MX2

PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) has been announced as the sponsor of Honda HRC’s MXGP team, where Ruben Fernandez, Tom Vialle, Jeffrey Herlings (all MXGP) and Valerio Lata (MX2) will look to add to the incredible heritage of the team when they line-up for the 2026 Motocross World Championships.

It’s been a busy off-season for everyone involved with the team, integrating the new riders onto unfamiliar machinery, as well as working with new sponsors to make sure everything is ready for another gruelling 20-round series spanning to the globe. Starting off the season in Argentina, ending in Australia and visiting numerous European nations as well as a revisit to South Africa in between, all four riders know that speed and consistency will be key if they want to have a rewarding 2026 campaign.

For Jeffrey Herlings – the winningest rider in GP history – he will not only be looking to extend that record but also add to his five world championship titles. Joining Honda HRC PETRONAS in a statement signing on January 1^st, the Dutchman has been testing and riding extensively since then and will now look to use a couple of pre-season races to get himself up to race-pace before the first gatedrop in Bariloche, Argentina on March 7-8.

Joining him on the start-line will be another new signing and two-time MX2 champion Vialle, who returns to Europe after an extremely successful time stateside where he also picked up two Supercross titles. The Frenchman will be riding a 450cc machine for the first time in his career, and like Herlings, he’ll also be piloting Honda machinery for the first time.

Those two will be alongside the returning Fernandez, who finished the 2025 MXGP World Championship in fourth place. The #70 was consistent all-season long, with flashes of speed which boosted him onto the podium on a number of occasions. Now the goal for the Spaniard is to show those flashes more often and fight it out at the front of the field on a regular basis.

The sole representative in the MX2 class is Lata, who is now in his second year in the class and should feel much more confident heading into 2026. He finished off in Australia with his first podium with the team and now he know what it takes, he has been putting in the work over the off-season to try and make it happen throughout this campaign.

Now the riders have a few more weeks and preseason races to negotiate before heading down to South America, but all are raring to go and really excited to line-up for Honda HRC PETRONAS in the 2026 World Motocross Championships.

Ruben Fernandez

I’ve had a really good preseason and I’m really excited to get down to Argentina and start this campaign. Obviously the first two rounds are in Spanish-speaking countries so that’s always a nice boost, so I’m confident that I can start off strongly and just keep that going. Last year I was consistent, but not on the podium as much as I would have liked, so now the goal is to just really aim for the top three and make another step forward.

Tom Vialle

Coming back to Europe has been a change, but not a massive one, so I think I have got back into things over here quickly. The bike is of course completely different, but I’ve been riding it since November and we done a lot of work and got things to a level that I’m happy with. However, testing and training is a lot different than racing GPs, so that will be the real test, but I’m confident in my ability and I feel ready to get back in the series and really show everyone what I’m capable of on the bigger bikes.

Jeffrey Herlings

It’s definitely been a hectic preseason so far, just learning the new bike, learning the team and just trying to get myself ready for the season ahead. I’ve done a lot of training since January 1, and we’ve made a lot of steps to get the bike where I want it, but we will keep working and testing and just make sure that I’m as ready as possible for Argentina. It has been a lot of changes, but so far, I am enjoying the challenge and the motivation is high coming into round one.

Valerio Lata

I’m feeling fit and healthy, and excited to start the season. Last year was a tough year, and a steep learning curve to be able to race all the rounds but I feel like I have made a lot of improvements and I think I am much better prepared to race 20 races around the world. I have been riding with the other guys a few times and I think it is really helpful to see how they do things as they are a lot more experienced than me. Overall, I am very happy with how things have gone and I am really looking forward to Argentina.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas

HRC General Manager - MXGP

I think the signings that Honda HRC PETRONAS have made this year, have showed the level that we are operating on. To have a line-up of riders of such a high calibre with multiple world championships like Jeffrey and Tom, really raise the profile of the team, not just amongst motocross, but in motorsports in general. Of course now we must match that standard on the race track, but we’ve had a productive month or so and I believe all four riders are ready to compete at the highest level in Argentina.

Giacomo Gariboldi

Team HRC Team Manager

I am very excited for this year, both the rider line-up we have. I think all four riders are capable of winning races, and while that might not happen immediately, I really believe we will get stronger and stronger as the season progresses and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold, both as a fan and as the Team Manager.

