The 2026 MXGP World Championship rider market continues to throw up surprises and one of the latest rumours to emerge is a potential big move for Maxime Renaux. The French rider has long been associated with Yamaha and is contracted with the factory squad for 2026, but it is believed Ducati are pushing hard to secure his services.
If true, it would see the 2021 MX2 World Champion join Ducati’s growing MXGP project for 2026, a move that few would have predicted just months ago.
Renaux’s 2025 season started in the best way possible with a victory at the opening round in Argentina, showing once again the speed and class that made him a world champion. However, since then his campaign has been derailed by injuries. As the season has progressed, though, he has started to find his rhythm again and will be keen to end the year on a strong note.
He will also represent Team France at the upcoming Motocross of Nations in Ironman, joining forces with Romain Febvre and Mathis Valin. That appearance could be his last in Yamaha colours, bringing the curtain down on a long and successful relationship with the brand.
Renaux has been part of the Yamaha structure since his EMX125 days, climbing through the ranks to MX2 and eventually establishing himself as a force in the MXGP class. A switch to Ducati would therefore be a significant career move, but one that would see him reunite with a familiar figure: Louis Vosters.
Vosters, who worked with Renaux when he oversaw the Factory Yamaha MXGP team, is now expected to spearhead Ducati’s factory project. With his strong ties to Renaux, the Frenchman could slot in seamlessly as part of the team’s long-term ambitions.
If the move goes ahead, Ducati’s 2026 line-up will be a strong one. Seewer is already under contract with the brand, while Andrea Bonacorsi is widely tipped to follow Vosters across to the squad. Adding Renaux into the mix would create a three-rider line-up full of experience, speed, and potential – it would be a big statement of intent from Ducati.
One rider whose future looks less certain is Mattia Guadagnini. The Italian has been linked with other opportunities and is not expected to remain under the Ducati tent if Renaux and Bonacorsi do indeed join Seewer.
With Tim Gajser already expected to make the high-profile switch to the factory Yamaha squad, the rumoured exit of Renaux would clear a seat for Calvin Vlaanderen to remain with the team. Vlaanderen has impressed and could now find himself rewarded with a spot alongside Gajser, giving Yamaha a strong and balanced pairing heading into 2026.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in recent memory, with big-name transfers and team reshuffles already in the works. If Renaux’s move to Ducati is confirmed, it would be a big move and not one many people would have predicted at the start of the season.
For now, nothing is official, but the possibility of Renaux swapping blue for red – Yamaha for Ducati – is gathering momentum. One thing is certain: the 2026 MXGP World Championship grid is set to look very different, and the battles on track could be fiercer than ever.
