Monster Energy Yamaha are unlikely to field their entire three-rider line-up in 2024. The factory team have been without MXGP rookie Jago Geerts since the second lap of the Qualification Heat in Argentina and Maxime Renaux since the second round of the current championship campaign in Spain; only Calvin Vlaanderen has been steering the works YZ450FM this year and has reached a best result of 4th position overall at Arco di Trento and is a decent 5th in the category standings.
The predicament for Yamaha means one of their most barren starts to a FIM Motocross World Championship in recent memory.
24-year-old Geerts is closer to a return after his crash at Neuquen resulted in a broken and dislocated left elbow. The complicated setback means the Belgian has only just jumped on a motorcycle again in the past week and has a tentative goal to try and enter his first MXGP Grand Prix moto in the sand of Lommel at the end of July. The Monster Energy Yamaha crew are cagey about the former MX2 title contender’s chances, considering the short time frame to prepare for their home GP in Belgium and the fact that Geerts still cannot fully extend his arm.
There is extra wariness because of the circumstances surrounding Renaux. The Frenchman suffered a bad break to the top of his right foot at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix (forcing him to miss eight races last summer) and was still suffering the effects of the recovery and the debilitating discomfort of the metalwork inside the lower limb when he reinjured the same foot in Madrid in late March.
The 24-year-old had a procedure to rebuild the bridge of his foot and remove the old apparatus from the previous problem. He has been wearing an air-boot since April. Renaux is currently two weeks away from being able to remove the boot and to start rehabilitation. “We want him to take his time, this is really important,” commented Team Principal Hans Corvers. “We need him next year.”
Yamaha will count on Geerts and Renaux for the 2025 season and have been impressed with Vlaanderen’s form. The nationalised Dutchman is likely to be retained by the Iwata firm as they continue their three-rider roster.
