After two seasons competing in the EMX125 Championship under his own privateer structure, Ryan Oppliger is set to take the next step in his career in 2027 as he joins SixtySeven KTM for his debut season in EMX250.
The Swiss talent showed plenty of potential during the 2026 campaign, but a shoulder injury sustained at his home GP in Switzerland put his season on hold for several months. Despite the setback, Oppliger managed to return towards the end of the year and demonstrate his speed, even fighting for race wins at Foxhill and in Turkey.
For 2027, Oppliger will benefit from the support of SixtySeven KTM while continuing to live and train at home with his own coaches. In this interview with DailyMotocross, he reflects on a challenging 2026 season, his progression through the national championships, his move to EMX250 and his ambitions for the future.
Ryan, there were high hopes for the 2026 season. The opening round in Spain went pretty well for you, but things became complicated from the first round in Switzerland, your home GP. A shoulder injury kept you away from the tracks for several months before a promising return towards the end of the year. What will you take away from this season?
Oppliger: It was a difficult season. I dislocated my shoulder in Switzerland and had to undergo surgery straight away. I spent two and a half months off the bike, then went straight back into racing without any real preparation. Naturally, things were difficult at the beginning. I still managed to show some good things, particularly at Foxhill and in Turkey, where I was fighting for race wins. Even though it was tough, I learned a lot this year, both on the bike and mentally.
You competed under your own family-run structure during your two years in EMX125. Was that a choice or a necessity? Can you explain how you organised the last two seasons?
Oppliger: It was really a choice on our part. We wanted to have control over our decisions, whether that was training, the programme or the preparation of the bike. Being on our own allowed us to do things the way we wanted, and it worked very well like that. However, being a privateer requires a huge amount of organisation and sacrifice, especially for the family.
You are also familiar with the ADAC, the French Championship and the Swiss Championships. You have actually won titles in all three countries. This has allowed you to experience different formats, programmes, tracks and competitors. I imagine each of these experiences has been valuable for your development. What have you taken away from these championships and your national titles?
Oppliger: Racing in other countries has helped me enormously. Compared to Switzerland, the level is much higher and the tracks are very different. You have to adapt each time to the track, the format and the competitors. I think that is what allowed me to progress, and it also prepared me for the European Championship. It really helped me improve and get noticed.
You achieved some good results during your appearances in the SX Tour in 2025. Did you have plans to race Supercross in 2026 before your injury forced you to change those plans? Is the discipline still something you have in mind for the coming seasons?
Oppliger: Supercross is something I really enjoy and want to work on. We had planned to do some this year, but the injury changed the plan. For now, we are focusing on next season, but Supercross is still in the back of my mind.
What support do you currently receive from the Swiss federation, given your status as one of the country’s motocross prospects?
Oppliger: We do a few training camps with the federation throughout the year, which is always interesting. However, we don’t necessarily receive as much support as some riders in other countries. A large part of the work still falls on us and the people around us.
You are joining the SixtySeven KTM structure for the 2027 season to make your EMX250 debut. I imagine a lot of things will change for 2027, particularly where you live. How will everything work?
Oppliger: The idea was mainly to keep what has been working well up to now. I will continue to live at home and train the way I want to, with my coaches. The team will mainly help us with the bike, the structure at the races and travel. That was exactly what we were looking for: a team capable of helping us with the difficulties we could face as privateers, without losing the advantages we already have.
How did this partnership come about? Have you been in contact with other teams? You might not be the most widely publicised rider, but the more attentive observers will certainly have had you in mind for 2027.
Oppliger: We had a few offers and took the time to find the best solution for me. With SixtySeven, everything happened naturally. Markus, the team manager, is really willing to help us and is a very important person for us in this project.
What are your goals for the 2027 season? You will be taking over Skovbjerg’s bike, after he finished runner-up in EMX250 this year. Those are some big shoes to fill, but you will obviously be keen to make a strong impression.
Oppliger: I am not setting myself a finishing-position target for now. It will be my first season on a 250cc, so the main goal is to show what I am capable of and do the best I can at every race. I want to perform and get noticed. Replacing a championship runner-up is no small thing, but I will be racing for myself and making my own season.
I imagine you will also race the ADAC, this time in the Youngster Cup. It is an excellent championship for development. Being able to run at the front in the ADAC also means having the level to fight at the front in EMX250, doesn’t it?
Oppliger: Yes. The ADAC is a very good complement to the European Championship. The level is very high, so every race will help me progress. If you can run at the front in the ADAC, that is obviously a good sign for the European Championship.
In broad terms, what kind of motocross career do you dream of having? Tonus and Guillod tried their hand at racing in America at one point in their careers, while Seewer stayed in the GP paddock. What kind of path would you like to follow?
Oppliger: First, I would like to progress on the 250cc and become one of the best. That is the priority for the next few seasons. The United States, and especially Supercross, is something that appeals to me, but for now I am focused on Europe and the work I am doing here. We will see where the results and opportunities take me.
Swiss motocross seems to have been evolving over the last few seasons. Do you think we could see more and more Swiss riders reaching the highest level in the near future?
Oppliger: I think there is currently a good wave of young Swiss riders, and we are all pushing each other a little. I hope more and more Swiss riders will be able to compete at the front in Europe and then go even further.
What role has Gregory Wicht played in your young career so far?
Oppliger: Greg has been my coach from the beginning. I have been training with him since I was very young. He helps me enormously with technique and training, on the bike, but also with my decisions. He is a very important person to me.
Oppliger: Do you have any thanks?
I would like to thank my family for all the sacrifices and support, Greg for all the work we have done together from the beginning, and Camille, my physical coach, for her daily guidance. Thanks also to all my partners who have supported me for years, and to DailyMotocross for the interview. Finally, a big thank you to Markus and the entire SixtySeven team for their trust. I can’t wait to start this new adventure with them.
