Chase Sexton has made a significant impact in the world of Supercross and Motocross. This article delves into the specifics of Sexton's career earnings, exploring contracts, bonuses, and the financial aspects of being a top-tier professional rider.
On Monday October 9, it was announced that Sexton would leave Honda HRC, the team he's raced his full professional career with, and join the Red Bull KTM factory racing team on a two-year deal.
Contracts and Team Transitions
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (November 3, 2025) - Monster Energy® Kawasaki and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki are ready to take on another thrilling year of SuperMotocross in 2026. Sexton joins the team with a winning resume and renewed energy for the season ahead.
Chase Sexton: “Joining Monster Energy Kawasaki is an amazing opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my career. The team has already made me feel very supported with anything I need, and they’re here to give me all the tools I need to win."
Championships and Performance Bonuses
For the 2023 Supercross season, Sexton won Honda's first 450cc title since 2003, with 6 wins and 13 podium finishes. In motocross, Sexton captured his first AMA Motocross Championship.
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Standard Factory Riders bonuses ballpark:
- Per Race overall from bike manufacture: 100k - 50k - 25k. Some have MX moto win bonuses, like $10-$15k.
- Championships: $1M to $1.5M each.
I would guess Sexton gets a base salary of around $ 1.5 million as he is a top race-winning championship guy. Plus $150K to win overalls, that's figuring in purse money and other bonuses. Then he has salary from the gear companies and others probably worth another $500K a year. Plus supermotocross championship say he gets top 3 is worth $250K to $1 M depending on what he gets.
Estimated Annual Earnings: For a rider like Sexton, his bike salary would be closer to $2M than to $1M. As far as other deal, think at least $1M for the rest (Pants/Jersey/Gloves/Boots/Goggles).
Chase Sexton's Honda Era Highlights
Additional Income Streams
Then he has salary from the gear companies and others probably worth another $500K a year. Not sure about gear bonuses, those vary a lot depending the contracts but nowhere close to manufacture bonuses...
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Expenses and Financial Management
Agents, trainers, financial advisors, a place to stay on both coasts, motorhome and driver, lawyers, practice facilities, health insurance, and mechanics bonuses etc.
Luckily everything you mentioned (save a mechanics bonus) is tax deductible business expenses, if ran as a business, which I'm positive is for all the top riders. Someone at Chase's level, with the aforementioned needs/expenses, could easily be looking at having deductions in the $700K per year range easily. And thats including incremental depreciation of the motorhome.
Now residing in FL, he also doesn't have to pay a state income tax on his earnings, which also helps.
Historical Context and Comparisons
To put in perspective, my highest Yamaha deal 20 years ago was $850k, $75k/win, $25k for 2nd ($35k if 2nd behind a Yamaha rider. Got a few of those behind MC or Chad), $10 for 3rd.
Tax Optimization and Corporate Structure
Most of the riders have corporations in favorable states. All the money goes to the corporation, all the bills are paid by the corporation. The corp sets up a retirement account and a pension (for the smarter guys) and the corp pays a salary to the rider at the end of the year.
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The Cost of the Sport
It costs almost nothing to play football or baseball if you compare it to high level amateur motocross. In football and baseball, the rejects are still making 500k plus, the highest level of rejects in ball sports get at least free college! Motocross and supercross?
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