Image: Supplied.

Dutch rider Calvin Vlaanderen will depart the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team and join Team Motoblouz Honda Motul SR for the 2027 season, it has officially been announced.

Following a single year with the Italian manufacturer onboard the Desmo450 MX, 30-year-old Vlaanderen will transfer to the French operation, which will also receive increased backing from Honda and HRC. He previously rode for Monster Energy Yamaha.

“I’m really excited to join the team,” commented Vlaanderen. “I’ve followed their progress over the past few years and I’m looking forward to riding a Honda again – it’s a big step for me, and I can’t wait to start working with everyone.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience, having raced both as a privateer and with several factory teams. I know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and I’ll use that experience to help both myself and the team continue improving and, hopefully, fight for top-five finishes and podiums.”

Motoblouz Honda Motul SR team principal, Josse Sallefranque, added: “Calvin has a huge amount of experience, and in the MXGP class, as we can see with riders like Romain Febvre and Jeffrey Herlings, you either need a lot of experience or be an exceptional talent like Lucas Coenen to succeed.

“After a difficult year for us following the injury to Thibault [Benistant], who was our young star, we had to bounce back. Throughout our discussions with riders capable of competing in the top 10, Calvin’s name kept coming up. He quickly shared our vision, and we were able to find solutions that made it possible for him to join us.

“Honda and HRC are fully behind us, as are our sponsors, without whom none of this would be possible. Bringing in a rider like Calvin should allow us to take another step forward in what is now an incredibly competitive MXGP class.”

A crash during Sunday’s warm-up session at the MXGP of Czech Republic sidelined Vlaanderen for the following weekend’s MXGP of Flanders. Now sitting 11th in the premier class standings, he’s expected to return to racing at round 15 in Sweden on August 16.

With the departure of both Vlaanderen and Jeremy Seewer – who exited mid-season to Van Vanrooy KTM – confirmed, two-time MXGP world champion Romain Febvre will join Red Bull Ducati alongside Andrea Bonacorsi from 2027.