Tim Gajser has been a staple of motocross for the past decade, amassing five world championships, a long list of race wins and podiums, and a large, loyal fan following. He has practically achieved everything he could have possibly set out to accomplish, and 2025 looked to be another year for the history books for the Slovenian, until a vicious crash in Switzerland sidelined the Honda HRC rider for a significant portion of the season as he underwent surgery to repair his injured shoulder.

The 2025 season couldn’t have started any better before the injury. The five-time World Champion racked up six moto wins, three overall victories, and built a remarkable 39-point lead within the opening five rounds – a dominant start to the campaign.

Now with his return imminent, let’s take a look at the Slovenia’s career in numbers, since his maiden MXGP campaign in 2016.

2016	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	7	15	24	1st

After winning his first World Title in the MX2 class in 2015, Gajser stepped up to the premier class – and it didn’t take long for him to assert his dominance. He won four of the first six overalls and finished on the overall podium at every round from the opener through to Round 14! Out of the eighteen rounds of the 2016 season, Gajser failed to achieve a podium finish on only two occasions (round fourteen and round sixteen). This consistency compounded into 24 moto podiums out of the 36 raced.

Gajser Celebrating his 2016 World Title

2017	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	3	8	13	5th

His sophomore season in the MXGP class started strong, with two overall victories and two runner-up finishes in the opening six rounds, giving him a 14-point lead heading into Latvia. Unfortunately, a heavy crash in Latvia led to a DNF in the final moto, followed by an 11th overall in Germany. He then opted to sit out rounds nine and ten, which ultimately derailed his title defense. After returning at Round 11, Gajser bounced back with three more podium finishes, including a win, a second, and a third place.

2018	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	0	0	17	4th

A vicious pre-season crash derailed Gajser’s 2018 campaign, requiring surgery to repair a broken jaw. The injury forced him to miss Round 1 and continued to affect his performance throughout the season. As a result, the Slovenian failed to secure any moto or overall wins, though he still managed eight overall podium finishes and 17 top-three moto results. After the season concluded, Gajser underwent a second surgery on his jaw – further underscoring the physical toll the injury had taken over the course of the year.

2019	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	9	16	29	1st

Tim Gajser Celebrating his 2019 World Title

2019 was a dominant season for Gajser, as he stormed to his second MXGP title with 9 overall wins, 16 moto victories, and 29 moto podiums — clinching the championship three rounds early. After a steady and consistent start, Gajser went on an incredible winning streak, claiming seven consecutive overall victories from Round 6 to Round 12, and missed the overall podium only three times all season. It was a statement year from the Slovenian – a commanding campaign that firmly cemented his status as one of the sport’s elite.

2020	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	5	15	24	1st

Gajser further cemented his place in motocross history by successfully defending his World Title in 2020 – a season unlike any other. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, riders faced a condensed calendar with intense triple-header events. Despite the unusual circumstances, the Slovenian rose to the challenge, securing 5 overall wins, 15 moto victories, and 24 moto podiums on his way to claiming back-to-back premier class titles. Gajser wrapped up the championship one round early at the MXGP of Pietramurata, delivering another title-winning performance under pressure.

2021	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	4	7	22	3rd

The 2021 MXGP season was nothing short of historic, with Gajser, Febvre, and Herlings locked in a fierce battle for the World Championship. The season finale saw all three riders still in contention for the title. Gajser ultimately finished third overall, earning 4 overall wins, 7 moto victories, and 22 moto podiums. While he fell short of securing a third consecutive world title, the season remains one that will be remembered for years to come.

2022	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
T.Gajser	10	14	27	1st

2022 was another dominating season for the Honda HRC pilot, as he accumulated 10 overall wins, 14 moto wins and 27 moto podiums on the way to securing his fourth MXGP world championship. Gajser eventually won the championship by a remarkable 106 points ahead of Jeremy Seewer and retained the championship lead from round one to eighteen.

T.Gajser	O/A Wins	Moto Wins	Moto Podiums	Championship Classification
2023	2	3	5	11th
2024	4	7	29	2nd
2025	3	6	10	TBD*

Gajser’s 2023 campaign was derailed by a horrific femur injury that sidelined him for the first eleven rounds. In 2024, the Slovenian could argue the title slipped away, having held a 14-point advantage over Jorge Prado heading into the penultimate round. A crash and mechanical issue in the opening moto triggered a 21-point swing, handing the red plate to the Spaniard, who went on to edge Gajser for the championship in the final round. The 2025 season, meanwhile, had been going perfectly – until injury struck once again.

A breakdown of #243’s career highlights his longevity at the pinnacle of the sport and underlines his integral role in growing MXGP over the past nine years. With his contract at Honda HRC set to expire at the end of this year, the final rounds could be the last time we see Gajser on red machinery – a partnership that has run throughout his professional career.