2023 MXGP and MX2 Predictions

Jonathan McCready: This is always the worst part – especially with so many riders capable of winning from GP to GP! To win the title it’s the ability to win and podium consistently across every country and terrain, so it’s simply hard to look past Jeffrey Herlings if he stays healthy. He’s always had extra speed when he really needs it, but can he stay calm in the opening round if he isn’t winning?

Maxime Renaux might be the guy to challenge Herlings along with Febvre, the French flyers are at opposite ends of their careers but are coming in with lots of potential.

Glenn Coldenhoff and Jeremy Seewer will need a strong start to the season to contend but both have shown impressive speed pre-season and look ready to be up front every week, so this could be the year it happens.

With his starts and talent, Jorge Prado should be up there too, if he rides to his full potential Prado will be a factor in this championship but right now, I’ll go for a Herlings, Renaux, Febvre top three.

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For Argentina, Febvre could be the guy to beat and the Yamaha’s shouldn’t be far away from the front either!

Argentina MXGP

Febvre
Seewer
Renaux

World Championship MXGP

Herlings
Renaux
Febvre

In MX2 Jago Geerts is the overwhelming favourite and while I think he will win the championship, Thibault Benistant and Kay de Wolf have the stuff to give him a run for his money but in the end Jago’s experience and consistency should get him over the line, as long as he can deal with the pressure. Simon Laengenfelder should also be in the mix with those three on the Gas Gas and so should Roan van de Moosdijk who is in his final year in the class like Jago and will want to go out with a bang – but avoid injury at Argentina, especially through the waves that ruined his 2022 season.

The big excitement from pre-season is Lucas Coenen, he has been on fire and migth even have a shot at the podum in Argentina! Keep an eye on this kid, still just 16, he has made rapid progress int he off-season and could be a dark horse for challenging the names just mentioned on any given weekend, his brother Sacha, Liam Everts and an impressive Andrea Adamo should also be strong when all three are fit but so far Lucas is the best of the young guns.

Mikkel Haarup was flying, especially at the beginning of last season as was Kevin Horgmo, they will be expecting to start off fast again this season and, with qualifying heats giving points for the top ten, sprint speed, which both have, could prove very important.

Argentina MX2

Benistant
de Wolf
Geerts

World Championship MX2

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Geerts
Benistant
de Wolf

Andy McKinstry: Predictions have never been harder for MXGP or MX2! Heading into the season you could probably make a case for six different winners in each class this weekend and not be that shocked.

In MXGP, with Tim Gajser out for the start of the season, Jeffrey Herlings will be racing his first MXGP in over a year and Romain Febvre recently had arm pump surgery. It potentially leaves the door wide open for a Yamaha rider or Prado to get a fast start to the season but you still wouldn’t be that surprised if Herlings or Febvre did the business at the opening round because they’re that good.

With Gajser already ruled out, you would make Herlings heavy favourite for the championship but staying injury free for the entire season will be the difficulty, if he can he’ll be hard to beat and has to go down as favourite. Renaux, who was very impressive as a rookie will be one to watch and mentally he’s very strong. You can’t rule out Seewer either as he seems to get better every year and is super consistent, I am actually backing him to win the opening round.

Perhaps the biggest unknown going into the season is Jorge Prado who always wants to win and while 2022 was by no means a disaster, he’d have wanted to challenge for the championship so he’ll be looking to make a amends in 2023.

Argentina MXGP:

Seewer
Renaux
Prado

World Championship MXGP:

Herlings
Renaux
Febvre

MX2 is going to be exciting. Whilst on paper, Jago Geerts might be the clear favourite he doesn’t come into the season 100% so it might open the door for a rival at the start of the season. If Geerts, who will be racing his last MX2 GP season before moving up to MXGP can ride to the best of his ability and deliver under pressure then this should be his year but you just never know in this unpredictable sport.

Benistant had a superb pre-season and didn’t get a full pre-season heading into the 2022 with an injury so that looks to have done him the world of good. We can’t forget about the likes of Laengenfelder, De Wolf, Coenen, Van de Moosdijk or even Adamo who looked great in pre-season. If any of them can have a strong start to the season it could be a domino effect and soon find themselves in the championship chase.

Argentina MX2: