A historic weekend for Czech Motocross and Julius Mikula

Julius Mikula delivered a landmark performance at the fourth round of the 2026 MX2 World Championship in Riola Sardo, Italy, securing a career-best sixth place overall. Riding for the Osicka Racing team on his KTM 250 SX-F, the Czech rider impressed by competing closely with the top factory riders on one of the season’s most challenging sand tracks. Mikula’s result marks a significant milestone not only for himself but also for the Osicka team and Czech motocross, setting a new national record in the MX2 category. Mikula’s weekend began strongly with an 11th place in the qualifying race, before he pushed to the front during Sunday’s motos. In the first race, he ran in the lead group, fending off competitors such as Liam Everts and finishing fifth—the best moto result of his career—while also posting the second-fastest lap time. Although he started well in the second moto, running third early on, he eventually dropped to eighth after some mistakes, narrowly missing out on a top-five overall finish by a single position. This achievement surpasses Mikula’s previous best of ninth place at the 2025 Cózar GP, a result that had equalled a 22-year-old Czech record held by Jiří Čepelák. By finishing sixth overall in Sardinia, Mikula now holds the highest MX2 World Championship finish ever recorded by a Czech rider, underscoring his rapid progress and the effectiveness of the Osicka Racing team under Martin Osicka’s leadership. The result also highlights Mikula as the first non-factory rider in 2026 to break into the top five of an MX2 moto, a feat last achieved by only a handful of riders the previous year. Reflecting on his performance, Mikula described Riola Sardo as the toughest track in the world due to its deep and demanding sand conditions. He expressed satisfaction with his results and gratitude for the support he received throughout the weekend. Currently, Mikula sits eleventh in the overall MX2 World Championship standings, just behind the leading non-factory rider Kay Karssemakers, signalling his growing competitiveness in the series and potential for further breakthroughs as the season progresses.