Thibault Benistant (born 31 July 2002) is a French professional motocross rider, currently competing in the MXGP World Championship.
Career Benistant has won several European Motocross Championships, including the EMX 125 in 2018 and the EMX 250 in 2020. In 2020, he signed a multi-year contract with Yamaha Motor Europe to race in the MX2 World Championship with a YZ250FM in the MX2 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Team.
During his rookie season in the World Championship, Benistant achieved two race victories and secured a podium finish at the MX2 Czech Republic Grand Prix. Despite missing the final two rounds due to injury, he finished 8th in the 2021 MX2 World Championship.
In 2022, Benistant faced a setback when he had to take five months off the bike to recover from a knee injury, causing him to miss the first three rounds of the season. However, he returned to the track and claimed a MX2 Grand Prix victory, four race wins, and five GP podiums. Despite the injury, Benistant finished 5th in the 2022 MX2 World Championship.
Thibault has been forced to withdraw from the MXGP World Championship following a serious crash at the French Grand Prix in Lacapelle-Marival on 24 May 2026. Thibault is reported to have lost the use of his legs; a fundraising campaign has been launched to support him and his family and to help him return to racing as soon as possible.
MXGP Results Year Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Rnd5 Rnd6 Rnd7 Rnd8 Rnd9 Rnd10 Rnd11 Rnd12 Rnd13 Rnd14 Rnd15 Rnd16 Rnd17 Rnd18 Rnd19 Rnd20 AverageFinish PodiumPercent Place 2020 MX2OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT 764 OUT - - 5.67 -22nd 2021 MX2 11 7 5 11 3 4 5 9 4 6 12 7 8 19 12 6 OUT OUT - - 8.00 6% 8th 2022 MX2 OUT OUT OUT745113 6313 26 7 726 - - 4.87 40% 5th 2023 MX2331610513 35 9 DNF DNF OUT OUT OUT55 - - 4.54 46%9th 2024 MX2 4 6 8 2 3 5 OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT 6 10 7 3 5.40 30% 11th 2025 MX2 11 8 3 15 3 7 9 5 6 10 5 6 4 7 12 5 13 8 OUT OUT 7.61 11% 7th 2026 MXGP 9 ARG OUT AND OUT SUI 28 SAR 13 TRE DNF FRA OUT GER OUT LAT OUT ITA OUT POR OUT RSA OUT GBR OUT CZE OUT FLA OUT SWE OUT NED OUT TUR OUT CHN OUT AUS - 16.67 - 30th
References
External links Thibault Benistant at the MXGP website Thibault Benistant at the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory website
Thibault Benistant at the Official Yamaha Racing website