Countdown for Matterley Basin is on!

The countdown is truly on, as the best MXGP and MX2 riders make their way to the south of England for the opening round of the FIM World Motocross Championship. Riders from all over the world, from Australia, America, South Africa, and all over Europe arriving in England for what could be one of the greatest starts to a world motocross championship ever.

Former GP rider Max Anstie is excited to be attending the opening round of the MXGP championship as a spectator. The former Monster Energy FIM MXoN 1-1 performer at Matterley knows a little about going fast around the circuit in the valley and feels the big guns in MXGP will shine.

“I think Jeffrey and Gajser,” Anstie said. “It's difficult to battle with them, and I know that they will put the work in. Maybe third, could be Desalle, or maybe Evans. Mitch Evans will be good. Just thinking where to put Ben (Watson). I think the first race top three, and of course it would be amazing if he won, but I would be happy if he gets third, that is like winning. Then you have Vialle, and Olsen. Olsen will be strong, depends on how his hand is”.

Ben Watson will have the whole British contingent watching and hoping he can produce a stunning performance, similar to Tommy Searle in 2012 when he slayed Jeffrey Herlings around the Matterley Basin circuit.

“It is the British GP,” Watson said. “I feel I am one of the ones fighting for wins and I have worked for that, and I expect that from myself. I am not thinking about what the British fans are thinking, because that won’t help me. I learnt that last year and if it doesn’t go well now, even if I am not in the top five, I am not going to worry, it is a long season and I just keep working. You see a lot of the time some people who start strong at the start of the season are not strong at the end of the season, and you have to structure yourself and try and be strong all season, but everyone will have a bad weekend and crashes and you just have to stay consistent and try not to think about everything. I am not going there thinking I want to be careful, I just go there and do my best, but a top five is okay, but I am going there to win. When you are riding properly, that is when you ride best anyway.”

In just a few days’ time, the whole World will be watching as the best motocross riders in the world go head to head and try and gain momentum over their rivals. While it is a British held event, and the majority of fans will be from the homeland of motocross, you can be sure the hills will be filled with airhorns from Italy and France, and the atmosphere is going to be electric.