Alongside the Dunlop name, Laverty is woven into the fabric of Irish motorcycle racing.
Eugene, John and Michael all carved out successful careers at the very highest level, competing across everything from the British Superbike Championship to World Supersport, World Superbikes and MotoGP. Between them, they've lined up in just about every major championship the sport has to offer.
Racing is in the Laverty DNA. Their dad Michael made his mark as a successful Irish road racer, so it wasn't surprising his passion for racing was inherited by Michael, John and Eugene.
All three remain involved in racing in one way or another. But right now, Michael’s profile sits right up there - largely thanks to his work as a sharp, well-informed and engaging television pundit.
But that’s not even half the story.
Open the GRYD MLav Racing website and you quickly realise this isn’t just a team with a presence in Moto3, the third rung on the Grand Prix ladder. It’s a multi-layered operation.
Michael Laverty’s set-up also runs teams in the JuniorGP World Championship, the European Talent Cup and the British Talent Cup — (now rebranded Moto4) proper talent-development territory. The team has also recently announced its entry the BSB Sportbike class for 2026.
That’s a serious amount of plate-spinning.
Running one professional motorsport team is enough to keep most people fully occupied. Running several, across multiple championships and countries, is another level entirely. Yet somehow, Laverty makes it work.
If you’re a regular MotoGP viewer, you’ll know him as one of the key voices in the broadcast team. His years of racing experience, combined with an affable, easy delivery, make him one of the most insightful contributors on the grid. He speaks from experience — because he’s been there.
So, to recap: full-time broadcaster on Grand Prix weekends, Moto3 team owner, multi-championship operator — and that’s before you even get to the branding.
All team personnel are clad in smart GRYD gear. Why wear someone else’s sportswear when you can develop your own? It’s sharp kit too, and it reinforces the identity of an operation that’s clearly thinking long term.
Speaking to team members during pre-season testing in Portimao, the obvious question cropped up: how does he do it?
The consistent answer pointed to recruitment and delegation. Laverty has built a strong structure around him — experienced staff, clear roles, shared vision. He may be the figurehead, but it’s a properly organised set-up underneath. That formula has delivered steady progress so far, and there’s a sense that this project is still building rather than peaking.
2026: The Next Step
For 2026, GRYD MLav Racing lines up in Moto3 with two young riders carrying genuine potential.
Australian Joel Kelso, now 22, is already a seasoned Moto3 campaigner. A sixth-place finish in last season’s championship, along with four podiums, underlined his consistency and pace. The one thing missing from his CV is a Moto3 victory — but on the right Sunday, in the right conditions, that box could easily be ticked this year.
Alongside him is Leicester’s Eddie O’Shea, a points scorer last season who continues to develop steadily. He completes a line-up that blends experience with progression — very much in keeping with the wider GRYD MLav Racing philosophy.
And for Laverty, 2026 feels like another important step in the journey.
"I’m excited about the new season, signing Joel Kelso is possibly the breakthrough we need in terms of making the podium.
"For Eddie O Shea, it’s his second full season in Moto3. He developed a lot last year and he’ll learn from Joel who is one of the most experienced riders on the grid. Having his assistance and showing what the bike is capable of, will help Eddie take that next step.
"We’ve invested a lot and grown the team, changed a lot in terms of our staff.
"We’ve always been Honda powered which put us at a slight deficit versus the KTM’s at times. But we’ve pushed on and at the end of the season's first test in Jerez, Joel topped the times. He was immediately fast and seems happy in our team."
The Laverty name has always carried weight in racing circles. Now, through GRYD MLav Racing, it’s not just about past achievements — it’s about building something for the future.
So with MLav Racing and Casey O'Gorman lining up in this season's Moto3 World championship, there is plenty of Irish interest to keep us on the edge of our seats come each race day.
