Aaron Plessinger, "I Know I Belong Up Front"
If there is a SuperMotocross racer that resonates closely with the fans, enjoys the process, and is just straight-up having fun non-stop, it's none other than "The Cowboy" Aaron Plessinger. The Ohio native will enter 2025, his fourth year with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team aboard the KTM 450 SX-F. Last week on the SMX Preview Show, Plessinger spoke about goals, confidence, and fans ahead of the 2025 Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship season.
In San Diego, this past 2024 Supercross season was a monumental step for Plessinger, as he grabbed that elusive career-first 450SX win that he had been looking forward to and held the red plate as the championship points leader for some rounds early on. It's not for the lack of effort or speed from The Cowboy; it's the mental side, "Some races, man, I don’t know—I just get nervous. Like Detroit a couple of years ago, I was so confident; I knew something good was going to happen. It’s that mentality I need to keep. A really hard thing for me in ’23 was just not knowing that I belonged up there. Last year (2024) was a really, really good stepping stone for me."
Plessinger made a big leap from previous years in the premier class this past season, which now has him in the conversation as a race winner on any given weekend and championship title threat as his confidence grows, "At times, I’ve struggled with confidence in my own abilities, but I’m getting to a place where I know I belong up front." This sport, yes indeed, is about having that top speed, but the confidence level a rider must have goes even further, and those first few years in the class were difficult. "When I first got into the Premier class, man, I struggled big time. Turning that ship around was tough, but I’ve come a long way."
2025 will be his seventh year in the premier class, arguably the best we have ever seen from Plessinger. The goals for this upcoming season are easily stated, "The goal is to win, you know, to win and to be as consistent as I need to be." As the one guy who always enjoys being at the races more than anyone, the persona from his personality would be hard to tell, "My personality might seem laid back, but it’s all part of how I approach the sport. It helps me stay grounded and focused when it matters."
Plessinger's larger-than-life personality and relatable demeanor are key reasons he’s a fan favorite."I think why the fans resonate with me so much is they can relate to me because I’m a normal dude, you know? I just happen to be all right at racing dirt bikes. I’m just a big, hairy winning machine."
With his confidence at an all-time high and a clear goal of capturing race wins, Aaron Plessinger is poised to solidify his place as a championship contender in 2025. With Anaheim 1 just over a week away, could this be the year 'The Cowboy' takes his career to even bigger heights?
