While we all marvel at the performances of riders like Jett Lawrence, Chase Sexton, Tim Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado, a young Frenchman is sitting, waiting in the wings for all of us to enjoy his technical abilities. Having raced through the junior ranks, winning the World 125cc championship in 2023, and then the EMX 250 championship in 2024, Mathis Valin is clearly on a journey to even bigger success in 2025 and in the future.

Born on the 18th of August 2006, Valin was only nine years old when he clinched his first (French) title in Brittany; two years later he dominated the 65 class in the ‘minivert’, a French series which in the past has been the initial showplace for many talented French youngsters such as Mickael Pichon, Jordi Tixier, Dylan Ferrandis and Tom Vialle.

With a French Junior Supercross championship to his name, the Kawasaki factory rider is very much an all-course racer and while he might dream of a World motocross championship in his future, he also see’s himself one day racing under the lights of supercross.

Last weekend at the Hawkstone Park International, he arrived in the MX2 class with a victory, and while the field wasn’t really GP level, his battles with the likes of Glenn Coldenhoff, Romain Febvre and Pauls Jonass in the super-final, made every sit up and take notice.

We gave the Hawkstone MX2 winner a call today and below is what he told us. One eye in Europe and the other in America, this young kid has big dreams, and that is a good thing.

MXLarge: Can you explain your three races from Hawkstone Park for me?

Valin: First race, I had a good start, I took the holeshot and I just did my race and had a good rhythm, good riding and I finished two races first and in the super final, we started before the 450s and I again took the holeshot and I was riding really well. I was in front and watching the 450s behind me, then Coldenhoff passed me with five minutes from the end and then I pushed hard, because Romain and Pauls were coming, but I finished strong.

MXlarge: The MX2 class is really a growing class, with a lot of factory bikes and factory riders, a really tough class now, you are obviously one of the guys who might surprise everyone this year, but tell me, how do you feel joining the World MX2 championship?

Valin: Yes, we did a great winter, working a lot on the bike with the team and I am happy with this, and I feel good with the team and good on the bike. I know I have the speed, and I will just give my best in my first year in MX2.

MXlarge: How big a difference is it from Bud Racing to the Factory Kawasaki team?

Valin: Yes, you can see the difference, a big difference. The bike is a factory bike, and I was able to adapt quickly to this bike, its very nice to ride. I feel really good on it.

MXLarge: I was speaking to Glenn Coldenhoff yesterday and he mentioned, when he caught you your pace on the MX2 bike was really good and he had to push really hard to catch you and then pass you. That must have been a good experience to battle with the 450 guys in the super final.

Valin: Yes, we started first, but I showed good speed, and they didn’t catch me straight away. It was nice to ride with them, because they know how to race, and they have a lot of experience. It pushed me a lot and I didn’t want them to pass me, so I also pushed really hard, and I loved racing them. In training I race a bit with Maxime Renaux and others in the team, and that pushes me.

MXLarge: Many years ago, it was only the Belgians and Dutch who were good in the sand, but it seems everyone is good in sand now. Where did you learn your sand skills?

Valin: I rode sand since I was young, so when I was in the 65 class, I was already riding in the sand, but I am good in all conditions. I like the mud, ruts, the sun, I am not difficult and lucky for me, I am good everywhere.

MXLarge: As you know, MXGP and MX2, they are tough, competitive classes, many good riders, with good techniques. You have to be consistent and get good results, or you can lose your ride, it’s very tough for many riders. What is your goal for 2025 to keep your team spot?

Valin: Grand Prix is like marathon season. We need to be consistent; we need to finish the season (with no injuries), we don’t need to be injured. It is going to be a long season and its just my first year, so I want to get experience, learn, be positive and don’t crash and get injured. It is a big step to go from EMX250 to MX2, with 20 GPs, three races in the weekend. It is a big step, but its going to be okay.

MXLarge: Is it important not to make too bigger goals for yourself. Not think about podiums or wins.

Valin: I don’t so much have goals. I train hard and I don’t train to finish 10th. If I go to the races, its like everyone else, it is to win, but I don’t think about that, I just give my best and after the weekend, we will see the results. If I can win the races, I will do my best to do that, but I don’t really know.

MXLarge: What is your background in motocross, how did you start, and did you have any heroes as a kid?

Valin: No, I didn’t follow it, and I just started following supercross a couple of years ago, so not that long ago, and I didn’t have a hero. I just like to watch Prado and Lawrence riding, with their great techniques. I really can learn a lot from watching them ride. For sure, to watch is good, because you can learn some stuff and watching them a lot, you take some lessons from them. To improve my own technique. If I see them doing something in a corner, and I am in the same situation, I can learn from seeing what they do.

MXLarge: How would you describe your technique?

Valin: I don’t know, I know I am good in the legs, good timing with the legs to play with the bumps.

MXLarge: You mentioned Jett Lawrence, is racing supercross something you want to do in the future?

Valin: Yes, I watch a lot of the races, and my biggest goal is to go to USA and race supercross. I started riding supercross when I was very young and I started that with my old coach, in the 65cc class. I won the French championship in juniors, and I still ride and train supercross and I try and do that often. If I move there, I won’t start from zero. I would like to do some races, maybe Paris supercross. I had the chance to race World supercross this year, but I was moving to Belgium with the new team and I needed to develop the bike, so I said no. I would like to do the Supercross of Paris, but I need to speak to my team, but I would love to do it.

Pascal Haudiquert/Kawasaki images