Honda have confirmed that Valerio Lata will not compete in the final three rounds of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship, bringing the young Italian’s MX2 season to an early conclusion.
Lata ended his 2026 campaign competing in the Italian Championship at the weekend, where he successfully clinched his eighth domestic title.
The Italian’s final Grand Prix appearance of the season came at the MXGP of Arnhem, which could also prove to be his final race as an official HRC Honda rider.
Lata joined the Honda programme for the 2025 season and has been a regular presence in the MX2 World Championship throughout the past two seasons. However, with three rounds still remaining of the 2026 season in Turkey, China and Australia, Honda have now confirmed that he will not return to the championship.
Attention will now turn to Lata’s future for 2027. The young Italian is expected to make the move to the factory KTM outfit next season, with a place under the De Carli awning anticipated.
A move to KTM and the De Carli team has yet to be officially announced, however, meaning Lata’s next destination remains unconfirmed for now.
HRC Honda confirmed the news in their Turkey preview:
MX2 rider Valerio Lata will not travel with the team to the final three rounds of the 2026 World Motocross Championship. The Italian youngster, who is currently sitting eighth in the MX2 standings, instead ended his GP campaign in the Netherlands, all though he did successfully claim the Italian MX2 championship this past weekend.
Valerio Lata:
The team and I came to a decision to end the GP season after Arnhem, and although it would have been good to do the final races, I think that it is the best outcome for everyone. This season hasn’t gone exactly as I would have liked and the three final races are very intensive for the team, so we made this decision together. It is a shame because the podium in Australia last year was a good memory for me, but I believe this is the right choice. I am proud to have won the Italian MX2 Championship last weekend, and it is one of many great moments I have had riding for Honda HRC PETRONAS these past couple of years.
