Ken Roczen was crowned the 2026 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to the American Motorcyclist Association, Roczen secured the title by finishing fifth in the season finale, edging out Hunter Lawrence by three points in the final standings.
Roczen secured the championship by finishing fifth in the season finale on May 9, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, officials from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) confirmed. His fifth-place finish edged out Hunter Lawrence, who finished seventh in the race, by a narrow three-point margin in the final standings.
The official 450SX points tally lists Roczen with 349 points to Lawrence?s 346, confirming the closest title battle of the season, according to AMA records.
The Salt Lake City round marked the 17th and final race of the 2026 AMA Supercross 450SX season. Chase Sexton won the main event, but it was Roczen?s consistent performance throughout the season that ultimately secured his first premier-class AMA Supercross championship. Both Roczen and Lawrence recorded five main-event victories and 12 podium finishes during the 17-round series, underscoring their dominance and consistency, according to Cycle News and MCNews reports.
Roczen?s path to the championship was marked by a significant comeback. Midway through the season, Lawrence held a commanding 31-point lead over Roczen, as documented by Dirthub. Roczen narrowed the gap with key victories, including his fourth win of the year in Cleveland and another in St. Louis, which NBC Sports noted helped close the points difference to just one point late in the season. AMA?s official season summary described the championship as a ?tight back-and-forth throughout the season? culminating in Roczen?s narrow victory.
Roczen?s 2026 title carries historical significance. At 32 years old, he became the oldest rider ever to win the AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, according to Red Bull and AMA sources. He is also the first European rider to claim the premier-class title in 35 years and the first German-born champion in the division, with his birthplace listed as Mattstedt, Germany. This championship represents Roczen?s first 450 AMA Supercross crown after multiple runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2021, AMA officials confirmed.
Roczen competed this season for the Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki team, marking Suzuki?s first 450SX championship since Ryan Dungey?s 2010 title. The team affiliation was noted in AMA?s official release congratulating Roczen. His victory returns the premier-class title to Suzuki after a 16-year gap, according to team statements and industry records.
Roczen?s career includes the 2011 MX2 World Championship, two 450cc AMA Motocross titles, and two FIM WSX World Supercross championships. With 28 premier-class main event wins prior to clinching the 2026 title, his career achievements were highlighted by AMA and Red Bull as reaching a new peak with this championship.
The AMA and various media outlets widely recognized the dramatic nature of the championship battle. Racer X reported that Roczen overcame a 31-point deficit and a near career-ending arm injury to claim the 450SX #1 plate. MCNews described the final round as a ?title fight balanced on a single point,? emphasizing the competitiveness of the season-long duel. Social media and motocross news platforms also circulated announcements of Roczen?s title win, confirming broad acknowledgment within the sport.
The 2026 AMA Supercross season concluded with Roczen as champion and Lawrence as runner-up, the only rider to finish within single digits of Roczen?s points total. The championship?s outcome solidifies Roczen?s place in AMA Supercross history and sets a benchmark for future seasons, as detailed in official AMA communications and season-end reports.
Ken Roczen was crowned the 2026 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to the American Motorcyclist Association, Roczen secured the title by finishing fifth in the season finale, edging out Hunter Lawrence by three points in the final standings.
Roczen secured the championship by finishing fifth in the season finale on May 9, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, officials from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) confirmed. His fifth-place finish edged out Hunter Lawrence, who finished seventh in the race, by a narrow three-point margin in the final standings.
The official 450SX points tally lists Roczen with 349 points to Lawrence?s 346, confirming the closest title battle of the season, according to AMA records.
The Salt Lake City round marked the 17th and final race of the 2026 AMA Supercross 450SX season. Chase Sexton won the main event, but it was Roczen?s consistent performance throughout the season that ultimately secured his first premier-class AMA Supercross championship. Both Roczen and Lawrence recorded five main-event victories and 12 podium finishes during the 17-round series, underscoring their dominance and consistency, according to Cycle News and MCNews reports.
Roczen?s path to the championship was marked by a significant comeback. Midway through the season, Lawrence held a commanding 31-point lead over Roczen, as documented by Dirthub. Roczen narrowed the gap with key victories, including his fourth win of the year in Cleveland and another in St. Louis, which NBC Sports noted helped close the points difference to just one point late in the season. AMA?s official season summary described the championship as a ?tight back-and-forth throughout the season? culminating in Roczen?s narrow victory.
