For Brent van Doninck, the 29-year-old Belgian from Herentals, 2026 is shaping up to be a special year. He has extended his contract with the team of Jacky Martens, which will compete next season under the new name Fantic Factory Racing MXGP, operating within the existing JM-Racing structure. For Brent, the move marks a milestone in his career: “Becoming a factory rider in MXGP has always been a dream. Being able to do it in a Belgian team, with Jacky Martens, makes it even more special.”
Recently, he rode his first laps on the Fantic, and that first impression was immediately positive. “It felt good right away,” he says. “Of course it takes some getting used to after three years on a Honda, but I have full confidence in the bike.”
The timing of the switch is ideal, as Brent is once again able to look forward after a season heavily impacted by injury.
Earlier this year, he broke his femur during the international race in Hawkstone Park his second femur fracture within a single year. It was a blow that weighed heavily, both physically and mentally. “I wanted to come back too soon, and that made the first races really difficult,” he admits. Yet he never gave up and eventually rediscovered his momentum. With a top five finish in Finland and several top 10 results, he proved he still belongs among the best riders in the MXGP paddock.
That resilience defines his season. “I’m proud of how I handled the injuries and never gave up,” he says. Despite the setbacks, he consistently showed his speed and confirmed that he belongs at the highest level.
His ambitions for 2026 are clear. “I want to finish inside the top 10,” he states confidently. “That has been the goal the past few years, but injuries prevented it from happening.” Now, with a factory team behind him and a solid plan in place, Brent looks ahead with renewed belief.
His preparation for the new season begins in January, when the team heads to Italy, in the Cingoli region, to lay the foundation for 2026. “The plan is to race the first two rounds of the International Italian Championship, in Alghero and Mantova. After that, we’ll also be present at Hawkstone Park.”
With new colors, new opportunities, and the same trusted structure around him, Brent seems fully ready to enter 2026 with fresh energy and ambition this time as a full fledged Fantic Factory Racing MXGP rider.
