MXGP sensation: Frenchman Maxime Renaux to join KTM De Carli in 2027

This coming weekend, the prestigious Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Erné, France, marks the final major event of the season on European soil. French riders have really shaken up the rider market in the MXGP category over the past few months. In particular, the move by Kawasaki veteran Romain Febvre from the Greens to Ducati was a real bombshell.

On the other hand, Kawasaki is set to welcome Mathis Valin’s promotion to the 450cc class in the MXGP for 2027. Maxime Renaux, another Frenchman, is set to bring a breath of fresh air. The former MX2 world champion and his employer Yamaha are parting ways at the end of the year. Renaux has been plagued by injuries in recent years. A change of scenery will certainly come at no bad time for the 26-year-old.

Renaux, who was forced to end his season following his spectacular crash in the sand at Arnhem, is currently set to take Lucas Coenen’s place with the De Carli family’s Red Bull KTM team for 2027. However, official confirmation is still pending. Lucas Coenen, like his twin brother Sacha, is moving to the USA.

Despite his problems, Renaux finished 8th in the 2026 World Championship – he was in contention for 5th place in the standings for a long time. In individual races, he stood on the podium at Frauenfeld and Montevarchi.

The fact is: the Renaux situation also highlights the fact that, with the Red Bull KTM team based in Mattighofen, Germany’s Simon Längenfelder will be chasing his second MX2 World Championship title for another year. The 22-year-old will have to move up to the MXGP category at the end of 2027 anyway, due to the FIM age rule.