MX2

Valerio Lata has joined Team HRC in a multi-year deal that’ll see him ride the Honda CRF250R alongside fellow Italian Ferruccio Zanchi in the MX2 class for 2025. The 19-year-old has had a few wildcard MX2 rides so far in his career – including a third place at the 2024 MXGP of Italy – but the 2025 campaign will mark his first full season in the class and one that is filled with potential.

As well as that podium effort in Maggiora, Lata also narrowly missed out on the 2024 EMX250 title, after taking a number of moto wins and overall victories. This was a continuation of an extremely impressive career to date, that saw him become 85cc World Champion in 2019, European 125cc Champion in 2021 and Italian Champion on two separate occasions. He has shown immense promise since he arrived in the GP paddock and it is a mark of intent from Team HRC that they were able to add him to their roster for 2025.

Last season, the MX2 programme was relaunched with Zanchi as the sole rider, and the rookie put in some excellent results that resulted in a top 10 championship standing. For this coming year, as the programme gathers pace, it was decided that second-rider was needed to continue that momentum and really show what the Honda CRF250R was capable of. Two riders, with a lot of potential, give Honda double the chances of success and show future riders that there is a real pathway to victory with the brand.

Now though, the present will see Lata and Zanchi in MX2, with five-time world champion Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez in the MXGP class, in what is the strongest squad of riders for Team HRC in a number of years. All four riders are currently training hard, getting themselves in shape for what should be a tough, 20-round season in the World Motocross Championships, which will get underway in Cordoba, Argentina on March 1^st.

Valerio Lata

It is a great honour to be joining Team HRC for the 2025 season, in preparation for what will be my first full-time MX2 season. As a kid, you always know the history of the riders that rode for HRC and it is a privilege to be joining that list now. Last year, they re-started with the Honda CRF250R programme and they had some good results with Ferruccio (Zanchi), so I knew that I would have a good bike and a good setup and now I hope I can help them with even more top results. It is a very professional team who know how to win, and I can’t wait to get started.

Yuzuru Ishikawa

HRC Executive Director

Signing Valerio is another important step for Team HRC because it shows that we are building and improving our Honda CRF250R programme. Last season Ferruccio Zanchi did a great job, finishing in the top 10 of the MX2 championship, and now by bringing in Valerio we want to have more good finishes and more possibilities of showing the strength of the CRF250R. Valerio has had a lot of success as a younger rider, winning some very impressive titles and races and it will be exciting to see what he can achieve with the backing of Team HRC.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas

HRC General Manager - MXGP

We are all very excited to have Valerio Lata joining us at Team HRC. He is a rider who we’ve been following the progress of, for a number of years and when the opportunity came for us to be able to sign him, we knew we had to take it. He has won a lot of titles throughout his career, and even this year, he got a podium in Maggiora on a wildcard ride in MX2, so we know that he has the speed. Now, we have the winter to get him settled on the bike and put in some good training, so that come the first round in Argentina, he will be right up to pace. With him and Ferruccio, it is a very exciting time for our CRF250R development and one that we are looking forward to.

Photo Credit: HRC

The greatest Grand Prix rider of all time, Stefan Everts holds the sport of motocross close to his heart. His 10 World motocross championship and 101 Grand Prix victories are what made him great, but he continues to watch Grand Prix with excitement, and obviously with his son Liam racing in the MX2 class and being a multiple GP winner himself, the interest by the legendary Belgian has risen in recent years.

While many of the current MX2 riders have a technique that is in fact, better than any era before, their speed is also something that makes Everts excited for the future, as the pyramid of Infront (EMX/MX2/MXGP) see’s young European riders advancing at a very rapid rate.

“I think the level of MX2 is extremely high,” Everts said. “And if you look at the difference in times from MXGP, at some GPs, there is nearly no difference in the times. It often takes a while for the MXGP riders to get to the times of the MX2 riders and then finally, go a bit faster. For me, the time difference in the past was two seconds, it isn’t two seconds anymore. There are a lot of good riders in there and they are pushing each other to be better and be on their limits. It is great to see the talent there.”

What does upset “The King” is the fact young riders sometimes make dangerous decisions and in the sport of motocross, a mistake like that, can be very harmful to that rider, but also the riders around him. As a clean racer from the past, Everts would like to see more MX2 riders being a little more careful in the heat of the moment.

