The 2022 season will begin with new motivation for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team and its riders Jeremy Seewer, Glenn Coldenhoff and Maxime Renaux. For Seewer, the opening round of the MXGP World Championship will mark his 147th consecutive Grand Prix start, making him the most consistent rider on the gate. Recognized for his four silver medals (two in MX2 and two in MXGP), seven Grand Prix wins, and 40 podium finishes, the 27-year-old Swiss rider remains ambitious and determined to challenge the crown while maintaining his remarkable record of consistency.
With five Grand Prix wins and 21 podium finishes to his credit, Coldenhoff is also an already accomplished MXGP star raring to go as he enters his second year on the Factory YZ450FM after a learning year in 2021. Looking forward to the return to normality with MXGP going back to its usual two-day schedule instead of the one-day format that was adopted as a response to the global pandemic, the 31-year-old Dutchman has had a decent off-season and is eager to fight for the title.
Adding some youth to the fray, 21-year-old rookie, Renaux will want to make his mark inside the premier class immediately. After an incredible 450cc debut where he went unbeaten at one of the biggest pre-season events this year, the Lacapelle-Marival International in France, Renaux has quickly adapted to the YZ450FM and is poised for MXGP stardom.
In MX2, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team hopes to celebrate its 25th year with Yamaha by adding another gold plate to the trophy cabinet. Last year, the team won its first-ever MX2 World Championship with Maxime Renaux and became the first-ever Yamaha team to secure the gold and silver medals inside the MX2 World Championship in the same season.
This year, the team returns with its young stars Jago Geerts and Thibault Benistant, however, only Geerts will attend the opening round as Benistant continues to focus on the rehabilitation of his left knee, which he had surgically repaired in November last year.
Having finished third in 2019, and second in 2020 and 2021, Geerts is going for gold this season. As one of the most decorated riders in the lower capacity class, with 53 top-three race finishes, 20 races wins and 27 podiums to his credit, the 21-year-old Belgian enters his fifth season with Yamaha and the team with one goal; to win the MX2 World Championship.
Although Benistant will miss the opening round, Yamaha will still have a strong presence in MX2 as Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 stars Andrea Bonacorsi and Rick Elzinga get set to make their MX2 debuts. The pair will race the event as wild card riders, using the experience as part of their preparation for the upcoming European Motocross Championship, which will kick off on the weekend of March 6th in Mantova, Italy.