The motocross World Championship season is ready to launch from Argentina. Multiple title contenders, a thrilling season ahead. The campaign gets under way this weekend (7–8 March) amid stunning scenery in Bariloche, in the Rio Negro province of Argentina, close to the Chilean border. A large lake lies just a couple of kilometres from the venue. It is a first-time World Championship host.
The entry list is brimming with title candidates — how about these names: Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings, Lucas Coenen and Tom Vialle?
The defending champion and the Finnish team
Wearing the number 1 plate, two-time and reigning World Champion Romain Febvre of France, 34, heads into the season. The lead rider of the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP (Kawasaki’s official factory squad), owned by Kimi Räikkönen and managed by Antti Pyrhönen, has shown in the international pre-season races that he is once again ready for the title fight. Febvre won a rain-soaked international race in southern France about three weeks ago. Last weekend at the demanding sand track of Lierop in the Netherlands, Febvre posted moto results of 1st and 2nd, matching scores with the Netherlands’ Jeffrey Herlings.
New steps for champions
Jeffrey Herlings, 31, spent his entire career to date with KTM and claimed five World Championships. He now sits in the saddle of a factory Honda (HRC) and, after a slight early adjustment period, has found his feet with the new machinery. That already makes two strong title favourites.
A third — and equally formidable — contender is Slovenia’s Tim Gajser, 29, who switched from Honda to Yamaha for this season and also has five World Championships to his name. He has likewise shown he is back in peak form and ready for the title hunt.
Tom Vialle, a 25-year-old Frenchman who has been posting solid results in the American supercross series, makes a surprise return to the World Championship while also switching from KTM to Honda, where he rides alongside Herlings and Spain’s Rubén Fernández. Vialle can also be counted as a title contender, even though his early-season outings have not been overwhelmingly convincing. His 2020 and 2022 MX2 World Championships, however, speak for themselves.
The MXGP challenger pack
One of the most intriguing names will be KTM rider Lucas Coenen of Belgium, who already took the championship silver last season after waging a fierce title battle with Febvre. The 19-year-old Belgian is a tough-as-nails fighter who proved his mettle last year.
Another interesting name is the Netherlands’ Husqvarna rider Kay De Wolf, 21. He is the 2024 MX2 World Champion and last year’s MX2 runner-up. This season he steps up to MXGP and is a wildcard in the title race. The same goes for Italy’s Andrea Adamo, 22 (KTM), who has also moved up from MX2 to MXGP.
Regular top-ten — or better — finishers include Latvia’s Pauls Jonass, 29 (Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP), the Netherlands’ Calvin Vlaanderen (Ducati), France’s Thibaut Benistant (Honda), Norway’s Kevin Horgmo (Honda), Italy’s Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) and Belgium’s Jago Geerts (Beta).
MX2 — History and new promises
The MX2 class is also set for a fascinating season. Last year’s champion, KTM rider Simon Längenfelder of Germany, 21, will certainly be a force again this year.
Liam Everts, 21, scion of the great Belgian motocross dynasty, has ridden strongly in the early-season races. It would be wonderful to see him in the title fight — why not as champion. That would rewrite a magnificent piece of history: his father Stefan Everts holds 10 World Championships and his grandfather Harry Everts four. All the injury-plagued Liam needs now is one full, healthy season.
Other strong title contenders in the small class include Belgium’s Sacha Coenen, 19, Lucas’s younger brother. Antti Pyrhönen’s team’s (Kawasaki) MX2 rider Mathis Valin, 19, showed promise on several occasions last season and the youngster certainly has potential. Valin has ridden superbly in early-season races in France and the Netherlands. He may well visit the podium more than once.
Other noteworthy contenders in MX2 include South Africa / Netherlands’ Camden McLellan, Italy’s Valerio Lata and Spain’s Guillem Farres.
The season will be long and full of twists. The champions will be decided by the final (19th) round at the latest, in Darwin, Australia, on 20 September.
Text: Tapio Vuori
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