“All these GP riders, they are an example, for the young kids who are racing, the new generation that will come up. Those young kids, they should not be trained, or school in things, which are not normal. Our sport needs to be fare racing and not T-bones and cross jumping, or going left to right when passing, or in the start. Our sport is dangerous, and it shouldn’t be made more dangerous from these types of moves. Just be more aware of the risk you are putting people in. It is a risky sport and don’t go into that grey zone, to make it more risky.”

Let’s hope the young kids who are in EMX or MX2 follow the lead of our greatest GP racer, because injuries have cost the sport time and time again and while racing hard is important, the most important thing in racing, is to race fair. We all love a close battle, and we have seen enough of that over the years, but the injuries we have seen stay with us and the families that are involved in our great sport.

Photo Credit : Ray Archer

Ship To Cycle – the global cycle shipping company - is proud to announce a sponsorship partnership with the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP for the 2025 season. This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to increase the visibility of the Ship To Cycle brand thanks to the global presence and recognition of the Kawasaki factory MXGP and MX2 teams within the MXGP paddock.

A Formidable Presence in Motocross

Driven forward by former Formula1 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP has been a formidable presence in the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship in the recent past, thanks to its many visits to the podium and a roster of riders including French legend Romain Febvre and new team mate Pauls Jonass in MXGP and, for 2025, the recent signing of Mathis Valin for the new MX2 project . Managed by Antti Pyrhönen and overseen by team principal Räikkönen, the team consistently fields an internationally respected squad known for its dedication to quality and focus on success.

Synergy Between Motocross and Cycling

The partnership with Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP stems from a natural synergy between the worlds of motocross and cycling. It is well known that many motocross riders from hobbyists to professional riders, use bicycles as a key part of their training regime to improve physical endurance, concentration, and effort management. This shared interest between motocross and cycling makes the collaboration between Ship To Cycle and Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP particularly meaningful.

Maximizing Visibility for Ship To Cycle

“We are thrilled about this partnership with Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP,” said Silvia Fassi, project manager of Ship To Cycle. “Kawasaki stands for performance, passion, and innovation—values that we deeply share. This partnership will allow us to reach a broader audience and strengthen our brand in the global bicycle shipping market. We are confident that this collaboration will provide us with an unprecedented level of visibility, as those who love motocross often love bicycles as well”.

Antti Pyrhönen:

”It is very significant step for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP to reach a partnership agreement with a brand like Ship To Cycle, They are a company driven by innovation and populated by people passionate about two-wheels and especially Motocross. We are very proud to have forged this collaboration”.

Kimi Räikkönen:

”I am pleased to reach partnership with Ship To Cycle. Motocross is not the easiest sport to get visibility or support reaches a global audience including countless current and potential Ship to Cycle customers. To reach agreement with a company who believes in Motocross - and specifically our project - is extremely valuable”

A Future of Shared Success

This strategic partnership will not only enable Ship To Cycle to benefit from the extensive media exposure associated with the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP but will also provide the team’s fans and cycling enthusiasts with a reliable solution for transporting their bicycles, embracing their passion for two wheels in all its many forms.

Photo Credit: SEL

Honda Racing Corporation and Gariboldi Racing are pleased to announce that the collaboration that started in 2014, has had a long-term extension which sees the bond between the pair grow even stronger. The partnership, which has seen a huge amount of success in the motocross world championships – including Tim Gajser’s five world titles – has consistently proved itself to be one of the strongest teams in the paddock in the MXGP class. And after this year’s reintroduction of the Honda CRF250R underneath the awning, where Ferruccio Zanchi finished top 10 in the MX2 class in his rookie campaign, there is growing belief that Team HRC can challenge for honours in both divisions and provide a real pathway for future talent to win on CRF machinery.

The long-term extension was agreed upon when Giacomo Gariboldi recently headed to Japan, with both parties excited to put pen to paper. Always one of the leading lights in the MXGP paddock, the Team HRC setup provides a head-of-the-class facility for riders and staff members, and it is something that impresses the Japanese HRC members when they frequently visit the world motocross championships.

In what is one of the most successful branches of Honda Racing Corporation’s many programmes, the goal is to continue doing everything that has worked in the 10 years so far, as well as make sure there is a structure in place for the riders of tomorrow to be able to see themselves winning on the Honda brand in the future. In such a turbulent sport, it was recognised that this extension would give the security which was critical for riders to be able to focus purely on the racing side of things, and in turn, increase the chances of success for everyone involved.

