Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has confirmed Aaron Plessinger will leave the team after five seasons, bringing an end to a partnership that produced two 450SX victories and 24 podium finishes.
Plessinger joined KTM ahead of the 2022 season and quickly put the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition on the podium, finishing second at Oakland in just his second 450SX appearance with the team. He added outdoor podiums at Southwick and Ironman later that year.
His results continued to build in 2023, with two Supercross podiums and three Pro Motocross podiums helping him finish third in the 450MX Championship. Plessinger also represented Team USA at the Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France.
The breakthrough victory finally arrived in 2024. Plessinger won the San Diego 450SX Main Event to claim his first premier-class Supercross victory and briefly take control of the championship red plate. His Supercross campaign was later cut short by injury, but he returned outdoors to score six podiums and finish third in the 450MX standings for the second consecutive year.
Plessinger also finished fourth in the 2024 SMX World Championship before representing Team USA at the Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin, where the Americans finished second.
A second 450SX victory followed at Foxborough in 2025 as part of a season that included five Supercross podiums. Plessinger then opened the Pro Motocross campaign with podiums at Hangtown and Thunder Valley before illness interrupted his season.
His final year with KTM proved more difficult, with multiple injury setbacks disrupting his 2026 campaign. Plessinger returned for the SMX post-season and finished the championship 10th overall after the finale in Ridgedale, Missouri.
Across five seasons in orange, Plessinger accumulated 24 podiums – 11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX – along with his two premier-class 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.”
KTM has not announced Plessinger’s next move.