When the Ducati company decided to join the factory back teams in the MXGP championship, Paolo Ciabatti, the General Manager of Ducati Corse Off-Road knew he needed to make sure this famous Italian brand worked extra hard, to join what is already an impressive field of factory teams in the world motocross championships.

First signing Antonio Cairoli to help test the machines and develop their Desmo450 and then not only introduce a 450 to the sport of motocross but also make the next step and bring a 250 team in the GP paddock. For Ciabatti, it has been an enjoyable experience, but he also feels the Ducati name has done a good job on the off-road scene.

“I think we have done a good job,” Ciabatti said recently. “Of course, we know we still have room for improvement. This year, we are entering the world championship with the new VMR Promotion team in MXGP and three excellent riders, and we will be making our debut in MX2 and EMX250 with the Beddini team and two young Italian riders. Clearly, the goal is to always fight for the top five in MXGP and to gain experience and develop the new Desmo250 MX in MX2.”

With their 450 riders in 2026 being Andrea Bonacorsi, Jeremy Seewer and Calvin Vlaanderen, then Ferruccio Zanchi and Simone Mancini on the 250 machines, it’s a strong line-up of Ducati riders on an MXGP weekend. The 19-year-old Zanchi who will race in MX2 World championship, and the 18-year-old Simone Mancini will race the EMX250 class.

“Ducati has decided to engage in off-road with the aim of expanding its customer base by approaching a younger target, which previously did not find in our range models suitable to satisfy their passion for off-roading. The market is in a difficult moment for all manufacturers, but I think that thanks to the unique characteristics of our products, commercial success will not be lacking. From this point of view, the sales numbers of the Desmo450 MX are very comforting and in line with our objectives.”

So, as the 2026 season gets closer and closer, you just get the feeling that the famous Italian brand will be doing its share of points scoring and at times surprise results. Despite its rather inexperienced time in the sport, they have already shown great improvement and the riders mentioned above will be looking to make this year a successful one.

In the wake of such a successful 2025 campaign, Romain and the entire Kawasaki staff in Europe and Japan had a productive winter and are prepared for the new season with a strong motivation. Collectively the team have a world title to defend, and the technicians have used the past months to develop even further the bikes which were demonstrably so competitive last year with many podiums, GP victories and the premier off-road world title.
 
After testing in October, the riders took a break from riding at the end of last year before Romain, Pauls and Mathis joined the team staff in January for training and testing in Sardinia preparing for the opening races of the season. As usual the team will enter several pre-season races to fine tune themselves and their equipment for the MXGP series, which will kick off on March 8^th on a brand new track in Argentina. The international races at Pernes les Fontaines in Provence this weekend and Hawkstone Park in England one week later will be a great opportunity for the team and the riders to race against some of this season's GP rivals; nothing can replace racing!
 
Romain, who has chosen to race with the #1 on his 450 KX-SR, and Pauls, who enters his second year in Green, will contest the MXGP class, while Mathis, after a solid rookie season, will be aiming to add more podiums and victories to his résumé in the MX2 class. They will again face a long season with twenty rounds on the MXGP calendar between March 8^th and the finale on September 20^th in Australia.

 
Romain Febvre MXGP: “I had a good winter in Sardinia, where we had good conditions to train and test. The bike is based on my title winning machine, though of course we had some adjustments we’ll make and we will use these first races to finalise our preparations. I can’t wait to start racing again, and to see during the pre-season races where we are compared to our rivals. I feel more relaxed this year as I claimed the title last season, but my motivation remains the same as my goal is always to race in the leading pack.”

 
Pauls Jonass MXGP: “The off-season went really well; we did some good testing with the bike after the MX des Nations and last month in Sardinia. I’m feeling really confident on the bike, but there is still one month before the first GP so we have more time to continue to build. It’s my second year with Kawasaki, and it’s always good to have some experience behind me with the team and the bike. The first year is always a learning curve so now we will be even more comfortable together.”

 
Mathis Valin MX2: "My winter programme was similar to last year; Red Sand in December, then I trained in France with Thierry Van Den Bosch and in January we moved to Sardinia with the team. I had a good winter and I feel that I have improved on many things. I have a good feeling on the bike, and the goal is to be consistent at each race; if I can go as fast as in training I think I can have very good results and there is one goal, to be fighting at the front every week. We have also worked hard on the starts, and now I think that we have the set-up to get holeshots. We have a couple of pre-season races so it will be good to see where we are in racing, and then we still have one month before the first GP."
 
