2024 Team Preview: AEO Powersports

2024 Team Preview: AEO Powersports KTM

November 30, 2023, @ 11:30 am
Words: Trey Stire

As the 2024 season draws near, one top privateer team is stepping up and poised for success. The AEO Powersports KTM team will be embarking on their third full season, and the squad has added a new third rider for the season. The team will continue to compete in the 250 West championship during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, and campaign the full Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross World Championship seasons. AEO has added support from KTM for 2024, and a brand new gear deal with Canvas MX.

I had the opportunity to chat with Jeremy Scism, team owner of AEO Powersports KTM. “For 2024, we have added a third rider to the team and have purchased a new full semi for the new year. We will be doing all West Coast SX rounds and MX rounds, including the SMX series. We hope to keep building our program with better results, sponsors and consistently battling the factory teams. We have aligned more with KTM to help their up-and-comers,” Scism said.

Here’s a look at the 2024 AEO roster, with one returning and two new riders on the team.

Derek Kelley

Returning to AEO for the third straight season is Derek Kelley. Kelley has been one of the top 250 privateer racers during his time with the team. In the team’s first season, Kelley took 13th in both the 250 West and 250MX championships. Kelley’s breakout season was the 2023 250 West season, as the Californian took three top tens in the first three rounds of the season, en route to five total top tens and a ninth-place finish in the standings. Kelley fought through injuries and illnesses during the 2023 Motocross season and took 24th in the standings. His efforts throughout the year put him on the gate for the SMX playoff LCQ races, where he qualified for the finals at Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Kelley announced last week that he suffered an arm injury, and he could miss the first few rounds of the 2024 season. Despite the injury, Kelley is optimistic about his chances in his third year with AEO.

“This will be my third year with AEO, and obviously, I enjoy being on the team a ton. Working with Jeremy has been awesome, as well as everyone involved with AEO Powersports. Not only have I grown as a rider during my time with the team, but the team has made huge gains as well. We had been making some big gains this off-season, but I crashed and will be off the bike for some time.”

When he returns, Kelley will be competing in the 250 West class but making the jump to the 450 class for the Pro Motocross season. After the breakout campaigns from Garrett Marchbanks and Ty Masterpool last season, Kelley could be the favorite to have a breakthrough season this summer.

Derek Kelley has been a part of the AEO Powersports KTM team since their first full season in 2022, and he will be hungry for top tens once he returns from injury. (Photo: Hailey Lorance)

Talon Hawkins

One newcomer to the AEO team for the 2024 season will be embarking on his sophomore season as a pro. Talon Hawkins turned pro during the 2022 Motocross season, and began his full-time pro career for the 250 East Supercross season in 2023. Called into action by the Rockstar Energy Drink Husqvarna factory squad after an injury to teammate Jalek Swoll, Hawkins finished 14th in his earlier than expected SX debut. Hawkins then competed in the full motocross season, finishing 12th in the standings. Hawkins qualified for the first-ever SMX playoffs, joining Haiden Deegan and Caden Braswell as rookie competitors in the field.

Team owner Jeremy Scism was ecstatic about adding Talon to the program for 2024. “We have helped Talon in the past before he got signed to the (Husqvarna) amateur program. We love working with him, and we’ve always kept an eye on him. Talon is the first rider that we have worked directly with KTM to get signed and onto our development program. Because he did not have a spot on the factory team for 2024, this was a good opportunity for us to get involved. Coming over to AEO KTM, he will receive great equipment and the ability to elevate his program.”

Talon Hawkins joins the AEO Powersports KTM team for 2024. Hawkins will be looking to improve on his rookie season, where he established himself as a top-15 rider. (Photo courtesy of Talon’s Instagram)

Ryder McNabb

Another big signing for the AEO team this off-season was the addition of Canadian phenom Ryder McNabb. The 17-year-old racer won two consecutive Canadian Motocross championships, including one with KTM’s Canadian factory team in 2023. McNabb was also a representative of Team Canada at the Motocross of Nations in Ernee, France during the year, and finished second in the Moto Combine race at Redbud. McNabb’s schedule will be a bit different than the usual AEO program, as McNabb will compete in SX Futures before embarking on the full Motocross season.

“Ryder has been a KTM rider out of Canada, where he won the title last year. This season, he wanted to come to the U.S. to race, as he felt that it was where he needed to be in order to get to the level he wants. He is still just 17 years old, and he has a ton of talent to work with and grow,” Jeremy Scism said.

After two straight Canadian MX titles, Ryder McNabb is coming to America in 2024, starting with SX Futures. (Photo: KTM Canada/Ryder McNabb’s Instagram)

With a stellar lineup, the AEO Powersports KTM team is poised for a great year in 2024. A mix of veteran experience and youth could give the team its best season so far. The team is still finalizing sponsorship for the season and looking for support. If you are willing to sponsor the team’s efforts or know someone who could help the team, e-mail jeremy@aeopowersports.com to find out how you could help one of the fastest growing privateer teams in the pits.