This week in US Powersports racing.
FMF KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM ANNOUNCES 2026 OFFROAD LINEUP
Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Champion Ben Kelley returns to defend his title equipped with a KTM 450 XC-F, joined by 2024 GNCC winner Johnny Girroir and XC1 Open Pro Class newcomer Grant Davis. The formidable trio is set to spearhead KTM’s charge for GNCC success in 2026.
Kelley delivered an exceptional GNCC campaign this season, with the 29-year-old securing two Overall victories and four additional podiums across the 13-round series, ultimately earning his second GNCC crown. In addition to GNCC, he will also contest the NE Pro1 Class of the American National Enduro Championship, while Girroir is set to enter the Pro1 division of the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series, with each program serving to complement their GNCC activities.
Two-time XC2 250 Pro Class GNCC Champion Davis will graduate to the XC1 division for 2026, joining Girroir onboard KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION machinery following a dominant year in class last season, while also challenging for the Overall title. The 20-year-old claimed four GNCC Overall victories and three additional podiums on his way to finishing second in the final standings. He will also compete in the Pro1 Class of the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series next year.
Ben Kelley:“It was a really solid season for me in 2025, able to win the XC1 and Overall Championship in the GNCC Series. I was also able to battle at the front and be a podium guy in the National Enduros, so it was a comeback season for me after having some serious injuries over the past couple of years. I’m looking forward to carry the momentum now into 2026 and trying to defend my number one plate. I know it’s going to be a battle with a couple of my teammates and I’m excited for that.”
Johnny Girroir:“It was a rollercoaster year 2025, definitely one I’d like to forget. We had a little hiccup at the first round, then it was basically up and down from there. But I’m feeling fit and strong again, and back to 100 percent heading into 2026, so I’m looking forward to getting the season underway.”
Grant Davis:“This past season was good! I definitely put together some of my best riding, winning back-to-back XC2 championships, also challenging for the Overall GNCC title, and then I won Pro2 in the Sprint Enduros too. For 2026, I’m moving up to the XC1 Class, so I’m excited for that. It’ll definitely be some stiff competition with Johnny, Ben and I under the rig, but I definitely want to win, that’s the goal.”
Joining the lineup for 2026 is 21-year-old Jason Tino, who looks to rebound after an injury-interrupted 2025. He will pilot the KTM 250 XC-F in both the GNCC XC2 250 Pro Class and the American National Enduro Pro2 category, eager to showcase his potential across both series.
Jason Tino:“We got off to a pretty strong start in 2025 by winning the first National Enduro round. Unfortunately, from there I tore my ACL and had to sit the rest of the season out, watching from the sidelines. I was able to make it back for the very last round, and we put it on the box there, which was awesome. I’m ready to come out swinging for 2026, because it’s a new team and new colors for me, so I’m really excited about that.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing also welcomes Brandy Richards for her third GNCC campaign in the WXC Class. Richards, a five-time FIM 6DAYS Women’s World Trophy winner, will also look to reclaim the U.S. Sprint Enduro Pro Women’s title – which she previously won in 2024 – onboard the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION next year.
Brandy Richards:“This year definitely wasn’t quite my best, I had some highs and lows along the way, including a big injury which saw me miss a good portion of the season. We came back at the end and won some races, then had a solid showing at the 6DAYS. Moving into 2026, I’m looking forward to staying healthy and winning races and titles.”
In addition, FMF KTM Factory Racing standout Dante Oliveira will target a seventh-consecutive National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) title in 2026, along with defending his National Hare and Hound (NHHA) Pro Class title equipped with the KTM 450 XC-F.
Dante Oliveira:“2025 was awesome! We jumped into the Hare and Hound Championship, which was a blast. It came down to a close fight, but we ended up getting the championship. It was nothing but positives and learning all year long with another NGPC title as well, my sixth-consecutive title in the series. I’m looking forward to going again in 2026 with a stacked schedule!”
After clinching his fourth-straight U.S. Hard Enduro Championship last season, world-class Canadian Trystan Hart will also return with FMF KTM Factory Racing, piloting the KTM 300 XC in Hard Enduro. He will then aim to regain the AMA EnduroCross Championship – equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION – later in the season. Hart claimed five Pro Class victories in U.S. Hard Enduro this year, alongside a hard-fought P2 result in EnduroCross.
Trystan Hart:“2025 went pretty well overall. I was able to win the US Hard Enduro Championship for the fifth time in a row, and EnduroCross was a real nail-biter. I had an issue in the first race that put me on the back-foot, then bounced back to win three in a row. After that, I picked up a few injuries, nothing major on their own, but a lot of little crashes that added up and left me pretty banged up. I was close to finishing the job, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Still, there were a lot of positives to take away, and we’ll be back to get it next year, hopefully for title number six. With the U.S. Hard Enduro Series now becoming an official national championship, it is cool to see it recognized at that level, and I’m glad I could help play a part in growing the series for the next generation.”
Tim Weigand, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Manager:”The 2026 season is here and FMF KTM Factory Racing is ready with a powerful seven-rider lineup competing across all U.S. national series. Every rider on this roster is capable of winning on any weekend, making this one of the most exciting lineups we’ve assembled. We can’t wait to see what this group achieves together this season.”