Continuing the theme that structure and stability can bring success, Tim Gajser (MXGP), Ruben Fernandez (MXGP) and Ferruccio Zanchi (MX2) will all be returning for the 2025 World Motocross Championships under the Team HRC awning. Gajser narrowly missed out on the 2024 MXGP title on the last race of the championship, but then showed everyone what he was capable of, by putting in a truly memorable one-one performance at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. The Slovenian will be looking to go one position better in the 2025 season, and add to his five-world titles that he’s won whilst part of Team HRC.

2024 was an injury-hit year for Fernandez, but he came back for the last few rounds and showed race-winning speed in those events. With a full off-season of training under his belt, he’ll be motivated to show that he can get back to his GP-winning form, and Cordoba, Argentina could be the perfect place for him to showcase that in round one.

As the sole MX2 rider in 2024, Zanchi put in a number of impressive performances, especially considering it was his first full season in the class. He showed excellent speed, and real tenacity on the variety of terrain found in a world championship and proved the power of the Honda CRF250R with a holeshot in Turkiye. With more experience in the class, and with working with the team, 2025 could really be a breakout year for the young Italian.

So, with three riders currently in the line-up, plus a long-term future secured for the setup and organisation behind the team, Team HRC’s future is looking very strong, with the potential to get even stronger before the start of the 2025 campaign.

Yuzuru Ishikawa

HRC Executive Director

Ever since we came back into this motocross project, we knew that a great partnership was necessary for success, and I think we can agree that in the last 10 years, HRC and Gariboldi Racing have had a lot of success. This extension allows everyone to focus again on the racing and that is the most important part. We fully trust the direction that Gariboldi Racing is heading in, and would like to thank him for his professionalism and dedication to the cause, and we look forward to even more achievements in the future. The return of this year’s riders is key to continue on the right path and I believe that Tim, Ruben and Ferruccio can have very successful 2025 campaigns.

Giacomo Gariboldi

Team HRC Team Manager

I am very excited with this agreement, and it shows a confidence from both parties that our goals are aligned. We have had a lot of success since we joined forces in 2014, with Tim winning five titles and narrowly missing out on a couple more. We have also had victories along the way with other riders, and this new agreement will hopefully give all riders - present and future - confidence that HRC is in this for the long-term and that we are providing a clear pathway for success. That, of course, will start again in 2025 where Tim, Ruben and Ferro will once again be part of our team and hungry for more success, but we also have some exciting news for an even stronger Team HRC coming soon. 

Tim Gajser

I feel like Team HRC is my second-family and I believe it is the best place and gives me the best opportunity for me to win races and championships. We are always striving to improve and I trust that we can keep getting better and better, and that is what I’m looking for right now in my career. A happy rider is a fast rider and I couldn’t be happier to be riding for Team HRC.

Ruben Fernandez

Throughout my injury layoff, I had a lot of time to think about things and make decisions on my future, and I knew that Team HRC was the best team for me to be riding for. They stuck behind when I was hurt, and then supported me when I came back and I know that I want to repay all that faith with some results on the track. Even in the last few races, we had some good results and I truly believe I can challenge throughout the whole of 2025 and get my Honda CRF450R up near the top of the class.

Ferruccio Zanchi

2024 was a year filled with ups and downs, but the one thing that stayed consistent was the effort and teamwork showed by everyone in Team HRC. I felt comfortable in the environment and they made my rookie season as good as it possibly could be, but for 2025 I want to do even better! I learnt a lot about myself and the bike, and with all the data and testing that we did, this will really help for the races next year and I wanted to keep the momentum going and not have to change anything too much. I excited to get going again in March, but now I need to put in the hard-work and make my off-season as strong as I can.

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to confirm that the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team will remain unchanged in 2025, with title hopefuls Thibault Benistant, Rick Elzinga, and Karlis Reisulis set to return. All three riders will once again campaign Yamaha’s factory YZ250FM in the MX2 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

With eight race wins and 17 podium finishes to his name, Thibault Benistant is a proven force in MX2. Having spent over a decade with Yamaha, Benistant has celebrated titles in both the EMX125 and EMX250 championships before stepping up to MX2 in 2021. Although the past few seasons have been hindered by injury, the 22-year-old Frenchman enters his final season in MX2 more determined than ever to achieve his dream of becoming World Champion.

Rick Elzinga’s rise through the Yamaha Racing ranks has been admirable. After securing podiums in the EMX125 class and dominating the 2022 EMX250 Championship with four round wins and five race victories, Elzinga has shown that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level. As he enters his third and final season in MX2, the Dutch rider—who has celebrated two podium finishes in 2024—will be fully focused on challenging for a World Championship medal in 2025.

