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He definitely looked like the guy to beat again in the beginning and HRC is crazy to not pay him at least the same again considering he has won them 5 championships plus being the most decorated MXGP rider since Cairoli. But it also doesn't surprise me, HRC couldn't even bother paying fill in riders in the past lmao.
Another rumor that got more concrete: Yamaha went far en beyond to sign Gajser because Monster Energy said bluntly if Yamaha MXGP couldn't sign someone who is capable to fight for championships, they would leave. The only riders who where open to talk with in Europe where Herlings and Gajser. In hind-side they could've also offered Prado a seat, not that he would be interested, but that would make it less messy for Monster Energy. Now they need to deal with Prado his long-term personal deal, while he wants to ride a KTM-Group bike.
Yes, with Reneaux not delivering on his early season promise, and then being injured so much and for so long, CV being a bit up and down and Geerts being... well Geerts, Monster are looking at a ton of money going to get an occasional podium, which isnt enough.
With no Prado, only Herlings, Gajser, Febvre and Coenen are going to be regular race winners in MXGP. If you dont have those guys, you wont be winning.
Only KdW can add to that group.
Also Fantic have made Yamaha look daft this year, which hasnt helped.
Bruce is out for season with knee injury, i havent heard officially but i believe he will be back on DRT .
Werner was at Duns, but didnt figure in a podium battle for either day, which shows the level of our MX2 guys, he missed 4 rounds , at least, i dont know if he will be retained by KTM, him and Doensen have had a year to forget.
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Nicolo Manini and TM part ways in good terms.
Curious to see what team sign the Young italian promise.
Rumour has it that Hans Corvers fired all his mechanics. Gajser would bring his own mechanic next season.
Yeah, I know that actually the practice mechanic of Tim works directly for Tim and not to Gariboldi. Kinda unique deal in Europe, but seams logical that he follows Tim.
Herlings is also bringing his practice mechanic to Honda
Honestly Doensen had a pretty good season with 2 podiums in his rookie year in EMX250 and was 4th in the standings before Arnhem so not really a year to forget in my book besides his recently obtained injury.
He was racing a Honda last weekend.
His British Season has been awful in comparison one second place and 2 thirds ,and no podiums, in a year where he could have been a threat for the series, too many crashes early in races .
By comparison , Joe Brookes has done 3 rounds, and is only 21 back of him .
Nice riders for a national competition like adac or something like that...too little talent to be in a top team in mx2
Gyan Doensen is a 16 year old rookie and Joe Brookes is 20 years old and know the British tracks very well. What he did in EMX250 and what would be more important you think?
So, based on the information shared in this thread, we have basically confirmed the following for next year in the MXGP class right?
KTM Group: Coenen, Adamo (KTM) or de Wolf (Husqvarna) – If any of these two wins the title.
Kawasaki Factory Team: Febvre & Jonass
Yamaha Factory Team: Gajser & Vlaanderen
Yamaha JK Racing: Gifting
Honda Factory HRC: Herlings & Vialle
Honda SR Motoblouz: Horgmo & Benistant
Ducati Factory Team: Seewer, Renaux & Bonacorsi — this program will be taken over by Wilvo
Beta Factory: Watson & Koch
Free agents: Coldenhoff, Fernandez, Pancar, Bogers, Geerts, Guadagnini, Van Doninck, Vd Moosdijk, Sterry, Guillod, Forato, Spies, Toendel
Incoming riders into MXGP without confirmed contracts: Prugnieres, Oliver, Elzinga.
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And we have the following basically confirmed in MX2
KTM Group: Sascha Coenen, Laengenfelder, De Wolf (could be MXGP), Adamo (could be MXGP), Everts(?)
Yamaha Factory Team: Reisulis brothers
Triumph Factory MX2: Farres & Mc Lellan
Honda Factory HRC MX2: Lata
Kawasaki Factory MX2: Valin
Ducati Factory MX2: Zanchi – Bedini will take the MX2 Ducati program
Free agents: Valk, Mikula, Braceras, Grau, Walvoort.
Oh i understand why they are not signed by the top factory teams, but imo it would be good riders to have a bit deeper/bigger MX2 field. Would be nice if a team would step up and get these guys in MX2 and have bigger fields.
Think you’re pretty right! I heard so far a few extra things;
Everts confirmed to stay
Fernandez as a third rider at HRC
Valin moves to the Austrian group
Rossi leaving ktm, might a chance of a 2nd HRC spot or Kawasaki.
Vlaanderen 2nd spot, did anyone confirm that? I heard they are chasing some other riders as well (Gifting one of them)
Gifting also chased by Fantic, which will move into the JM team if I’m correct. Maybe that will help Coldenhoff as well to move into that squad as Fantic rider.
Braceras, isn’t he aging out of MX2 as well?
And damn, that list with free MXGP riders is big, the smaller teams have quite some riders to pick for an ADAC or Italian championship.
I think Van Erp wasted way too much time staying in EMX250 to try and take the title. He got injured (twice) again this season, so another season thrown into the dustbin. When the 2026 season starts he'll almost be 21 years old, so that's a maximum of three seasons in the MX2 world championship. That's why I think he's not an interesting profile for factory or semi-factory MX2 teams anymore. Guys who are 2, 3 to 4 years younger as him already have more experience in that class as he does.
Valin leaving KRT?
Are you sure about this one?
I heard Koch was being replaced at Beta, Renaux was staying at Yamaha and Garcia was going to Factory Kawi MX2, with Zanocz to move up as well (no specific team mentioned) although HRC would make sense if there is the budget for him
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absolutely right.....ivano van erp 3 years emx125 ...3 years emx250 that's how you wast your talent......1 year 125emx and maximum 2 years emx250 then you're doing it right.......
Worked out for Bonacorsi, 4 years emx125, 2 years emx250, half a year mx2 then mxgp.
But he was champion in both EMX classes.
I understand why a factory team would not have interest in Van Erp. But why would he not be interesting for teams like Martens, WZ, BT or Dixon? I mean they are racing Braceras, Grau, Walvoort and Karssemakers.
Only if he brings (a lot of) money.
In 2024 he couldn't keep up with Valin, Lata or Valk. They finished more than 100 points ahead of him and they're steady top 10 pilots in MX2 by now. Walvoort was a top 15 pilot last year. Van Erp has been injured multiple times the past seasons. He never was a true title contender in either EMX250 nor EMX125. He raced against the Coenen brothers, the Reišulis brothers, Lata, Zanchi, Karssemakers, Valk, Mikula,... during all those years in the European championships and they all surpassed him by now, either in experience or in racecraft.
Next season Jānis Reišulis, Zanócz, García, Greutmann,.. will make the move to MX2.
I think those teams you mentioned have better options as Van Erp. Or, like I said, if he brings a pile of money with him.
Interesting on Zanocz — I’d actually heard he’s been testing with Triumph for a potential MX2 ride.
Greutman is moving to a 450 according to gatedrop and is examining options both in America and in Europe
Van erp talking with TM for mx2 gp.
Speed is there, but physically too small and very inconsistent.
Prugnieres could remain in MX2 category next year...
Ain't a rumor, they are all independent contractors and won't be used next year. The team coordinator will stay and Jeremy Fontaine stays too.
Fernandez will be indeed the third rider at HRC. Rossi talks with Maddii Honda. Geerts hasn't much options one of the options is BETA.
Someone should tell Kawasaki if so.
But why did he ´fired´ all the mechanics? There were some guys already working there for years, like the mechanic of Geerts was there for a long time already
Elzinga testing the Beta as well right?
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