Steve Guttridge (KME Race Planning Manager): “Heading into the 2026 MXGP season as World Champions and sporting the Number 1 plate is a dream come true for Kawasaki.
The Kawasaki Racing Team crew and our riders, Romain and Pauls in the MXGP class and Mathis, who’s no longer a rookie, in MX2 will continue to work together as a formidable combination!  Everyone has been working harder than ever with both our factory technicians in Japan and our valued technical partners; their KX-SR race bikes have advanced to the next level in winter testing. We are ready and excited for the 2026 season to get underway”.
 
Antti Pyrhonen (Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP / MX2 Team Manager): “We are looking forward to yet another season. The riders and team members are extremely motivated and we are getting ready to go racing. After last year’s success, we continued the work and further development; the riders are very happy with the progress and feeling with our factory KX-SR machines. The entire team, riders and staff, have remained the same so we know what to expect from each other. The season will be long and demanding, but we know what we need to do.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 6 February 2026 – Infront Moto Racing is happy to announce that tickets for the MXGP of Flanders on the 1st & 2nd of August are officially on sale.

The demanding circuit of Lommel is set to host the 15th round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship. 

In 2025, the venue saw home hero Lucas Coenen get the victory ahead of Romain Febvre and Calvin Vlaanderen in MXGP while dutchman Kay de Wolf won the Grand Prix in front of Camden Mc Lellan and Sacha Coenen in MX2.

That's not all! Alongside the intense MXGP and MX2 races, fans will also be treated to thrilling competitions from the EMX250 and EMXOPEN!

Get your tickets HERE for the MXGP of Flanders!

Upgrade your experience HERE with our VIP Gold Skybox packages for the ultimate MXGP weekend!

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Lommel

Kay de Wolf steps up to MXGP, Liam Everts returns fit, and Red Bull joins the ride into a 20 round world championship season.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing enters the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship with renewed energy and a refreshed team identity as Red Bull joins the project as a key partner.

While the iconic Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing name remains unchanged, fans will be welcomed into a new era with striking updated livery colours and an even stronger push for success across both MXGP and MX2.

Headlining the 2026 campaign is the move of former MX2 world champion Kay de Wolf into the premier MXGP class.

After a remarkable MX2 career that delivered 15 Grand Prix victories, 28 race wins, 40 podiums, and a world championship title in 2024, de Wolf now takes on the sport’s elite with a clear long-term vision of building toward MXGP podiums and future championship contention.

In MX2, the team continues its title ambitions with Liam Everts, who returns fully fit and highly motivated following a challenging 2025 season that included an injury setback mid-year.

Everts has already established himself as one of the class’s front-runners, collecting six MX2 Grand Prix victories and 16 podiums since his debut. With a strong winter of preparation behind him, the Belgian racer enters 2026 focused on consistency and fighting for the MX2 World Championship.

The off-season has been marked by an intensive testing programme across a range of European circuits, with a clear focus on sharper starts, improved race-distance performance, and refined overall bike balance. Ongoing development of the Husqvarna FC 250 and FC 450 Factory Editions has centred on boosting speed, traction, and rider confidence, ensuring the team is fully prepared for the demands of the 2026 MXGP season across every track type.

Adding further excitement to the season is a truly global MXGP calendar. The championship opens in Bariloche, Argentina, before spanning five continents across 20 rounds. Highlights include the long-awaited return of MXGP to South Africa and the revival of the legendary Foxhills circuit in Great Britain - blending modern expansion with classic motocross heritage.

With a world champion stepping up to MXGP, a revitalised MX2 title contender, a new partnership era, and one of the most diverse calendars in MXGP history, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing approaches 2026 with confidence, and a clear goal: to fight at the front of world motocross. The lights are on. The gates are nearly down. And the next chapter is ready to be written.

Click here to download hi-res team images – 2026 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing

#74 - Kay de Wolf: “I’m really excited to be stepping into MXGP with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing and I feel ready for this challenge. The last few seasons in MX2 gave me everything I needed in terms of experience, confidence, and speed, and the winter preparation has gone incredibly well. I know the level in MXGP is high, but I believe I belong at the front and I’m ready to fight from the first gate drop. The goal is to keep building, but also to push for strong results straight away.”

