Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing has confirmed that Kay de Wolf will miss the remainder of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship following a hand injury sustained in a training crash on Monday. The 21-year-old Dutchman will also be unable to represent the Netherlands at the Motocross of Nations.
The injury rules de Wolf out of the final three rounds of the MXGP championship in Türkiye, China and Australia, as well as the FIM Motocross of Nations at Ernée, France, on 4th October. The setback brings a premature end to what has been an impressive rookie campaign in the premier class for the former MX2 World Champion.
Despite the early conclusion to his season, de Wolf has demonstrated his credentials as a future title contender in MXGP. The Dutchman secured podium finishes in Sardinia and Latvia before an ankle injury interrupted his progress earlier in the summer. After returning to competition, de Wolf quickly rediscovered his front-running form with standout performances at both Lommel and his home Grand Prix in Arnhem, delivering 2-2 finishes on both occasions to claim second overall.
De Wolf currently sits ninth in the MXGP World Championship standings with 428 points. With his 2026 racing commitments now concluded, the focus shifts entirely to recovery and preparation for the 2027 season.
“Unfortunately we had a crash on Monday which has ended up bringing my season to an early finish,” said de Wolf. “I picked up another injury to my hand, which means I’ll miss the final rounds of the season and also the Motocross of Nations, which I’m really disappointed about. I would have loved to represent my country at the Nations, but unfortunately that won’t be possible this year.”
The 21-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery later this month to address the ankle injury he has been managing during the second half of the season. Following the procedure, he will begin a comprehensive rehabilitation programme aimed at returning to full fitness for 2027.
“The focus now is on recovery. I’ll have surgery around the middle of the month to fix my ankle, and then we’ll get straight into rehab with the aim of being fully fit for next season. I’m already really excited for 2027 and motivated to start working towards coming back strong,” de Wolf added.
Rasmus Jorgensen, team manager at Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, expressed his disappointment whilst remaining optimistic about de Wolf’s future prospects. “It’s obviously disappointing for Kay and for the whole team to see his season finish this way, especially after the level he showed in recent races. His rookie MXGP season has already demonstrated just how competitive he can be in the premier class, and the performances at Lommel and Arnhem were a real reflection of that.”
“The most important thing now is that he takes the time he needs to recover properly. We’ll support him fully through the surgery and rehabilitation process, and the focus is firmly on getting him back to 100 per cent for 2027. Kay is incredibly motivated, and we’re all looking forward to seeing him come back strong next season.”
Photo: Husqvarna Media
