Austin Forkner has announced his retirement from professional AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross competition. The 27-year-old rider says the physical and mental demands of the sport have left him with little more to give, while a recent crash in Colorado changed his view of continuing through the end of the season. Forkner said that his health and family now come first.

Forkner made his professional debut in 2016 and built a substantial record in the smaller classes over a 10-year career. In AMA Supercross, he won 13 250SX Main Events and added seven further podium appearances. In the 250 Class of Pro Motocross, he secured one overall victory at Ironman Raceway, along with six additional top-three results.

The Triumph chapter

Forkner joined Triumph Factory Racing for the 2025 season and raced the TF 250-X. That year he finished seventh twice in 250SX and recorded his best Pro Motocross result with fifth place at the Washougal National. In 2026, he moved into AMA Supercross’s premier 450SX division and became the first rider to compete on the TF 450-X.

Triumph’s announcement also points to the comebacks that shaped Forkner’s career. He returned to the highest level of competition after a serious crash, while medical investigations later uncovered an unrelated issue that led to complex brain surgery. The team presents that return as evidence of the mentality and resilience that marked his career, alongside his results on the track.

Forkner described the decision as difficult but said he no longer had much left to give, and that finishing the season would not be the smart choice after the Colorado crash. He thanked the Triumph team for its work and the fans who supported him throughout his career.

Triumph said it respects and supports his decision. Jeremy Coker, general manager of Triumph Racing America, highlighted Forkner’s record as one of the most successful 250 racers, while Ian Kimber, Triumph Motorcycles’ head of global racing programmes, said the latest injury had become the final obstacle to another comeback. Forkner leaves professional racing with 13 250SX Main Event victories, a Pro Motocross overall win and a distinctive place in Triumph’s racing history as the first rider to race the TF 450-X in the 450SX class.