The Czech privateer came within touching distance of his first-ever MX2 podium at the MXGP of Trentino, in what turned out to be one of the most eventful rounds of the season.
Round five of the Motocross World Championship delivered plenty of headlines: Jeffrey Herlings’s victory amid issues for Lucas Coenen, podium finishes for Guillem Farrés and Fran Carbonero, and Tim Gajser claiming his first race win with Yamaha. But beyond those standout moments, another story deserves the spotlight: the emergence of Julius Mikula as a genuine podium contender.
Mikula is currently the leading figure of Czech motocross on the international stage—a nation with a rich legacy in the sport. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, manufacturers like CZ and their riders dominated both in Europe and overseas, even winning races in the United States. Over time, that dominance faded, in a similar way to what happened with Sweden. Now, Czech fans have a new reason to believe, thanks to a rider showing both speed and hunger for the podium.
Julius Mikula’s path to MX2 hasn’t been conventional. He made his World Championship debut in 2024 after coming through EMX125, a class where he didn’t score podiums but did show flashes of pace—including a race win in the Latvian sand—before making the direct jump to MX2 with the Osicka KTM team. That first season was limited to five rounds, but still yielded promising signs, including a top-10 moto finish.
In 2025, he completed his first full campaign, with a best overall result of eighth in the muddy conditions of Castilla-La Mancha, although most of his results hovered just outside the top 10. For 2026, reunited with Osicka KTM, he started to show clear progression (14-11-12 in the opening rounds), but the real breakthrough came in the deep sand of Riola Sardo. Two strong starts allowed him to run up front and secure an impressive sixth overall (5-8).
Trentino proved that performance was no fluke. Mikula backed it up with another standout weekend: sixth in moto one with solid, controlled riding, and an even stronger ride in moto two, where he spent much of the race in second place before finishing fourth—his best moto result to date. A 6-4 scorecard earned him fourth overall, just three points shy of the podium, something Czech motocross hasn’t achieved in over two decades.
“Trentino is a race I’ll never forget. It was one of the best days of my life. I felt more relaxed than ever in both motos, just riding like myself, and the pace came naturally. The track was really good on Sunday, and the atmosphere from the fans was incredible. Finishing 6-4 for fourth overall felt amazing—especially as a private rider. I have to thank my team and my family, because without them I wouldn’t be here. I could talk for hours, but I’ll keep it simple: P4 achieved… next step is the podium.”
With this result, Julius Mikula moves up to 11th in the championship standings, just one point away from breaking into the top 10. His name is now firmly part of that emerging group of riders ready to capitalize on any opportunity.
There’s also extra motivation ahead: round 13 in Loket, his home GP, on July 25–26. Could that be the place where he finally lands that long-awaited podium? One thing is certain—Julius Mikula #20 is a name worth watching as the championship resumes in Lacapelle-Marival.
Mikula vs Langenfelder during MX2 Race 2:
