Jordon Smith and Austin Forkner Confirmed for Triumph’s Inaugural 450SX Campaign in 2026

ATLANTA, GA – December 19, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Triumph Factory Racing is preparing to make its highly anticipated debut in the 450 class of AMA Supercross, with Jordon Smith and Austin Forkner competing for the team. While Smith completes the final stages of his recovery after undergoing shoulder surgery, Forkner will move up to the 450SX division aboard the TF 450-X for at least the first six rounds. The 2026 season begins inside Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on January 10, 2026.

With Smith enjoying a strong first term with Triumph Factory Racing in 2025 – including Triumph’s first 250SX Main Event victory – the 30-year-old is excited to make the next step in his career with the team by entering the 450SX division. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury sustained at the final SMX round required surgery, which has delayed his planned debut with the TF 450-X. Jordon will return to racing once he’s fully healed and back up to speed, which is expected at round seven of the series in Arlington, Texas.

In preparation for the upcoming season, Forkner spent several days on the TF 450-X to gain experience ahead of a potential future move to the 450 class. The Missouri native immediately gelled with the larger-capacity machine, and together with the team, it was decided that he’ll race the opening rounds of 450SX. It is currently planned that Forkner will return to the TF 250-X and compete in the 250SX East division, coinciding with Smith’s return.

Smith and Forkner’s entry into the AMA 450SX Supercross series marks another new chapter for Triumph, in only the British manufacturer’s third year of off-road competition. Mikkel Haarup will also race the TF 450-X for Triumph Factory Racing in 2026 with the Dane contesting the Pro Motocross campaign that begins in May. Haarup finished sixth in the final 250 Class standings in 2025 despite missing two rounds. While racing next summer, Mikkel will continue to develop the 450 machine for his MXGP return in 2027.

Completing the team’s line-up is Jalek Swoll, who returns from injury with renewed determination to succeed in the 250SX East division. Having shown impressive speed on his TF 250-X over the past two seasons – including securing Triumph’s first podium result in Pro Motocross – Swoll is confident of a strong comeback when racing begins at the end of February, with the Floridian aiming to contend at the front of the field.

Jordon Smith

“I’m really excited to be moving up to the 450 class and racing for the Triumph Factory Racing team next year. I feel like I’ve had my time in the 250 class, and I’ve had a lot of good results, and I think I can transfer that good riding in my move up to the 450. I’m looking forward to working with the team to help develop the bike, and put in some good rides. Unfortunately, the crash I had in practice in Vegas where I dislocated my shoulder resulted in the need to have surgery to repair my rotator cuff and labrum. We’ve been working on the rehab day in, day out and it’s going well, but the return to racing will not be until Arlington. Of course, for me it’s super disappointing not to be out there from the start of the season, especially as this is a momentous occasion for Triumph and the next chapter in my career, but I can’t wait to be back out there and on the TF 450-X.”

Austin Forkner

“I’m super excited for the opportunity to race in the 450SX division to start the 2026 season. Whether it turns out to be a little bit of a warm-up going into 250SX East, or potentially a full season if we decide to go that way, I think it’s a great opportunity. I’m excited to see where I stack up in the 450 class and I’ve been putting plenty of time in on the bigger bike in recent weeks. It’s been good so far. I think my style fits a 450 pretty well, and I can’t wait to head to A1 for the first round of the series.”

Jeremy Coker – General Manager, Triumph Racing America

“It’s exciting for Triumph to be stepping into 450SX in 2026, and we’re especially pleased to be making our step into the category with Jordon and Austin on the TF 450-X. We originally had the plan to go 450 racing with Jordon, and I know he would have been putting in a lot of effort during the off-season to be where he wants to be in the category. Unfortunately, his injury meant that it wasn’t possible to make the start of the season, and all of his focus is now on returning as soon as possible. He will get his chance to race the 450 very soon, and we can’t wait for that, especially with everything we achieved together last season. We still wanted to keep our 450 plans on track, and having seen Austin on the bike for some test days, I am beyond thrilled that he has grabbed the opportunity to race in the 450 class and will start the season in Anaheim. It’s a great opportunity for him and for us. We’ve been working really hard on the development of the factory bike, and while Austin hasn’t had much time to prepare on the bigger bike, we look forward to getting going in the new year, making steps week-by-week, and then having Jordon racing later in the season.”

Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles

“We’re really excited to get the TF 450-X racing in AMA Supercross and take the next steps in our racing programme. The circumstances aren’t quite as we had originally planned, unfortunately, but that’s racing. We are pleased Jordon is making a good recovery with his shoulder, and we look forward to seeing him back on-track and competing with the 450 very soon. We all know how excited he is to be moving up into 450SX after a solid first season with the team in 2025. With that in mind, we looked at all our options, and having seen Austin ride the bike, it became obvious that it could be a positive opportunity for him to step up a category. Austin’s comeback to racing has been a real journey, and this plan for him to race the 450 is purely focused on making progress week-by-week – we need to build to where the results start to come and we all have realistic expectations. It’s an exciting time and we’re looking forward to seeing how Austin progresses. In addition, it is not only helpful to us by not delaying the start of our debut 450 season, but it can help us build a little bit of momentum right from Anaheim 1 before Jordon makes his return. We can’t wait to see the TF 450-X on the gate in January!”

– ENDS –

For further information contact:

Global PR & Events Manager, Lisa Jones at [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT TRIUMPH

First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 120 years of motorcycle manufacture in 2022. For more than three decades, Triumph Motorcycles has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and has produced iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma, and performance.

A GLOBAL BRITISH SUCCESS STORY

Record global sales of 141,683 motorcycles were delivered in Triumph’s latest Financial Year (FY25: July 2024-June 2025), through a network of 950 dealers in 68 countries, confirming Triumph Motorcycles’ position as the largest British motorcycle manufacturer.
Triumph currently employs around 3,000 personnel worldwide and has subsidiary operations in the UK, North America, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Sweden (Scandinavia), Benelux, Brazil, China, and Thailand as well as a network of independent distributors. Triumph has manufacturing facilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and Thailand plus CKD facilities in Brazil and India.

A WORLD-CLASS RANGE

With a laser-sharp focus on what riders across the world are looking for, a passion to deliver the perfect ride for every customer, and attention to detail that delivers the highest quality motorcycles, Triumph offers a growing range of category-leading motorcycles spanning Modern Classics, Roadsters and Adventure bikes. From the accessible Speed 400cc TR series to the Rocket 3 with its powerful 2500cc engine, every model exemplifies Triumph’s iconic style, quality and performance.
Delivering a fun, agile and confidence-inspiring ride for riders of all ages and experience levels, the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X launched in 2023 with a brand-new single engine platform (TR Series), representing incredible value for money and bringing Triumph to a whole new generation of riders. The range has now expanded to include the Scrambler 400 XC.
The Modern Classics feature Triumph’s legendary Bonneville twin engine. Famously named to celebrate Triumph’s 1956 land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, the Bonneville was the original British superbike and a race-winner straight out of the crate, chosen by famous motorcyclists of the past for its handling, style, and character. Now, the Bonneville family has evolved, with rider-focused technology and cool custom style. The range includes the Bonneville Bobber, Bonneville Speedmaster, Speed Twin 900, Speed Twin 1200, Scrambler 900, Scrambler 1200 and the iconic Bonneville T120 and T100.
The Roadsters start with the agile and popular Trident 660 and sporty Daytona 660 then the Street Triple 765, and finally the Speed Triple 1200 RS and RX. For adventure riders, Triumph has a complete line-up of epic Tigers, starting with the Tiger Sport 660 and Tiger Sport 800, moving up to the Tiger 900 range, and finally to the Tiger 1200 range.
Triumph’s debut in the competitive off-road arena has delivered outstanding results, with race wins and podium finishes for the TF 250-X, TF 450-RC, TF 250-E, and TF 450-E, which have all delivered at the highest level on some of the off-road world’s most competitive stages. 2025 also saw the addition of a TF 450-X and two new cross-country models, the TF 250-C and TF 450-C.
In October 2025, Triumph Motorcycles launched its first electric youth motorcycles; the new Triumph TXP range, powered by OSET. This collaboration with the OSET team, who joined the Triumph family in 2022, has resulted in four new models with scalable electric performance, premium design, and built-in safety features for children as young as three. Each bike is engineered from the ground up with age-specific frames, geometry, controls, and components, optimised for the rider’s size and experience.

