially during my career – I’ve had a great time at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and I’m going to miss everybody a lot,” said Plessinger. “Looking back, our results together have been consistently solid over a good stretch of years, which we can be proud of as a team.”
Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team manager, added: “Working with Aaron over the last five years has been a privilege. He brought with him a unique personality, always making those around feel like a part of his inner-circle, and his cowboy style made him a favourite with the fans and our team. From race wins and podiums to some challenging moments along the way, Aaron always represented Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with passion, professionalism, and determination.”
Over his five-year tenure, Plessinger recorded 11 podiums in 450SX and 13 in 450MX, establishing himself as one of the most engaging personalities in the SuperMotocross paddock. The team thanked him for his contributions and wished him well for future endeavours.
Photo: KTM Media