#26 - Liam Everts: “I’m feeling fully fit again and really motivated going into the new season. Last year had some tough moments with the injury, but it also made me stronger mentally and even more determined to succeed. The winter preparation has been very positive and I feel fast, comfortable on the bike, and ready to be consistent at the front. The goal for 2026 is clear - to fight for podiums every weekend and be in the championship battle from the start.”

Rasmus Jorgensen - Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Team Manager: “We’re heading into 2026 with a lot of confidence and excitement around this team. Bringing Red Bull on board marks an important new chapter for us, and pairing that with Kay stepping up to MXGP and Liam coming back fully fit gives us an incredibly strong line-up. Kay has proven he has championship-winning speed and the mentality to succeed at the highest level, and we truly believe he’s ready to fight at the front of MXGP.

In MX2, Liam has shown time and again that he belongs among the very best, and after everything he went through last season, he’s more motivated than ever. The whole team has worked extremely hard over the winter and our goal is clear - to be competitive every weekend and challenge for wins and championships.”

Pit Beirer, Husqvarna Motorsport Director: “Heading into the 2026 season, our expectations for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team are very clear. With Kay de Wolf stepping up into the MXGP class, we are bringing a rider with proven championship-winning mentality into the premier category, and we are confident he will establish himself quickly at this level. His progression over the past seasons has been exceptional, and this move represents the next logical step in his career. 

In MX2, Liam Everts has already demonstrated that he has the speed, consistency, and mindset required to fight at the very front of the field. We fully expect him to be a strong contender for the MX2 World Championship. Backed by a highly professional and experienced team, we believe Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing has everything in place to fight for World Championship titles in 2026.”

Photos Credit: Bavo Swijgers

After returning to the MXGP paddock last year, the Van Venrooy KTM team are gearing up for the 2026 season with ambitions of bigger and better results.

The team will be active across three championships in 2026 and are excited to once again field a rider in the MXGP World Championship. Italian talent Mattia Guadagnini joins the team, bringing plenty of potential as he looks to make his mark at the top level.

In the MX2 World Championship, Hungarian rider Noel Zanocz will step up from the EMX250 series. Zanocz will use his rookie MX2 season to gain experience and learn as much as possible as he adapts to the World Championship level.

Completing the Van Venrooy KTM line-up is another promising Hungarian, Áron Katona, who will move up to contest the EMX250 series in 2026. Katona is widely regarded as a talent to watch for the future, and the team are confident in his potential.

Van Venrooy KTM are thrilled to welcome all three riders under their awning for the upcoming season. With the countdown now on to the start of the World Championship action in March, expectations are high for an exciting year ahead.

Mattia Guadagnini (MXGP World Championship):

"I'm really, really looking forward to starting the season. The feeling with the team and the bike so far is really, really good. It is a really cool group of people that really put in the work like it should be. They’re also a super friendly group and we get to know each other a little bit in these few weeks in Sardinia while we are training here. I think it's a really, really good situation for everybody.

I'm really, really enjoying the bike. From the first day that I jumped on the bike, I had straight a great that feeling and I'm really, really happy about that. We did some testing just to adjust the suspension and so far, it's going really good. I had a few good weeks of training.

I'm feeling ready to start the season. Of course, it's going to take long to get into 100% in shape, but it's just the beginning and I'm really positive and looking forward for this season to get a solid season, to be there all the races and try to build up the season race by race. I want to be in good shape and competitive for some podiums around mid-season. It will be really, really good."

Noel Zanocz (MX2 World Championship):

"I'm just very happy to complete this year in a full MX2 World Championship season. It’s going to be my first year in the class and I'm really grateful for the opportunity from KTM and Van Venrooy to allow me to race the whole season.

The winter preparation is going quite good. I'm hoping to do a good in the pre-season races. We should see where we are and then we can move forward from there.

My expectations for the MX2 World Championship, obviously it's a completely new format and its way more races, so I will need to get used to racing in MX2. Obviously the 30 plus 2 moto’s are longer and they’re both on the same day. I just want to make good progress through the season. Of course, there are some dream results that I have in my mind, and I think I would like a top five finish. I know in the first year it's quite difficult with all these fast factory riders, but I think we did a really good job with the team, and we are capable of big things."

