In a move that has electrified the SuperMotocross paddock, eight-time AMA champion Eli Tomac has officially traded blue for orange, joining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing alongside Jorge Prado, Aaron Plessinger, and Julien Beaumer for the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross, Pro Motocross, and SMX seasons.
The blockbuster announcement, unveiled yesterday at KTM North America’s RD Field test facility, ends months of speculation following Tomac’s amicable split from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. The 32-year-old Coloradan, who swept both the 2022 Supercross and Pro Motocross titles aboard Yamaha’s YZ450F, departs after delivering 50 podiums and two championships in four seasons.
Yet the headline-grabbing detail isn’t just the rider—it’s the bike. High-resolution team photos reveal Tomac’s #3 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition fitted with a cable-actuated clutch, a rarity on modern KTMs that have championed hydraulic Brembo units for over two decades.
“It looks pretty on the outside, but it took a lot of work on the inside,” Red Bull KTM Team Manager Ian Harrison told assembled media, confirming the factory went to extraordinary lengths to accommodate Tomac’s long-standing preference.
Tomac first switched to a cable clutch in 2022, citing superior “slip feel” off the gate and finer power modulation during clutch-heavy Supercross mains. “I regulate power more with the clutch than the throttle,” he explained in prior interviews—a riding style that helped him claim 53 career Supercross victories.
KTM’s willingness to re-engineer a core component underscores the mutual respect baked into the multi-year deal. Harrison, a veteran of Ryan Dungey’s dynasty years, added: “We’ve spent a decade trying to beat Eli. Now we’re focused on giving him everything he needs to win.
The 450 squad now boasts three proven winners:
Eli Tomac (#3) – 109 combined AMA wins, steel-frame rookie
Jorge Prado (#26) – Two-time MXGP champion, returning to Austrian roots
Aaron Plessinger (#7) – 2025 Foxborough SX winner, entering his fifth KTM season
Julien Beaumer (#13) rounds out the program on the 250 SX-F Factory Edition, targeting a mid-season return from injury.
Early silhouette images show Tomac’s machine retaining WP PRO COMPONENT cone-valve forks (shared with Prado) while Plessinger sticks with the traditional AER air setup—another sign the team is tailoring equipment to each rider’s feedback.
Industry reaction has been swift. Two-time Supercross champion Chad Reed posted on X: “Cable clutch on a factory KTM? That’s how bad they wanted @elitomac. Respect.” Racer X’s Steve Matthes quipped on the PulpMX Show: “KTM just told every engineer in Mattighofen, ‘Hold my Red Bull.
Testing begins immediately. Tomac, who won San Diego’s muddy 2025 round aboard Yamaha, will spend the off-season dialing in the steel-framed chassis that has eluded him throughout a career spent exclusively on aluminum platforms.
“It’s a fresh start on a bike that’s won everything,” Tomac said, helmet visor lifted beside his orange steed. “The clutch was non-negotiable for me, and they delivered. Now it’s time to go to work.”
Anaheim 1 opens the 2026 Supercross season January 10. For the first time in two decades, the gates will drop with Eli Tomac on an orange missile—and a cable running from his left lever straight to the heart of KTM’s championship ambitions.
Ready to Race, indeed.