Roczen?s 2026 title carries historical significance. At 32 years old, he became the oldest rider ever to win the AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, according to Red Bull and AMA sources. He is also the first European rider to claim the premier-class title in 35 years and the first German-born champion in the division, with his birthplace listed as Mattstedt, Germany. This championship represents Roczen?s first 450 AMA Supercross crown after multiple runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2021, AMA officials confirmed.
Roczen competed this season for the Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki team, marking Suzuki?s first 450SX championship since Ryan Dungey?s 2010 title. The team affiliation was noted in AMA?s official release congratulating Roczen. His victory returns the premier-class title to Suzuki after a 16-year gap, according to team statements and industry records.
Roczen?s career includes the 2011 MX2 World Championship, two 450cc AMA Motocross titles, and two FIM WSX World Supercross championships. With 28 premier-class main event wins prior to clinching the 2026 title, his career achievements were highlighted by AMA and Red Bull as reaching a new peak with this championship.
The AMA and various media outlets widely recognized the dramatic nature of the championship battle. Racer X reported that Roczen overcame a 31-point deficit and a near career-ending arm injury to claim the 450SX #1 plate. MCNews described the final round as a ?title fight balanced on a single point,? emphasizing the competitiveness of the season-long duel. Social media and motocross news platforms also circulated announcements of Roczen?s title win, confirming broad acknowledgment within the sport.
The 2026 AMA Supercross season concluded with Roczen as champion and Lawrence as runner-up, the only rider to finish within single digits of Roczen?s points total. The championship?s outcome solidifies Roczen?s place in AMA Supercross history and sets a benchmark for future seasons, as detailed in official AMA communications and season-end reports.
Ducati Corse announced June 24 in Borgo Panigale, Italy, that it signed Pedro Acosta to a two-year contract with the Ducati Lenovo Team beginning in the 2027 MotoGP season. The move follows the confirmation that two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of his current contract in 2026, officials said.
The departure was announced hours before the company revealed it had signed Spanish rider Pedro Acosta to a two-year deal with the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Ducati?s press release, issued from its headquarters in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, stated that Acosta will join the factory team after the 2026 season to ride the Desmosedici GP alongside reigning eight-time world champion Marc Márquez.
Ducati confirmed that two-time MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of his current contract in 2026, officials said on June 24, 2026.
Ducati described Acosta as ?among the most talented riders in the MotoGP nursery? with ?remarkable technical and sporting development? in a short period, according to the official statement. Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, said Acosta?s progress has been ?really remarkable? and expressed confidence that the pairing of Márquez and Acosta will form an ?extremely competitive rider duo.? The announcement followed Domenicali?s earlier remarks that Ducati was evaluating multiple riders for the post-2026 lineup and would finalize its decision after the 2026 Sepang test.
Pedro Acosta, born in 2004 in Mazarrón, Spain, is a two-time world champion in the lower MotoGP classes, having won the Moto3 title in 2021 and the Moto2 championship in 2023, records show. Prior to signing with Ducati, Acosta was contracted with KTM in MotoGP, with sources confirming his KTM deal was nearing expiration, allowing Ducati to secure him on a factory contract. The move elevates Acosta to full factory status, where he will ride the same Desmosedici GP machinery as Márquez.
Bagnaia?s exit from Ducati ends a successful stint with the factory team, during which he secured two MotoGP world championships. Ducati?s official communication framed his departure as a natural conclusion to his current contract, not a mid-term release. Reports from Reuters and The Race indicated that Bagnaia is expected to join Aprilia as Marco Bezzecchi?s teammate starting in 2027, although Aprilia has not yet officially confirmed this transfer. This change is part of a broader reshuffling in the MotoGP rider market, with other significant moves anticipated involving Jorge Martín, Fabio Quartararo, and others.
The June 24 announcements were coordinated as a package, with Ducati first confirming Bagnaia?s departure and then unveiling Acosta?s signing, according to coverage by The Race and Reuters. Social media and team-related posts corroborated the timing and details of the two-year contract with the Ducati Lenovo Team. Ducati emphasized that signing Acosta ?further strengthens Ducati?s racing project and confirms the company?s commitment to investing in the best young talents in MotoGP.?
