The wait is finally over! After a rare four-week break, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are recharged and ready for a relentless run of three consecutive MXGP rounds. The action resumes this weekend in Lacapelle-Marival for the MXGP of France, round six of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Adding to the excitement, the venue will also host the opening round of the 2026 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, where defending champion Lotte van Drunen will debut the #1 plate on her De Baets Yamaha Supported YZ250F as she begins her quest for a third consecutive WMX title.
While Lacapelle-Marival returns to the calendar for only the second time, the circuit is far from unfamiliar. A staple for international pre-season races, most riders are well-acquainted with its challenging layout. The track made its MXGP debut in 2021 and already holds fond memories for both Maxime Renaux and Tim Gajser, who both stood on the podium that weekend.
For French sensation Maxime Renaux, this weekend represents more than just a home race. After a challenging start to the season, the gritty Frenchman utilized the recent break to go back to the drawing board, putting in extensive work both on and off the bike. With a grueling triple-header on the horizon, Renaux is focused on finding the consistency needed to become a permanent fixture on the podium. He looks forward to returning to a track he loves, hoping to harness the energy of the home crowd to kickstart his climb back to the top.
Building on the momentum of his first race win of the season in Italy, Tim Gajser arrives in France ready to resume his trophy hunt. The four-week break proved timely for the five-time champion, allowing him to properly rehabilitate a rib injury sustained in Sardinia. After spending the last ten days fine-tuning his setup and logging laps with the team in Italy, Gajser is nearing 100% and is ready to fight up front.
In the MX2 category, brothers Karlis and Janis Reisulis arrive feeling refreshed and prepared. Janis utilized the hiatus to balance training with school exams while staying race-sharp with a successful outing at the Dutch Masters. Karlis also stayed active; after a short trip home to Latvia to reset, he joined his brother on the gate at the Dutch Masters. Having maintained a high level of intensity throughout the month-long break, both riders are eager to translate their refreshed mindsets into strong results as an intense run of races begins.
Finally, the EMX125 Championship resumes in France for its fifth round. It is a significant home Grand Prix for the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team, bolstered by the return of Levi Townley, who makes his long-awaited season debut following a shoulder injury. He joins French teammate Sleny Goyer, who currently sits third in the championship standings. With the passionate home crowd behind him, Goyer will be aiming squarely for the podium this weekend.
Tim Gajser
4th MXGP Championship Standings, 198-points
“The break in the calendar couldn’t have come at a better time. It gave me time to heal and recover after breaking my ribs at the GP in Riola, and then racing with that injury in Trentino, so I used the first couple of weeks to recover. Now we’re getting ready for the second part of the season, and I’m feeling good. Over this past week I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy, testing and pushing for small improvements. I feel like we have made another step in the right direction. We’re still building, but I know what I am capable of, and I have a good team around me. We are all working really hard, and we know what is possible, so the goal from here is to ride like I know how, and to have fun on the bike.”
Maxime Renaux
6th MXGP Championship Standings, 178-points
“I’ve been locked in the last few weeks. Working hard both on and off the bike. I did some racing in that time too to get some starts in and stay in the rhythm of racing. The first part of the season didn’t go exactly the way we had hoped, so we went back to the drawing board, did some more work, and going into the rest of the year it feels like a new beginning. We have a really busy few months coming up with a lot of triple headers, so it’s going to be intense, and this part of the season is going to be very important. The goal is to be more consistently in the top three, and I hope to get some wins too. I’m looking forward to starting again, and with a home GP for me. I really like Lacapelle. It’s a nice track and I’ve always enjoyed racing there. I know there will be a huge French crowd with a lot of enthusiasm, and I love racing with their support, so it’s going to be a good weekend.”
Janis Reisulis
6th MX2 Championship Standings, 170-points
“I spent most of my time training and recovering, alongside school work for my upcoming exams, but I still managed to find some free time to spend with my brother. The highlight was definitely the Dutch Masters races; it’s always fun to be with the whole team. My goals remain the same—to go out there, enjoy it, and ride my best. The track is quite nice when it’s well-prepared, and I’m excited to get back to a hard-pack surface, so I’m hoping for a good result.”
Karlis Reisulis
8th MX2 Championship Standings, 150-points
“I went home for a week, but mostly spent my time focusing on physical training and time on the bike. The best part was the training itself; it was difficult, but I really enjoyed it. My goals remain the same—to ride my best—and while I remember the track not being the biggest, it is nice and technical.”
