MXGP Stats: Four winners in four rounds throughout history

The start of the MXGP 2023 season has been explosive and historic too. Four different riders -on different brands as well- had enjoyed the victory throughout these first four rounds. This is not a common start. In fact, this just happened in the main class (250/MX1/MXGP) in another four seasons in the past, plus the 1980 250cc championship with six different winners in the first six rounds. Let´s take a look!

1968 (Hallman, Geboers, Andersson & Robert)

The first part of the 1968 season was an authentic war between Sweden and Belgium.

Runner-up from 1967, Torsten Hallman, ridding for Husqvarna, won the opening round in Sabadell, Spain, over defending champion Joel Robert. Both share race wins, but Swedish Hallman took the first overall of the season. Heading to Genk (Belgium) for round two, Robert was the clear favorite as he was the local hero. However, Sylvain Geboers emerged with the win on his CZ. The next winner was Hakan Anderssen at Holice (Czechoslovakia), and finally, Joel Robert clinch his first win in Tohuars (France), becoming the 4th winner and the eventual champion at the end of the season.

1975 (Everts, Falta, Pomeroy & Bauer)

Harry Everts started the season on top with a win in Sabadell (Spain). The Puch rider do not with a race, but a 2-3 in the heats was enough to take the overall. It took some time for Everts to win again. Czech Jaroslav Falta won the next round (Austria) on his CZ, and then in round three, it was the turn for American Jim Pomeroy who conquered the rough track of Rettine in Belgium. In round 4, Suzuki mounted Willy Bauer took the championship lead with a win in Holice. Everts finally returned on top in round 5 with a sweep moto victory. He eventually won the championship.

1988 (Whatley, Fanton, Van den Berk & Diepold)

Regular winner Jeremy Whatley took by surprise the deep field at the first round in Salindres, France. Heading to Ibizia (Spain) it was the turn for Frenchman Michele Fanton on Yamaha. By round three Dutchman John Van der Berk put his Yamaha at the top after sweeping both motos in Italy. In Holice, four rounds of the series, German Roland Diepold won his first-ever GP overall. The first double-winner of the season was Van der Berk, who eventually won the championship with just those two wins.

1997 (Vohlland, Everts, Bervoerts & Tortelli)

Stefan Everts was the champ this season, but before things seemed wide open, at least in the first four rounds. American Tallon Vohland, the father of current KTM rider Max, won the opening round at Talavera de la Reina on his Yamaha. But defending champion Stefan Everts dominated the Agueda circuit in Portugal for round two. After that, Marnicq Bevoerts took his sole win of the season over the sand of Valkenswaard. By round 4 in Italy, Sebastien Tortelli, former 1996 125cc World Champion, won his first-ever GP in the 250cc class.

2023 (Fernandez, Herlings, Renaux & Prado)

First, Honda HRC Ruben Fernandez kicked off with a huge win in Argentina, followed by Herlings with his 100th GP win. The KTM Red Bull Factory rider couldn´t repeat his performance Instead, was the turn of Monster Energy Maxime Renaux who clinched the top of the podium in Switzerland. And finally, Red Plate holder Jorge Prado conquered the GP of Trentino after a ton of moto wins collected in the process.

Now, the MXGP World Championship heads to Portugal. Maybe we can see a new winner in the form of Romain Febvre, Jeremy Seewer, or someone else. So far the season with the most different winners in the first rounds was 1980, which deserves an all-article by itself. It was the wildest season in history.