2021 MX2 World Champion: Maxime Renaux

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Maxime Renaux made his dream a reality to become this year’s MX2 World Champion after what can only be described as a very strong and consistent season for the Frenchman. 

With a father who was a fan of motocross, Renaux got his first bike when he was just three years old and that’s when the road to the world championship began. At 14 years old, Renaux already dominated the 125cc series as he went on to win the Junior Motocross World Championship in 2015 and finished third in the EMX125 standings despite missing the final two rounds due to injury.

In 2016, the Frenchman made a move up to the EMX250 category, but his year was once again cut short as he sustained an arm injury at the German round. Back for more in 2017, Renaux was more keen than ever to fight for the EMX title, but was dealt another blow, probably the biggest of his career. At the opening round of the French Championship, another rider landed on his shoulder which left his bone in pieces and with severe nerve damage to the area.

The next months were followed by intense rehab, with little progress in the beginning. This was heart-breaking for the young Frenchman who was even told that his career could be over. In true champion fighting spirit, Renaux did not give up and by the end of 2017 was back on his back and hasn’t looked back since.

In 2018 he finished the EMX250 Championship in 12^th position and then made the move into the FIM Motocross World Championship! On his first season in the MX2 category, Renaux finished 7^th in the standings, with some consistent results inside the top five towards the end of the season.

In 2020, we saw Renaux, and his SM Action MC Migliori crew deliver more consistent results, including their first Grand Prix victory at the MXGP of Italy in Faenza. Renaux ended his season third in the championship with five podium finishes to his name.

This season we saw the Frenchman enter the MX2 championship as one of the main title contenders alongside his teammate Jago Geerts and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle. By the second round in Great Britain, Renaux was on the top step, followed by a podium in Italy. Then while he failed to mount the podium in Oss for the MXGP of the Netherlands, we did however see him take over the championship lead and he held on to the red plate from then on until the end of the season.

The Frenchman went on to win a total of 10 races, 5 Grand Prix’s, including 14 podiums and led a total of 137 laps this year. His consistency this season was key to his success and the reason why he was able to wrap up his title a couple of rounds early despite the pressure from Vialle and Geerts.

Congratulations to Maxime and the whole team at Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2 on your first FIM Motocross World Championship title!

Quick Facts…

DOB: 17/05/2000

BEST RESULT: MX2 World Champion

FIRST GP RACED: MXGP of The Netherlands 2016

FIRST GP WIN: MXGP of Italy, Faenza 2020

2021 stats:

RACE WINS: 10

PODIUMS: 14

GP VICTORIES: 5

RED PLATES: 15

Re-live the best moments of the 2021 season! All you need to do is register/login to MXGP-TV.com and then you can watch the best moments of the 2021 season for free by clicking HERE.