Jeffrey Herlings ends long KTM association & confirms move to HRC

3 months ago 217

ARTICLE AD BOX

Herlings on Honda in 2026

Five-time FIM Motocross World Champion Jeffrey Herlings will begin a new chapter in his MXGP career in 2026 after concluding a 16-year association with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and signing a multi-year deal with Honda HRC.

Herlings joined KTM as a 15-year-old in 2010 and quickly established himself as one of the sport’s standout talents. He claimed his first MX2 Grand Prix podium in just his second appearance and his maiden GP victory shortly afterwards in the Netherlands. That early success marked the beginning of a long and productive partnership that spanned both the MX2 and MXGP classes.

During his time with KTM, Herlings recorded 112 Grand Prix wins, 61 of them aboard the KTM 250 SX-F. He secured MX2 world titles in 2012, 2013 and 2016, becoming the most successful KTM rider in the category’s history. A move to the premier MXGP class followed in 2017, where he added further world titles in 2018 and 2021, despite several seasons disrupted by injury. He also won at least one MXGP round in every season he was active on the KTM 450 SX-F.

Beyond MXGP, Herlings achieved success in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, domestic championships in the Netherlands and the UK, and multiple victories at the Motocross of Nations, including overall team success with the Netherlands in 2019. His achievements place him as KTM’s second-most successful FIM Motocross world champion.

KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer acknowledged the end of the partnership, highlighting Herlings’ work ethic and determination over a long and varied career. KTM Director of Offroad Racing Robert Jonas also paid tribute to Herlings’ commitment during his time with the factory team.

For 2026, Herlings will race for Honda HRC and compete on a Honda CRF450R for the first time in his professional career. The move comes with a relatively short preparation period ahead of the opening round of the MXGP World Championship in Bariloche, Argentina, but Herlings has already begun riding and testing the new machine.

Herlings finished the 2025 MXGP season with five race wins and third overall in the championship, extending his record to 112 Grand Prix victories. He has now won at least one GP in 15 of his 16 seasons as a full-time professional, a level of consistency that underlines his longevity at the top of the sport.

At Honda HRC, Herlings will join Tom Vialle and Ruben Fernandez in the MXGP class, with Valerio Lata competing in MX2, as the manufacturer looks to strengthen its world championship challenge in 2026.

Herlings said the opportunity to join Honda HRC was appealing due to the professionalism of the operation and the challenge of adapting to a new motorcycle.

Jeffrey Herlings

“Obviously, this is a big change for me, but honestly, I am so excited to join Honda HRC and ride a CRF450R. 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, the MXGP of Argentina is just over two months away, 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 for MXGP Marcus Pereira de Freitas described the signing as a rare opportunity to secure a rider with Herlings’ record and experience, noting his motivation to continue adding to his list of achievements.

The 2026 season will mark a significant shift for one of motocross’ most successful riders, bringing an end to a long-standing KTM partnership and the beginning of a new phase with Honda at the highest level of Grand Prix motocross.