Mathis Valin will remain with Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 after signing a new multi-year deal that will see the highly rated French teenager continue his partnership with Kawasaki in the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship.
Kawasaki Motors and Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 confirmed the extension this week, securing the future of one of the sport’s most promising young riders as the team continues to build around its KX250 project.
Valin’s rise through the ranks has been rapid. During his rookie MX2 World Championship campaign, the Frenchman gained valuable experience while helping develop the new KX250 package alongside the Kawasaki Racing Team. He finished tenth in the final standings and celebrated his first career MX2 podium at Loket in the Czech Republic.
Since then, the 2024 EMX250 Champion has continued to make significant progress and, at just 19 years of age – turning 20 on August 18 – has established himself as one of the brightest prospects in world motocross.
As the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship approaches its halfway mark in Portugal next weekend, Valin has already claimed one overall Grand Prix victory, two Qualifying Race wins and a GP moto victory this season. Those results have come despite an early-season shoulder injury, underlining both his resilience and potential.
The decision to commit to Kawasaki so early in the season highlights Valin’s confidence in the KX250 project and his desire to continue building on the success achieved with the team. With his future now secured, the Frenchman can focus fully on the remainder of the championship, where he currently sits sixth in the MX2 standings, just 21 points shy of third place.
Valin said he was delighted to continue his journey with Kawasaki, explaining that the environment created by the team has been a major factor in his decision.
“I’m very happy to sign again with Kawasaki; now we will continue to move forward together as everyone involved is doing a great job,” Valin said. “We will keep working hard for the second part of the season, and of course for next year; hopefully it will be an even better one. The beginning of the season was quite hard with my injury, but now we are on a good way, and everyone is happy, so I’m very pleased to stay in the same environment.”
KRT Team Manager Antti Pyrhönen said the partnership has already delivered significant milestones, including multiple podium finishes and the team’s first MX2 Grand Prix victory, but believes there is much more to come.
“It has been two strong years to enter the MX2 class with Kawasaki and with Mathis we have already achieved a lot with many podiums and our first GP win in this category,” Pyrhönen said. “Of course we want to push even more, to attain more, and to march on together for the ultimate goal for the team and the factory; namely the world title.”
He added that the continued development of both the team and the bike has produced major gains in recent seasons and that securing a rider of Valin’s calibre reinforces Kawasaki’s ambitions for the future.
Pyrhönen also acknowledged the work of Valin’s long-time coach Thierry Van Den Bosch, describing him as “the master-mind behind Mathis” and thanking him for the important role he has played behind the scenes in guiding the young Frenchman’s career.
Shigemi Tanaka, Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors Europe, said Valin’s approach to racing closely aligns with Kawasaki’s philosophy, pointing to his passion, racecraft and continued development as key strengths.
“There are so many things about Mathis that align with Kawasaki’s approach to racing,” Tanaka said. “His passion for competing is self-evident as is his evolving skill-set in terms of race strategy. He is a perfect example for aspiring young riders who dream to emulate their MX2 hero. With the KX250 – and the support of KRT plus our Team Green philosophy – Mathis is ready to achieve the next level of his formidable potential.”
Kawasaki Motors Europe Race Planning Manager Steve Guttridge echoed those sentiments, saying the relationship between Valin and Kawasaki has developed naturally through the Team Green pathway.
“It’s fantastic that we will continue with Mathis in MX2,” Guttridge said. “The Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 project has aligned perfectly with his Team Green career on Kawasaki KX250 bikes since graduating from the EMX250 category. He is now a regular podium visitor in MX2 and we are confident this is just the start and he will rise to even greater heights in the coming years.”
With a Grand Prix victory already to his name in 2026 and a long-term future secured, Valin heads into the second half of the MX2 season focused on continuing his climb towards the front of the world championship.
