AUSTIN FORKNER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

After a decade in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, and a 2026 season spent making history aboard Triumph’s TF450-X, Austin Forkner has called time on his professional racing career.

The 5.11 Triumph Factory Racing’s Austin Forkner has announced his retirement from professional AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross competition, bringing the curtain down on one of the more talented – and toughest – careers of his generation. Forkner made his professional debut back in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of the sport’s most naturally gifted riders. The Missouri native racked up 13 250SX Main Event victories and seven further podiums in Supercross, along with an overall win at Ironman Raceway and six more top-three results in the 250 Class of Pro Motocross across his 10-year career. He joined Triumph Factory Racing for the 2025 season aboard the TF250-X, before stepping up for 2026 to make history as the first rider to race the TF450-X in the premier 450SX division.

Beyond the results sheet, Forkner’s story has always been as much about resilience as raw speed. A stoic return from injury, including a comeback following a serious crash and subsequent complex brain surgery for an unrelated issue discovered during medical investigations, cemented his reputation as a fan favourite well beyond his race results, and it’s that mentality, paired with his approachable character, that’s earned him plenty of respect in the paddock.

Austin Forkner:
“I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from racing. I feel like the physical and mental toll this sport takes on you is a lot, and I just don’t have a lot left to give anymore. I planned on making it to the end of the year, but after my crash in Colorado, my mind is no longer in it, and I feel like finishing the year isn’t smart. My health and family are being put first now, so although it’s a tough decision, it’s one I can be happy with. I’d like to thank the whole Triumph team for all the hard work over the past couple of years. It’s been fun, and we achieved some good results together. I’d also like to thank the fans who have stuck behind me through the years. I’m thankful for it all and for those I’ve met and connected with along the way. Thank you.”