Cornelius Tøndel could be about to receive the biggest opportunity of his career, with the Norwegian understood to be on the verge of joining Kawasaki’s full factory 450cc team in America for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Tøndel has quietly impressed during the opening five rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship under the ISRT Kawasaki awning. Despite racing outside of the factory setup, he has consistently shown encouraging speed and has caught the attention of those within the paddock.
Following Chase Sexton’s season-ending injury, Kawasaki’s factory 450 programme has been left with just Garrett Marchbanks in its line-up. Since then, the team has been searching for a suitable replacement rider, and we believe that Tøndel has emerged as their preferred choice.
We understand that the Norwegian has already tested the factory Kawasaki, with a deal believed to have been agreed that would see him compete for the team for the remainder of the AMA Pro Motocross season, before continuing into the SMX World Championship.
If confirmed, it would mark a major step forward in Tøndel’s career. Having already demonstrated that he has the speed to compete in America, the move would give him the chance to showcase his talent with full factory support for the first time in his career.
A strong finish to the season could prove invaluable for the Norwegian, not only in terms of results but also for opening up further opportunities heading into 2027. While an official announcement is still awaited, all indications suggest that Tøndel is set to receive a golden opportunity with Kawasaki for the remainder of the season – starting at Southwick.
The deal has now been officially announced, you can read the press release, here.
