The legendary Supercross de Paris is set to celebrate a milestone 43rd edition, with organisers revealing a stacked international rider line-up during a press conference held at the MXGP of France in Lacapelle-Marival.
The announcement was led by Xavier Audouard (Supercross de Paris organiser), Eric Peronnard (US coordinator), David Luongo (CEO and President of Infront Moto Racing) and Sébastien Poirier (President of the French Motorcycle Federation), with the event once again set to be broadcast live.
Headlining the SX1 category is newly crowned 450 AMA Supercross Champion Ken Roczen, who returns to Paris for what is expected to be a major highlight of the off-season calendar. Joining him is Japanese star Jo Shimoda, confirmed to be making his first-ever 450 Supercross start in Paris, adding another major talking point to the 2026 field.
Also confirmed are American frontrunners Malcolm Stewart and Aaron Plessinger, both of whom will add further depth and unpredictability to an already elite line-up.
In a historic first for the event, MXGP rising stars Lucas Coenen and Sacha Coenen of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will both make their Supercross debuts in Paris, with the pair appearing at the launch event and expressing excitement at taking on a completely new discipline.
Organiser Xavier Audouard said the 43rd edition reflects the long-standing prestige of the Paris event and hinted that more announcements could still come.
“This is the 43rd edition, there is no place in the world where there have been more nights of Supercross than in Paris. That says everything about what this event means,” Audouard said. “We have some very important names to announce this year, and I think this edition is going to be one for the ages. It is possible we will have a French rider on the line-up too, we haven’t announced everything yet. We are super proud of what we are building and I cannot wait.”
Eric Peronnard highlighted the strength of the SX1 field, particularly the addition of Shimoda alongside Roczen.
“We are very happy to confirm Ken Roczen, you know what he brings. But having the best guy in the USA is not enough; you need someone who can race with him,” Peronnard said. “So we are very happy to announce that we signed Joe Shimoda just 48 hours ago. He is a young, talented champion and this will be his very first Supercross on 450 and it will happen in Paris. We also have Malcolm Stewart and Aaron Plessinger, both racing on new bikes for the first time. This line-up is exceptional.”
David Luongo emphasised the global reach of the event through its continued partnership with MXGP-TV.
“It is a great pleasure to once again support the launch of the Supercross de Paris,” Luongo said. “This collaboration has been growing stronger every year and we are proud to confirm the race will be live on MXGP-TV, giving it global exposure across every continent. Whether you are in Japan, the US or Germany, you will be able to watch and follow the action. That worldwide reach is something we have been building for years and it is paying off. We look forward to another great edition.”
Sébastien Poirier reinforced the event’s importance to French motorsport development, particularly through the SX2 category.
“The Supercross de Paris is a cornerstone event for French motorcycling. It showcases the very highest level of the sport while also supporting the development of our national scene through the SX2 category,” Poirier said. “The federation is fully behind this event and we are proud to see it grow in stature year after year.”
For the Coenen brothers, the 2026 edition marks a major personal milestone as both prepare for their first Supercross appearances.
“It’s a dream, finally we can do it in Paris. I went there once just to watch and the atmosphere was crazy,” Lucas Coenen said. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing something new and just enjoying it. It’s going to be a great experience.”
Sacha Coenen added: “I’m super happy that I can do my first race in Supercross, and to do it in Paris makes it even more special. I’m just looking forward to having fun and doing the best I can.”
