Belgian MXGP rider Brent van Doninck has recently inked a deal with Fantic Factory Racing for the 2026 season, a milestone in his career, being able to race factory machinery in the premier class. As JM Racing move over to the Fantic organisation to steer their program after Louis Vosters’ two-year tenure, van Doninck follows suit after three seasons with JM Racing Honda. The road, however, has been far from straightforward. From 2023 to 2025, the Belgian has missed 31 Grands Prix due to a knee injury, followed by back-to-back femur injuries which he sustained less than a year apart. Whilst the injuries are significant and mentally challenging to overcome, Brent was set on returning to his true form and continuing his racing career.

“I think this year was the toughest, breaking my femur again less than one years time from when I did in Argentina. I was like, how is this even possible? Even my doctors said he has no idea how this is possible, because I still had the rod inside. He said, you’re just really unlucky (laughs), you know, even with the rod inside it should be strong enough but yeah it is what it is, at the end, I always felt like I had no other option. in the end, I had no other option other than to comeback and show results because I know if I don’t do that then It’s over probably.”

In order to achieve his main goal and objective, to secure a top ten overall finish in the classification, van Doninck will need to stay fit and healthy for the full 20 round campaign; however, he has proven his top ten capabilities in his limited amount of races, with his standout performance coming at this year’s Finnish Grand Prix, finishing 6th overall and being within a realistic shot of an overall podium after his fourth place finish in the second race. Now, as he gears up for the 2026 season, he is confident in the Fantic manufacturer, so confident, in fact, he didn’t even ride the bike before signing the contract!

“Before I signed the contract, I didn’t even ride the bike! I was so confident in this plan and this bike, I’ve seen the guys have done this year, Glenn, Brian, Andrea – and I also know I have ridden a lot of bikes in my career (laughs). I always feel like, in someway I always make it work and figure it out.“

Listen to the full interview with Brent van Doninck below and check out the rest our of interviews from this off-season!