Áron Katona (EMX250):

"I am very happy about this opportunity to compete in Van Venrooy’s team under KTM’s colour this year. I don't have any specific goals for this season, but I would like to learn and experience as much as possible and end this year with a more positive and enjoyable season."

Photos credit: Juan Pablo Acevedo

Off‑season chatter is peaking as the countdown to the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship accelerates — with the gate set to drop in just over a month at a brand‑new venue in Bariloche, Argentina, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are thrilled to reveal a fresh new livery. In line with Monster Energy Yamaha's global livery update, the design evolves its signature camouflage theme with a bold, contemporary accent of white.

Opting for a powerful two-pronged attack with two champions in the premier class, Yamaha’s new streamlined strategy allows the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team to focus entirely on its two elite-level athletes, ensuring both the YZ450FM and the riders are dialled in for an incredible championship campaign.

The familiar face in this potent equation is former MX2 World Champion Maxime Renaux, who has been in blue for more than a decade and is set to enter his fifth season aboard the factory YZ450FM. The 25-year-old Frenchman is the definition of power. While the #959 has faced his share of adversity since moving up to the 450 ranks in 2022, his raw talent and pure speed have never been in question. With 19 Race Wins, 31 podium finishes, and nine Grand Prix wins to his credit as a professional racer —not to mention his incredible 2021 MX2 World Title—Renaux has proven he has the pace to run with anyone on the gate. For Renaux, the mission is clear: convert that proven, podium-topping speed into a season-long championship winning campaign.

Strengthening this attack and completing the powerhouse duo is one of the biggest signings of the off-season: Tim Gajser. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team enters the 2026 season stronger than ever with the addition of the #243, a five-time World Champion defined by raw speed, incredible resilience, and an unwavering will to win. The 29-year old Slovenian, known to his fans as ‘Tiga’, boasts a legendary career highlighted by a historic back-to-back MX2 and MXGP World Championship sweep in 2015 and 2016, followed by title runs in 2019, 2020, and a masterful fifth crown in 2022. Still at the absolute peak of his powers, Gajser brings his immense talent, experience, and motivation to the Yamaha Family, aligning a legendary rider with a legendary brand in a new chapter with one clear ambition: to fight for another MXGP World Title.

With a proven race winner hungry for his first premier class crown and a decorated multi-time champion seeking to add to his legacy, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team is not just showing up for 2026—they’re making a statement.

While the MXGP squad banks on proven star-power, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team is executing a similar two-man strategy with a fascinating twist. Determined to bounce back from a couple of challenging seasons, the team enter the new year with fresh focus centred on the unique sibling synergy of Latvian brothers Karlis and Janis Reisulis.

The magic of this strategy lies in the dynamic that only brothers can share. Karlis, the elder of the two, enters 2026 with a full season in MX2 under his belt, providing a crucial benchmark of experience and consistency. Complementing him is his younger brother Janis, who storms into the pro ranks riding a wave of momentum having won the 2025 EMX250 title, bringing the raw speed and unshakeable confidence that only a freshly-crowned champion possesses.

Maxime Renaux

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP #959

“Going into my fifth season with the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team and on the YZ450FM, I’m feeling good. We went back to the drawing board in the winter and have made some good steps forward. I also took the time to reset physically, and to recover from all the injuries I suffered last season. I’m back to 100% and feeling sharp again. My goal is still the same. I want to fight for the top position, and I want to be in the fight at every round, all year long. The main priority for me is to stay healthy all year, and to stay sharp. I’m looking forward to getting the season started.”

Tim Gajser

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP #243

“I’m really excited. I’m in good shape, I’m feeling good and I’m really looking forward to the season. We’ve put in a lot of work this month and done as much as we can; more time would help, but this is how it is. I will line up for my first race on the Yamaha this weekend, which is a chance to see where we are at and to gather data to show the most important points for us to work on. My goals for this season; obviously I want to do well. Being healthy and at every round is important, and consistency is key; without those, being world champion is almost impossible. I really want to win and bring the title home to Yamaha. I will do everything I can, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this year brings.”

