At the end of August, Chinese manufacturer Kove announced plans to enter the MXGP World Championship for the 2027 season. However, with Tom Steensels, who was leading the project as team manager, recently parting ways with the brand, the future of the planned entry has become now become very uncertain. Kove themselves still haven’t commented on their future regards MXGP.
Despite Kove seemingly no longer being set to enter the paddock, there could still be another Chinese manufacturer lining up alongside ZXMOTO in the MXGP World Championship next season, with Steensels potentially continuing to run a team to take on the MXGP World Championship.
HOTO Factory Racing set to enter the paddock?
Steensels has been busy exploring alternative options to keep an MXGP project alive for 2027.
We understand that the Belgian has recently been travelling to China, with several trips believed to have taken place as part of his efforts to find a way forward. It is now thought that he has reached an agreement with another Chinese manufacturer, HOTO, to launch a new project under the HOTO Factory Racing banner.
HOTO Factory Racing are believed to be preparing to enter the MXGP World Championship paddock in 2027, with prototype machinery of a new motocross machine currently in development. Once the prototypes are ready, the next step will be to bring the bikes to Europe so that testing can begin.
Although the project remains in its early stages, the potential move would represent another significant step for Chinese manufacturers in motocross, with HOTO potentially joining ZXMOTO on the MXGP grid next season.
Riders still to be confirmed
There is still plenty of work to be done before the project becomes a reality, particularly given that the decision to enter the MXGP World Championship has come relatively late in the preparations for the 2027 season.
With the opening round of the championship set to take place in February, testing time will be limited. However, we understand that two riders are close to reaching an agreement with HOTO Factory Racing, meaning testing could get underway soon.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the project continues to take shape, with the development of the machinery and the confirmation of the rider line-up key priorities ahead of the new season.
More news soon, so stay tuned.
