No doubt about it, with legends Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings out of the current picture in the MXGP class, we just don’t have the intensity that MXGP is known for. Sure, there are great battles within the races, but that upfront intensity isn’t there, and HRC rider Tim Gajser is making the most of the two KTM riders’ absence.

There isn’t much not to like about Gajser. Firstly, he is riding so well, and breaking motocross records at the moment. He is now the third most successful rider of the current MXGP riders, and with only Cairoli and Herlings ahead of him, the current championship leader can continue to climb up the all time GP winners list and continue to collect championship honours.

When Paul Malin showed me the stats for all time Honda GP winners, and Gajser stood at the top for most GP wins in a row for a red bike rider (seven), I was impressed, just as everyone is. The fact he has joined Clement Desalle with 26 GP wins each and is now inside the top 20 all time list is just amazing. Just a handful of GP wins away from names like Georges Jobe, Andre Malherbe and Paul Friedrichs blows my mind.

Gajser is a likeable person, is always smiling and seems to have time for everyone. Even with the two legends out of action, the sport is in good hands, and I can’t wait to see what the HRC rider can do when Herlings returns around the time of Lommel. Will he have something for the greatest sand rider of all time?

But it isn’t just Gajser who is breaking records and looking brilliant. Jorge Prado, the teenager Spaniard has also been destructive this year. Putting his competition to bed and proving to be Herlings like in the MX2 class.

Now third in the current rider list for GP wins with 26, and 17^th in the top twenty of all time. Four GP wins from passing one of the best little bike riders of all time in Gaston Rahier, and with six rounds remaining, expect him to move into second for most wins in 125/MX2, behind Herlings, who has 61 in MX2. Of course, Prado won’t get the chance to move closer to Herlings, as he will go MXGP in 2020.

So, while we might not be seeing the best of MXGP at the moment, with a bunch of riders out, don’t worry, in 2020, we will have a combined tally of 20 World championship going head to head next year, as Cairoli with nine, Herlings four, Gajser three, Prado two, Jonass and Tixier one each. Now, if that isn’t mouth watering enough, consider that all four will once again have something to prove. Cairoli if he is still young enough to fight these fast kids, Herlings if he can remain injury free, is Gajser the fastest man on the planet, and Prado and Jonass, can they compete against the best in the World.

All Time Current Riders win List – Top Ten

Antonio Cairoli 89

Jeffrey Herlings 84

Jorge Prado 26

Clement Desalle 23

Tim Gajser 23

Tommy Searle 14

Romain Febvre 12

Gautier Paulin 12

Pauls Jonass 11

Max Nagl 9

All time winners list – Top 20

Stefan Everts 101

Antonio Cairoli 89

Jeffrey Herlings 84

Joel Smets 57

Joel Robert 50

Eric Geboers 39

Mickael Pichon 38

Thorsten Hallman 37

Roger De Coster 36

Heikki Mikkola 32

Gaston Rahier 30

Georges Jobe 28

Andre Malherbe 28

Paul Friedrichs 28

Dave Strijbos 27

Alessio Chiodi 27

Jorge Prado 26

Jeff Smith 25

Tim Gajser 23

Clement Desalle 23

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