The worst-kept secrets in the MXGP paddock have finally been made official, with the new year ushering in confirmation of two of the biggest rider moves in recent motocross history.
With previous contracts now expired, Honda HRC and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP have confirmed the signings of five-time world champions Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser, closing the door on another off-season of speculation and signalling a major shift in the balance of power for 2026.
With 2026 now upon us, Honda HRC moved swiftly to confirm its statement of intent, announcing that Jeffrey Herlings, the winningest Grand Prix rider in history, will join the team on a multi-year deal. In a monumental change for the Dutchman, the #84 will line up on a Honda CRF450R for the first time in his storied career, as he looks to add further chapters to one of motocross’ most remarkable résumés.
With just over three months remaining before the opening round of the 2026 MXGP World Championship in Bariloche, Argentina, Herlings faces an immediate challenge adapting to new machinery. True to form, ‘The Bullet’ has wasted no time, beginning his Honda testing programme immediately as he prepares for the first gate drop of this new era.
He will form part of a formidable Honda HRC line-up alongside Tom Vialle and Ruben Fernandez in MXGP, with Valerio Lata contesting MX2, evoking memories of HRC’s dominant factory squads of the 1980s and fuelling belief that 2026 could be a landmark season for the Japanese manufacturer.
Herlings admitted the magnitude of the move wasn’t lost on him, explaining that joining Honda HRC was both exciting and motivating. “Obviously this is a big change for me, but honestly, I am so excited to join Honda HRC and ride a CRF450R,” he said. “Having been around the paddock for a long time, you get to see how different teams and people operate, so once I found out that they were interested in signing me, it wasn’t a hard decision to make because I knew that I’d be joining an extremely professional and organised operation, that does everything it can to help a rider succeed. From today, to the MXGP of Argentina is just over two months so I don’t have a lot of time to adapt to this brand-new machine, but we are going riding right now and I’m like a kid at Christmas, just waiting to unwrap a new toy. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be in this position, but now that I am, I can’t wait to get started as a factory HRC rider.”
Honda HRC General Manager – MXGP Marcus Pereira de Freitas said the opportunity to sign Herlings was impossible to ignore, describing the deal as both rare and exciting. “The chance to sign a five-time world champion and leading GP winning doesn’t come about often, so we knew that when the opportunity arose, we had to make it happen,” he said. “Immediately, we could tell that Jeffrey was thrilled for the challenge and highly motivated to try and add to his list of accolades, so I think this is going to be a very exciting season for everyone on the team. It’s a new environment for Jeffrey and he won’t have as long as we all would have liked before the start of the season, but the #84 will be riding straight away and we can’t wait to see how he looks on a Honda CRF450R.”
Not to be outdone, Yamaha Motor Europe confirmed its own blockbuster signing, welcoming Tim Gajser to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team for 2026 and beyond. After more than a decade with Honda, the five-time FIM Motocross World Champion begins a new chapter aboard the factory YZ450FM, lining up alongside Frenchman Maxime Renaux in what immediately becomes one of the strongest pairings in the paddock.
Now fully recovered from injury and with contracts finally aligned, Gajser said the move to Yamaha has reignited his motivation. “I’m really excited to join the Yamaha family,” he said. “After more than a decade with the same brand, it’s exciting to be entering a new chapter in 2026, and a change like this brings fresh motivation. I can’t wait to get on the new bike. My first priority will be getting comfortable with it as quickly as possible. Not being able to ride until the new year gives us limited time to prepare—but honestly, I’m looking forward to the challenge. Once the season begins, the most important thing is to stay healthy, be in good shape, and enjoy the racing. I’m ready to give it my all and hope we can fight for the title.”
Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager Alexandre Kowalski said Gajser’s arrival represents a significant boost for the entire programme. “We are delighted to welcome Tim to the Yamaha Family,” he said. “A rider of his calibre brings not only a legacy of success but also an unparalleled level of professionalism and dedication to his craft. His arrival brings a welcomed surge of energy and motivation. It represents an exciting new chapter for everyone involved. We are confident we can provide Tim with the ultimate platform in the YZ450FM and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team to pursue our shared goal of securing another FIM Motocross World Championship.”
With the calendar now officially turned and contracts firmly in place, two of the sport’s most successful riders have finally locked in their next moves. The speculation is over, the announcements are official, and the 2026 MXGP season is already shaping up as one of the most intriguing in recent memory.
