There is no doubt, the 2022 MXGP championship is going to be another exciting affair. Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings will once again defend a World motocross championship and amazingly in his 12 year GP career, he has been successful at that just once, when he backed up World titles in 2012 and 2013. Nearly a decade ago in the MX2 class.

This year, with a new KTM 450 to play with "The Bullet" hasn't taken a break from prepering and will go into the 2022 season pretty much without an off-season, or at least, without time off the bike.

Jeffrey Herlings: First tests are super positive. So far I have had to train and test daily, because we have a new bike for next year. Every four or five years there is a facelift. From 2018 to 2021 we rode the same bike, so now we get a new one. I don't really need a break. Of course, I'm taking it a little easier now. From December we will tackle it physically harder again and we will prepare for the new season. I still have a two-year contract with KTM, so for the next few years this is my new toy. The first tests have been super positive. I'm curious to see what that will be like in competition situations. I also think very positively. The main goal is to defend the world title, try to match what I have done this season.

Of course, the rivals of Herlings will have different off-seasons, with Tim Gajser on a short holiday and unfortunately Romain Febvre resting up in hospital after his leg injury at the Paris supercross. Doesn't seem as though either will have new bikes for next season and we will find out pretty early on the GP schedule if that matters or not.

There is no doubt that others will join the party in 2022, but how much Jorge Prado will improve is a big question mark. There is no doubt the Spanish rider will improve and one day he will more than likely lead the way with a handful of World titles and GP wins, but for 2022, we just don’t know if he moves to the level of the big three.

Jeremy Seewer is also a possible contender after his sickness riddled 2021 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Maxime Renaux be a regular top five guy. His style will suit the 450 and riding under the same banner as Seewer and Glenn Coldenhoff will give him the experienced team-mates and perfect training partners to make his 2022 season a success.

Just like in previous years the MXGP class will be stacked with former and present World champions and GP winners. Herlings with five titles, Gajser with four, Prado with two and then Renaux, Febvre, Jonass and Tixier all with one. A total of 15 World championship and while we lose the nine titles by Cairoli, the number of World champions in the class is still staggering.

So, with December just around the corner, and pre-seasons already set for early February, you can be sure in the cold winter months of December and January, the best motocross riders in the World will be attacking the cold, wet sand of Lommel, and making those much needed warmer breaks in Spain and the south of Italy.