The 2025 MXGP and MX2 championships will see around 30 factory riders involved in the two classes, something that has to be close to a record in the sports history. In 2024, no surprise that the top 11 riders in the end of season MX2 points, were all factory men and it gets even more exciting next season.
While the MX2 class will lose two of their top five riders in 2025, as Lucas Coenen heads to MXGP and Mikkel Haarup (aged out of the class), there are a stack of super talented EMX riders joining the party and none more exciting than EMX250 runner-up, Valerio Lata, who joins the HRC factory effort for 2025.
With the MXGP class already with around 15 factory riders in the paddock, MX2 is catching up quickly, with more than a dozen expected in 2025. The goal of Infront has always been to make the World Motocross Championships a series that has the elite riders in the sport, and clearly, the Japanese, Austrian, Italian and British manufactures are in full support.
What is really exciting is the fact HRC will now run with two riders, and obviously the fact that Kawasaki factory is also investing in an MX2 rider. When you consider, KTM will have Sacha Coenen, Simon Langenfelder and Andrea Adamo in the MX2 class and defending champion Kay de Wolf will line up again for the Nestaan Husqvarna factory team, along with Liam Everts, it shows how important the industry is taking the 250 class as the series moves forward.
Add the Monster Energy Yamaha team of Thibault Benistant, Rick Elzinga and another exciting addition, Karlis Reisulis. Triumph will of course also run two factory riders in Guillem Farres and Camden McLellan, with British rider Joel Rizzi to do selected rounds on the British brand.
Ian Kimber the head of global racing programmes for Triumph Motorcycles knew that once they started the MX2 program, it would be goals to not only compete, but also look at winning GPs and eventually a World title.
“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’d 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.”
Shigemi Tanaka the general manager, marketing & sales division of Kawasaki Motors can see the potential of the MXGP series and knows that Kawasaki need to also join the party for the MX2 class. Their signing EMX250 champion, Mathis Valin will no doubt be a success in 2025.
“This is an important step for Kawasaki, and it reflects our long-established ethos of growing and encouraging talent from green shoots to green wins. It is fundamental to our off-road philosophy to provide not just hardware in terms of competitive KX machinery but also the “software” historically manifested by our legendary Team Green race and rider support programme. The best way to lead is by example, so the establishment of this factory attack on MX2 honours within the highly professional and proven race-winning structure of the Kawasaki Racing Team will provide a stable base for rider and championship success. We hope youth riders will see this as something to aspire to and, in turn, to graduate from MX2 experience and success towards MXGP, the very pinnacle of motocross.”
Yuzuru Ishikawa, who is the HRC Executive Director has seen the passion of the Gariboldi run team and like all the other manufactures, knows that the MX2 class is a class that is producing the best young riders in the World, who need the sort of support HRC can afford them.
“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.”
As Yamaha have been one of the first teams to see the value in the MX2 class, Thorsten Lentink, the Yamaha Motor Europe MX racing specialist is excited to keep his riders under the blue tent and hopes they can also bring some success to the blue brand.
“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.”
Photo Credit: Fullspectrum
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