The new Ducati Lenovo Team lineup for 2027 will feature Acosta and Márquez as factory riders, a combination Ducati described as a ?MotoGP superteam? by some media outlets. Ducati?s official release and CEO Domenicali highlighted the expected competitiveness of the duo, signaling high expectations for championship contention. Crash.net reported that Ducati also shared Márquez?s reaction to Acosta?s arrival, though full details of the reigning champion?s comments remain within broader coverage.
This rider market shift is part of a larger ?domino effect? in MotoGP, with Bagnaia?s move to Aprilia likely to trigger further transfers across top teams. The Race outlined that Jorge Martín is poised to leave Aprilia for Yamaha, while Fabio Quartararo is expected to move to Honda, though these moves have not been formally announced. Ducati?s decision to bring in Acosta after a thorough evaluation process reflects the competitive nature of the MotoGP rider market ahead of the 2027 season.
Acosta?s signing marks a significant step in his career, moving from KTM to a factory Ducati seat, where he will compete at the highest level alongside a multiple world champion. Ducati?s official statements and industry reports consistently identify Acosta as a ?super talent? and a key figure in the company?s long-term racing strategy. The transition will take effect after the conclusion of the 2026 season, with Ducati?s factory team set to field the new pairing starting in 2027.
Ducati Corse announced June 24 in Borgo Panigale, Italy, that it signed Pedro Acosta to a two-year contract with the Ducati Lenovo Team beginning in the 2027 MotoGP season. The move follows the confirmation that two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of his current contract in 2026, officials said.
The departure was announced hours before the company revealed it had signed Spanish rider Pedro Acosta to a two-year deal with the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Ducati?s press release, issued from its headquarters in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, stated that Acosta will join the factory team after the 2026 season to ride the Desmosedici GP alongside reigning eight-time world champion Marc Márquez.
Ducati confirmed that two-time MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of his current contract in 2026, officials said on June 24, 2026.
Ducati described Acosta as ?among the most talented riders in the MotoGP nursery? with ?remarkable technical and sporting development? in a short period, according to the official statement. Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, said Acosta?s progress has been ?really remarkable? and expressed confidence that the pairing of Márquez and Acosta will form an ?extremely competitive rider duo.? The announcement followed Domenicali?s earlier remarks that Ducati was evaluating multiple riders for the post-2026 lineup and would finalize its decision after the 2026 Sepang test.
Pedro Acosta, born in 2004 in Mazarrón, Spain, is a two-time world champion in the lower MotoGP classes, having won the Moto3 title in 2021 and the Moto2 championship in 2023, records show. Prior to signing with Ducati, Acosta was contracted with KTM in MotoGP, with sources confirming his KTM deal was nearing expiration, allowing Ducati to secure him on a factory contract. The move elevates Acosta to full factory status, where he will ride the same Desmosedici GP machinery as Márquez.
Bagnaia?s exit from Ducati ends a successful stint with the factory team, during which he secured two MotoGP world championships. Ducati?s official communication framed his departure as a natural conclusion to his current contract, not a mid-term release. Reports from Reuters and The Race indicated that Bagnaia is expected to join Aprilia as Marco Bezzecchi?s teammate starting in 2027, although Aprilia has not yet officially confirmed this transfer. This change is part of a broader reshuffling in the MotoGP rider market, with other significant moves anticipated involving Jorge Martín, Fabio Quartararo, and others.
The June 24 announcements were coordinated as a package, with Ducati first confirming Bagnaia?s departure and then unveiling Acosta?s signing, according to coverage by The Race and Reuters. Social media and team-related posts corroborated the timing and details of the two-year contract with the Ducati Lenovo Team. Ducati emphasized that signing Acosta ?further strengthens Ducati?s racing project and confirms the company?s commitment to investing in the best young talents in MotoGP.?
