The Silly Season Week: Barcia Keeps Everyone Waiting

Justin Barcia is still shopping. Speaking on the Vital MX show, Barcia said he has not decided or finalised where he rides next season, while confirming multiple teams have been in touch. We grade that an A, and it is the loosest thread on a board carrying 128 live rumours.

The hardware story is nearly as loud. The Pulpmx Show reports PRMX will switch to Yamaha machinery for next season, another A grade claim and one that would reshuffle the privateer 250 order.

More from the same source, all A grade. Derek Kelly is said to be heading to Beta on a 250. Landon Gordon is said to be staying put. Ryder Malinowski is reported to turn pro this weekend after wrapping his amateur and Canadian campaigns.

Also from Pulpmx: Devin Simonson is done with the outdoors, with Club MX pulling him off the 450 to concentrate on WSX and SMX aboard a 250.

Eleven deals went from talk to ink. Jorge Prado extended with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, announced the day before Unadilla, with Julien Beaumer re-signed through 2027 and beyond. Benny Bloss added two more years with Liqui Moly Beta. Ducati tied Louis Vosters to their MXGP project until the end of 2029. Francisco Garcia steps up from EMX250 to Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 for 2027.

Ernee took shape too. The ACU named Taylor Hammal, Ben Mustoe in MX2 and Ben Watson in the Open class for Team GB. Latvia will be led by Pauls Jonass. Austria go with Ricardo Bauer, Michael Kratzer and Michael Sandner, the EMX125 champion making his debut on a 250.

Four denials. Pulpmx say the Levi Kitchen to Kawasaki 450 talk for summer 2027 is finished now Malcolm Stewart is riding outdoors, and that Stewart's expected Pipes Motorsport Group deal never happened. Club MX talked to Jed Beaton, but sponsor complications killed it. Racer X report RJ Hampshire turned down a Nations ride.

Seventy nine new claims this week against eleven confirmations. Next week should tell us where Barcia lands, whether PRMX confirm the Yamaha switch, and who fills Stewart's diary.