Team Outlooks: 2026
January 07, 2026
One of the best parts of a new year? New teams of course!! Some teams remain the same, some teams change for the better, and some teams get worse. We're here to rate the roster changes from 2025 to 2026, and provide general outlooks on each team's year ahead.
HEP Suzuki
Roster Rating: Progressing Forward
Suzuki continues their rebuild. Obviously hiring Roczen a few years ago was huge, but this year will be the second step to that: they now have a former 450SX champ in Jason Anderson. Anderson’s championship winning days are probably gone, but no doubt he has speed to podium and maybe even win races. All of a sudden, the Suzuki team is looking pretty stacked: all former champs in some discipline. Nichols only has room to improve too right?
Honda HRC Progressive
Roster Rating: Staying the Same
2026 was meant to be a continuation of where 2025 left off: dominant for Honda HRC… they kept the same winning rider; no doubt heading into the offseason they were the team to beat. Unfortunately, a couple injuries from their SMX champs (Jett and Jo) heading into the year will greatly deflate their Supercross goals, but they’ll aim to have a healthy roster by Pro Motocross and the ensuing SMX Playoffs. Don’t be surprised if they repeat when it’s all said and done. In the meantime... Hunter and Chance will be underdogs for their respective titles.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Roster Rating: Progressing Forward
Kawasaki did their thing in the offseason by going out and recruiting the sports biggest free agent: Chase Sexton. 2025 will be a year to forget after “health” problems from Anderson and a shit-show with MXGP champ Jorge Prado. There’s only room for improvement now, and no doubt Sexton will deliver that. Kawasaki can get race wins once again, and maybe even a championship. All of that expectation is on Sexton though… their second rider Marchbanks is no doubt just in it to get top 10s and do a solid for the team.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
Roster Rating: Moving Backward
Star Yamaha continues to be a powerhouse: look at the sheer amount of riders they roster, plus the defending SX champ in Webb, and the defending 250SX West champ, 250MX champ, and 250SMX champ in Deegan. However, the Eli Tomac sized-hole they have is going to be hard to fill. Deegan will do his best come Pro Motocross when he will jump up to 450s, but even Deegan (at his current state) can’t replace the legend that is Tomac. Regardless, Star is setting themselves up for the future, and no doubt will get race wins and most likely at least one championship in 2026. Also, who knows? Anstie is great in SX, Brown is a wildcard, plus Davies might be a 250E title contender.
Red Bull KTM
Roster Rating: Staying the Same
KTM lost Sexton and Vialle, but gained Tomac and Prado? So it’s a wash? They should have figured it out with Chase but ultimately it never worked out. Now they have a veteran in Tomac and the former MXGP champ Prado to completely rebuild their image. Plus, don’t count out old reliable Ohio cowboy Plessinger. Unfortunately KTM seems to have given up on the 250 class… their only rostered rider is Beaumer who is starting the year injured and won’t race any Supercross. All in all, despite the vocalized troubles from Sexton in the past couple years, KTM finds themselves with a very solid roster of riders. The only question remains: can they rebuild their reputation from the glory days of Webb/Dungey?
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Roster Rating: Progressing Forward
Husqvarna reaps the benefits of GASGAS not having a team in that they get to carry over more budget plus two 250 riders (Cochran and DiFrancesco). The resulting team is one of the best that Husqvarna has housed in a while… they bring up 250E SX champ Hampshire to the 450s, plus now have Bennick, DiFrancecso, and Cochran in 250s. It’s a full squad!
Triumph Factory Racing
Roster Rating: Staying the Same
Triumph remains loyal to their 2025 riders, but they’re including some of these guys on 450s now. Instead of hiring for the 450 spot they just promoted guys from within. That’s okay, but it’s not a super Triumphant statement / roster. Forkner will get a chance to ride 450s (hopefully he can stay injury-free), but they went all-in on Jordon Smith who has struggled to consistently finish on the 250s let alone compete against the top guys in the sport (450s). Fortunately, Swoll can only get better after a couple years full of injuries, and come outdoors Haarup is a beacon of promise.
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
Roster Rating: Progressing Forward
Welcome to SuperMotocross to Ducati! They’ve put together a team of veterans with Barcia and Ferrandis for their freshman year. Perhaps not the roster for winning, but no doubt they will get some TV time and put their brand out there. It’s a good start for a new manufacturer to the sport. Expect top 10s.
Our Opinions
Scott's Opinion: It's fun to look over the team's and judge them all. Ultimately, they're gonna make the best moves they can. This year, it seems that most teams progressed forward. I think it helps that KTM is picking up a bunch of "loose-leaves" with "high potential" (mainly Prado).