The 2026 MXGP World Championship is building towards being one of the most captivating yet, with high-profile rider – and team – transfers creating a range of head-turning narratives entering the new season. In this Q&A feature, MotoOnline takes a look at the primary movements ahead of Argentina’s season-opener next month.

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Q: How did Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle arrive at Honda HRC?

A: A who’s who of grand prix talent makes up Honda HRC’s MXGP roster for 2026, with the Japanese manufacturer at the centre of this year’s silly season while also introducing a prototype 2027 model in the world championship. That all began with the departure of long-time Honda star and five-time world champion, Tim Gajser, which in turn led to KTM headline Jeffrey Herlings arriving in red – creating one of the more dramatic shake-ups in the sport’s history. So, ‘The Bullet’ will be aboard factory CRF equipment in the new season, and is joined by fellow incoming recruit Tom Vialle, who is himself a two-time MX2 world champion defecting from KTM. The Frenchman’s decision to leave his SMX career in the United States was almost equally shocking, since it seemed a lock that the double 250SX East champion would be staying put to move up to the premier class with Red Bull KTM in America. Ultimately, that wasn’t to be, with Honda HRC courting the 25-year-old in a welcomed, high-profile return to Europe – this time as an MXGP rookie. As for the returning riders, Spaniard Ruben Fernandez will enter his fourth year with HRC after delivering P4 in the standings last year, while Italian Valerio Lata will be the sole entry for the powerhouse squad in the MX2 division, looking to build from a ninth-place score in his rookie world championship campaign last year. In addition, watch for Marc Antoine Rossi in the new-look Maddii Racing Honda team – formerly leading Ducati’s inaugural MXGP operation – with direct support from Honda Motor Europe.

Q: What can you take from Tim Gajser’s Yamaha transfer?

A: This is the news that sits alongside the Honda HRC movement, equal in significance. The Slovenian superstar Gajser had been a staple at Honda together with Giacomo Gariboldi, the pairing having completed 12 years together and amassing a total of five world championships in that time. As is the case when a lot of riders reach their late 20s, the question mark of continuing at a high level increases, especially when young talent such as Lucas Coenen (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing De Carli) arrives. As we’ve seen in the US, you can either consider retirement – as Ryan Villopoto or Ryan Dungey did – or instead change teams, as Eli Tomac has done multiple times now, to reinvigorate his surroundings and thrive in a fresh environment. That seems exactly Tiga’s approach, and as we have seen with Tomac, a move of such magnitude can pay dividends. The age-old Honda versus Yamaha battle continues, with Gajser lined up alongside Frenchman Maxime Renaux in the MXGP division equipped with the YZ450FM. As a result, Jago Geerts has exited Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, transferring to MRT Racing Team Beta for 2026, as has Ducati-bound Calvin Vlaanderen. MX2 will see Latvian brothers Karlis and Janis Reisulis as teammates, with the former having claimed P11 in last year’s standings, while the latter has been promoted to the professional ranks after earning the EMX250 championship last year.

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Q: Who steps up from MX2 to the MXGP class this year?

A: Adding to the explosive young talent in the MXGP division will be former MX2 world champions, Andrea Adamo and Kay de Wolf, along with the aforementioned Vialle. Italian standout Adamo makes his way into the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing seat vacated by Herlings, with the 22-year-old targeting top-fives throughout the initial stages of his premier class campaign. As for de Wolf, the 21-year-old Dutchman steps up to the premier ranks with the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and represents one of the more intriguing riders to watch thanks to his dynamic style. Though initial expectations may be tempered, this group – along with Lucas Coenen – are among the future generation of MXGP, with de Wolf having beaten the highly-rated Belgian to the MX2 world title in 2024. In 2023, Adamo conquered all before him, and then further underlined his capabilities upon finishing third in his title defence.

Q: Can Simon Laengenfelder’s team switch be explained, even if he’s still on a Red Bull KTM?

A: Simply put, defending MX2 world champion Laengenfelder has in fact switched camps for 2026, albeit still heavily connected through the broader Red Bull KTM Factory Racing operation. The 21-year-old German had previously been with the Italian-based De Carli side of KTM’s factory program (and in its GASGAS-equipped team before that), but is now in the Austrian arm led by grand prix legend, Joel Smets. He’s finished inside the top-three of the world championship for the past four seasons in a row, including his emphatic title win in 2025, and is proudly wearing number one onboard his 250 SX-F this season. It’s Laengenflder (MX2) and Adamo (MXGP) in Smets’ unit, while the Coenens – Lucas (MXGP) and Sacha (MX2) – are over at De Carli.

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Q: What has happened with the Ducati Factory Racing MXGP program?

A: Much has happened with Ducati Corse since debuting the Desmo450 MX full-time in MXGP last year, with the storied Italian marque joining forces with Louis Vosters’ Dutch-based operation, which previously ran Fantic’s factory effort in the world championship and took Glenn Coldenhoff to P3 in last year’s standings. Piloting the Ducati machines this year will be Jeremy Seewer – who was an official rider for the brand last year – as well as newcomers, the former factory Yamaha rider Vlaanderen and Andrea Bonacorsi, who follows the team across from Fantic. The trio mark an exciting group of established front-runners, with Seewer finding the podium on two occasions last year, while both Vlaanderen and Bonacorsi completed the series inside the top-10. Of note, Mattia Guadagnini has found himself a new home at the Van Venrooy KTM team. In addition, the Borgo Panigale-based Ducati is introducing the all-new Desmo250 MX in MX2 with Beddini Racing, which has Ferruccio Zanchi at the helm. Zanchi was a podium finisher with HRC last season, but the Italian teenager is now Ducati-mounted for this year.

Q: Where does that leave Glenn Coldenhoff after he finished P3 last year?

A: The experienced Dutchman Coldenhoff was left on the outside looking in this past off-season, which ultimately led the 34-year-old to take his talents to Brazil to contest the national motocross series in MX1 for Yamaha. It appears that 2025 was his final year of racing a full MXGP schedule, and he went out in style by earning six podium finishes in the premier class. As mentioned, his former Louis Vosters-owned team will now field Ducati’s factory effort, which sees Jacky Martens’ JM Racing team take the reins of Fantic Factory Racing, fielding Brent Van Doninck and Alberto Forato as their MXGP line-up.