Karlis Reisulis has been a revelation in 2024. After making the last-minute decision to step up to MX2 mid-season from the EMX250 ranks, the 18-year-old Latvian has exceeded all expectations. Since making his MX2 debut in Indonesia in June, Reisulis has delivered impressive performances, quickly adapting to the factory YZ250FM. He has led 23 laps and secured a career-best second-place finish at the MXGP of Switzerland. Reisulis is now poised for his first full season in the pro ranks in 2025. 

Thibault Benistant

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team

“It is nice to continue with Yamaha and the team for another season. I have been with Yamaha for quite a long time, so it’s nice to stay with the same familiar bike, people and set-up. In 2025, I want to be fighting for the title. I will do everything I can in the winter and the off-season to be ready to give everything. 

Rick Elzinga 

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team

"I’m really happy to have the opportunity to continue with Yamaha. Although this season started rough due to my back injury and the lack of time to train or test before the opening race in Argentina, I feel like I have made some good improvements throughout the year. I feel at home with the Yamaha Factory MX2 team and I’m delighted to stay for another season!"

Karlis Reisulis

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team

“It was the nicest feeling to get the news that I can stay with Yamaha and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team next season. It gave me a big boost of motivation to give everything. I am really happy that Yamaha and the team have put their trust in me, it’s nice to have their full support. I love the YZ250FM, it’s honestly the best bike I have been on in my life, so I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do in my first full season in MX2.”

Thorsten Lentink

Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Specialist

“We are happy to continue with Thibault, Rick, and Karlis for another season. All three riders have come up through our step-up program, with both Thibault and Rick reaching the Monster Energy Factory MX2 team after winning their respective EMX250 titles in 2020 and 2022, while Karlis showcased his potential during his MX2 debut this year. We know these riders well. We know they are fit, fast, and talented, and we’re confident that with a focused winter of testing and preparation, they’ll be ready for 2025.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 18 October 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is excited to announce the release of issue #132 of the MXGP Magazine! Packed with the latest insights and thrilling content from the motocross world, this edition is a must-read for all fans.

Our Cover features none other than Jorge Prado and Kay de Wolf, MXGP & MX2 World Champions respectively alongside the Monster Energy FIM MXoN winning team, Team Australia for the first time ever! These riders climbed on the top of the world with their relentless determination and talents

In this issue’s Cover Story, we take an in-depth look at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, focusing on the spectacular performances that led to the first ever Australian victory. We provide exclusive analysis of their journey to the top, the crucial moments and what set them apart in this year's most prestigious event.

Our Racing Catch Up brings you the highlights and recaps of the last three thrilling Grands Prix: Turkiye, China and Cozar. Relive the breathtaking moments and unforgettable battles that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last races as the season drew to a dramatic close.

The Special Feature of this edition centres on the MXGP Awards. Celebrating the best of the best, we take a closer look at the champions, rising stars and key contributors who made this MXGP season a historic one to remember.

In our Blog, we hear from Lili, the dynamic team coordinator of Bud Racing. She shares her insights into role into the MX team, the challenges and rewards of her role, and what it takes to lead in the high-pressure world of professional motocross.

Our Hall of Fame section honours the legendary Ryan Villopoto, celebrating his exceptional career and lasting impact on the sport. From his dominance in the AMA championships to his contributions to motocross globally, Villopoto’s influence continues to inspire.

Finally, the Vintage Bike feature takes a trip down memory lane with the iconic Paul Malin’s 1994 Yamaha YZ125. Discover the history behind this legendary machine and why it remains one of the most revered bikes in motocross history.

All this and more awaits you in the 132nd edition of MXGP Magazine, available for FREE on the Apple Store or Google Play. Read it HERE!

Users who have already downloaded other issues on their iOS device can automatically download the new issue by opening the News Stand and clicking on the cover of the MXGP Mag. Readers using an Android device can download the magazine for free using this app: IssuuOnAndroid.

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MXGP Mag Issue 132

Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing is excited to announce the signing of Guillem Farres for the 2025 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship. The talented young Spaniard, who has raced at the highest levels of motocross and supercross in both Europe and the USA, joins the team alongside Camden McLellan for what will be Farres’ first full season of MX2 competition.

With Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing recently completing a highly successful first season in the MX2 World Championship, the signing of Farres comes at the perfect time. The 21-year-old racer, who hails from Barcelona, has enjoyed success in EMX125 and EMX250 in the past, and has recently started riding the TF 250-X ahead of the upcoming season.

