New Mechanic for Chase Sexton in Philadelphia | News 9

Crew change up for the defending Supercross Champion as season draws to a close...

ML512
4/27/2024 5:37am
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Coming into the 15th round of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross in Philadelphia, we heard a few comments that Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton may have a different face behind the wrenches on his Factory 450 SX-F. After taking a walk around the pits this morning, that seems to be true with Kyle Defoe working on the #1 machine this weekend and Sexton’s usual mechanic, Brandon Zimmerman, not present.

Brandon Zimmerman and Chase Sexton earlier in the season.
Brandon Zimmerman and Chase Sexton earlier in the season. Octopi Media

Defoe has been with the team for two seasons, having come over from Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki in late 2022. In that time he’s been assigned to Marvin Musquin for what was his final Supercross season, then Cooper Webb in the 2023 Pro Motocross campaign that was cut short before Webb's departure from the team. Earlier this season, he was assigned to Jorge Prado and Troy Lee Designs GasGas during his US stint, before moving back into a testing role with the KTM team.

Kyle Defoe
Kyle Defoe with the #1 machine the morning of the Philadelphia Supercross Octopi Media

We’re awaiting comment from the Red Bull KTM team but as of now, it looks like Brandon Zimmerman is no longer with the outfit. Rumors leading into the racing weekend stated that Zimm had been let go as a result of the bike malfunction in Nashville, which resulted in Chase Sexton crashing and ultimately not finishing the main event. Zimm came to KTM with Sexton last fall, having been partnered with him at HRC Honda for his 2023 title success. He was brought to KTM on behalf of Sexton’s request, so this is quite the shock to see. Zimmerman has been with Sexton since the 2022 season as Sexton’s prior wrench, Jade Dungey, left Honda in the winter of 2021 to join Red Bull KTM and now wrenches for Aaron Plessinger. We'll update this news feature if any more information comes to light this weekend.

Related:
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9 comments

View replies to: New Mechanic for Chase Sexton in Philadelphia | News

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mx4
1 week ago

Chase “it’s everybody’s fault but mine” Sexton

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rutnut69
2 weeks ago

as a trusted moto insider i can report chase sexton hates his ktm and is looking for any excuse to terminate his contract. 

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csbrianp
2 weeks ago

I didn’t remember the Chase bringing him over from Honda, but it makes sense you want someone that knows you. After the crash, Chase was walking away and Zimmerman asked him something and Chase snapped at him, and kept walking. I thought then, maybe the honeymoon is over.

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Moto Braap
2 weeks ago

If you read the fine print riders are independent contractors and can get let go within 5 days for breach of contract.  You don’t hear about mechanics often surprisingly since not much goes wrong but if it does I can see how they’d have to be accountable like anyone else.  Checking the oil list and makin it twice.  One time Chad’s bike cut out in the face where sometimes water coolers malfunction as the bikes get more tech.  Not sure if that makes them any more reliable than a jetted 2 smoke.  The new e-bikes may be the cure.

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CrashMaster01
2 weeks ago

I hate the secrecy at the pro level, just be transparent what did he do wrong for the bike to malfunction?

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Matt NZ
2 weeks ago

There will be loads of speculation about the actual reason - and quite likely KTM wont confirm either way, but what we can take from this is the 'a rock jammed the throttle' story was a bollocks. 

They should have never said that straight after the event. It now casts everyone from Sexton to the mechanic to the team with suspicion.  

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mikebrownsound
2 weeks ago

I mean there must be something going on here, you dont simply reject your mechanic and the team lets him go. Did Chase want him to go earlier? Did the team not gel with him? Kinda odd to suddenly out of nowhere change mechanic due to this one isolated incident, and plausible Zimmerman leaving the team. 

Now rumors will be all over the world-wide web, i´ll wait until real answers pops up, before i jump on on the speculation wagon (was it deliberate) and all kinds of weird things people tend to throw out there. Nah it feels like there is more to it (obviously).  

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