Silly season is heating up as we look ahead to the 2026 Motocross World Championship, with factory contracts and team movements beginning to take shape within the paddock. With several high-profile riders either in the final year of their deals or already locked in for the future, there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding what the paddock might look like next year. From Red Bull KTM’s veteran leader Jeffrey Herlings to young stars like Kay de Wolf and Andrea Adamo, decisions made in the coming months could reshape both the MXGP and MX2 classes. Below, we break down the current contract situations across the main factory teams as they plan their rider line-ups for the 2026 season. We’ll continue to keep this update as and when announcements are made.
Red Bull Factory KTM:
MXGP:
Jeffrey Herlings: The five times world champion is on the final year of his Factory KTM contract – the manufacturer he’s been with since enter the MX2 World Championship as a fifteen year old back in 2010. Right now everything is open for Herlings in 2026 but it’s clear he wants to remain in the paddock. We should find out soon if he’ll remain with KTM or end his season with a different brand.
Lucas Coenen: At the end of November 2023, Coenen signed a multi year contract to remain with the Pierer Mobility Group. After one year he has already moved from Husqvarna to KTM and made the move up to MXGP. His contract with the Pierer Mobility Group is thought to be through to 2026 but the Coenen’s have been heavily linked to HRC Honda. If a deal is to happen they’d need to buy out the remaining year of their contracts so they may well remain KTM in 2026 – let’s wait and see. Either way they’re expected to remain in the GP paddock next year putting their plans to go to USA on hold – for now.
MX2:
Simon Langenfelder: Signed a multi-year contract in May 2023 which expires at the end of the current season. The German has until 2027 (inclusive) to contest the MX2 World Championship.
Sacha Coenen: Similar to his Brother, he signed a multi year contract with the group in November 2023. This contract takes them through to 2026.
Andrea Adamo: Signed a multi-year extension with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in July 2023. We can reveal his deal is set to expire at the end of the current season. The Italian can only remain in the MX2 World Championship for max one more year so he may choose to make the move up to MXGP a year early. If he wins the title he’ll be forced to make the move to MXGP. Either way he’ll have to negotiate a new contract for 2026.
Marc-Antoine Rossi: In November 2023, a multi-year deal contract was announced with the Pierer Mobility Group. The French talent has already made the move from GasGas to KTM. We believe his contract expires at the end of the season but Joel Smets is a big fan of the French talent so he is still in the picture for a factory ride for next year as of now.
One thing to point out is KTM most likely have options included in most of their contracts.
Nestaan Husqvarna
MX2:
Kay de Wolf: It’s contract year for the reigning MX2 World Champion as his contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. Although it’s thought the Nestaan Husqvarna team have an option to extend. The Dutch talent will have a decision to make: step up and race the MXGP World Championship or make the move to America he has already expressed an interest in. If he doesn’t secure another MX2 title this year staying in the MX2 World Championship could also be an option for another year.
Liam Everts: A multi year contract with the KTM Group was announced in July 2023. He has transitioned from KTM over to the Nestaan Husqvarna team in 2025. We believe his contract expires this year but again the Nestaan Husqvarna team have an option to extend.
Honda HRC
MXGP:
Tim Gajser: The five times world championship is in a contract season. Will be hoping to extend his stay with the Honda HRC team. An injury has ruled him out of title contention but he’ll be motivated to return towards the end of the season and end on a high.
Ruben Fernandez: Similarly to Gajser, Fernandez contract expires at the end of 2025 and it remains to be seen if his stay at Honda HRC will be extended or not, time will tell.
MX2:
Ferruccio Zanchi: His contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. It remains to be seen if he’ll remain under the Honda HRC awning in 2026.
Valerio Lata: The Italian signed a multi year contract with the team coming into the 2025 so whilst it isn’t clear how long he has signed for he’ll remain under the awning in 2026.
Kawasaki Racing Team
MXGP:
Romain Febvre: The French rider has a contract through 2026 so will remain under the awning for the 2026 season. He’ll be hoping to deliver the MXGP World Championship this year.
Pauls Jonass: The Latvian is on a one year deal with Kawasaki so time will tell if it’ll get extended or if he’ll be on the look out for a new ride.
MX2:
Mathis Valin: The MX2 GP rookie is on a two year deal so will remain with the team in 2026 in what will his second season in the class.
TBC: KRT were expected to run two MX2 GP riders in 2026 but that is still to be decided. They may well choose to fully focus on Mathis Valin again.
Ducati
MXGP:
Jeremy Seewer: The Swiss talent signed a contract through 2026 so will remain with Ducati for the 2026 season.
Mattia Guadagnini: Signed a one year deal with an option of one more year. It’ll be up to Ducati to take the option or not.
MX2:
TBC: Beddini Ducati will run the MX2 World Championship setup for Ducati but it remains to be seen who they’ll sign for the 2026 season.
Factory Yamaha
MXGP:
Maxime Renaux: After winning in Argentina, Renaux’s season hasn’t gone according to plan with injury after injury which is a real shame. The French talent’s current contract expires at the end of the 2026 season so will stay blue for another year.
Calvin Vlaanderen: Slowly getting back to form after a difficult start to the season, Vlaanderen contract does expires at the end of 2025 so will be hoping to get it renewed so he can continue being a full factory rider.
Jago Geerts: Similarly to Vlaanderen, Geerts contract expires at the end of the 2025 season and it remains to be seen if that’ll be extended.
MX2:
Karlis Reisulis: The Latvian’s current contract expires at the end of 2025. There is probably a good chance this gets extended and he’ll be joined by his Brother, Janis under the awning – but that’s still to be confirmed.
Thibault Benistant: The French riders contract expires end of the 2025 season and due to the age rule has to move up to MXGP. It remains to be seen what the future will hold for Benistant.
Rick Elzinga: The Dutch talents contract expires at the end of 2025 and just like Benistant has to move up to MXGP in 2026. It remains to be seen what Elzinga will do next year.
Factory Fantic
MXGP:
Glenn Coldenhoff: The Dutch rider had his best ever start to an MXGP season but hasn’t showed the same kind of form the past couple of GP’s so he’ll be keen to find that form again. Coldenhoff signed a two year contract when joining the team for the 2024 season so this expires at the end of the season.
Brian Bogers: Drafted in as a fill in rider last year, Bogers was impressive and secured a full time ride. He is on a one year contract and it remains to be seen if it’ll get extended but he’s starting to find good form the past few GP’s.
Andrea Bonacorsi: Fantic were planning to only run two MXGP riders in 2026 before signing Bonacorsi so the Italian inked a one year contract so is available for the 2026 season at this stage.
Triumph Racing
MXGP:
Mikkel Haarup: Triumph are planning on running their first MXGP World Championship rider in 2026 and Haarup has this as part of his contract. The team are planning on having him back next year but he’s enjoying himself riding the AMA Pro Motocross series this year so let’s see how that goes.
MX2:
Camden McLellan: The South African current deal expires at the end of the 2025 season so is currently available for next year. Recently turned 21 years old, he has plenty of potential for the future.
Guillem Farres: Signed a two year deal which will see him spend his final year of MX2 with the manufacturer.
MRT Beta Racing
MXGP:
Ben Watson: The Brit signed a two year deal extension before the start of the season so is under contract for 2026.
Tom Koch: It’s the German’s first experience with a factory team and he signed a two year deal so he’ll remain with Beta for the 2026 season.
