Having recently signed to be the KRT rider in MXGP for the 2027 season, Pauls Jonass has just completed his second year with the Kawasaki Racing Team with the bonus of a best ever result for his native Latvian team at MXoN. Over to you Pauls.

Team Latvia got its best ever result at the MX of Nations with a fourth overall - a very good weekend for you?

Jonass: This 2026 Nations event was really, really nice. The atmosphere was, as always, incredible… but this year it was the best Nations I’ve ever been to with the atmosphere, the people around and everything. It was a really special, very well organised event. The French fans were as always there to support all riders but I also met many Latvian fans who travelled to support us at this special event. With Janis and Karlis we achieved the best result ever for Latvia, it made it even more special and it was a very positive weekend.

What is the MX of Nations for you? Just another GP?

Jonass: The Nations, I take it let says as another MXGP event talking about preparation beforehand but its still slightly different as there is the team aspect. For me the last few years I have been racing with two young guys who were very motivated. I was a kind of the captain so it brings more responsibilities and I try to bring some experience to the team, which I really enjoyed. It’s always special this event; when you put the national jersey on to represent your country and when you get a top result like this year it’s even better.

Next year you will enter your third season with Kawasaki, but this time as the leader of the MXGP assault. What do you expect?

Jonass: Yes it will be my third year with Kawasaki, and I’m very happy as it’s always nice to keep building from year to year, not starting from zero each time. The team has been working really hard, we know each other, everything is really well organised which help a lot. For sure next year as I will be the single MXGP rider it brings more responsibilities and more pressure. But I’m ready for the challenge and we plan to take a step forward, for myself as a rider and just a big step forward as a team.

No more races this year, but there’s another season to prepare for?

Jonass: The racing season is over, and now I will jump on testing with the new bike plus I will attend the European press launch of the 2027 machine in Barcelona. Preparation for the next season starts now, so the program for the next weeks is testing and preparation for 2027. After that I will take a few weeks off to recover, recharge, and then already back to the job as the season will approach. From testing side, I enjoy that when the season is over, or during the pre-season, when you have time to make improvements to the bike and work together with the staff and engineers. Of course, our plan is to step forward again for next year.

In 2027 you will be the ‘veteran’ of the team, with two young and promising talents racing MX2 within KRT; what can you bring to them?

Jonass: Next year I will have two young MX2 teammates and for sure if they need some advice, I will be always open to talk with them and share my experience with them. We will try to create the best possible team environment to make a step forward as a team, together. From my side I will be a ‘veteran’ in the team, I will try to help them to make another step and share my knowledge to create the best possible platform for success.