A longtime rumor has now been confirmed as the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing acknowledged Aaron Plessinger’s departure following the conclusion of the 2026 SMX season. Plessinger raced for the team over five seasons and earned 24 total podiums (11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX) along with two 450 Supercross victories.
“These have been some of the best five years of my life, and especially during my career,” Plessinger said. “I’ve had a great time at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and I’m going to miss everybody a lot. Looking back, our results together have been consistently solid over a good stretch of years, which we can be proud of as a team. And the KTM fans, too, their support has meant the world to me and I’m glad that we were able to have a good run for them. Above all, I’m thankful for these years that we were able to spend together. We’ll see you at the races!”
“Working with Aaron over the last five years has been a privilege,” said team manager Ian Harrison. “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 favorite 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. We’d like to thank him for everything he has done for the Red Bull KTM team, and we wish him and his family the very best moving forward. You are family, Mr Plessinger – see you at the races.”
Plessinger joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing just before the 2022 season and opened with a second-place result at round two of the 450SX series in Oakland. He later scored two more overall podiums outdoors that year at both Southwick and Ironman. 2023 season saw further progress, as AP logged two podiums in Supercross and an additional three podium finishes in Pro Motocross en route to third in the championship standings. He also represented Team USA in the MXGP category at the 2023 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France.
Plessinger opened the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship by capturing a first-career 450SX Main Event win in San Diego and took take possession of the red plate, which he held through the following round thanks to another podium at Anaheim 2. He also took a third in Arlington, before his season was cut short with injury. Later that year he logged six podiums at Hangtown, RedBud, Washougal, Unadilla, Budds Creek and Ironman, finishing third in the 450MX standings. Plessinger also contributed to Team USA’s second-place finish on the MXoN podium.
His 2025 450SX season was highlighted by podiums at Daytona, Birmingham and Seattle, along with his second-career victory in Foxborough. He recorded another podium in East Rutherford before starting the Pro Motocross campaign with podiums at Hangtown and Thunder Valley.
