Heading into the 2025 season, Thibault Benistant knew it was going to be a crucial campaign. With this year marking his final season in the MX2 World Championship due to the U23 age rule, it’s a pivotal time for the French talent as he looks to secure a move to the MXGP World Championship in 2026.
Benistant has long been regarded as one of the top prospects in the paddock. A former EMX125 and EMX250 champion, many expected him to follow in the footsteps of Tom Vialle and Jago Geerts after their domination in MX2 and that he could have been the next main guy in the class. While that dream hasn’t exactly materialized, the Factory Yamaha rider has still built an impressive resume in the class — three MX2 GP overall wins, eight moto victories, and seventeen podiums to his name.
In a bid to get the most out of his final MX2 season, Benistant made a significant change ahead of 2025 by hiring renowned coach Yves Demaria. The move has seen him spend more time training in France rather than Belgium or the Netherlands, and while a GP win has eluded him so far this year, he’s been close and has continued to showcase the speed and talent that made him such a highly rated young rider.
With twelve rounds of the MX2 World Championship complete, Benistant currently sits sixth in the standings — not a bad position considering the depth of talent in the class. He’ll be looking to break into the top five before the season concludes.
Looking ahead to 2026, we understand that Benistant is set for a fresh start in MXGP and is rumoured to be on his way to the French-based SR Motoblouz Honda squad. The move would not only see him step up to the premier class but also remain under the guidance of Demaria, who also trains current SR Honda riders Kevin Horgmo and Alberto Forato. Since linking up with Demaria, Benistant has already spent significant time around the SR Honda setup, making this potential move a logical next step. After many years on a Yamaha, Benistant would also be making the switch to Honda machinery.
The team has already confirmed that Horgmo will remain for the 2026 season, and if Benistant does join, it would give the team a strong line-up — and a French rider under the awning which would be a welcome addition to the team.
With Tom Vialle also rumoured to be heading to the Factory Honda HRC team in 2026, there’s a real possibility of seeing a strong French presence in MXGP next year, with Benistant potentially joining established stars like Romain Febvre and Maxime Renaux in the premier class.
As always, stay tuned for the latest updates as we hear more on what’s going on around the paddock.
