After six years together, Martin Michek and Orion – Moto Racing Group announced their parting on Wednesday.

A double-digit national motocross champion in the Czech Republic and FIM Motocross World Championship competitor, Michek joined MRG in 2019 with the goal of racing the Dakar Rally. After being set back by mechanical issues at his debut in 2020, he broke through with an impressive tenth-place run the following year, the highest finish for a Czech rider since Stanislav Zloch finished tenth in 1998.

After a tough 2022 race, he bounced back with an 11th in 2023 and tenth in 2024. In January, what was ultimately his final Dakar for MRG ended with a rock destroying his KTM’s chain in Stage 4.

He also won the FIM Bajas World Cup in 2021.

While he hasn’t announced his future plans, Michek is expected to continue his partnership with Hoto Motorcycle, a new Chinese manufacturer that debuted at Dakar this year. In his first race with the marque, the Taklimakan Rally in May, he led a Hoto podium sweep with Arūnas Gelažninkas and Shi Haoyu.

Hoto was formed in 2024 after Kove Moto fractured following the departure of Zhang Xue. Although MRG formed an alliance with Kove that began with the Baja Aragón last month, Krajčovič stressed this was not the reason for Michek’s departure. In fact, he left the door open for a possible reunion in the future if things align.

“Martin isn’t 20 anymore and wants to try something new, which is understandable,” Krajčovič explained. “We are happy that we told each other how things were. The will to work together again, in whatever form, is still there. We’ll see what the coming years bring. Nothing says we can’t sit down in a year or two and continue to race together.”

Likewise, Michek explained he wasn’t severing ties to the team by leaving.

“It’s just a switch track for us that can bring us together again someday,” he commented. “We’ll continue to help each other, and we both fulfill some dreams. We’ve had six years together, and maybe there will be more. I don’t want to thank the team because I don’t see it as the end, but I’m still grateful for what we’ve accomplished and experienced together, and I wish them only the best.”

Michek’s exit means Milan Engel is now the lead rider for MRG. The team plans to bring in more riders for the Rallye du Maroc in October, hoping to capitalize on their new partnership with Kove.

Featured image credit: Florent Gooden / DPPI / ASO