Those of us that love this sport are probably more excited than we have ever been for a season to arrive. I know, as a 64-year-old, who has followed the sport since 1971, I cannot remember a year I have looked forward to the than I am for 2026.

Not when as a 10 year old kid watching Roger De Coster battle Joel Robert in an Australian international event, not when it was Everts vs Tortelli in 1998, not when it was Everts vs Smets vs Townley vs Pichon in 2005 and not when it was Cairoli vs Herlings vs Gajser in 2018, or Herlings vs Febvre vs Gajser in 2021.

Now, I am known to overreact to things, exaggerate my comments, but it seems every time I ask a legend of the sport, be it Stefan Everts, Dave Thorpe or Joel Smets, or some of the big hitters in the sport, from the voice of MXGP, Paul Malin, to team owners, Hans Corvers or Louis Vosters, they all agree, we are in for something very special in 2026.

We all know the changes, the fact Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser, our two most crowned champions from this last 15 years have changed brands, Herlings from KTM to HRC and Gajser from HRC to Yamaha.

Both these huge legends have seemingly adapted to their new machines and are looking very special. I keep asking myself if we are actually going to see the best version of “The Bullet”, even in this, the renaissance of his magnificent career.

The term "Renaissance" is derived from the French word meaning “rebirth” and it fits perfectly into what we are seeing with the Dutchman on his HRC factory machine.

The same could be said for Gajser, who also has an injection of new dreams and goals with his Monster Energy Factory Yamaha team, but for some reason, I see it more with Herlings, he just looks so damn good.

I have always admitted, I am a Herlings fan and have been since that 15-year-old kid rode Valkenswaard like a veteran, winning his first ever GP back in 2010. More than half his life ago, and when he was just a young sensation arriving on the GP scene. What isn’t there to like about a guy who put MXGP on his back and took us through the last decade and a half?

Of course, Tim Gajser, with his five world motocross championships, all under the awning of the Garibaldi Honda team, and some of those titles as a heavy underdog.

His first world title in 2015, came after he was some 100 points behind Herlings when the Dutchman picked up an injury and the Slovenian worked his way to the points lead, to capture the MX2 championship. His 2016 450 rookie season, where he captured the legend of Antonio Cairoli off-guard and picked up title number two. He continued to add to his titles with more gold in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Still, the question marks have often remained, is he better than Herlings?

But let’s not forget who the champion is, and that man is Kawasaki factory rider, Romain Febvre, a two-time world motocross champion himself and a man who goes into the 2026 season trying to be the greatest Grand Prix racer from France. Another title this year would take his tally to three, one more than the great J. M. Bayle, and other French legends in Sebastien Tortelli, Mickeal Pichon, Tom Vialle, Frederik Bolley and Marvin Musquin. All riders with two titles.

Febvre is one of those racers who just doesn’t give up and fights until every last drop of sweat is queezed from his body. The heart of a lion and the determination of the great champion he is. Without Cairoli, Herlings and Gajser on the scene, the Frenchman could easily have been a five-time world champion himself, but he just raced in an era when three of the greatest of all time also raced.

Yes, it should be remembered, if you go by titles and GP wins, Cairoli is the second greatest of all time, Herlings is fourth in the list behind Stefan Everts, Cairoli and Joel Robert and Gajser is only behind Everts, Cairoli, Robert, Herlings and Joel Smets.

A handful of GP wins in 2026 and Gajser would pass Smets and a title, and more GP wins would put Gajser ahead of both Robert and Herlings. There is a lot on the line in 2026 when it comes from the all-time list.

But what about the next Gen group. Led by 2025 world number two Lucas Coenen, and then we have the future in Kay De Wolf, Andrea Adamo and Tom Vialle, not to mention Maxime Renaux. Yes, this 2026 season has more storylines than a Hollywood movie and we find out this coming weekend in Sardinia, how Gajser goes against Coenen. That battle will give us a small idea of where the Slovenian sits, as Coenen will be good in the deep sand on his KTM.

A week later Herlings goes up against Gajser, Febvre and many others in Mantova and again, another question will be answered and we, the fans get to build our own enthusiasm and excitement on the magical season of 2026.

Bavo Swijgers image