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The 2027 Haircut: What's a Top Rider Worth Right Now?
It's November, and Chase Sexton still doesn't have a confirmed ride for 2027. He and Monster Energy Kawasaki parted ways on October 23, just one year into a three-year deal, and no new team has been announced.
Sexton's situation is the headline, but the bigger story is the money. Husqvarna shut down its in-house U.S. factory team after 2026 and moved to supporting independent teams, which sent riders like RJ Hampshire and Malcolm Stewart looking for new homes. Racer X even asked whether Star Yamaha "can afford another 450 rider of that caliber."
That raises the question we keep hearing in the pits: how many truly big-money factory deals are left? The Lawrence brothers at Honda and Haiden Deegan at Star Yamaha come to mind. Beyond that, are most riders, even proven winners in both classes, just making it work season to season? In a tight-money paddock, a top rider's next contract may come down to how big a pay cut he's willing to take to stay on a winning bike.
Where Sexton lands will say a lot about where the market is headed. We'll have it on Big49 the moment it's official.
What do you think a top rider should be worth in today's industry? Let us know on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Sources: Racer X, Supercross.com, GateDrop, Swapmoto Live.
Big 49 walks away
See YA Pro MX and SX
Big49 walks away from Pro MX and SX ..
As many of you in our audience may have noticed Big49 has stopped our coverage of Pro Motocross and Supercross. This had nothing to do with our love of the sport or the riders themselves. This had to do with external forces within the sanctioning bodies of professional Motocross and the politics of predisposed media relationships. During this interim period we have added multiple stations to our platform. We will keep the Rock on the 49 and occasionally go out to Glen Helen for various Nationals events. We put our heart n soul into this, so when things don’t work out, we move on.
We still have made great friends with many of the riders and we are still huge fans of the sport of Motocross.
Keep on the Rock.. Moto