The 2026 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) takes center stage in Ernee, France, this weekend, bringing together the world’s best riders and teams. In this Q&A feature, MotoOnline answers some of the major questions heading into this year’s edition.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: What can be expected from reigning two-time champions, Team Australia?

A: It’s a bit of a different look this time around for Team Australia, with the green and gold sporting an all-new roster of Jed Beaton, Aaron Tanti and Alex Larwood. Look, it goes without saying that the high-powered performance of the Lawrence brothers alongside Kyle Webster will be missed, but don’t underestimate this new squad, either, as both Beaton and Larwood wrapped up the 2026 national MX1 and MX2 titles, respectively. We’ve seen what the team has been able to accomplish over the last two years, although now we’ll get an idea of the calibre of the Australian championship compared to the rest of the world, and that’ll be interesting in and of itself.

Q: An 11th-hour rider switch for the USA – is it an event-winning team?

A: Sometimes, when a roster enters without the heavy expectation of winning, that’s when a team can perform at its best, and that’s a story that rings true for Team USA this year. Is it their absolute best line-up? Probably not. You’d have to think that adding Haiden Deegan alongside a fully firing Chase Sexton would be the ideal scenario, although the trio of Cooper Webb, Levi Kitchen and Julien Beaumer are plenty capable, and an underdog status may be all they need to get the job done. Yes, Beaumer was added to the line-up as a late replacement for Chance Hymas and will make his 450 debut. Yes, Webb will be debuting in Husqvarna colours, so there is a bit to overcome, but the reality is that you can never count Team USA out.

Image: Octopi Media.

Q: Who are the favorites entering France this weekend?

A: Two teams really jump off the page in our opinion, and that’s the home team – France – alongside Team Spain. A team of Romain Febvre, Mathis Valin and Tom Vialle is ultra-solid anywhere in the world, let alone at home, as demonstrated by their last victory in 2023 at Ernee, featuring both Febvre and Vialle. Then, for the Spanish contingent, you have Jorge Prado, Guillem Farres, and emerging talent Francisco Garcia, who are perfectly capable of leading the nation to its very first MXoN triumph, which would be a huge moment in Spanish motorsport history. These two teams enter this year’s Nations event as major contenders and cannot be overlooked as we head into the weekend.

Q: What are some of the individual rider matchups to watch for?

A: Wherever you are, it’s always fun to watch Jeffrey Herlings on track, with this year’s MXGP world champion set to lead the Netherlands roster alongside Glenn Coldenhoff and Roan Van De Moosdijk. In terms of individual matchups, it’ll also be cool to see Herlings face off against Prado, Lucas Coenen, Febvre, Vialle, Webb and Beaton. There’s plenty of flavor in that mix, with riders coming from all different backgrounds and racing series, and no telling at this stage exactly how it’ll shake out. That’s all on 450cc machinery, but the MX2 category will be just as compelling, with Levi Kitchen set to face off against Valin, Sacha Coenen, MX2 world champion Farres and Latvian teenager Janis Reisulis. There’s plenty to watch for when it comes to the one-on-one battles, beyond what unfolds at a team level.

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Q: Is Team Belgium considered an underdog, given their star-studded line-up?

A: A little bit. Belgium is a nation and line-up that could easily win the whole thing, although what we don’t know is where Lucas Coenen’s health is at, given he hasn’t raced since July due to an ongoing hip injury. His status is therefore in question, while Liam Everts makes the jump up to the Open division and Sacha attempts to keep it on two wheels throughout the weekend in the MX2 class. Again, all three are more than capable of winning the whole thing, but there are some questions surrounding the Belgian line-up heading into the race.

Q: Ernee as a circuit – what are some of the unique elements of the racetrack?

A: Ernee is a great racetrack and plenty challenging, with technical precision being rewarded. The hard-pack surface favors throttle control, while the undulation makes for an entertaining lap as riders navigate the natural terrain. Depending on how it’s prepared, it can become quite slick and skatey, with chattery bumps throwing up their own set of challenges, but again, it favors the technically sound riders, which the French team certainly is across the board, alongside the likes of Prado and Farres. Needless to say, the circuit will have its own influence, and it’ll be intriguing to see how it forms up for 2026.