Tim Gajser — known to the world as Tiga — is a national hero in Slovenia. Born on September 8, 1996 in Ptuj, a small city near the Austrian border, Gajser was introduced to motocross by his father Bogomir, who was himself a competitive rider. He signed with Honda HRC in 2014, won the MX2 World Championship in his first full season (2015), and then made history the following year by becoming the only rider to win the MXGP title as a rookie — at just 19 years old.
His championship record over the next decade was extraordinary: five world titles in MX2 and MXGP, 52 Grand Prix victories, and 125 podiums accumulated across 14 seasons of World Championship racing. For 12 years he raced exclusively for Honda HRC, becoming the most decorated rider in the team's MXGP history and a genuine icon of the sport. In 2026, in a seismic shift, he joined Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP. The blue suits him.
“I'm really excited to join the Yamaha family. After more than a decade with the same brand, it's exciting to be entering a new chapter in 2026, and a change like this brings fresh motivation. I join Yamaha with a clear objective: to add more world titles to my legacy.”
— Tim Gajser · Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGPThe Only MXGP Rookie Champion
Gajser's 2016 MXGP title — won in his first season in the premier class — remains unique in the championship's history. No other rider has gone from MX2 champion to MXGP champion in consecutive seasons. His five titles span nearly a decade: 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2022. Between championships he dealt with serious injuries — a broken femur in 2023 sidelined him for most of that season — but always came back stronger.
tiga243.com — Official Gajser Merch
Tiga243 is Tim Gajser's official merchandise brand — race wear, replica jerseys, lifestyle apparel, and fan gear bearing the #243 and the Tiga brand identity. The store at tiga243.com ships worldwide and carries officially licensed Gajser gear across multiple collections. It's the real store, designed by the team, for the fans who follow a five-time world champion into his Yamaha era.
Shop tiga243.com →The Yamaha Chapter
Gajser's transition to Yamaha for 2026 was driven by a desire for fresh motivation and a new challenge. He brings the most successful recent career in MXGP to a manufacturer that hasn't had a premier-class world champion since 2001 (Frenchman Mickael Pichon). Alongside teammate Maxime Renaux, the Monster Energy Yamaha squad is one of the strongest two-rider lineups in the field. And Gajser has a perfect record at the Sardegna circuit — three GP wins in Argentina, which happened to be the season opener. Watch #243 in the second half of the season when the hard-pack circuits suit his style perfectly.
✦ Tim Gajser — Career Highlights
- 5 World Championship titles (2015 MX2, 2016/2019/2020/2022 MXGP)
- 52 Grand Prix victories
- 125 career podiums
- Only rider to win MXGP title as a rookie (2016)
- 12 years with Honda HRC (2014-2025) — joined Yamaha 2026
- Born Ptuj, Slovenia — owns motocross track in hometown
- National hero: Slovenian fans known as Tiga Army
- Official merch: tiga243.com