2026 Silly Season

Federostov to Star. 

Star has more riders than the Bumpuses have hound dogs. 

He’s a solid rider and been pretty consistent on green, I can’t imagine a good reason to part ways. At the risk of sounding disrespectful to Jason, he’s going to be a great #2 to Prado outdoors, and going to have Jorge covered in SX at least through 2026, possibly longer.  

Good fit there for him to finish his career with Kawi and ride out another year, possibly two, before Kitchen or another 250 rider takes the spot next to Prado. 

https://racerxonline.com/2025/03/19/second-half-and-silly-season-preview

"Jordon Smith is rumored to be Triumph's sole 450 rider in 2026."

"Ducati will look to get a big name, and Barcia sure seems to fit there with maybe Roczen doing a mixed schedule with some SX’s, some MX’s and MXGP thrown in there?"

Barcia to Ducati doesn’t seem to fit to me. I don’t think Chiabatti is coming to just participate and rather would be looking for a potential winner. However, if they aren’t racing SX that is a big wrinkle in any plan to obtain a top US rider even if just for outdoors.

So another team and trainer coming for Barcia 

Wouldn't going back to TLD mean he'll go back to the training program he had last year? Same team, different brand. 

Wil is no longer the TLD team trainer.

Barcia can win. Aldon's program is on the wane, Austrian bike development is not so great. He could flourish with Ducati, perhaps no championships, but a strong presence anyway....

Fans of his think he can win, but his results this year tell a different tale.  It's not the bike, or the training program.  He's getting older, and he has I believe six? 450sx wins in 10 years.

Barcia can not win. 

Is Ferrandis in play for Triumph/Ducati?

For the sole sake of being annoying.

Tomac to Ducati or Triumph

It would be great to see the 32 on the HEP Zook.  Yeah -  just a pipe dream.

But I do think 32 is a great pick up for any team.

Makes no sense at all. 

If he comes back for '26 he wants to win, and he can win on the tried and true (to him) Yamaha/Star Team.

On this week’s Blair Matthes Project, Steve said Triumph will most likely move Jordan Smith up to 450 next year to develop and race the bike before going after a bigger name in 2027. 

Jordan Smith on a 450? He'll be the oldest guy in the class.

I think it would take a lot of money...and him being team leader to pry Dylan off the Honda.

MXGP is off the weekend of ironman as well. I wonder if there will be some guys there getting some mxon prep in?

This is really exciting, especially if he shows flashes of his domestic championship form, albeit that’s a big if

Honestly if this isn’t already in the works that’d be somewhat of a surprise. Smart call

Where did Fedortsov come from? Never heard of him till last year and he was RIPPING at Daytona. 

Dylan seems to be overlooked a lot. Hasn't had the results lately but the guy is an animal outdoors, I think the Ducati move makes sense for both parties.

Everyone keeps saying Kenny to Ducati but I just don't see it. He's a Fox lifer and I don't see him giving that up for TLD, likewise why would TLD let him ride in Fox gear? 

I agree about Dylan being outstanding outdoors...but that isn't where the money is at for the OEM's...SX is. Dylan has admitted that he always wanted to be on a Honda, even when he was winning at Star, so I doubt he'd jump to Ducati, although they're both red! And, I don't believe Kenny will jump from Suzuki either. He has the bike exactly as he likes it, and he'd have no baseline on the Ducati. 

With the rumor that Ducati will not race SX next year and just nationals, if Ducati threw a substantial more amount of money at Ferrandis then he is currently making, i would think it would be a great move for Dylan. Spend next spring hammering out mx laps getting the Desmo all set up and then really put in an effort to win the 450 mx championship.

Does Dylan seem like someone who would go back to Europe after his career is over? Maybe a role with Ducati could include being on both sides of the pond? Id like to see him get back to where he was before his illness and head injury from 2023. 

He has stated before he would never race GPs again, though he may move back there when he is done racing.

Sand, what would ne know about sand!