Entering ProMX 2026, the MX2 class welcomed a wave of new faces, including some seriously fast former MX3 race winners and champions. Wonthaggi saw them immediately in the mix, with reigning MX3 champion Kayd Kingsford charging to P2 in the opening moto, while Koby Hantis and Jet Alsop also featured inside the top 10. Ahead of Canberra this weekend, MotoOnline spoke with a selection of those rookies for this Input feature.

Image: Foremost Media.

Kayd Kingsford (Honda Racing):
It’s a big step going from MX3 to MX2, but round one went well, so we’re looking to keep that momentum going. The biggest difference is the intensity – you’re racing grown men in their late 20s who are doing this to make a living and support their families, so the level is a lot higher. The motos are also five minutes longer, which doesn’t feel like much when you’re out there, but it actually gives you a bit more time to recover if you get a bad start or have a small mistake and work your way back into it. I had a bit of an up-and-down pre-season, but the last couple of weeks leading into Wonthaggi were solid. It’s always hard to set expectations going into a new class, but I knew if I rode how I could, things could go my way. Getting the holeshot in the first MX2 moto was a bit of an eye-opener – I kind of freaked out for a lap or two before Alex [Larwood] got around me, then I settled in and rode it out for second. Moto two didn’t go how I wanted, with a few things both in and out of my control, but overall it was a great weekend for confidence and results, and I think I showed I’m someone to watch. If I can go out each weekend, be happy with my riding and keep progressing, it’s hard not to expect myself to be a podium guy. The way I ride during the week and even at Wonthaggi shows that I want to be fighting for podiums, championships and even wins – I don’t think that’s out of reach. One big positive has been staying with the same team, working with the same people and bike, which made the transition smoother. Training with Ross Beaton’s group and riding with top MX2 guys every day has helped lift my speed to that level, and the team’s goal from last year was always to build toward MX2 this season. So far the transition has been smooth, and we’ll just keep building. MX2 is a stepping stone to America, it’s too big of jump to go straight from MX3, so having this year to develop is important. Looking back from 2024 to now, the progression has been strong and on track for that goal. I’ll keep building, stay level-headed, and focus on doing my job. A championship would be great, but it’s more about putting myself in position, getting podiums and winning races where I can. Last year taught me a lot – how to win, how to lose, and how to handle different situations – and that experience has been a big advantage this season. I’ve got a quiet confidence now, I know I can win and I expect that from myself, even if I’m not overly vocal about it. Coming off two championships last year, winning became normal, and bringing that mindset into MX2 has definitely helped me reach the level I’m getting to.

Koby Hantis (Yamaha):
Yeah, it’s been good. Me and Dad sat down at the start of the year and made a plan to just learn as much as we can and keep progressing each round. I’ve got a few personal goals I want to tick off along the way, but it’s been good to take that next step and learn new things. I didn’t really have any expectations coming in – I knew if I had a good pre-season and stayed injury-free, a top 10 was the goal. So to come away with both finishes inside the top 10, I was pretty stoked. From here, the focus is on pushing for top-five moto results and continuing to improve – I don’t want to sit at a standstill, I want to keep building throughout the year. Hopefully that leads to some top fives and even top threes, but we’ll see how it plays out. It’s been good having Kayd as a benchmark, especially after how strong he was in MX3 last year. Seeing him perform well at Wonthaggi, along with a few other MX3 guys, shows how strong that class was. Last year we were already riding with MX2 and pro guys during the week, but now being in MX2, the race intensity – especially on the first lap – is on another level. Everyone is pushing the whole time, so you have to stay consistent every lap. The end goal is to get back onto a factory team, but the setup we have with MXRP right now is working really well, so I can’t thank Dan and the team enough. Looking ahead to Canberra, my expectations are a bit higher – I’ve grown up riding there, so I’m hoping to put together a stronger result and I’m really looking forward to it.

Image: Foremost Media.

Jet Alsop (Pro Honda Racing):
It’s definitely exciting moving up into the MX2 class. It’s a really stacked year with a lot of good riders, but I think the longer motos and the speed will suit me, and I should be able to get some good results. It’s been good so far, but I know I need to work on my intensity, especially at the start, as the MX2 guys are a lot more aggressive early on. I’ve been focusing on that, working on my starts and those opening laps, and that should put me in a better position. Obviously, I race to win, but my goal this year is to beat as many factory riders as I can and hopefully earn a seat on one of those teams. Some of them are guys I’ve looked up to, but at the end of the day, I see everyone the same – just another rider I want to beat, so I don’t look at it any differently.

Ky Woods (Yamaha):
I didn’t get to do Wonthaggi for the opening round due to a foot injury, which delayed things, including my pre-season, so I’m not quite at 100 percent yet. I’m really looking forward to getting my first race underway this weekend in Canberra. There are a lot of expectations on myself and I’ve got a point to prove, especially after moving from a factory team to more of a privateer base here in Queensland with JR Factory Services. I’m ready to prove some people wrong and hopefully start my first round of the season on a high. Coming into this weekend, I have to admit I’m not fully fit, but a top 10 would be a solid starting point, and the goal is to build from there. By mid-season, I’m aiming to be running with the front guys as things come together with training and consistency, and I want to be inside the top five by the end of the year. After motocross last season, I picked up an injury, and going into supercross there were a few talks with teams, but I didn’t execute and it turned into a pretty rough end to the year. In the end, what was best for me mentally and physically was to go out on my own path. I wanted the freedom to do things my way, and right now I feel like I’m in a good place with my racing supported by JR, allowing me to focus on what I need to do to improve. There are pros and cons to being in MX2 as an underdog with less expectation, but now not being in a team environment, there’s also pressure to prove I belong and show I’m capable of returning to a factory team, whether that’s next year or for supercross. I’ve put that expectation on myself because I believe I can run with the front runners. Kayd [Kingsford] was strong at the opening round, and we went back and forth last year, with him getting the better of me, but he’s riding well right now and I feel like I can come into these next rounds swinging and put myself up front with him.