American youngster Sawyer Gieck is set to make the move across the Atlantic for the 2027 season after signing with Kosak KTM to contest the EMX125 Championship.
The four-time Loretta Lynn champion will take on a new challenge in Europe, gaining valuable experience against some of the best young riders in the world as he looks to develop his career on the international stage.
Gieck isn’t completely unfamiliar with the European scene, having already made a couple of wildcard appearances in the EMX125 Championship during 2026. However, next year will mark a much bigger commitment as he prepares to contest the series full-time.
First taste of Europe in 2026
Gieck made the trip across the Atlantic during the 2026 season to contest the EMX125 rounds at Riola Sardo and Arco di Trento under the 737 KTM awning.
He made an encouraging impression at Riola, securing an eleventh-place finish in the opening race in the challenging sand. Unfortunately, bike issues prevented him from qualifying for the races at Arco di Trento.
The American youngster returned to Europe later in the year for the Junior World Championship in Jinín, Czech Republic, where he once again showed his potential with a seventh-place finish in the opening race.
Those experiences clearly provided Gieck with a taste of European competition, and he will now get the opportunity to build on them with a full season in the MXGP paddock.
Kosak KTM opportunity
Joining Kosak KTM will give Gieck a strong platform to continue his development, with the possibility of also contesting the ADAC Junior Cup alongside his EMX125 commitments.
Racing in Europe will provide a different challenge for the young American, with new circuits, different track conditions and the opportunity to compete against the best young talent from across the continent.
It will also be interesting to see how quickly he adapts to the championship after getting his first experience of the European scene in 2026.
New faces set to challenge in EMX125
The 2027 EMX125 Championship is expected to feature plenty of new faces at the front of the field, with only three riders from the 2026 top ten expected to remain in the category. That should provide opportunities for newcomers to establish themselves, and Gieck will be hoping to make the most of his European adventure.
It’s also great to see an American talent making the commitment to race in Europe full-time. While we’ve seen American wildcard appearances in the EMX125 series before, having Gieck contest the entire championship will be something different. It will be fascinating to follow his progress with Kosak KTM in 2027!
The team confirmed the news on social media:
WELCOME TO THE TEAM, SAWYER GIECK! New season. New challenge. New talent.
We are excited to announce that American Sawyer Gieck will join the KTM KOSAK Racing Team for the 2027 season! The 4-time Loretta Lynn’s Champion and AMA Youth Rider of the Year brings impressive speed, determination, and huge potential to our team.
We’re proud to welcome Sawyer to the KOSAK family and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in 2027! TOGETHER WE RACE. TOGETHER WE WIN.
