Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has formally announced the biggest news of the 2024 pre-season, that reigning 450SX champion Chase Sexton will defend this title onboard the 450 SX-F Factory Edition after making a high profile exit from Team Honda HRC.

Sexton, who recently turned 24, clinched a first-career Monster Energy Supercross crown with Honda in May, but has been linked to KTM through much of this year and confirmed his departure last week.

Now, KTM has made it official that when the gate drops in January at Anaheim 1, Sexton will race into an exciting new era for both himself and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization.

Sexton has officially united with KTM to contest the AMA Supercross Championship, AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals Series in a multi-year commitment, also adopting a striking, new single-digit career number of four entering this next stage of his professional career.

But first, the Illinois-raised Sexton will line up with the number one plate in his 450SX title defense and is already getting down to business in a bid to commence his highly-anticipated partnership with KTM at the highest of levels together from the outset.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization,” commented Sexton. “Not only is the equipment top-notch, but the team personnel and their drive to win is, too.

“From the first time I walked in those doors, Roger [De Coster], Ian [Harrison], the team, and the entire KTM company have been nothing but accommodating. I think we have a bright future together and I’m eager to get to work.”

Sexton clinched his maiden 450 class Supercross championship this year with six main event victories to his credit and went on to claim fourth position in the final 450MX standings, despite missing multiple rounds in the first half of the outdoors.

He then placed P3 overall following the inaugural SMX post-season to complete the marathon 31-round schedule, winning the hybrid-type Charlotte event to open the playoffs, and once again established himself as a legitimate title challenger across each discipline in taking the championship down to the wire.

“Our goal with Chase from the onset is to make him feel welcomed and truly at home with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team,” said Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team manager. “During these early days, we are working toward preparing a great race package for both Chase and the team to build from.

“I really think that we can deliver the full factory support system that he longs for and deserves, and I also feel strongly that Chase will continue to elevate the team and our riders to a stronger position. We look forward to being in the fight in 2024 and thank him for trusting in us.”

The competitive debut of Sexton and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is scheduled to take place at round one of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship – again doubling as the SMX season-opener – in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, 6 January.