Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 and Mathis Valin swept to the teenager’s personal maiden GP victory and also the first for the KX250-SR project in only it’s second season at round seven of the 2026 FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Teutschenthal in Germany.

Torrential midday rainfall eased for the first MX2 moto but the going was still heavy as the French teenager and his KX250-SR swept through the first turn at the head of the pack to be narrowly edged out for the holeshot award but he was immediately a secure second with a healthy advantage over third which he gradually increased to eventually take the chequered flag just five seconds from the winner but twenty-eight seconds clear of third. Light rain returned for the start of race two but the repair work undertaken by the track crew ensured that the surface did not rut out quite so deep as earlier in the day. Once again Valin missed the holeshot award by the narrowest of margins and on lap four the Kawasaki youngster started to apply the pressure to the leader, forcing him into a mistake. Once in front he maturely defended his lead, avoiding risks on the greasy surface whilst maintaining lap times which ensured his chaser could not endanger his lead. 2-1 moto finishes secured a career-first GP victory for both the teenager and the KX250-SR project in only their second year and he has strengthened further sixth in the championship.

Mathis Valin: « Finally my first GP win! I have been waiting for this moment for several weeks but after my shoulder injury it took time. After two podiums in a row it’s such a good feeling to finally stand on the top step for both myself and the team! Today the track was really rough. On TV maybe people could not realise just how deep the ruts were; they were similar to Switzerland two months ago.I already had a good feeling in the first race and could chase Sascha all the way for second. In the second moto I started to put the pressure on him and he crashed.When I took the lead I knew that I had to ride very technical, and I was able to do just that! I made a few small mistakes but that was inevitable; it was the first time for a while that I have been leading a race on Sunday but I stayed calm and now I want to repeat as soon as possible! We worked hard with the team and of course we will continue to do so as the goal is to be on the podium every week. I’m feeling good with the bike, I’m consistent at the starts, and everyone in the team does a great job. »

Antti Pyrhönen (KRT team manager): « The victory of Mathis today has a really sweet taste. It is the first GP victory in MX2 in only the second season of the project and we have been part of it from the beginning. It feels like a long road even though it has only been two years. In projects like this you need to keep pushing and developing the bike; sometimes you take two steps forward and one step backwards, but it has been very exciting. I want to thank everyone for the endless hours they have put in – everyone in the team, at the factory and not least Mathis for his work ethic and his ability together with his trainer Thierry van den Bosch and his girlfriend Lili Dasse. It has been a real team effort.  We felt it was on its way after podiums in each of the last two rounds but until it actually happens ….  Mathis is an incredible rider and talent; he has come back from injuries and the hard work is paying off; he has grown into the boots of a man. »

DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers was soon on the move from a tenth-placed start in race one to secure eighth for a while, including a pass on the series leader, before being pushed back to eleventh at the finish. A second moto start together with the regular top-ten factory riders saw him maintain an impressive eighth, with fifth in sight, for half the race before eventually finishing a lonely ninth. The 11-9 moto finishes earnt the Dutchman ninth overall on the day and, although still eleventh in the series standings, he has moved eight points closer to the top-ten.

Kay Karssemakers: « We went the wrong way when we changed the suspension settings on Saturday afternoon but we went back for Sunday and I rode more like myself again. I wasn’t completely satisfied with my result in the first race but I rode a good first few laps in the second moto and was running eighth and staying with the group; I lost my rhythm a little when Liam passed me but I had good lap times again at the end so I was pretty happy to finish the weekend strong. »

It was a day of complete domination for Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki in the European EMX250 Motocross Championship as Francisco Garcia and Jake Cannon raced to an overwhelming moto 1-2, the Australian teenager securing his second consecutive overall victory and the Spaniard keeping the red plate with his teammate moving up to second in the standings. Kawasaki has extended the lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship to thirty-eight points with four victories in the five rounds to date.

A torrential rainstorm drifted over the track half an hour before the start and continued throughout the moto but the Bud Kawasaki duo mastered the situation perfectly. They took a 1-2 start with Cannon edging out his teammate for the holeshot before Garcia moved ahead over the dragon-back jump. The Spaniard was already ten seconds clear by the end of the first complete lap and the Australian a further six seconds clear of their closest rival as the duo relentlessly extended their advantage with track conditions becoming ever more difficult; by the end of the race lap times were more than half-a-minute slower than the previous day. Both riders maintained their composure to the finish even though each had to discard their goggles as they encountered ever more traffic and roost from back markers. Garcia swept to the moto victory, twenty-six seconds clear of his teammate, who in turn was nearly a minute further clear of third as they lapped to twelfth, while Cannon could also celebrate as his 4-2 moto finishes over the weekend secured his second consecutive overall victory and his forty-point championship haul lifts him to a secure second in the series standings, thirty points behind red plate holder Garcia and fourteen clear of third.

Jake Cannon: « Another awesome day with my second overall win in-a-row. This weather was unexpected but it is what it is; a good start was essential and we both got that. I knew Fran would be going for it after yesterday; you can’t rush things in these conditions so patience was the key and I was happy to stay out of trouble in second for the overall. I’ve made a big step since last year and continue to grow. I’m so happy for both myself and the team; we’re putting on a clinic at the moment and my confidence is growing every week. All I need now is a race win to go with the overalls and the podiums. And it was really refreshing to hear the national anthem again. »

Francisco Garcia: « The conditions were so difficult today but I knew what I had to do. We both had such a good start and I could make a big gap already on the first lap; after that I stayed focused for another moto win. Now I am looking forward to Latvia; I want to take another overall win there. »

(Source & photo : Kawasaki Racing 2026)