The organising body for the Motocross World Championships is thrilled to announce that MXGP will return to South African soil for the first time in 18 years.
Johannesburg is set to host the MXGP of South Africa on July 4-5, 2026, bringing the FIM Motocross World Championship back to the African continent.
This will be marking a major addition to the overseas segment of the championship and truly bring MXGP to five continents.
This return represents a significant moment for MXGP, renewing a long-standing connection between the series and South Africa.
The country first welcomed the World Championship in 1985, when a 250cc Grand Prix was held at Corobrik Park near Johannesburg, won by Jacky Vimond.
MXGP later returned with three consecutive rounds at Sun City between 2004 and 2006, producing Grand Prix winners including legends such as Belgian Stefan Everts, Italian superstar Antonio Cairoli, New Zealand’s Josh Coppins and Frenchman Mickael Pichon.
The organising body for the Motocross World Championships is thrilled to announce that MXGP will return to South African soil for the first time in 18 years. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
The most recent MXGP event in South Africa took place in 2008 at Nelspruit, featuring MX1 and MX2 racing, with victories claimed by Jonathan Barragan and Tommy Searle.
The confirmation of Johannesburg as a 2026 host underlines MXGP’s status as a truly global championship, committed to delivering world-class motocross across multiple continents.
The MXGP of South Africa will once again showcase the sport’s elite riders and teams, bringing top-level competition back to a region with deep motocross heritage.
© Photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ (the last time an MXGP was staged in South Africa in 2008)
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LEADING FINAL 2025 SERIES STANDINGS:
MXGP – World Championship – Top 10 Classification:
1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 956 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 917 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 678 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 620 p.; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 608 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 582 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 527 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 518 p.; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 490 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 377 p.
MX2 – World Championship Classification:
1. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 928 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 919 p.; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 845 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 798 p.; 5. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 636 p.; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 635 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 603 p.; 8. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 500 p.; 9. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 481 p.; 10. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 467 p.
