November 9, 2026

Mathis Valin’s 2026 MX2 season: first GP win and return at Ernée

Portrait noir et blanc de Mathis Valin, pilote MX2 et ambassadeur BreathersBliss

On 3 October 2026, Mathis Valin won the Motocross of Nations MX2 qualifier at Ernée for France. The Kawasaki rider was back on the gate on home soil after three months away. Four months earlier, he had earned his first MX2 Grand Prix victory at Teutschenthal with a second place and a moto win.

The 2026 season, from Teutschenthal to Ernée

Valin won the junior 125cc world title in 2023 and the EMX250 European title in 2024 before moving up to world championship MX2 in 2025. In his second season he won in Germany, then missed part of the championship after a crash in Portugal. Kawasaki lists him 12th in the final standings. Saturday’s qualifier marked his return. Belgium won the team event on Sunday.

What’s next with Kawasaki in 2027

Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 confirmed its continued relationship with Valin and announced Francisco Garcia as his team-mate for 2027. MXGP’s published calendar lists the opener at Almonte in Andalucía on 28 February.

A closer look at the paddock

Mathis Valin represents Team BreathersBliss Europe and wears our nasal strips in his sport, as these photos show. Heat, a full-face helmet and repeated bouts of effort make motocross a practical place to talk about fit and comfort.

Meet Mathis Valin

Breathing in a helmet, moto after moto

The pace changes constantly in motocross. There is the start, braking through ruts, accelerating out and finding your rhythm again. Practise with your kit in hot or dusty conditions and use the gap between motos to catch your breath and drink. Let your breathing adapt to the effort as the pace rises.

Wearing nasal strips under a motocross helmet · How to adapt your breathing to exercise

What an external nasal strip does

The strip sticks across the nose. Its flexible centre gently pulls on the sides of the nose to help hold the nasal entrance open. The aim is local comfort. Research on external nasal dilators does not establish a gain in oxygen uptake, VO₂ max or motocross performance.

Trying Intense under a helmet

Start with clean, dry skin and skip creams or oils. Centre the strip and press down on both ends. Try it with your helmet and goggles in training. Each strip is single-use. The photographs show Mathis wearing black and pink BreathersBliss strips.

Mathis Valin in motocross kit wearing a black BreathersBliss nasal strip under his helmet

Mathis Valin wearing a pink BreathersBliss nasal strip in front of his Kawasaki

Explore Intense nasal strips

Hydration and electrolytes between motos

Sweat carries away water and salts, including sodium. Keep water within reach in the paddock. In hot weather or during repeated sessions, an electrolyte drink can supplement water according to your needs. Sodium, potassium and magnesium are electrolytes. Follow the dilution instructions on the packet.

Our motocross and enduro hydration guide · Shop Sport & Hydration Electrolytes

Team BreathersBliss Europe

Team BreathersBliss Europe brings together athletes who wear BreathersBliss in their sport. Meet our motocross ambassador, French MX2 rider Mathis Valin.

Meet Team BreathersBliss Europe