Danish rider Mikkel Haarup will continue his journey with Triumph Factory Racing in 2026, stepping up to the 450 division to race the all-new TF 450-X in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Haarup, who impressed in his debut season in the U.S. this year, has signed a two-year contract extension with Triumph that will see him return to the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship in 2027.
Haarup first joined Triumph in 2023 to help develop the TF 250-X ahead of its MX2 World Championship debut the following year. His impact was immediate — landing on the podium at the opening round and collecting multiple top-three finishes across the season to secure fifth in the final standings.
For 2025, the 24-year-old relocated to Triumph’s world-class training facility in Georgia, USA, to serve as a key test rider for the TF 450-X project. But before the 450 made its competitive debut, Haarup was offered the chance to contest the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross season in the 250 class. Despite being new to American-style racing and missing the final two rounds due to a collarbone injury, he adapted quickly and finished an impressive sixth overall in the championship.
With both Triumph and Haarup eager to move up, the 2026 season will serve as a proving ground for the TF 450-X in race conditions. Competing in the Pro Motocross series will not only help Haarup prepare for his eventual MXGP return but also allow Triumph to fine-tune its 450 program ahead of its official world championship debut in 2027. Insights from Haarup’s testing and racing experience will also contribute to the refinement of Triumph’s future production bikes.
“After two years of racing Triumph’s 250, I’m really excited for the next chapter of my career,” said Mikkel Haarup. “Racing a 450 is something that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time, and I can’t wait to get this next step started. I’ve been riding the 450 for a little while now and things have been going really well. I’m really thankful to Triumph for this opportunity and for believing in me. I can’t wait to go out and show what the bike is capable of, and for a second year of racing in the AMA Pro Motocross series.”
Jeremy Coker, General Manager of Triumph Racing America, praised the Dane’s progress and readiness for the challenge ahead. “After Mikkel’s breakthrough performance on the 250 last summer, we’re ecstatic at the thought of him staying stateside to race our 450 here in the Pro Motocross series. His development and race craft have been phenomenal this season, proving he’s ready to take on the premier class, and the prospect of him doing it here is incredibly exciting for all of us. Over the next few months, we’ll continue our preparation for his 450 race debut, and with his sole focus being on outdoors, it will be invaluable to our programme overall. We look forward to seeing what he can do on the bigger bike and can’t wait to get into next season.”
Ian Kimber, Head of Global Racing Programmes at Triumph Motorcycles, said the decision to extend Haarup’s contract was an easy one given his performance and professionalism. “We’re really pleased to extend Mikkel’s contract into 2027. The performance that he’s put in this year has been incredible, especially considering he’s moved to a new country and adjusted to a different racing format. It was a big step for Mikkel and it was an opportunity he really grasped with both hands. He’s shown that he can compete against some of the best riders in the world in both MX2 and the 250 Pro Motocross series, and he’s been able to quickly adapt to the different tracks and style of racing we see in the US.
“With that in mind, and our plans for our 450 programme overall, Mikkel will work on further development of our 450 in the US over the winter ahead of next year’s Pro Motocross season. I’m sure the dedication to his craft that everyone has already seen will make him a contender, and it’ll definitely be exciting for the fans to watch. We’re looking forward to this next step for Triumph and with the TF 450-X.”
