LAKEWOOD, Colorado: In their first 450 Pro Motocross season, Mikkel Haarup threatens to give Factory Triumph its first top-five finish in the premiere class. In fact, he almost did so last week in the Hangtown Motocross Classic, spending the first five laps inside that mark before fading slightly to seventh.
Triumph spent its first two seasons in the 250 class only, gaining experience and developing the big bike. Haarup’s experience in MXGP, finishing as high as fifth in the 2024 MX2 class, made him a natural fit for the outdoors.
The checkered flag had not yet waved over the 2025 season when he was rumored to be the rider of choice for this year’s 450 Motocross debut.
“I think [the 450] suits me,” Haarup told NBC Sports between Friday’s practice sessions at Thunder Valley Motocross Park. “I’m a bigger guy; I’m six foot right now, and plus 180 pounds, so I’m a heavy guy, especially for 250. And not that that’s really an excuse. Even on a 250 you can make it work I did last year.”
Haarup finished sixth in the Motocross championship last year, despite breaking a collarbone in a violent mid-air at Unadilla, with three rounds remaining. He scored back-to-back fourth-place finishes at RedBud and Spring Creek on the 250.
On the bigger bike, the first two rounds of the 2026 season have been textbook, according to Haarup.
“Last year, it was the same sort of progress that I had,” Haarup said “It seems like we are building something. I was in a position for potential top-five [in the first Hangtown moto]. In the second moto, I had the crash down the hill, while in a good position. Obviously you never know where you’re going to end up, but at least I put myself in a good position for a top-five overall.”
Haarup finished 12th in the moto and ninth overall, the first Triumph 450 Motocross top-10.
Haarup’s crash in the second Hangtown moto collected Justin Cooper. The crash was immediately ahead of Cooper, and with nowhere to go since, Cooper ran over Haarup’s bike. That could have ended both riders weekend. Haarup made the second gate drop.
He had to come through the field in Moto 2, but Haarup sees a silver lining in that as well.
“I’m not stressed about [the challenge he faced last week],” Haarup said. “I’m very happy with what we’ve managed to do and I was actually happy having to come from the back in that second moto, getting that experience of having to pass. That’s the really first moto on the 450 where I’ve had to pass people. So I enjoyed that a lot and hopefully we are going to keep progressing as we have been and would be cool to get some top fives.”