Antti Kallonen, KTM Group North America Director of Offroad Racing: “This team is built on strong leadership, clear direction, and racers who know how to win. We trust our people, we trust our process, and we’re confident in what lies ahead thanks to our Team Manager, Tim Weigand, who assembled one of the strongest rider lineups to date. I can’t wait to get the racing started.”
American Motorcyclist Association Welcomes Willy Browning as Motocross Manager
The American Motorcyclist Association has hired Willy Browning as Motocross Manager, where he will work with rules commissions, manage chartered promoter relationships and develop programs to advance the sport.
“Willy Browning has been part of American motocross for decades, from a promising youth rider to a regional AMA Arenacross Lites champion and Supercross competitor, and even a multi-time pitbike champion at the Las Vegas MiniMoto SX as well as for Team USA at the Pitbike of Nations,” said AMA Chief Operating Officer James Holter. “We welcome his depth of knowledge and veteran perspective to the AMA staff, where he will help ensure that AMA-sanctioned motocross competition remains among the most fair, fun and family-oriented sports in the world.”
Browning, an AMA Charter Life Member, will report to AMA Deputy Director Mike Burkeen, who also has been acting motocross manager since November 2019.
“AMA-sanctioned motocross events should always exceed our members’ expectations as the gold standard of competition. I’m looking forward to giving back to a sport that has given so much to me,” Browning said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the AMA team and am very excited about what’s ahead as I begin this next chapter.”
Working with Burkeen and Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, Browning will be responsible for ensuring clear communication of rules, decisions and regulations across all motocross events. He will develop and manage initiatives to contribute to the growth of AMA membership by promoting races, expanding AMA charters, and helping introduce new riders to the sport of motocross.
Browning joins Off-Road Racing Manager Logan Densmore and Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant as the sporting discipline managers for the AMA.
For more information on AMA-sanctioned competition events, including how to get started in the sport, see www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
New offroad roster launched by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Mateo Oliveira joins Craig DeLong, Korie Steede and Ryder LeBlond for 2026 season
All four riders bring race-winning pedigree to the U.S. team, with Oliveira brought into the lineup after clinching this year’s AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) Pro Class title, inclusive of three round victories. The 23-year-old will compete in the AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) Pro Class and return to defend his WHS title onboard Husqvarna FE 450 machinery.
“The year was solid!”recalled Oliveira.“I finally checked some boxes that I needed to check, led a lot of laps and stood on a lot of podiums. I think we were only off the podium twice, if you don’t count breaking my hand and missing a round, so it was kind of where I should have been the whole time. There are just a couple more things to do and we’re right there, so I feel like I belong at the front, and 2026 is going to be exciting. I’ve got a new bike and a new look head to toe, with a stronger mindset too. I was strong in 2025 and I know I’m going to be even stronger next year, so we’ll keep checking off those goals.”
Former Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Champion DeLong continues with the team for 2026, with the 29-year-old Pennsylvania native riding his Husqvarna FX 350 in both the GNCC Series and the American National Enduro Championship Pro1 Class.
“I’m just looking forward to getting back up front and being in the battle again for 2026,” DeLong said.“This year, truthfully, I was off the back, and it’s not good when you’re there. The focus is on being up front, being in the fight, leading some laps, winning some races and putting myself in a good position again.”
Following an exceptional 2025 season, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is proud to welcome back defending GNCC WXC Class Champion Korie Steede, who claimed six round victories en route to her maiden title this year. In addition to her GNCC success, Steede captured the 2025 AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Championship crown in the Pro Women category and was instrumental in Team USA’s FIM 6DAYS Women’s World Trophy Team victory once again.
Steede will pilot a Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in GNCC WXC competition wearing the number-one plate, alongside an American National Enduro schedule in the Pro Women division.
“Season 2025 was a year of all my dreams,”reflected Steede.“I’ve been dreaming of a year like this since I was probably six years old, so to win every championship that I lined up for was surreal, and it’s going to be hard to top, that’s for sure. This off-season, I’m going to have to work harder than ever because everyone’s going to come out swinging, and 2026 is going to be a good year.”
Also coming off a standout campaign this year, LeBlond continues to establish himself as one of the sport’s most exciting emerging talents. The 24-year-old rode his Husqvarna TE 300 to fourth overall in the 2025 U.S. Hard Enduro Championship standings, including two Pro Class round victories.
LeBlond also raced to third place in the EX Pro Class of the AMA EnduroCross Championship, where he was equipped with the Husqvarna FX 350 and earned a pair of overall podiums. He will continue in both series for 2026.
“2025 was a pretty good year,” LeBlond commented. “I started the Hard Enduro series strongly, then hit a bit of a rough patch mid-season, but managed to turn things around in EnduroCross and put together my best season yet. We finished the year on a positive note, and now the focus is firmly on 2026.”
Bobby Dawson, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Offroad Team Manager:“Being in this new position, I’m really excited. Over the past five years, working as a mechanic and seeing how things operate in offroad racing across different series and events has been invaluable. Each series is a different style of racing, so attending all of those races gave me a broad perspective on what the management role actually involves. We have a great group of riders and mechanics on the team – I can’t wait to see what we can do at the races in 2026.”
Antti Kallonen, Director of Offroad Racing:“With new energy in our management with Bobby Dawson and a clear vision for the future, this team is entering an exciting new chapter. The momentum is real, the motivation is high with our racers and personnel, and we’re confident in our path to continued success.”
