Tanel Leok (born 1 June 1985)"Tanel Leok" From www.yamaha-racing.com, Retrieved July 1, 2009. is an Estonian professional motocross racer. He has competed in the Motocross World Championships since 2001.
Early life Leok was born in Võru, Estonia and currently resides in Balen, Belgium. His father, Arvo Leok, was a motocross rider and introduced his son to the sport at a young age. He lived in Estonia and attended Sõmerpalu Primary school until he was 16 years old when he decided to pursue his racing career full-time.
Career
Early career Leok became the first rider with two junior world titles to his credit, winning the 85 cc FIM world cup in 2000 and the 125cc FIM Junior World Cup in 2001. He turned semi-professional midway through the 2001 season, and qualified for a number of GP races at 15 years of age. He claimed his first senior title in 2001 as well, being crowned German 125cc champion. His hard-charging and unmistakable racing style earned him the moniker "The Estonian Express."
2002–2003: KTM In 2002, Leok's first professional team was Vangani Racing KTM His teammates were Tyla Rattray and Ben Townley. In 2003, the Vangani Racing team metamorphosed into Bruforce Racing, still on KTM motorcycles. Leok had by now definitely broken through in the top level of motocross world.
2004: Suzuki After a few successful races in the 125cc class in 2003, Leok successfully shifted to 250 cc class for the Motovision Racing Suzuki team in 2004. He made a huge impact during this season, being the only remaining top level rider on a two-stroke machine in the class. His reputation was solidified with a number of furious on-track battles with the hotshots of the class, such as multiple world champion Stefan Everts.
2005–2008: Kawasaki
At the end of the 2004 season, Leok signed a two-year contract with the Kawasaki factory team of legendary champion maker Jan De Groot. Leok claimed his first podium in FIM Motocross World Championships MX1 class on 2 April 2006 at Zolder, Belgium. This contract was renewed for another two-year term at the end of the 2006 racing season."Leok inks two year deal with kawasaki" From londonbikers.com, July 5, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2009. After having claimed numerous GP podiums in the preceding year, Leok won his first MX1 Grand Prix in Ireland in 31, August 2008.Tanel Leok won in Ireland From www.mxlarge.com, August 31, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2009. He claimed 9 podiums and 1449 points with kawasaki team.
2009: Yamaha
At the end of the 2008 season, Red Bull Yamaha De Carli announced that they will move on to MX1-GP in the 2009 season and the riders will be Antonio Cairoli and Tanel Leok."Tanel Leok Joins Yamaha Red Bull De Carli" From www.vitalmx.com, November 5, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2009. The 2009 season started off well for the Estonian, winning the Italian MX1 motocross championships by a margin of five points over Cairoli (158–153).2009 Italian MX1 motocross championships Results From mxrealtime.com, March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2010. He won the first GP of the season in Faenza, Italy, and was the first holder of the red plate marking him as world championship leader."Tanel Leok wins at rain plagued faenza" From www.hyundai.eu, March 29, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009. The 2009 season was a steady season for Leok, who only had two retirements: the first race in Latvia and the second race in Brazil.
2010: Honda Leok signed with Honda on September 27, 2009, and for the 2010 season he was the in LS Motors Honda team, which his teammate being Davide Guarneri."Tanel Leok And His Move To LS Motors Honda" From mxlarge.com, September 29, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009. In his first season with LS Motors Honda team, Leok chose his "legendary" riding number 40, he started riding in MX1 class with this number in 2004. In addition, he got his first personal driving trainer – Marnicq Bervoets, this is very important renewal for Leok. His first competition with Honda was on February 7, 2010, in the Mantua Starcross. He had good starts, placed third in second race and first in third race, overall place was sixth, because he retired first race.Mantova 2010 Results From mxlarge.com, February 8, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010. Tanel Leok finished second to Guarneri in Italian MX1 motocross championships. Leok lost the championship by 17 points (152–135). On May 16, 2010, Leok won the second race and was the overall winner in the Grand Prix of Catalunya."Grand Prix of Catalunya – Musquin and Leok win in Spain" From mxlarge.com, May 16, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
2011: TM In September 2010, Leok signed with TM Racing Factory Team."Tanel Leok joins TM Racing Factory with high ambitions" From motocrossmx1.com, September 18, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010. His first competition with TM was on February 19–20, 2011 in Mantova Starcross. Leok finished second in all three races and were also second overall behind David Philippaerts."LEOK GUIDES TM TO SECOND ON FIRST OUTING" From moto.mpora.com, February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010. The 2011 season was poor season for Leok, he had several crashes and technical problems with bike. The best moment of this season was a holeshot win in the Grand Prix of Czech Republic and the worst moment was the crash in the Grand Prix of Great Britain."Billy MacKenzie Tanel Leok Hard Crash – GP Of Great Britain – 21.08.2011 " From youtube.com, August 22, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
2012: Suzuki In October 2011, Leok signed with Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 team, this is Suzuki factory team. His teammate in 2012 season was Clement Desalle."Factory Suzuki for Tanel Leok in 2012" From moto.mpora.com, October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011. On February 5, 2012, Leok battled snow and icy conditions to race to second place overall against 1080 riders at Enduropale du Touquet Beach Race in northern France, less than two minutes behind overall winner Jean-Claude Mousse."Leok second in Le Touquet 2012" From mxlarge.com, February 5, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2013. Leok's best race in the 2012 season was in the Benelux GP, where he got his only podium in the season.