The new Ducati Lenovo Team lineup for 2027 will feature Acosta and Márquez as factory riders, a combination Ducati described as a ?MotoGP superteam? by some media outlets. Ducati?s official release and CEO Domenicali highlighted the expected competitiveness of the duo, signaling high expectations for championship contention. Crash.net reported that Ducati also shared Márquez?s reaction to Acosta?s arrival, though full details of the reigning champion?s comments remain within broader coverage.
This rider market shift is part of a larger ?domino effect? in MotoGP, with Bagnaia?s move to Aprilia likely to trigger further transfers across top teams. The Race outlined that Jorge Martín is poised to leave Aprilia for Yamaha, while Fabio Quartararo is expected to move to Honda, though these moves have not been formally announced. Ducati?s decision to bring in Acosta after a thorough evaluation process reflects the competitive nature of the MotoGP rider market ahead of the 2027 season.
Acosta?s signing marks a significant step in his career, moving from KTM to a factory Ducati seat, where he will compete at the highest level alongside a multiple world champion. Ducati?s official statements and industry reports consistently identify Acosta as a ?super talent? and a key figure in the company?s long-term racing strategy. The transition will take effect after the conclusion of the 2026 season, with Ducati?s factory team set to field the new pairing starting in 2027.
Ducati announced that Pedro Acosta will replace Francesco Bagnaia on the factory Lenovo MotoGP team starting with the 2027 season. The two-year contract, confirmed by Ducati officials, follows Bagnaia?s departure at the end of the 2026 season and is part of Ducati?s long-term plan for its post-Bagnaia era.
The agreement, described as finalized rather than a preliminary deal, will see Acosta replace two-time premier-class world champion Francesco Bagnaia, whose contract with Ducati runs through the end of the 2026 season. Ducati officials confirmed Bagnaia?s departure and Acosta?s arrival in separate announcements issued on the same day, with Acosta?s signing revealed roughly two hours after the statement on Bagnaia?s exit.
Pedro Acosta, currently competing with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, has signed a two-year contract with Ducati Lenovo Team covering the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons, according to multiple reports including Spanish newspaper AS and Italian outlet Corsedimoto.
Acosta, who will be 22 years old when he joins Ducati, is a former Moto2 and Moto3 world champion, highlighting his rapid ascent through the Grand Prix ranks. Sources indicate he will move to Ducati after completing his current multi-year KTM contract, which extends through the 2026 season. The move positions Acosta as a direct successor to Bagnaia within the factory Lenovo team rather than a satellite outfit, underscoring Ducati?s strategy to secure a top-tier rider for its post-Bagnaia era at Borgo Panigale.
The 2027 Ducati factory lineup will pair Acosta with Marc Marquez, who has agreed to a two-year extension with the team that overlaps with Acosta?s contract. Reports from Motorsportweek and Spanish journalist Mela Chércoles confirm that Acosta will share the Ducati garage with Marquez, creating a new high-profile rider combination for the factory squad. This pairing marks a significant change for Ducati, which will lack an Italian lead rider for the first time since 2010, when Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden raced for the manufacturer.
Bagnaia?s departure from Ducati has been widely reported to coincide with his move to Aprilia?s factory team, where he is expected to partner with Marco Bezzecchi, who holds a multi-year contract through at least 2026. Italian media sources suggest Bagnaia has agreed to a long-term deal with Aprilia, reportedly a 2+2 year contract extending through 2028 with an option to 2030, though Aprilia has not officially confirmed this arrangement. The shift of Bagnaia to Aprilia and Acosta to Ducati forms part of the broader 2027 MotoGP ?silly season,? which includes other notable rider movements such as those involving Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Martin.
Acosta?s signing follows Ducati?s established pattern of recruiting riders with proven success in lower Grand Prix categories, as he joins the factory team after three seasons in MotoGP. At the time of the announcement, Acosta was sixth in the MotoGP standings despite technical challenges with KTM machinery, according to Motorsportweek. His emergence as a leading young talent has been noted by multiple outlets, which describe him as a Spanish prodigy and an emerging star in the sport.
Ducati?s communication frames Acosta?s arrival as a central component of its long-term planning beyond Bagnaia?s tenure. The manufacturer?s official statements and media reports emphasize the strategic nature of the signing, aimed at maintaining Ducati?s competitive edge as contracts for several top riders expire at the end of 2026. While official MotoGP entry lists for 2027 have yet to be published, the announcements by Ducati and corroborating media sources provide clear indications of the factory team?s future lineup.
