We take a look at the current riders racing the MX2 World Championship that will need to look for an MXGP ride for the 2024 season due to the under 23 age rule.
Jago Geerts (current team: Factory Yamaha): The young Belgian is one rider moving up that doesn’t have to worry about his short term future as he’s already got a contract for the 2024 season. In 2022 Yamaha announced that Geerts had signed a contract extension for his last year in the MX2 World Championship and then his rookie season in MXGP under the factory awning.
The Belgian still hasn’t a world title to his name and after getting injured in France, he is now aiming a return to racing in Indonesia so it’s going to be an uphill task. However, if he can go on a winning streak then stranger things have happened. For 2024, there are also rumours to a change in structure at Yamaha which would see Hans Corvers who currently runs the MX2 team, step up and run the MXGP team so that would mean Geerts would remain in the same team next year meaning an even easier transition.
Kevin Horgmo (current team: F&H Kawasaki Racing): Last year was a fantastic season for Norwegian talent, Kevin Horgmo finishing fourth in the MX2 World Championship during his first year with the F&H Kawasaki Racing team. So far this year, he hasn’t reached the same heights as he currently sits eighth in the standings but there is no doubt he is fast and has plenty of potential for the future.
The F&H Kawasaki team did run an MXGP rider in the form of Jed Beaton last year but quickly decided to focus on MX2 again. It would be unlikely the team would run an MXGP rider again so Horgmo is on the look out for a ride in 2024 – hopefully he can get one!
Roan van de Moosdijk (current team: Nestaan Husqvarna Racing): Since moving up to the MX2 World Championship, injuries haven’t been kind to Roan van de Moosdijk so it’s very important he stays injury free this year. So far, so good and the Dutch talent is having a strong season consistently running at the front and even leading some laps.
Currently sat fifth in the World Championship standings, he’ll try and stay in the top five and win a GP before the end of the season. Sadly, Husqvarna don’t run an MXGP team after pulling out of the premier series at the end of 2022 – perhaps for 2023 they’ll run/support an MXGP team and keep van de Moosdijk within their structure? It would be good for the sport to see Husqvarna run in MXGP again but even if it’s with one of the other brands, Austria should consider keeping the Dutch talent as he should suit the bigger bike.
Jan Pancar (current team: JP253 KTM Racing Team): The Slovenian always seems to go under the radar but he improves every year despite running his own privateer structure which is never easy. Finishing eleventh in the championship standings last year and this year he currently sits tenth, he is doing a fantastic job under his circumstances.
It is likely he’ll continue to run his own structure in the MXGP World Championship next year in what will be his rookie year but it would be nice if a team snapped him up as that’s what he deserves. He should suit the 450cc as well as he’s a smooth riding style.
Isak Gifting (current team: VHR GasGas): After the Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee team closed their doors towards the end of last year, it wrecked Gifting’s preparation as suddenly he was left without a ride. The Swede missed the start of the GP season but thankfully the VHR GasGas team stepped in to give Gifting a ride.
The Swede has been playing catch up but is improving every GP and will hope to run in the top five soon. His future for 2024 is currently unknown but the VHR team have ran an MXGP rider in the form of Jordi Tixier in the past so perhaps that could be an option moving forward.
Taylor Hammal (current team: Gabriel SS24 KTM): It doesn’t feel that long ago the young Brit signed with Steve Dixon and had plenty of time to race the MX2 World Championship but injuries haven’t been kind to him to say the least. Even though he isn’t racing the entire GP season this year he is planning on racing seven of eight but for 2024 this won’t be an option.
Hammal will have a decision to make – stay on the 250cc machine and focus on racing in the UK or make the jump up to the MX1 class and then he could race wildcard MXGP races as well.
Article: Andy McKinstry
Main image: KRT