Under the guidance of Vincent Bereni and the whole Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing team, Farres’ full focus is on delivering a career-best season in 2025. With the team enjoying an outstanding first term in 2024, where Mikkel Haarup finished the year fifth and McLellan ninth, Guillem has the machinery and team behind him to showcase his true potential when the new season begins.

The 2025 MX2 Motocross World Championship kicks off with the MXGP of Argentina on March 2.

Guillem Farres

“Signing with Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing is a dream come true for me. I’ve been watching the team compete this year and what they have achieved is amazing. This gave me a lot of confidence to sign for them, knowing that the bike is competitive and it clearly performs very well. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been riding the bike and I’m so impressed already. The team had a good base setting for me to try and so far, it’s been working really well. I can’t wait to begin pre-season testing to really dial in the bike to suit my style and I know that by the time the new season starts, I’ll be ready for round one.”

Vincent Bereni – Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing Team Manager

“With what the team achieved in 2024, it was important to find a rider with the potential to help maintain the momentum that we built this year into 2025. Guillem is a very talented and underrated rider, and with the staff that the team has, we strongly believe that we can get the best out of him and show the world how good he really is. He’s been riding the TF 250-X for a few days now, just to get him familiarised with the bike, and he’s looking comfortable already. There is still some time to go before the 2025 season starts, but it will soon be here and I’m excited to see what Guillem can do when the gate drops in Argentina.”

Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles

“We’re already into year two of our MX2 racing project with the TF 250-X, and the signing of Guillem is really exciting. In 2024 with the Monster Energy Triumph Factory Racing team, we’ve proved just how competitive our bike is thanks to Mikkel and Camden delivering multiple podium results, and racing at the sharp end of the field all season long. We have every confidence in Guillem and his ability to run up front, and on behalf of Triumph, I’ll like to welcome him to the team and the brand. I’ve no doubt that 2025 will be another strong season as Guillem and Camden are both exceptionally talented, and with everything we’ve learned in 2024, we’re poised to build on our results and launch a successful campaign in 2025.”

Photo Credit: Triumph Racing

MONCAO (Principality of Monaco) 16 October 2024 - The tale of the 2024 FIM MX2 World Championship was one of two teammates in an almighty tussle for supremacy.  The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing duo, Dutchman Kay De Wolf and Belgian Lucas Coenen, dominated the season with 16 of the 20 GP wins going in their direction. Even though Lucas won more races, it was Kay who had the burden of the red plate from immediately after the opening round in Argentina, winning the opening three rounds to establish a lead and holding his nerve to manage that lead all the way to the end.

Kay’s natural talent has been evident from his early years on minibikes as a kid.  Living across the road from the Eersel circuit near the Dutch border with Belgium, he honed his skills on their specialist small bike track and grew to become a master in the sand. Racing with the number 14 as a Youth in tribute to his local hero Marc de Reuver, he won the 85cc Dutch Masters titles in 2017 and ’18, before stepping up and winning again on a 125 in 2019, the year he first started to move further afield.  “I didn’t even see a hard-pack circuit until I started going to EMX! I would just go and survive until I started practising on them in 2019.” His debut year in EMX would see him finish 18th in the EMX85 finale at Loket, two places ahead of fellow 2024 factory rider Thibault Benistant, in a meeting dominated by the late Rene Hofer. 

Kay quickly caught on though, winning the North-West EMX85 qualifiers in 2017, including the overall win in Germany ahead of a certain Suzuki rider named Jett Lawrence. He won the 2018 North-West Qualifiers again, a point ahead of Liam Everts, but finished 2nd at the Loket finale to Camden McLellan.  He was also second to American Caden Braswell at the World Junior Championships in Australia.

His move to the EMX classes saw him training more on hard tracks in order to compete, as he went through both seasons with consistent finishes, but no race wins.  His first EMX podium at Trentino, showing his progress on the hard pack with 4-4 finishes behind eventual Champion Mattia Guadagnini and Frenchman Tom Guyon. His hopes of success in the sand of Lommel were cut short, as his fuel tap had been switched off before the first race, and not switched back on again! He ultimately came home 6th in that series, his first under the factory Husqvarna umbrella.

