Kawasaki works rider Chase Sexton is out for the rest of the 2026 season

Chase Sexton is set to undergo cruciate ligament surgery, bringing his 2026 season to a premature end. This is also likely to mark the end of Sexton’s partnership with Kawasaki. As a reminder: Sexton claimed that his crash was caused by a bike problem, a claim which was disputed by the team. The data reportedly showed that he had throttled back the engine during the jump, which then led to the crash.

Will this lead to a split with Kawasaki?

It would come as no surprise if Sexton were to switch manufacturers for 2027. “After all the struggles this year, this is yet another major setback. Against this backdrop, I’ll be taking the opportunity to do things I wouldn’t normally get round to.”

First problems with KTM, now with Kawasaki

Particularly explosive: his split from KTM also didn’t go without some dirty laundry being aired. Back then, too, Sexton more or less openly attributed his crashes to the bike. The situation is even more dramatic for Kawasaki: Following the disaster with Jorge Prado, who couldn’t get to grips with the Kawasaki, they now have another rider who’s citing problems with the bike – and in Prado’s case, this actually proved to be true. Sexton, however, did indeed tend to blame his numerous crashes and inconsistency on the bike. Seen from the outside, that is his main problem. “As a rider, I still have a lot to prove,” he explained. “2027 will be the year. For now, I’m enjoying life and maybe I’ll see you at some races in the future as a fan.”

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