Red Bull KTM ends its partnership with Joel Smets ahead of 2027.

Red Bull KTM bids farewell to Joel Smets ahead of the 2027 MXGP reorganisation

Smets, who had been part of the team’s management and advisory staff since 2015, played a pivotal role in the development of Grand Prix winners and world champions such as Tom Vialle, Jorge Prado and Andrea Adamo, as well as helping other former riders to compete at the highest level. The Belgian secured the last of his five world titles on KTM SX-F machinery and will forever hold a prominent place in the history of the company’s motocross world championship. The role of Team Manager for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, previously held by Smets, will be taken over by Stefan Simpson. The Scot, who lives in Austria, has held a key position in development management over the past two years, working directly with the racing team. Simpson has dedicated his entire life to motocross and served as a mechanic for the Red Bull KTM team in 2009 and 2010, accumulating over 15 years’ experience in technical and research and development roles whilst working closely with the company. He will now oversee all of KTM Motorsports’ activities in the Motocross Grand Prix championship. The appointment comes at a time when Red Bull KTM is looking to the future with renewed vigour and with the aim of maintaining its competitiveness at the highest levels in both the MXGP and MX2 categories. In 2026, the factory team won Grand Prix races with three of its four riders and held both the red leaderboards with the KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F motorcycles. KTM would also like to thank the other loyal and tireless members of staff who have contributed to the success of MXGP since the inception of the current world championship in 2004. Below are the words of the new Team Manager, Stefan Simpson.

Stefan Simpson:

“The last fifteen years of my career have been dedicated to preparing for this role. There is a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders. I want to thank Robert and Pit for believing in me. It was an opportunity I had to seize, and I will give it my all. We have a great group of people and the company is fully behind us for the coming seasons, so I am confident. This team has won many titles and we are already heading full speed ahead towards 2027.”