Kawasaki and Chase Sexton Part Ways, and Nobody Knows Where He Lands in 2027

Kawasaki and Chase Sexton are done. In a release dated October 23, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. said the two sides "mutually agreed to part ways effective October 23rd, 2026" (Racer X). The release is short, doesn't disclose any contract terms, and doesn't say where Sexton goes next.

What was actually announced

Not much, and that's the point. Kawasaki credited Sexton with two 450 Supercross wins, at Anaheim and Salt Lake City, adding him to its list of Supercross winners, and said it "wishes him the best for the 2027 season." Racer X noted that Sexton's next team is yet to be known, and suggested a rider of his caliber wouldn't walk away from a factory ride without something lined up.

Speedweek reported the same split two days later and described it as following a rift that surfaced over the summer (Speedweek). It quoted Sexton, 27, simply thanking everyone involved and wishing the team and staff well. Beyond that, neither side has said more publicly in the sources we read, so we're not going to fill the gap with guesses.

The seat problem

Here's what makes this interesting: it's late October and the music has mostly stopped. Speedweek's rundown of the 2027 market, which is its read rather than an official list, goes like this:

• Kawasaki's own factory lineup is reportedly already set, per Speedweek.
• Honda has the Lawrence brothers, and Star Racing Yamaha is built around Haiden Deegan.
• HEP Suzuki has signed Justin Barcia, and Ducati has so far confirmed only RJ Hampshire.

Speedweek's guess is that a lot depends on what happens with other veterans' plans, and that satellite squads or new brands that haven't launched US operations are the other doors. That's speculation from one outlet, so treat it as a map of possibilities, not a forecast.

Cycle News and Racer X have also been logging the broader shuffle this month: Cooper Webb heading to Team Tedder Husqvarna and Hampshire moving to Troy Lee Designs Ducati for 2027 (Cycle News). The paddock looks very different from a year ago.

Why a rider should care

Contract news can feel like inside baseball until you remember how much of what you buy is shaped by it. Factory riders are the testers whose feedback ends up in the next suspension setting, the next engine map and the next press release about "race-proven" parts. When a top rider changes brands, the feedback loop at both companies changes with him.

It's also a reminder of how thin the top of this sport is. A rider who has won 450 Supercross rounds can be a free agent in late October with the Supercross season only a few months away. Seats are scarce and the calendar doesn't wait; the 2027 AMA Supercross schedule is already published and tickets are on sale.

What to watch

• Sexton's announcement: the next team, and whether it's a factory seat, a satellite ride or something new.
• Kawasaki's 450 plans: the release didn't spell out how the team looks without him.
• More dominoes: one open seat or one retirement can reshuffle the whole grid.

Track your own season

You don't need a factory deal to know whether you're improving. Log your rides with BraapTrax and keep distance, time and elevation across the whole season, so next year's progress is something you can see in numbers. And when you roll up on a hazard the rider behind you won't expect, drop a report. The next rider will thank you.