Team Switches, Contracts Expiring, and More | 2026 Silly Season 250 Class 3

2026 contract negotiations are beginning and for some riders, they're about to sign new deals that could take them to line at A1 aboard a new colored machine. Learn more about the early indications of Silly Season on team lineups for 2026 in the 250 class.

Credit: Michael Lindsay / Sean Ogden
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View replies to: Team Switches, Contracts Expiring, and More | 2026 Silly Season 250 Class

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Matt NZ
1 year ago

No mention of the Coenen brothers so is that off the table for a 2026 move to the states? The talk of it certainly has gone quiet over the last few months. 

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Moto Braap
11 months ago

I don’t follow gp but i see 2 possibilities.  1 brother might be more ready to come first or they could go with the package deal like the Lawrences.  If not in a hurry to come here they probably care more about finishing strong with championships where they are first or under contract.  A lot of imports come here as multi time world champs instead of 1.5.  There’s a lot of names doing testing or talks that we don’t know about and that could be a silly season show too.

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Moto Braap
1 year ago

I am surprised to hear Sexton’s name come up anywhere with the idea of switching teams.  People debate if some of his bad luck had to do with his old bike and currently the experts are saying how good and balanced he looks now.  Whatever is going on with KTM he seems happy with the bike and team and I’d expect his comfort with the bike and people around him to be a championship contender would have him less concerned about getting the best contract as opposed to championship material.  Chase could have improved his riding and just had bad settings but if KTM owns all these teams like Gas Gas and Husky I would think they’d want to keep him too as their title contender guy in the states.  If he goes somewhere else he’d probably want to take Jade and some other key staff with him and that could make things interesting if other teams already have a top mechanic they don’t want to have to take on a new face.  I am guessing keeping a mechanic is more common but the question of if another championship will be more bargaining to leave or get a bigger contract where he’s at.  Statistically, I don’t know if champs stay champs switching teams but I say if Chase is looking good now if it ain’t broke don’t fix it or risk breaking down moving on.  If they are talking Kawi their bikes seem a little less custom like whatever little extra tricks he has now they may not go for like with the spring air fluid cartridge gold valve dual compression forks he runs.

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