The Pierer Mobility Group consists of KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas as far as the Motocross scene is considered. Over the years, Austria have pumped in the finances required to win at the highest level – MXGP and MX2.
However, the past few years cuts have been made in the MXGP paddock. It started ahead of the 2023 season. The Standing Construct team who ran the Husqvarna MXGP effort at the time, had also started the GasGas project but then lost support from the factory as their contract ended. Standing Construct made the switch to Honda and then for the 2023 season, there wasn’t even an MXGP Husqvarna rider. That did change this year as Mattia Guadagnini signed with Husqvarna in MXGP.
For the 2025 season, there are rumours around the paddock that further cuts will be made within the Pierer Mobility Group. The Nestaan Husqvarna team have done a superb job with Kay de Wolf who currently leads the MX2 World Championship and Lucas Coenen who currently sits second after winning three GP’s in a row.
Our understanding is that Husqvarna won’t have a GP team at all in 2025 and they will stop with their MX project leaving KTM and GasGas as the two Austrian brands in the MXGP paddock.
For 2025, at this stage we also believe that they will only have one MXGP rider: Jeffrey Herlings. With Jorge Prado set to head to America next year, we understand GasGas don’t intend on replacing him in MXGP. The Coenen Brothers are also wanted in America and rumours suggest they may go as soon as 2025.
The Nestaan Group who currently run the Husqvarna team are thought to be in talks to make the switch to KTM. Kay de Wolf who has a contract with Austria until the end of 2025 is expected to make the move to KTM and join Herlings under the awning. There have been rumours the Dutch talent will race MXGP in 2025 but we believe a final decision hasn’t yet been made and he could still race the MX2 World Championship next year.
It remains to be seen how many riders KTM will run in 2025. GasGas are also expected to fully focus on the MX2 World Championship in 2025 with Simon Längenfelder staying with the team but again it’s not yet known how many MX2 GP riders the brand will have for 2025.
Ducati who are bursting onto the MXGP World Championship in 2025 also have plans to sign up Mattia Guadagnini.
It’s a real shame to hear about cuts being made but Covid has made things difficult for the factory teams and with their continued investment into MotoGP it is having an impact on the priority of MXGP. It is especially a real shame for the Nestaan Huqvarna team who have done a superb job but at least they still have the possibility to remain in the paddock.
We’ll have more news soon…
Get an overview of the silly season talk around the MXGP paddock below:
