Mikkel Haarup Bio
Mikkel Haarup (born 15 September 2001) is a Danish professional motocross racer. Competing in the FIM Motocross World Championship from 2019 to 2024, he is a five-time podium finisher in the MX2 class and a three-time representative of Denmark at the Motocross des Nations. Currently riding for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, Haarup is widely regarded as one of Northern Europe’s most promising Grand Prix talents and a key figure in Triumph’s return to top-flight motocross.
Early Life and Background
Mikkel Haarup was born on 15 September 2001 in Silkeborg, Denmark. He began riding motocross at the age of three, and his talent became apparent early when he started beating riders on higher-capacity motorcycles at his local club. Encouraged by his progress, Haarup and his family later relocated to Belgium, a country widely considered the heartland of European motocross, so that he could pursue a professional career in the sport.
While competing in his home country and abroad on an 85cc machine, Haarup showed immediate promise. In 2014, he finished fourth in the 2014 European Motocross Championship on an 85cc motorcycle and won a bronze medal at the FIM Motocross Junior World Championship. That same year, he claimed the 85cc ‘Junior Cup’ at the ADAC MX Masters. These results quickly attracted factory attention, and he was signed by KTM as a factory-supported rider.
Path to NASCAR
This section does not apply to Mikkel Haarup, whose career is in motocross rather than stock car racing.
Mikkel Haarup Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
After his breakthrough 2014 season, Haarup moved up to the 125cc class in 2016 aboard a factory-backed Husqvarna. He enjoyed a strong campaign in the EMX125 class of the 2016 European Motocross Championship, recording a string of top-six results and his first overall podium with third place in Belgium, before finishing seventh in the final standings. He also placed third in the 2016 Dutch Masters of Motocross 125cc class.
Haarup’s 2017 season was his most successful as a junior. He opened the 2017 European Motocross Championship by winning both races at the opening round of the EMX125 class and repeated the double at rounds in Italy and Belgium. Despite winning more races than champion Brian Moreau, he finished runner-up in the standings. He also won the 2017 Dutch Masters of Motocross 125cc class and took silver at the FIM Motocross Junior World Championship.
MX2 Breakthrough (2018–2021)
For the 2018 European Motocross Championship, Haarup moved into the EMX250 class, missing several rounds but still recording two individual race wins in Latvia and Great Britain. Strong pre-season showings at the Hawkstone International prompted Husqvarna to promote him to the MX2 class of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship, where he struggled and scored only ten points before returning to the EMX250 class for the final two rounds.
In 2020, Haarup joined the Dutch F&H Kawasaki team for the MX2 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship, finishing third overall at the opening round before a broken thumb ended his season early. He completed every round of the 2021 MX2 championship, scoring consistently but missing the overall podium. That year also saw him make his Motocross des Nations debut for Denmark, helping the team to a tenth-place finish.
Staying on Kawasaki for 2022, Haarup switched to the British Big Van World MTX Kawasaki team. The change sparked his best season yet, with four overall podiums, three in a row from rounds three to five, and a final championship position of seventh. He began 2023 with the same team but left after the opening round in Argentina, joining the German WZ Racing Team to ride a KTM. An injury at the first Indonesian round ended his campaign.
Monster Energy Triumph Racing Era (2024–Present)
In the winter of 2023, Haarup was announced as part of the much-anticipated Monster Energy Triumph Racing team for his final year in the MX2 class, making him one of the first riders on Triumph’s return to motocross. He debuted on the new Triumph at the opening round of the 2024 Spanish Motocross Championship, winning the Saturday qualifying race and finishing second overall. He carried that form into the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship, securing third overall at the opening Grand Prix to give Triumph a podium on its MX2 debut.
Across the rest of 2024, Haarup added five more top-three race finishes and a second overall at the second Indonesian round, ending the season fifth in the MX2 standings. He also represented Denmark at the 2024 Motocross des Nations, helping his country to eleventh place. After ageing out of MX2 and with Triumph’s 450cc machine not yet ready for MXGP, Haarup was loaned to Triumph’s United States team for the 2025 AMA National Motocross Championship 250 class, where he became a regular top-six runner before a collarbone injury forced him out of the final two rounds. He still finished sixth overall and later raced the 2025 Motocross des Nations for Denmark.
Driving Style and Strengths
Haarup is known for his smooth, calculated riding style and his ability to adapt quickly to new machinery and unfamiliar circuits. His race craft shines on hard-pack and sandy terrain, and his composure under pressure has been central to his five MX2 podiums and his immediate competitiveness on the new Triumph platform.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature results, Haarup’s third overall at the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship opener marked Triumph’s MX2 debut, while his EMX125 doubles in 2017 remain a benchmark of his junior dominance. He has also represented Denmark at the Motocross des Nations in 2021, 2024, and 2025.
Mikkel Haarup Career Wins
Mikkel Haarup has built a reputation as a consistent podium contender rather than a frequent race winner at world championship level, recording five career podiums in the MX2 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship between 2019 and 2024. His breakthrough wins came at the EMX250 and EMX125 levels, including multiple double-race victories in the 2017 European Motocross Championship.
MX2 World Championship Highlights
Haarup’s most notable MX2 result came at the 2024 season opener in Spain, where he finished third overall to give Monster Energy Triumph Racing a podium on its Grand Prix debut. He added a second overall at the second Indonesian round of 2024 and ended the year ranked fifth in the MX2 standings, his best result since joining the world championship in 2019.
Other Wins & Performances
At the European Motocross Championship level, Haarup recorded two EMX250 race wins in 2018, in Latvia and Great Britain, and multiple EMX125 double-race wins in 2017. He was runner-up in the 2017 FIM Motocross Junior World Championship, won the 2014 ADAC MX Masters Junior Cup, and took the 2017 Dutch Masters of Motocross 125cc class.
Mikkel Haarup Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Mikkel Haarup’s parents and siblings is limited. His family played a central role in his early career, supporting his move from Denmark to Belgium so that he could train and compete in the heart of European motocross.
Personal Life
Haarup has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye. He continues to focus on his racing career with Monster Energy Triumph Racing, competing in the 2025 AMA Motocross Championship in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Haarup entered 2025 as part of Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s expanded United States programme, contesting the 250 class of the AMA National Motocross Championship. Despite arriving with limited American experience, he adapted quickly to the new tracks and racing style, establishing himself as a regular top-six contender by the middle of the season.
A pair of fourth overall results at rounds six and seven, the latter highlighted by a third-place finish in the second race, underlined his potential on the 250cc circuit. A collarbone injury forced him out of the final two rounds, but he still secured sixth place in the final 250 standings. Following a short recovery, he represented Denmark at the 2025 Motocross des Nations, where the team finished twentieth overall.