Image: Octopi Media.

Steady progress has seen Triumph Factory Racing’s Mikkel Haarup incline to P6 overall in the fifth round of the 2025 Pro Motocross season at Southwick, with the former MX2 World Championship front-runner now targeting podiums as the 250MX series develops.

Currently situated in eighth position overall, Haarup has displayed a methodical approach toward his racing so far, steadily building while familiarising himself with the US style of competition and circuits in his first American outdoor season.

After a 15th-place finish at Fox Raceway, the 23-year-old improved to seventh at Hangtown. Another top 10 at Thunder Valley continued the progress, with sixth at Southwick – highlighted by P5 in moto one – having both he and the team aiming for a breakout podium result together.

“We’re making great steps every weekend,” commented Haarup post-race. “We made some improvements with the bike this week, which helped us with the starts, and it was nice to be battling up front in moto one. Moto two was a bit slower, it took me a while to get going, but once I started clicking, I was picking people off one by one.

“The whole reason I am progressing the way I am is thanks to the Triumph team, they’re allowing me to build and take my time, and from here on out, we’ll be working on intensity. There are a lot of opportunities in that first part of the race, and if I can stay strong in the second half like I did today, there is potential for podiums as well.”

Haarup finished fifth in last year’s MX2 World Championship season, before aging out and heading Stateside for 2025 and joining Triumph Factory Racing in his first Pro Motocross season in the United States. He is expected to lead the manufacturer’s inaugural MXGP entry next year.