Aaron Plessinger Out for SMX Playoffs, Focus Shifts to 2026
We have an update on Aaron Plessinger, and unfortunately for fans of the #7, this is not the news they wanted to see. KTM has announced Plessinger will miss all three rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoffs.
Plessinger started the AMA Pro Motocross Championship off with overall finishes of 4-2-3-4-7 before missing points in three straight motos between the RedBud National (6-DNS) and the Spring Creek National (DNF-DNS). The #7 machine was still for the Washougal National as Plessinger In early August, KTM announced Plessinger would be sidelined for the remainder of Pro Motocross (three rounds left at that point). Now, the team announced he will be out for the three SMX Playoffs as well. Below is the full press release.
Ongoing Recovery Rules Aaron Plessinger Out of SMX Finals Series
MURRIETA, Calif. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing fan favorite Aaron Plessinger has unfortunately been ruled out of the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series, prioritizing his health while still working to regain 100 percent fitness.
Plessinger sat out the final four rounds of the Pro Motocross season while aiming to recover in time for SMX Playoff 1 scheduled for this Saturday, September 6, at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, but the decision has now been made to focus on 2026.
After finishing sixth in the 450SX standings at the conclusion of Supercross, 'The Cowboy' went on to claim P8 in 450MX outdoors despite missing the final portion of the series. As a result, he earned his place in the playoffs as the eighth seed overall.
Although he will be unable to mount his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend, Plessinger will be on location to meet fans alongside his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Chase Sexton, Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer, who are all READY TO RACE and will be back on track for the playoffs.
Aaron Plessinger
"Unfortunate news, but as much as I would like to race these next few races in SMX, what I've been dealing with is taking a little bit longer than expected to come back around, so I'm sitting these next three out. I will be at Charlotte though, signing autographs and hanging out so come and see me, but as far as training and racing goes, I will be getting ready for 2026 once I am back on the bike. For myself and also my health heading into next season, this is the best move. I just wanted to say good luck to all my team and all of my teammates – go get 'em, boys!"
Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager
"As much as we love having Aaron at the races every weekend, recovery is the top priority and although he is on the mend he is still not one 100 percent just yet. With that, he will miss the three SMX rounds, but all is not lost for his race fans as The Cowboy will be in Charlotte this weekend to meet with fans and cheer on his teammates."