TRIUMPH RACING

Triumph has a glorious racing history, competing in and winning races in almost every class and field of motorcycle sporting achievement, from winning the second ever Isle of Man TT in 1908, to the thrilling last-lap victory at the legendary Daytona 200 by Brandon Paasch on the Street Triple 765 in 2022.
Triumph’s racing legend continues as the exclusive engine supplier to the FIM Moto2™ World Championship since the start of the 2019 season. Triumph Motorcycles provides all the teams with race-tuned 765cc triples, each of which is based on the class-leading Street Triple RS powerplant. Redefining the class, Triumph broke record after record in the inaugural year, including the first ever +300km/h Moto2™ top speed. Reflecting these great successes, the wonderful feedback, and partnerships that Triumph have had with the riders and their teams, and the incredible response from Triumph fans across the world, Triumph and Dorna, decided to extend the relationship in 2021 and again in 2023, signing a new contract for another five years of racing: 2025 – 2029.
Triumph is working with PTR Triumph Factory Racing to participate in the 2025 World Supersport Championship. Tom Booth-Amos and Oli Bayliss are racing on the Street Triple 765. Macadam Triumph Factory Racing continues with British Supersport riders Luke Stapleford (2024 vice-champion) and Max Wadsworth. In the National Sportbike Championship, the team has a four-rider lineup on the Daytona 660; Brodie Gawith, Jayden Martin, Katie Hand and Lewis Smart, along with PHR Triumph’s Harrison Dessoy.
In 2023, Triumph announced its intention to compete in the 2024 MXGP/MX2 and SuperMotocross World Championships, and after a successful first season, is racing with a four-rider team for 2025. Jalek Swoll, Austin Forkner, Jordon Smith, and Mikkel Haarup are racing for the British manufacturer, competing on both coasts of Supercross and the full Pro Motocross series with the TF 250-X. Triumph earned its first Main Event win in Supercross in February 2025, and has enjoyed podium finishes in the Pro Motocross series in ’24 and ‘25. In the FIM MX2 World Championship Camden McLellan is competing for a second year aboard Triumph machinery, alongside Guillem Farres with podium results from ’24 and ’25, as well as a first moto win in April 2025.
In September 2024 Triumph revealed Motorsport legend and former world champion Paul Edmondson has officially been appointed Team Manager of Triumph Factory Racing’s enduro programme, which will see the brand represented at the highest levels of enduro competition worldwide. In 2025, Jonny Walker took 2nd place overall in the SuperEnduro World Championship on his TF 250 and finished the 2025 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo on a near-standard TF 250-E four-stroke. Racing for Triumph in EnduroGP aboard the TF 250-E, is the experienced duo of Jamie McCanney and Mikael Persson. Triumph competed at its first International Six Days Enduro in August with the TF 250-E contributing to Italy’s World Team Trophy victory and Team Sweden’s first podium in decades, as well as impressive top five individual finishes overall.
Rounding up an incredible inaugural national season of racing, Triumph machinery won the ACU British MX2 Motocross Championship, as well as the ACU British Enduro ACU Championship and British Sprint Championship. Triumph also won the National E1 Enduro Championship in Italy, and finished runner-up in the ADAC MX Masters MX1 series in Germany and the SVEMO National Motocross Championship in Sweden.
Triumph and Jonny Walker won the AMA EnduroCross Championship in November 2025, marking the first indoor enduro series victory for the TF 450-E.

ource: Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd

####

Discover more from Motor Sports NewsWire

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.