And it is now official: Austin Forkner will not be racing for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki in 2025. He has been linked to a new deal with Triumph, but that has not been announced yet. Today Forkner thanked Kawasaki for 14 years of support.
After a successful amateur career with Kawasaki Team Green, Forkner turned pro for the 2016 AMA Pro Motocross Championship and earned his first overall win at the season finale Ironman National. Forkner put in solid results in Pro Motocross, but he really excelled in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, where he racked up race wins and podiums and held the championship leading red plate in a handful of different seasons. The 2019 season will go down as a tough one for Payton's squad, as both the 250SX West Region (Adam Cianciarulo) and 250SX East Region (Forkner) had late miscues that cost each of them a title. Though the ups and downs and all of the injuries, Forkner sill showed up, gave his all, and was able to return and fight for race wins. A 250SX title has thus far eluded him, including another tough loss in 2020 after a season-long battle with Dylan Ferrandis. Forkner scored back-to-back wins in Salt Lake City to close in on Ferrandis in points, but needed to win the final round to win the title. He crashed out of the race trying to get to the lead.
Unfortunately, Forkner's 2024 season was all-too familiar: huge win to start the season followed by a horrible crash that ended his season. His win at the season opening Detroit Supercross was more smooth than prior wins though. He appeared effortlessly fast. It seemed he had harnessed his usual speed and really worked to clean up the small things to make it look easy. And same went for his main event at the second round in Texas, until with just a few laps to go, he had a big crash. This go round, the Missouri native was truly lucky for it not to be worse. Ejected off the bike and landing on the concrete with a large impact to his head/neck/shoulder, it was incredible to see him walking to the medical cart on his own feet. Read about his brutal crash late in the Arlington Supercross. Once again, his season was over and he was forced to rehab and recovery and build for the next season. Throw in an arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and he added brain surgery to his long resume of surgeries.
Note: Forkner earned national number #83 for 2025, his highest national number to date.
![Forkner in the 2017 pre-season photo shoot.]()
Forkner in the 2017 pre-season photo shoot. Kawasaki ![Forkner at the 2017 Las Vegas Supercross, his rookie season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross.]()
Forkner at the 2017 Las Vegas Supercross, his rookie season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Rich Shepherd ![Forkner winning the 2020 St. Louis Supercross.]()
Forkner winning the 2020 St. Louis Supercross. Align Media ![Forkner during the 2023 Ironman National.]()
Forkner during the 2023 Ironman National. Align Media ![Forkner winning the 2024 Detroit Supercross season opener.]()
Forkner winning the 2024 Detroit Supercross season opener. Align Media
In an August interview with DMXS Radio's David Izer, Forkner hinted towards being in talks for 2025 with both Kawasaki and Triumph Racing. At the time, nothing was signed but we had heard Forkner was leaning towards leaving Kawasaki. Listen to the excellent interview if you missed it, which covers a majority of topics both on and off the track.
Recently, Forkner's trainer Ryan Hughes posted on Instagram that Forkner would be moving to go train and race for Triumph in a quickly deleted Instagram post. Forkner had been quiet on his end, until today.
Now, the news is official that Forkner will in fact be on a different team and motorcycle in 2025, for the first time in his nearly decade-long career. In total, Forkner racked up 13th 250SX main event wins (he is the active 250SX field leader) in his time with Kawasaki.
An announcement of Forkner signing with Triumph Racing is expected soon. For now, check out Forkner's post thanking Kawasaki, Mitch Payton, and Team Green manager Ryan Holliday.
“14 years with @racekawasaki @foxracing and about half of that with @pcraceteam . From Ryan Holliday and team green to Tod and Aaron at Fox who signed me originally, then to Mitch and the whole pc team and Kenny at Fox now, as well as everyone else who’s been apart of my program I want to say thank you. Everything comes to an end eventually, but I appreciate the effort from everyone over the years and I’ll cherish the good times and memories with each and every one of these guys. Thank you for believing in me, sticking by me, and being more than just a team. I’ve made some lifelong relationships and I am forever grateful. THANK YOU”