Karlis Reisulis

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 #47

“I’m really excited to be going into another MX2 season as a Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider. We’ve been working hard and I’m feeling good. This year, I am aiming for the top five and I also want to stand on the podium. We’re feeling good and looking good with this new livery, it looks so nice, especially with the Troy Lee Designs gear, 100% goggles and Gaerne boots. It all fits perfectly together.”

Janis Reisulis

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 #772

“⁠I feel very confident and happy with the progress that I have made during this winter. I have complete trust in my team and the people around me. We have done everything to be fighting up front in MX2, and that’s our goal. We want to be there all season long. I love the factory YZ250FM. It looks amazing with the new design, and honestly, I feel like it’s a 10/10 set-up for me, which I think is very important.”

Photos credit: Bavo Swijgers

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have revealed their look, colors and line-up for the 2026 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship and a renewed bid for yet more title success.

Four riders and two KTM 450 SX-Fs and two KTM 250 SX-Fs will form the factory roster in the 2026 MXGP and MX2 classes of the world championship this year: a contest that starts on 7-8 of March in Bariloche, Argentina and runs for a total of 20 events through 18 countries until 19-20 September in Australia.

2025 MXGP runner-up Lucas Coenen will be accompanied in the premier class by former MX2 #1 and incoming rookie Andrea Adamo while defending world champion Simon Laengenfelder is joined once more by Sacha Coenen in MX2. The Italian and German come under the expertise of former multi world champ Joel Smets while the Belgian twins will be steered by Davide De Carli and his faction of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Digits and data.

5 & 13: Grand Prix wins and podiums achieved by Lucas Coenen (the youngest ever premier class victor) in his rookie season in 2025.

16: MX2 World Championship titles earned by Red Bull KTM and the KTM 250 SX-F since the formation of the category in 2004

17 & 47: Total Grand Prix wins and podium results posted by all four current riders in 2025.

18: The number of seasons since 2007 where Red Bull KTM have won both MXGP and MX2 Grands Prix in the same campaign.

60: Races to come from 20 Grands Prix in 2026, between points-scoring Saturday Qualification Heats and Sunday Grand Prix motos.

Lucas Coenen, MXGP, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “Training has been going well – I guess everybody says the same! But testing days have gone smoothly and we’re looking quite on-point, so now we’re counting the days towards the first races and the opening Grand Prix. My goals are always the same: being the best version of myself and trying to win.”

Andrea Adamo, MXGP. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “Life with the 450 is going good. Every time I enter the track I discover something new and that makes it exciting and interesting. I had spent many years on the 250 and it was already very familiar, and now there are many new feelings. Overall, preparation is going well. I’m healthy and fit and the winter has gone positively, even if we still have some time before the first GP. I think the bike is amazing and it makes me want to get to Argentina quickly! 2026 will be a different type of racing with a different kind of opponent. Guys with so much experience, so I have to learn from them. It will be a challenge and I cannot really speak about expectations but I want to try and stay as close to the top five as possible and then we’ll see…because there are many good guys on the line. We have to learn as much as we can. I’m happy to join the ‘big class’!”

Simon Laengenfelder, MX2. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “For 2026 there has been quite a few changes for me: the physical trainer, the mechanics and the people around me, even the gear now with Alpinestars! Luckily the bike has not changed so much and I’m super-excited. I’m really happy right now and having one championship under my belt has even increased my motivation because I want to show everybody that I can do it a second time. I’ve been training hard and I feel strong and ready. The pre-season races will show if we need to be work in any other area but in a month’s time I’ll be 100% to start the fight.”

Sacha Coenen, MX2. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “I think we are ready. We’ve done a good job so far this off-season with the bike and the preparation. We still have some time…but we feel strong and I believe we can expect some good things.”

Joel Smets, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We’ve had a good winter with some changes in the team by switching from three to two riders which, being honest, makes it a bit easier to work: more efficient and more individual to each rider. The improvements to the bike – once again – have turned out well so a big shout out to the factory. The riders are in good shape for the pre-season races coming up. Goals for the year are to defend the championship and win back-to-back titles. Luckily in my own career I’ve had experience with that! So there are some tips and tricks I can give to Simon, and with Andrea I’m quite satisfied with how he has adapted to the 450 so far and he understood he needed to change his style a bit. The coming season will be exciting.”

