Maggiora Magic: The History

The next stop on the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar we head to the old school circuit of Maggiora and of course, this magnificent track has a history much richer than many in Europe or for that matter, the world. When legendary East German Paul Friedrichs won a 500cc GP in 1966 at Maggiora, it was the only time that the 500cc class ever visited this splendid area, but it was the start of something very beautiful.

Nearly two decades later the 250cc class did compete at Maggiora with Dutchman Kees van Der Ven winning in 1982, then Alex Puzar in 1990, Andrea Bartolini in 1995 and Pit Beirer in 1999. Puzar would also win a 125cc GP in 1997.

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations has been run in Maggiora on three occasions, first in 1970 when team Sweden took victory, then of course one of the most historical Monster Energy FIM MXoN in the events history in 1986 when Team USA scored perfect points, with Ricky Johnson, David Bailey and Johnny O’Mara going 1-2 in all three races, before the MXoN returned back in 2016, when it was Team France who secured the Chamberlain Trophy in another dramatic day around the Italian facility.

“Maggiora will always live in my heart,” Ricky Johnson told. “The European fans were always kind to us, and on that day at Maggiora, such a special day in our sport and despite having beaten the European riders badly, the crowd still accepted us with open arms and showed a lot of respect. Any chance I get to return to Maggiora, I try and do, it is a beautiful place.”

Once the Grand Prix series moved to double and triple GPs Maggiora went missing from the calendar but did return under the watchful eye of Youthstream (now Infront). Acknowledging that these old school circuits were crucial for the sports legacy, Maggiora returned in 2013 as Gautier Paulin took the win in the MX1 (now MXGP) class and Jeffrey Herlings won in the MX2 class.

Italian legend Antonio Cairoli won in 2014 in MXGP and Herlings won again in MX2. A year later it was Romain Febvre winning MXGP on the way to his MXGP title and Tim Gajser beating Herlings by two points in MX2, with the Slovenian also winning the MX2 title in that season.

After the 2016 MXoN the Maggiora circuit again disappeared from the calendar and finally returned in 2021 and on this occasion, it was a strange day, as Jeffrey Herlings added to his MX2 success in 2013 and 2014 as he scored a very lopsided 6-1 result for the win.

“After the first race I was 7th or 6th behind Tim and got a stone between my rear brake and at one point I didn’t know what it was, so I had to stop, then my bike just shut off and then I found out pretty quick there was a stone in between. I lost many places and about 20 seconds I think and then I had to come back to 6th. I had to make a really late race charge. Before the second race, I was really bummed and that point and wanted to go for the win. Then just before I gave up it was pouring down rain and that was a bit unexpected, so I had to make a last-minute decision regarding the tyre, goggle and whatsoever. It was a stressful day” said Herlings.

Now as we return to Maggiora in a little more than a weeks’ time, we all know that while Herlings won’t be there to defend his 2021 victory, his big rival Tim Gajser, who of course beat Herlings at Maggiora in that MX2 victory in 2015 will want to not only add to his Maggiora success, but also extend his 2022 MXGP points standings. Whatever happens, we are in for a brilliant weekend in the warm sunshine of Italy as we once again celebrate this amazing circuit.