A potential partnership involving Hans Corvers’ team and the Belgian motocross legend is gaining attention ahead of the changes planned for 2027, although no agreement has been officially confirmed.
Suzuki could be preparing a return to the Motocross World Championship with a structure combining the experience of Kemea Yamaha and Joel Smets. According to paddock rumours, Hans Corvers’ team could spend 2027 preparing for the Japanese manufacturer’s return to MXGP, while the five-time world champion is also being linked to the potential project.
Changes ahead of next season have opened the door to this possibility. Yamaha is restructuring its official MXGP programme for 2027, while KTM is set to part ways with Smets as part of its management changes. These developments could make both an established team structure and one of the paddock’s most experienced figures available for a new project.
For years, Kemea has been a key part of Yamaha’s presence in the World Championship, regularly competing for Grand Prix victories and world titles. The Belgian team’s experience, infrastructure and personnel would provide an attractive foundation for Suzuki, potentially allowing the manufacturer to avoid building a new operation from scratch.
Smets, meanwhile, has been working with KTM since 2015, initially as a trainer before becoming team manager. During that period, he was involved in the development of riders such as Tom Vialle, Andrea Adamo and Simon Längenfelder. The Belgian also has previous experience with Suzuki, having raced for the Japanese manufacturer between 2004 and 2006 during the final years of his competitive career.
However, the biggest challenge would be technical. Suzuki withdrew from the Motocross World Championship at the end of 2020 and has not operated an official factory programme to develop the RM-Z450 to the level required for MXGP competition since then. A comeback would require significant investment in development, infrastructure and direct support from Japan to compete against manufacturers such as Honda, KTM, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ducati and Triumph.
In this scenario, Kemea would bring the established team structure and operational experience, while Smets could contribute his sporting and technical expertise. His exact role, should the project materialise, remains unknown.
For now, neither Suzuki, Kemea nor Joel Smets has officially confirmed any involvement in such a project. A preparation year in 2027 appears plausible, but Suzuki’s return to MXGP remains uncertain. The key question is whether the Japanese manufacturer is prepared to invest in an official factory programme once again and build a competitive operation capable of challenging for the top positions in the World Championship.
