A rider to look out for this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix is Monster Energy Yamaha factory rider Maxime Renaux. The former MX2 World champion has something of a love/hate relationship with the Spanish circuit, having won there in the MX2 class in 2021 and then backed it up with a victory in the MXGP class in 2022.

“In 2022 it was my first overall win in the MXGP class,” Renaux said about his 2022 victory. “It was my Mum's birthday the day after, so it's a nice gift for her. It was great. I felt great on the track, already from Saturday. I managed to get some good starts and put together two consistent motos with no mistakes.”

Although last year, it did go pear shaped with a 26th overall when Renaux had to withdraw from the MXGP of Spain, round six of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Madrid, after sustaining a foot injury in the RAM Qualifying Race. Despite not falling during the incident, the 23-year-old Frenchman could not continue racing and immediately sought medical attention. The evaluation confirmed he had fractured his right foot.

With eight GP victories to his name, two in MXGP and six in MX2, the Frenchman will be looking to move further up the series points table after a solid performance in Argentina two weeks ago.

Renaux made a strong start to his 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship campaign with an impressive fifth overall at the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP star showed impressive pace and consistency at the season-opener to secure his 4-6 race results.

“It’s been a really tough weekend here in Argentina. I was not 100% but as always, I pushed as hard as I could. It was a pity to have a small crash early on in race two, but I finished strong, and I know I can be better. With everything considered, I’m happy with my weekend and I’m glad to finish round one with good points.”

After emerging from the first corner in the lead in the opening MXGP race, Renaux ran up front until turn three, where he was pushed back to second. A small mistake on lap four proved costly for him as it allowed fellow Frenchman Romain Febvre past before he lost another place just before the halfway stage of the race. From there, the former MX2 World Champion defended his position well to secure fourth.

Eager to finish the opening round on the podium, Renaux was fast to react when the start gate dropped for race two. Holding fifth until halfway around lap one, the 23-year-old fell but was quick to remount. With a considerable amount of work to do, Renaux charged forward and moved into sixth with five laps remaining, and for his hard effort, he was rewarded with fifth overall. Heading into round two, Renaux lies fifth in the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship standings.

No doubt, with two MXoN team wins and that MX2 World championship, Renaux has already achieved what many only dream of, but the talented Yamaha rider isn’t ready to rest on his laurels. Team owner Hans Corvers feels that the best it yet to come for his racer.

“Maxime he was already three years ago, like a fully grown adult. Maxime, he is a winner, a fighter, a lion.”

Can Renaux add GP win number three at the Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid, intu Xanadú-Arroyomolinos track? With a stacked MXGP field and nothing between the top five or six riders, we can be sure his name will be in amongst those hoping for a podium of GP victory come Sunday night.

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