Bagnaia?s exit marks the end of a significant chapter for Ducati, as he is a two-time premier-class world champion and has been a key figure for the team. The transition to Acosta signals a generational change within the factory squad, with the Spanish rider expected to carry forward Ducati?s championship ambitions alongside Marquez. The 2027 season will thus begin a new phase for Ducati, defined by the partnership of Marquez and Acosta and the absence of an Italian lead rider for the first time in over a decade.
Ducati announced that Pedro Acosta will replace Francesco Bagnaia on the factory Lenovo MotoGP team starting with the 2027 season. The two-year contract, confirmed by Ducati officials, follows Bagnaia?s departure at the end of the 2026 season and is part of Ducati?s long-term plan for its post-Bagnaia era.
The agreement, described as finalized rather than a preliminary deal, will see Acosta replace two-time premier-class world champion Francesco Bagnaia, whose contract with Ducati runs through the end of the 2026 season. Ducati officials confirmed Bagnaia?s departure and Acosta?s arrival in separate announcements issued on the same day, with Acosta?s signing revealed roughly two hours after the statement on Bagnaia?s exit.
Pedro Acosta, currently competing with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, has signed a two-year contract with Ducati Lenovo Team covering the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons, according to multiple reports including Spanish newspaper AS and Italian outlet Corsedimoto.
Acosta, who will be 22 years old when he joins Ducati, is a former Moto2 and Moto3 world champion, highlighting his rapid ascent through the Grand Prix ranks. Sources indicate he will move to Ducati after completing his current multi-year KTM contract, which extends through the 2026 season. The move positions Acosta as a direct successor to Bagnaia within the factory Lenovo team rather than a satellite outfit, underscoring Ducati?s strategy to secure a top-tier rider for its post-Bagnaia era at Borgo Panigale.
The 2027 Ducati factory lineup will pair Acosta with Marc Marquez, who has agreed to a two-year extension with the team that overlaps with Acosta?s contract. Reports from Motorsportweek and Spanish journalist Mela Chércoles confirm that Acosta will share the Ducati garage with Marquez, creating a new high-profile rider combination for the factory squad. This pairing marks a significant change for Ducati, which will lack an Italian lead rider for the first time since 2010, when Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden raced for the manufacturer.
Bagnaia?s departure from Ducati has been widely reported to coincide with his move to Aprilia?s factory team, where he is expected to partner with Marco Bezzecchi, who holds a multi-year contract through at least 2026. Italian media sources suggest Bagnaia has agreed to a long-term deal with Aprilia, reportedly a 2+2 year contract extending through 2028 with an option to 2030, though Aprilia has not officially confirmed this arrangement. The shift of Bagnaia to Aprilia and Acosta to Ducati forms part of the broader 2027 MotoGP ?silly season,? which includes other notable rider movements such as those involving Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Martin.
Acosta?s signing follows Ducati?s established pattern of recruiting riders with proven success in lower Grand Prix categories, as he joins the factory team after three seasons in MotoGP. At the time of the announcement, Acosta was sixth in the MotoGP standings despite technical challenges with KTM machinery, according to Motorsportweek. His emergence as a leading young talent has been noted by multiple outlets, which describe him as a Spanish prodigy and an emerging star in the sport.
Ducati?s communication frames Acosta?s arrival as a central component of its long-term planning beyond Bagnaia?s tenure. The manufacturer?s official statements and media reports emphasize the strategic nature of the signing, aimed at maintaining Ducati?s competitive edge as contracts for several top riders expire at the end of 2026. While official MotoGP entry lists for 2027 have yet to be published, the announcements by Ducati and corroborating media sources provide clear indications of the factory team?s future lineup.
Bagnaia?s exit marks the end of a significant chapter for Ducati, as he is a two-time premier-class world champion and has been a key figure for the team. The transition to Acosta signals a generational change within the factory squad, with the Spanish rider expected to carry forward Ducati?s championship ambitions alongside Marquez. The 2027 season will thus begin a new phase for Ducati, defined by the partnership of Marquez and Acosta and the absence of an Italian lead rider for the first time in over a decade.