The future of the De Baets Yamaha was under serious threat as the team considered closing their doors after the 2024 season. However, we understand that the team will remain in the paddock for the 2025 season after all – this is great news as the more teams the better.
Lotte van Drunen who became the youngster ever WMX World Championship with the team this year had a superb season with the team. Even though the team will remain the paddock, they won’t have an MXGP rider like they’ve had the past two years.
Benoit Paturel was with the team in 2023 and 2024 competing in the MXGP World Championship but he won’t be under the awning in 2025.
The team are expected to run a WMX rider in 2025 but it remains to be seen if Lotte van Drunen will remain with the team. Van Drunen was set to race the Mini O’s but picked up an injury meaning she will miss the event and means she won’t have a full off-season – a similar position she was in coming into the 2024 season but she still won the title.
The team will instead will focus on the WMX series as well as the EMX125 championship. We understand that there will be three riders under the De Beats Yamaha awning for the 2025 season. One WMX rider as well as two young riders to take on the EMX125 championship – the riders are expected to be revealed soon.
It remains to be seen what the future will hold for experienced MXGP rider, Benoit Paturel who still hasn’t got a team for the 2025 season and at the moment is a free agent waiting for an opportunity to remain in the paddock.
More news coming as and when we hear it…
