Amid swirling rumors of team restructuring, KTM has taken a step toward clarifying its 2026 SMX World Championship plans. Ian Harrison, head of the U.S. program, confirmed the team will field three 450SMX riders and scale its 250MX effort back to a single entry.

Julien Beaumer–second in the 250SX West Championship–is locked in as the squad's 250SMX star. With a contract in place and momentum behind him, expectations are high after his near-miss in supercross. 2026 will mark the first time that KTM has run just one 250 SX-F since 2011, when Ken Roczen raced part-time in the U.S. The GASGAS side of PIERER Mobility is expected to run Ryder DiFrancesco in 250SMX as well.

The 450SMX line-up has been the source of much debate; Tom Vialle's future was unclear until the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross standings were finalized. Meanwhile, Chase Sexton's next step remains undetermined. Vialle thrived in 250SX East competition, winning the title and cementing his move into 450SMX. Contract discussions accelerated as a result and he should have put pen to paper before this piece is published.

"We went through a lot this year and things are a little bit stacked up," Harrison recalled. "Tom is in line for a 450SMX ride and I think that he is truly deserving. If you win two supercross titles, I feel like you deserve a shot in the 450SMX class and we want to do that. We have Julien–who has one more year on his contract–and Aaron Plessinger for next year. Tom is close and then we are a little bit up in the air with the other seat."

Michael Lindsay

The final seat will be occupied by either Sexton–who has held the role for the past two years–or Eli Tomac. The latter is the undoubted frontrunner, especially amid reports that Yamaha has informed him there is no space for 2026. A rider of Tomac's stature is not cheap and, with a well-paid Cooper Webb and incoming Haiden Deegan, Yamaha's 450SMX roster is already stretched to the limit.

The idea of Tomac in KTM colors is an intriguing twist, given the decade-long rivalry between them. There are plenty of battle scars there–think of the controversial team orders that helped KTM's Dungey gain points on Tomac at East Rutherford in 2017. Yet, this unexpected alliance could offer both sides the chance to rewrite the narrative and silence the skeptics amid uncertainty for both.

KTM has dominated headlines for unfavorable reasons for the better part of a year, as an internal financial crisis called their operations into question. Uncertainty clouded their race effort but now, thanks to an injection of cash from Bajaj Auto, race teams in different corners of the world can adopt a 'ready to race' approach once more. To crest the top of the podium in 2026–whether via a fan favorite, underrated rookie or beloved veteran–would banish those negative notions.