2013: Honda and TM
In September 2012, Leok signed for British motocross team Route77energy MVR-D Honda. His teammate in 2013 season was Jason Dougan."Tanel Leok back in the UK with Route77energy MVR-D Honda" From moto.mpora.com, 13 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012. On 2 June, Leok crashed heavily and broke his collarbone, causing him two miss two races. At the end of the month, Route77 Honda withdrew from the World Motocross Championship due to financial problems."Tanel Leok murdis Briti motokrossi etapil rangluu" From postimees.ee, 4 June 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013. Prior to the Swedish Grand Prix, Leok rejoined the TM Racing Factory Team."Tanel Leok oli sunnitud hooaja keskel tiimi vahetama" From sport.err.ee, 29 June 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
2014: TM
In November 2013, Leok re-signed for Italian motocross team TM Ricci Racing. His teammate in 2014 season was Davide Guarneri."Leok stays and Guarneri joins him at TM Ricci Racing" From moto.mpora.com, 11 November 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014. TM Ricci Racing rider Leok did not have the best of starts to the season mostly due to a knee injury he picked up in the off-season.
2015: Kawasaki
For 2015, Leok signed an agreement with the British-based LPE Kawasaki Team for next year. After a long time in the Grand Prix's, Leok would focus himself on the British MX1 Championship and the MX Nationals in Great Britain. Leok had a good season racing the British Championship and finished second in the championship under the LPE Kawasaki.
2016–2025: Husqvarna
Tanel Leok has once again inked a deal to join up with the MVR-D team for the third time in his career. His team clearly kept in good terms and Leok would now be racing the British championship for them in 2016 – the team have decided to run Husqvarna's in 2016 switching from the Honda machine."Tanel Leok signs with MVR-D Husqvarna" From gatedrop.com, 1 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
In September 2016, Leok signed with 8Biano Husqvarna racing team. His teammate in 2017 season was Rui Goncalves.[Larranaga and Leok sign with 8Biano Husqvarna "http://gatedrop.com/larranaga-and-leok-sign-with-8biano-husqvarna/"] From gatedrop.com, 27 September 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
Leok, a former factory rider, turned 2018 season privateer and team manager of his own A1 Motorsport Husqvarna team.[Oma tiimi loonud Tanel Leok: ei saanud Husqvarna tuge raisku lasta "https://sport.err.ee/688526/oma-tiimi-loonud-tanel-leok-ei-saanud-husqvarna-tuge-raisku-lasta"] From sport.err.ee, 9 March 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
Leok has the world record of the most Motocross of Nations performances, he has 19 straight years and 19 times in the final. He achieved his 19th race in 2019 Motocross des Nations[Interview: Tanel Leok on his 19th MXoN & A1M Motorsport "https://gatedrop.com/interview-tanel-leok-on-his-19th-mxon-a1m-motorsport/#.X6_vdWgzaUk"] From gatedrop.com, 6 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
The A1 Motorsports Husqvarna privateer lined-up during 2020 season the second race here in Kegums, making it his 500th Grand Prix race attendance of his professional racing career, an incredible achievement for the Estonian rider.[500th GP Race Attendance for Tanel Leok! "https://www.mxgp.com/news/500th-gp-race-attendance-tanel-leok"] From mxgp.com, 9 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020. Leok announced on 3 November 2020 that, the Kegums round in Latvia next year would be the last of his 20-year career.[Tanel Leok announces retirement after 20-year motocross career "https://news.err.ee/1154379/tanel-leok-announces-retirement-after-20-year-motocross-career"] From news.err.ee, 3 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
After competing in the 2024 Motocross des Nations, Leok holds the world record for the MX of Nations with 22 participations.[Tanel Leok: The Estonian Express "https://mxnews-online.com/en/tanel-leok-the-estonian-express/"] From https://mxnews-online.com/, 18 September 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
Career summary