HRC Advisor Roger Harvey might just be the most experienced man in the MXGP paddock, and in my mind, is without doubt a legend of the sport. Harvey is a seasoned motocross veteran, with a racing career spanning nearly two decades and a notable 1983 British 125 Championship title and an appearance for Team Great Britain at the MXdN.

Known for his keen insights and light-hearted humour, Roger was always at the centre of the action. After a brief departure from motocross, during which he managed the Castrol Honda British and World Supersport Championship team and contributed to the development of the Isle of Man TT Blade project with John McGuinness, Roger returned to lead Honda’s motocross program.

His extensive racing experience, deep knowledge of the sport, and sharp wit made him one of the most respected and popular team managers in motocross. Since 2018, he has transitioned into an advisory role, continuing to lend his expertise to Honda HRC.

Rog has been a friend of mxlarge owner Geoff Meyer for many years and its always a pleasure to give Rog a call and chat about the sport or just chat about life. Now, as we enter the 2026 season, one that will not only be a huge success, but also very likely the last in the long, long career of Harvey.

As I mentioned above, his experience in the sport, as a young kid going to Hawkstone Park with his father, or racing a huge BSA machine when just 14 years old, to his very popular professional career makes him the most complete person in the MXGP paddock and while he isn’t a world champion, or even a Grand Prix winner (he did score podiums in the 125cc GPs), the length of his career and the knowledge he has under his grey head of hair allows him to hold his position for all these years.

But, like all careers, it has to come to an end and for Roger Harvey, it seems 2026 is it. We called him up and asked him a bunch of questions about his motocross life and of course, the signing of Jeffrey Herlings.

MXLarge: You mentioned again that this might be your final year going to the GPs on a regular basis, but do you think this really is the final year?

Harvey: Well, it’s been the final one for a few years hasn’t it, but I think this will in fact, be the final one yes.

MXLarge: You have been around forever really; we have spoken about it before. I think you started in the 60s, right?

Harvey: Yes, 1966 when I first raced, but I was going to races before them, because my dad had a motorcycle shop and he sponsored riders. I started riding in the mid-60s and early 60s I was going as a fan.

MXlarge: Damn Rog, which is 60 years ago.

Harvey: Yes, long time mate.

MXlarge: That is a long time to be involved. Many people have hobbies or whatever that last a while and they move into something else, but motocross is in your blood hey?

Harvey: It’s been there the whole way along. I started for fun, and then it turned into a profession, but I kept it fun and just enjoyed it. I guys I fell into various rolls for companies around the world and then the one with Honda started in 1997.

MXlarge: I know you still go to smaller races outside of the GPs, like the Hawkstone Park International and stuff like that, but do you go to keep an eye out for HRC, or do you go to enjoy the racing and meet old friends?

Harvey: I go there to see what is going on, but it’s also a good place to meet up with a lot of the guys I used to race with. It’s good to catch up with them. Some you might see at the British GP, but a lot of them you don’t see for 12 months. Also to keep an eye on who is going well. I also go to the AMCA meeting, because Steve (Roger’s son) runs the AMCA, but I also just go because I love it.

MXLarge: I probably started going about a decade after you, as a 10-year-old and whenever I look at the old images from the 1970s, I just love those JOFA mouthguards and chest protectors. When I see those old images, I can even still smell the fumes from the bikes. You were way more involved than me, because you actually raced and worked right in it. I assume you have that same memory of the gear and smell, as well.

Harvey: I was a bit of a youngster on the back of that. That link to YouTube you sent me, with all the old images, I can even remember a big portion of the riders in those photos. Even guys you would never hear of.

MXLarge: Even the smell, what a smell that was back then.

Harvey: Yes, Castrol R, which everyone ran in that era.

MXLarge: It might not be your last year, you might just end up kicking the bucket at the motocross, but what stands out for you from these last 60 years?

Harvey: Crikey, I guess a mixture. Winning world championships with Honda, I mean, the rider wins it, but he needs the right things around him. Seeing Tim win his championships was great, a British championship win, which was a standout, also standing on a podium at a Grand Prix. A Weston Beach race win, a loud of stuff at the level I was at.

MXLarge: You are a very popular figure in the paddock for your good humour and friendly nature. I assume that whole having a bit of a chat and a laugh, that’s probably something you enjoy as much as the person you might be chatting with.

Harvey: Yes, it is how I have been most of my life. I speak to everybody and I will give time to everybody. I have always been like that. Because everyone is there with a common interest and I think that is how you should treat people. Then there are the people you can have a good laugh and a joke, like yourself Geoff, then you string things together, as you well know.

MXlarge: Yes, I have had some awesome times with you over the years, and you are definitely one of my favourite people to have a chat with, not just in the paddock, but in life.

Harvey: And that is how it’s supposed to be mate, that’s how it’s supposed to be. You know what you get when you pull up to talk with somebody, just be open and honest as they can be.

MXLarge: One thing I wanted to tell you about, is Jeffrey Herlings and his move to HRC. You must have some stories about Jeffrey over the last decade or so?

Harvey: Well, when I was in the roll of manager for HRC, I spoke to Jeffrey on a number of occasions, but it never came together and finally it has come together. Sure, it’s late in his career, but still, knowing him, I am excited about that one.

MXLarge: Watching the videos, of both Tim on the Yamaha and Jeffrey on the Honda, both look good. I do feel as though Jeffrey looks better on the Honda than Tim on the Yamaha (This interview was made before Mantova). As it turned out, Tim looked to be struggling in Sardinia (but clearly made a lot of progress for Mantova), and Jeffrey, I watched the videos and though, WOW, he looks really good. I wondered if he regrets not making the move earlier.

Harvey: He does (look good on the videos), but that is basically Jeffrey going around on his own. Let’s see how he stacks up against people. I did look at the videos, and I thought he looked good. I watched Sardinia, and Tim didn’t look comfortable, but he is a class rider, and he will work it out (as he did in Mantova).

MXlarge: Mantova seemed like a good place for Jeffrey to start, with the field not that deep?

Harvey: Sure, feel your feet, get some gate drops under you in amongst people. Tom will hopefully be something of a dark horse and not many people speaking about him. Get those laps in before Argentina.

MXLarge: A lot of the Honda riders signed in the 1970s and 1980s were signed before they actually won titles, like Malherbe, Thorpe, and Noyce. I was speaking to Dave Thorpe about the signing of Herlings and he said it’s probably the biggest signing for Honda in motocross.

Harvey: Yes, I am sure in the 1980s, it was pretty big, but yes, from what Jeffrey has done from the last 17 years, just on one make, and he knows he has to learn the new bike, but as Jeffrey is, he is pretty confident about things.

MXlarge: As we spoke about earlier, maybe your last year, unless Jeffrey wins a championship and you want to back it up another year. Being that it’s your last year, how do you look at 2026, will it be emotional?

Harvey: I have sort of been retired now for six or eight years, as you know, but I felt obliged and I spoke to Jeffrey all those times about making the move and also Tom coming on board, I felt I wanted to be around and watch it and help in whatever way I can help. It is an exciting different year, and I wanted to be part of it for one more year.