Race after race, Mathis Valin has impressed everyone with his progress during his first season in the 250 Class. 125 World Champion last year, the latest recruit of Stephane Dassé and team Bud Racing Kawasaki will mount the red plate on his KX250 next weekend in Teutschenthal for the fifth round of the FIM European EMX250 Championship.
Already on the podium at the first round of the series in Spain – just a few weeks after winning the Junior class at the famous Enduropale du Touquet – Mathis has displayed his ambition in his rookie season and confirmed his potential each weekend.
Born on the 18th of June 2006, Mathis was only nine years old when he clinched his first title in Brittany; two years later he dominated the 65 class in the ‘minivert’, a French series which in the past has been the initial showplace for many talented French youngsters such as Mickael Pichon, Jordi Tixier, Dylan Ferrandis and Tom Vialle. Moving to the 85 class and selected by the federation for the French hopeful team in 2018, Mathis had to deal with injuries but never gave up and eventually clinched the silver medal in the 85 championship in 2020 and the title one year later. Working closely with Valentin Teillet, a former Bud Racing Kawasaki rider from 2012 to 2014, Mathis applied the same strategy again when he moved to the 125 class two years ago: one season to discover the class, and the title the next! 2023 was so far his most successful season to date with the French Junior title, winning no less than fourteen rounds, second overall in the European championship and the World title.
“I’ve been working with Valentin (Teillet) for four years now, and during that time I have discovered what it takes to find a top level. Without his support, I don’t think I would not have reached this level,” he explained.
“We have worked so hard to achieve these results,” said Teillet, the 2008 European champion. “Of course we work on his speed and technique, but also on his mental approach and I’m convinced that being confident has helped him to make the difference to his rivals.”
Early last season, Mathis signed a deal with Bud Racing for his move in the 250 class with the French-based team. After four years working with Valentin, he started working last winter with Thierry Van Den Bosch, the Bud riders coach, and immediately felt comfortable on the KX250.
“We worked hard with the team this winter and it is paying off; I’m really happy to offer them podiums and wins. This year is a learning year for me in this class, and if someone told me earlier this season that I would got the red plate I’m not sure I would have believed them. But now I will do my best to keep it until the end of season,” said a smiling Mathis last week in France.
For team owner Stephane Dasse, working with his new recruit is a pleasure. “We love to work with young riders, to help them to become professional, to teach them how to work with partners, how to develop a bike, to set up a bike; that’s really interesting and I’m very happy with Mathis. This winter we discovered a straightforward boy, easy to work with, a hard worker and everyone in the team enjoys his attitude. During the off-season we took him training in the USA, Spain and Sardinia; it was important to give him the best facilities to train.”
Before heading to Germany for the fifth of the eleven rounds of the EMX250 series, Mathis raced to his third podium and fourth moto victory of the series at the penultimate round of the French Elite Championship; despite sitting out one round of the series which coincided with the European Championship, he is currently runner-up in the standings.
Mathis Valin
Born on the 17th of June 2006
2016: 4th in the 65 French Minivert championship
2017: 65 Minivert French Champion
21ts in the 65 European championship
2019: 16th in the 85 French Motocross championship
4th in the 85 French Supercross championship
2020: Runner-up in the 85 French Motocross championship
2021: 85 French Champion
2022: 4th in the 125 French Motocross championship
French Junior Supercross Champion
12th in the 125 European championship
2023: 125 Junior World Champion
125 Junior French Champion
Runner-up in the 125 Junior European championship