Davide De Carli, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing De Carli Team Manager: “It’s been a fun winter. The brothers did a bit of riding in the U.S. and then came back to Rome for a few good weeks of testing. We’ve done some sand training and right now we’re in Sardinia for more work. I think both brothers have made a step; a year older, another year more mature. With Sacha we want a bit more consistency for the season and we’re building to that. He’s faster again but also working more on technique. It will be Lucas’ second year in the MXGP class and he’ll benefit from that experience of 2025 He had great speed last season and learned from both the ups-and-downs. We’d love to put everything together and to bring home two titles!”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “2026 has started in a fast and super-positive way for us in Dakar and SuperMotocross and we know the MXGP boys will also continue that because the level of the whole team is so high. The results proved this in 2025 and have done so every season. Again, we have a defending world champion thanks to Simon and there is a mix of rookie education with Andrea and development of more world class race winners in Lucas and Sacha. Our KTM SX-Fs will again be the references for starts and speed, so everything is in place. Good luck to the boys and I hope they stay healthy and at the front!”

Browse 2026 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Shooting | KTM Media Library

Photos credit: Juan Pablo Acevedo

BARILOCHE (Argentina) 28 January 2026 – FIM Motocross World Championship will kick off the 2026 season with the YPF MXGP of Argentina on March 7-8 in San Carlos de Bariloche, in the province of Río Negro, held at Bariloche MX Race Track, the new track designed to host the world's motocross elite.

Designed by Spaniard Gabriel Villada, the new track has a total extension of 1,800 meters (and a total of 21 turns - 11 left, 10 right) and runs counter-clockwise, designed to offer a technical and challenging layout. 80 riders (from the MXGP and MX2 categories - for riders under 23 years old) will compete in Argentina, putting their skills to the test in each section of the track.

Throughout the track, riders will face a combination of flat, downhill and uphill jumps that require precision and control, more than 18 rollers of different sizes distributed across different sections, both on turns and straights, turns with natural slopes that will require careful reading of the terrain and a remarkable triple uphill jump that is sure to be one of the most exciting features of the track.

In addition, the circuit features a 25-metre difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points. The ground consists of sandy soil, adding an extra technical element to what will be a weekend of pure motocross at the MXGP Argentina YPF.

As is customary in MXGP, the new Bariloche MX Race Track will feature its own Village, a space specifically designed for the public to enjoy a variety of food options and visit the stands of the leading brands in the sector, contributing to a complete experience beyond the track.

YPF MXGP of Argentina 2026 is already shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend, with a first-class setting, a track with unique characteristics and the presence of the world's best riders, consolidating Bariloche as one of the most attractive venues of the season.

Team Maddii Honda – ABF Italia has officially kicked off the new sporting season with the official photo shoot, which featured all the team’s riders together with the technical and management staff.

The shoot represented an important moment of sharing and identity for the team, capturing the colors, partners, and spirit with which the squad will face the 2026 season. A symbolic occasion that marks the beginning of a new chapter, driven by determination, professionalism, and passion for racing.

After completing pre-season activities, the focus of Team Maddii Honda – ABF Italia is now on the first major competitive event of the year. Over the weekend of February 1st, 2026, the team will make its official racing debut in Sardinia for a pre-season race ahead of the YPF MXGP of Argentina.

A prestigious and demanding challenge, which will see the team competing against the top names on the international scene, on a technical and spectacular circuit. The goal is to start the season in the best possible way, bringing to the track the work carried out over the winter and confirming the team’s competitiveness.

Marco Maddii, Team Manager: “We’re finally there, the first races are about to begin. The winter flew by and went quite well overall, with no major issues. It was an intense off-season during which we worked hard on all fronts: organizational and logistical aspects, as well as engine and suspension development. It was a period of great effort.We are at a good point, both with the bikes and with the riders, but there is still a lot to do, so I don’t expect a spectacular start to the season. However, in the first races we will certainly push to achieve good results that can confirm the solid work done so far. A bit of patience will be needed, but the important thing is to understand that we are on the right path, to have good feelings, and then continue to grow throughout the season, both as a team and as riders. That said, I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this adventure, starting with Honda, ABF, RedMoto, Motul, and Newfren, our technical partners Suomy, Eleveit, and Shot, and everyone who makes this new adventure possible”

Photos credit: Team Maddii Honda – ABF Italia