In 2020, a season dominated by the Champion, Thibault Benistant, and Guadagnini, Kay got a best of 2-2 in Latvia behind the Frenchman’s 1-3, and consistency kept him in the top three until a disaster at the final round at Lommel once again! “I was fastest in the Free Practice at Lommel, and I was feeling really good. The first lap of Time Practice I got cross-jumped by another rider, and I landed face down. Before I could get up another rider jumped on to the back of my helmet, so it was a big concussion, and it broke my nose in five places! I wanted to race because it cost me top three in the series, but I wasn’t allowed because of the concussion.”

In 2021 he moved up to MX2, and the ghost of issues gone past was exorcised at Lommel, with his first race win at Grand Prix level putting him second overall between Jago Geerts and Maxime Renaux.  A consistent season was rewarded with 7th in the series, two behind his senior teammate Beaton, who had held his number 14 and forced Kay to switch to a number suggested by long-time sponsors Fox – 74, the year they first went into business.

2022 saw Kay running top five in the series at the beginning of the year, until a bizarre accident put a serious dent in his campaign after seven rounds. “Before Sardinia, we had finished practicing for the day, and I took my E-Bike across to the team HQ to pack my stuff for the GP, but a car came across the cycle lane that I was in and wiped me out!  He didn’t see me and hit me as he was going into his house, so that broke my arm which put me out of the next three GPs.  I came back too early as well, in Teutschenthal I was sick because I pushed too hard on Saturday, then in my first trip to Indonesia I really found out what food poisoning was all about, I was really badly sick there!”  A return to Lommel turned his fortunes around, and he was able to win the first race, just losing the overall to Jago, as the older rider had that little bit more energy to beat the 17-year-old to the second race win and the GP victory.

Immediately fast in 2023, he won race one in Sardinia at round two, again just losing the overall to a determined Geerts, but from that race until the Latvian round he didn’t finish outside the top five in any GP races. A perfect weekend at Kegums, where he took his first Grand Prix victory, even winning the RAM Qualifying Race on Saturday, saw the Dutchman fix the red plate onto his Nestaan Husqvarna.  Sadly, he crashed whilst testing before the MXGP of Germany.  With an ankle so swollen that x-rays could not pick up the break, he tried to race on and actually got back to finish on the podium at Loket a month later. 

A mechanical issue in testing then saw him go over the bars in the week before the MXGP of Flanders.  Picking up a 6th place at Lommel with a compression fracture in his back was “the most painful thing I have ever done”, and he had to concede that the title was gone, missing another four GPs while he got the problem fixed.

“My team and I have set our target on getting to the podium every weekend,” said the Dutchman at the start of the 2024 season, “With so many fast riders we know that being consistent is so important, so when Adamo passed me in Spain, I knew I was still gonna get the podium, and the same in Sardinia when Lucas passed me in race one. I didn’t panic, and I knew that I would need to save some strength for the second race at Riola Sardo.”

Kay has displayed a coolness under pressure in 2024, visibly relaxed on the start-line, he has been seen grooving along to the trackside music on the start line before most GP races, and it is that coolness that has made the difference in the races. Analysing the results from both him and his teammate, it’s amazing to note that although the top two have achieved almost equal podium finishes – 13 to Coenen and 12 to De Wolf – and the points scored on Saturdays have been slightly more for the Belgian, it is the ‘off’ weekends that have made the difference.

Kay finished fourth or fifth overall a grand total of seven times, leaving just one result – seventh overall at Maggiora – outside the top five on a GP day, and the only time he scored less than 30 points on a Sunday. In comparison, Coenen finished outside of the top five six times, and on five of those occasions he scored less than 30 on a Sunday.  The old saying goes “you win it on your bad days”, and this year’s MX2 Championship has been solid gold proof of that philosophy.

With superbly controlled riding at the final MXGP at Cozar in Spain, Kay de Wolf was crowned as MX2 World Champion on the very day that he turned 20 years old.  Despite massive  celebrations in the paddock and beyond, a week later he raced to a brilliant individual victory in the MX2 class at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, battling against such esteemed 450 pilots as Hunter Lawrence, Jeremy Seewer, and Aaron Plessinger, and helping Team Netherlands back up to a podium finish.

Wherever he races in the near future, the first Dutch World Champion after the mighty Jeffrey Herlings looks to have a massively bright future ahead of him, and his cool name and exciting riding style should make him a crowd favourite for many years to come.

WATCH KAY DE WOLF CHAMPION CLIP HERE
 

CAREER STATS

Grand Prix Wins: 8

Race Wins: 15

Podiums: 25

MX2 World Champion: 2024

2024 STATS

Grand Prix Wins: 7

Race Wins: 11

Pole Positions: 6

Podiums: 12

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