Aaron Plessinger signs two-year Triumph deal after KTM run
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 30, 2026
Plessinger leaves KTM
Aaron Plessinger has signed a two-year deal with 5.11 Triumph Factory Racing, a move that sends him to the TF 450-X in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross and ends his five-season run with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. The switch gives Triumph another proven 450 rider for its SuperMotocross push, and it gives Plessinger a new factory ride after years with KTM. He joined KTM ahead of the 2022 season and spent the rest of his time there as one of the team’s most consistent points scorers, with results that kept him in the mix across both major disciplines. Triumph said the move strengthens its program and adds depth to a lineup that is still taking shape in the premier class. For Plessinger, the deal keeps him on a full factory path, with the same focus on Supercross and outdoor motocross that has defined his career. The team change also closes a long chapter with KTM, where he built a résumé that includes podiums, wins and steady front-running runs against the sport’s best.
Triumph adds Plessinger
Triumph said Plessinger will bolster its SuperMotocross program, and he will join Jordon Smith in the brand’s 450 program, which is entering its second season of 450-class competition. That gives Triumph another established name at the top level and pairs Plessinger with a rider already inside the organization. The company also outlined a clear introduction plan for its newest addition. Plessinger’s first official Triumph appearance will come at the company’s Global Dealer Conference in Thailand, then he will return to the team’s facility near Atlanta, Georgia, for testing and bike setup. From there, his first competition on a Triumph will be the Paris Supercross, followed by his American debut on the new bike at Angel Stadium. The schedule gives Triumph time to work through the details that matter with a new rider and a new machine, from suspension feel to race-day setup. It also puts Plessinger in position to get meaningful seat time before the full load of AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross racing begins. For a factory program trying to build momentum in the 450 class, the addition of a rider with Plessinger’s track record brings immediate credibility and a clear point of reference for the rest of the team.
Plessinger’s KTM record
Plessinger leaves KTM with 24 podiums across AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, a run that included 11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX. He also won two 450SX races while riding for KTM, first in San Diego and again in Foxborough. Those wins stand out because they came at the highest level of the class, where a rider has to turn speed into finishes against deep fields and demanding schedules. His KTM tenure delivered both consistency and peak results, and the numbers show that he was a regular threat to finish near the front. The podium count across the two series gives Triumph a rider who has already produced in the same arenas he will race for his new team. It also leaves KTM replacing a rider who spent years contributing in both Supercross and motocross. Plessinger’s move matters because it shifts a rider with a known record of front-running form into a program that wants to keep building in the 450 class. Triumph gets a veteran with podium experience and race-winning pace. Plessinger gets a fresh start on a new bike with a team that expects him to be part of its next step in SuperMotocross.
