South African talent Jordan Van Wyk is preparing for the biggest step of his career as he gets set to contest the 2026 EMX250 Championship with the brand-new Meuwissen Motorsports team. After making the leap from racing at home to immersing himself in the European motocross scene, Van Wyk will be working hard to have a strong off-season adapting to different conditions.
We caught up with Van Wyk as je opens up about his journey from South Africa to Europe, how his deal with Meuwissen Motorsports came together, the challenges of adapting to European tracks and lifestyle, and his long-term ambition of reaching the MX2 World Championship.
GateDrop: Jordan, I think you spent a lot of time in Europe last year at the BUD facility in France riding a Kawasaki, how did that all come about, and did you enjoy being in France?
Van Wyk:Â Yes, I was in France for three weeks training with the Bud racing team which was a really great experience for myself. I had never had an opportunity like that before. I also learnt a lot there from Jake Cannon and Francesco Garcia which helped me a lot. I had an awesome time in France with all the training.
GateDrop: For fans who might not know you well yet, can you tell us about your motocross background in South Africa?
Van Wyk: In South Africa I was racing the main championship with a few well known riders such as Cameron Durow, Slade Smith and also Tristan Purdon who has raced at the MXoN multiple times. I had a good last year there in the MX2 class where I got fifth in the championship. I am also a two time African Champ.
GateDrop: South Africa isn’t the most common pathway to European motocross – how different has your journey been compared to most EMX and GP riders?
Van Wyk: My career path is quite different from others that have raced in EMX from a young age. In South Africa we don’t have many riders like in Europe so we only have one main championship which all the South Africans do. The races are a lot shorter than here in Europe and the tracks don’t get quite as rough. I have done the Junior World Championship two times where I was able to qualify for the main races.
GateDrop: Who were the biggest influences on your career growing up, both riders and people around you?
Van Wyk: The biggest influences on me where my parents and my coach Wyatt Avis which raced GP’s quite a while back.
GateDrop: You’ve signed with Meuwissen Motorsports for the 2026 season – a new team in the paddock – how did the deal all come around?
Van Wyk: We heard that there was a new team coming to the paddock through our contact in France which knows the Meuwissen family. We got in contact with them and while I was at BUD, we got told that they would like me to do a test for their team. At the time myself and my Mum where in France at BUD so we changed our flight to go to Belgium so we tested with the team.
GateDrop: Do you know the likes of Calvin Vlaanderen, Camden McLellan and Tristan Purdon – fellow South African GP riders – and did you reach out to them about the GP paddock before singing for 2026 and what advice did they give you?
Van Wyk: We were in contact with the McLellan family about the team, they told us to go for it as it is a very good opportunity for myself to try and make it here in Europe.
GateDrop: How has everything been going with the team so far and where have you been so far putting in the laps?
Van Wyk: Everything has been going really well with the team and my teammates. It’s been quite different to live without my parents but I’ve managed fine and have been enjoying the time in Europe. We have been putting a lot of laps in around Lommel and Grovenbrioch.
GateDrop: Nico Greutmann raced the EMX250 series last year and is very fast. What’s it been like having him as a team mate and have you been picking things up from him?
Van Wyk: It’s been great training with Nico as he is a very experienced and fast rider. I’ve been learning a lot from him as we all stay together.
GateDrop: Have you watched much EMX125/EMX250 races in the past – do you know much about the competition you’ll be racing against?
Van Wyk: Yes I’ve watched all the EMX races and know who the main fast guys are so it will be interesting to see where I stack up against them.
GateDrop: What has been the biggest challenge so far in adapting to Europe?
Van Wyk: The biggest challenges for me is the weather and the food. The weather and food is very different compared to back home. To be making my own food and getting everything sorted out by myself has also been a big challenge.
GateDrop: How different are the tracks you’ve been riding compared to what you were used to in South Africa?
Van Wyk: The tracks are very different here as there are a lot more riders so the tracks get a lot rougher than back in South Africa. We also don’t have sand like here in Europe so it’s been a big learning experience for me in the sand.
GateDrop: As a rookie in EMX250, what would you consider a successful first season?
Van Wyk: For myself I would like to qualify for every round and score points in all the races.
GateDrop: Are you setting yourself result-based goals, or is it more about progress and learning in year one?
Van Wyk: I would like to get good results but I also want to learn and improve every race weekend.
GateDrop: Being one of the few South African riders on the EMX stage, do you feel any extra pressure to represent your country well?
Van Wyk: I wouldn’t say more pressure but it definitely makes me want to do good and show that South Africans can make it here in Europe.
GateDrop: Where do you realistically see yourself in two or three years’ time?
Van Wyk:Â I would like to see myself in a factory team racing in the MX2 World Championship.
GateDrop: Finally, what would you like fans to know about Jordan Van Wyk as he starts his EMX250 journey?
Van Wyk: I’m a young rider from South Africa which is living the dream in Europe that wants to make it. I am a hard worker and humble kid.
