Who Wins in 2025 – MXGP?

With the recent news of another five-time World champion, Jeffrey Herlings, now likely to miss three or four rounds due to his ACL injury from 2024, that make the job for the Slovenian that much easier.

Gajser has gone 1-1-2-1 in the two pre-season races he has contested, only beaten by MXGP rookie Lucas Coenen after crashing in the final lap of a moto, while leading. The HRC man looks very, very good entering the opening round.

“You always want to win,” Gajser said. “You know, it is never easier mentally to lose, especially when you lose by just a couple of points (as was the case in 2024). It was nine or 10 points between Jorge and me. It was a difficult one and I felt I was riding really good last year, a bit more control, I was not riding over my limits. I was always in the comfort zone, let’s say, not always pushing, so I always settled for second or third if I saw I had to push too much. I never risked too much to go for the win. I felt I rode more mature, more with experience, but in the end, it was not enough. Sometimes, you have to risk maybe a little bit more and go over your limit. I learned something, again.”

Related: MXGP of Argentina Entry Lists

As for joining Joel Robert with six World titles, the always friendly and happy Slovenian isn’t bothered who he joins in any list, but is thankful others enjoy the historical factor of our sport.

“I mean, I didn’t know that and its nice to know that. I mean, of course, it is nice to be with these legends, in such a high company. Definitely we are working hard and as you said, I am not into the statistics, but we are working hard, and we want to arrive in Argentina ready. Every GP I will try and win and give my best, but with the experience I have, we look at the big picture and the goal is always to fight for the championship. It is an honour to be in this type of company.”

There is a long list of title candidates including 2015 World MXGP champion Romain Febvre, who has had a consistent pre-season. He took third overall at the Hawkstone Park International, second overall in a French international a week later and last weekend, the Kawasaki factory rider went 1-1 for victory in the deep sand of Lierop, in The Netherlands.

On those occasions, Febvre finished behind Fantic factory rider, Glenn Coldenhoff and Monster Energy Yamaha factory rider, Maxime Renaux. Now reaching 34 years of age in 2025, the veteran Frenchman feels that his experience is a good thing but is honest enough to focus on some things where age doesn’t give an advantage.

“With the age and the experience,” Febvre said. “It is easier to manage your season and also your fitness, because you know where you have to push and what you have to do. Also, what you shouldn’t do, or don’t need to do. So, for that it is easier, but I do feel, and I think everyone feels this, is when you get older, you need to keep that speed. The level of the speed, its harder to get when you are older, so you need to work on that, to keep that speed. As you get older, you think more, but you really need to work on keeping the speed. So, to keep that speed on one lap and maintain it. Also, the overall speed, I also have to work on that.”

Maybe not a title contender in 2025, but without question, a rider many will be watching, is MXGP rookie, Lucas Coenen. The Belgian teenager has already beaten Gajser in a 450 moto and while he did look at times a little wild in his two Italian international races, it is clear, he has Herlings like speed and if he can stay on the bike, he will entertain us a lot in 2025. Unfortunately, he also crashed last week and has injuries to his arms but will try and race Argentina. Not a great start to his MXGP career.

Coenen has mentioned in the past that this year is all about preparing for the USA in 2026 and all he wants to do is learn his trade against some of the best riders in the World. He does however have an insatiable hunger for victories and that could either help him or hurt him.

“Just training,” Coenen said. “Putting hours on the bike and having fun on that 450. It is really fast, that bike is no joke, but for me, its just to get to know the bike, because the 450 is not a 250 and some people think its easier to ride a 450 with more power, but to handle the bike with that power, its more difficult. So much power and you can feel its heavier when you ride it. Everything is rolling and we are just trying to get the best out of it. I am just looking forward to Argentina. I want to do my best and when I do my best, we will see what it is going to be. I am already sure about myself, and I am not going to be ridiculous, and I am just going to do my thing, take it step by step, race by race and we are going to see where we end up. I am feeling good on the bike and physically I am also good. I am just looking forward to having a good season with the team and riding in a new class. It is going to be fun.”

As for Herlings, the man who for many years made headlines wherever he raced and will again whenever he comes back, it’s a waiting game. This is possibly his final year in the sport, although he has hinted at a goal of one more full-season title attempt next year. When news dropped that he was out of the first round in Argentina, we all took a deep breath, and hoped he could still be a contender in 2025, but when new broke that he might miss three or four rounds, a deep sorrow swept through the motocross World in Europe. Can he come back and win? Lets hope so.

“It’s not entirely certain yet,” Herlings mentioned. “But I’ll probably miss the first three or four races in MXGP. Then you have to be realistic and know that the world title is simply gone. For many people this comes as a shock, but we didn’t announce it earlier because we hoped that the recovery would go faster. Of course it’s bitter, but I’ve known for three months. That's just part of the sport, otherwise I should have gone to play draughts or miniature golf. My father and brother got an artificial knee at a young age, and I don't want that. I can actually do everything again, except cross-country. According to the doctor, the cruciate ligaments are not yet strong enough. I can start very tough -as usual- earlier, but I'm taking that risk now. I would like to go for the world title one more time in 2026, but if there is no new contract, this will be my last year.”

Of course, there are other names who will shine in 2025, most likely Maxime Renaux will be put some serious pressure on the likes of Gajser and Febvre, having finished second overall at the Hawkstone International with 1-2 results and then winning in France a week later with 1-1 scores and on both occasions, coming from behind to beat Febvre in both motos. The former MX2 World champion just needs to stay on the bike, because until now, he has struggled to finish a season in the MXGP class.

Outside of the names already mentioned, it is possible to see some guys winning a GP or moto, but seriously contending for a World title, for me, the list is Gajser, Febvre, Coenen and Renaux who will be regular podium men and score the most points. Pauls Jonass as the new Kawasaki factory rider, Jago Geerts and Calvin Vlaanderen of the Monster Energy Yamaha team or maybe even new Ducati signing, Jeremy Seewer have the potential to be podium guys.

Over in MX2, without question, the Nestaan Husqvarna factory rider Kay de Wolf, is the big favourite to defend his title this year.

The Dutchman, who was the first Husqvarna rider to win a World title since Alessio Chiodi back in the 1990’s fought off a fierce battle with teammate, Lucas Coenen in 2024, however with Coenen now in the MXGP class, it makes the 2025 job of de Wolf a little easier.

However, KTM has come out firing in the pre-season, with former MX2 World Champion Andrea Adamo winning a pre-season race in Italy and Simon Langenfelder doing the same. Also to shine in the pre-season races was Sasha Coenen, also a KTM man, and new MX2 rider, Mattis Valin, of the Kawasaki factory effort.

The you add names like Liam Everts, who has signed with the Nestaan Husqvarna factory team, but will miss the opening round as he recovers from a broken back in China last year, or Thibault Benistant, both who have won GPs in the class before, Everts five and Benistant three.