EMX250

RIOLA SARDO (Sardinia) 25 March 2023 – Day one at the MXGP of Sardegna has ended with some memorable RAM Qualifying Races in both MXGP and MX2 categories which were dominated by RedBull GasGas Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts.

A sunny day coupled with the now well-known sandy track of Riola Sardo made for some challenging conditions for the riders who cannot lose one moment of focus as we witnessed during this first day. 

Alongside the FIM Motocross World Championship races, we also saw the first races of the WMX and EMX250 categories which were won by and Lotte Van Drunen and Andrea Bonacorsi respectively.

The day was completed by the brand-new Paddock Show in front of number of fans who were able to be in close proximity with the stars. The guests were the winners of the RAM Qualifying Races' Jago Geerts and Jorge Prado, invited along with Andrea Adamo, Kiara Fontanesi and Calvin Vlaanderen. 

In a remake of the first round in Argentina, it was Jorge Prado who dominated the race through and led from start to finish again. The second place was also devoted to Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff who delivered a strong performance over the whole race keeping at bay in turn RedBull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha’s Calvin Vlaanderen and Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez. Coldenhoff eventually held his ground to finished second and grabbed 9 points. 

The third place was very disputed but while Herlings found himself third early on, he had to be patient as went down the order to 5^th on lap 7 although the Bullet capitalised on mistakes from Vlaanderen and Fernandez to get back up to third in the last 2 laps.

Brent van doninck from JM Honda Racing was one rider who displayed strong racing as he methodically went up the leaderboard from 6^th to 4^th while never get overtaken. Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre raced similarly to van doninck as he followed him throughout race to finish 5^th. 

Vlaanderen finished 8^th in the end although he showed some great speed and was fighting for the second spot as he closed on Coldenhoff when he suddenly crashed on lap 9, losing along the way precious points. Fernandez followed the same path as he was battling with Coldenhoff to end up crashing as well and finishing 6^th.  In between them was Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer who stayed pretty consistent to navigate his to the 7th place. 

RedBull GasGas Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini ended at the 9^th place while Benoit Paturel from De Baets Yamaha MX-Team made a very good race to end up in with one point and the 10^th place and staying the whole race within the top 10. 

Jorge Prado: “It was a very good day, another RAM Qualifying win and more points gained. I felt already good in the morning and I knew I had to get a good start to ride in front. I managed to put a gap between the second and keep it so I am very happy with this racing today”

MXGP – RAM Qualifying Race – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 25:00.149; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:01.450; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:03.253; 4. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:10.328; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:12.660; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:15.017; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:16.135; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:18.798; 9. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GASGAS), +0:33.688; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:41.399.

     
Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1. Glenn Coldenhoff; 2. Jeffrey Herlings

In RAM MX2 Qualifying Race, it was a similar fate than MXGP for the top place as Jago Geerts led from lap 1 to win his second RAM Qualifying Race in a row. Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay De Wolf who is known as a sand specialist was one rider who showed great determination as he passed Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Thibault Benistant on the first lap to then set his eyes on Simon Laengenfelder from RedBull GasGas Factory Racing over the next few laps. De Wolf eventually made a great overtake on the German to chase after Geerts for the lead. Although he settled for second in the end. 

Laengenfelder did keep his third position after that even if Benistant got close to him towards the end. Benistant raced in 4^th position after lap 1 until the end as he was not able to pass Laengenfelder and had to defend his place in the end to F&H Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo.

The 5^th position was held the whole way by Kevin Horgmo who kept RedBull Factory Racing’s Liam Everts at bay while making a charge on Benistant at the end. Everts comfortably kept the 6^th place.

While Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen had a similar racing story keeping his 7^th place after the first lap until the end, Andrea Adamo from RedBull KTM Factory Racing was eying a move on Coenen but had to settle for 8^th.

Finally, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Roan Van de Moosdijk got into the points as he moved up to 9^th on lap 3 while Rick Elzinga from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team moved down from 8^th to 10^th to fight this position with SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery’s Cornelius Toendel during few laps to hold his ground in the end in 10^th.

Jago Geerts: “Again a good race for me, Kay de Wolf was also pushing but I felt good on the track and I had a good pace. Today, riding felt very good. Even though this sand track is rough, I really like it” 

MX2 – RAM Qualifying Race – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), 24:44.614; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:05.879; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:11.037; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.812; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:25.140; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:33.796; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:40.644; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:49.158; 9. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Husqvarna), +1:06.718; 10. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha).

Main Photo: Jago Geerts

Bottom Photos: 1. Kay de Wolf; 2. Simon Laengenfelder

TIMETABLE (CEST)

SUNDAY: 9:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up , 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

Riola Sardo

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 20 March 2023 – The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship is going to Sardinia as the second round of the series will be held in Riola Sardo on 25-26 March!

Checkout the Timetable and Entry Lists for the MXGP of Sardegna below:

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

WMX ENTRY LIST 

EMX250 ENTRY LIST

Recently Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo was invited at the KNMV Motorsport Gala which took place at Studio 21 in Hilversum. During the prestigious event WMX World Champion Nancy van de Ven and EMX250 Champion Rick Elzinga were invited to receive exclusive awards for their achievements. van de Ven received the Hans de Beaufort Cup, the most prestigious Dutch prize in motorsport while Rick Elzinga was given the award for talent of the year.

Since 1947 the Hans de Beaufort Cup is given to Dutch riders who deliver a world-class performance and are ambassador of the sport off track, van de Ven not only got eventually a very much deserved WMX title, but also the Hans de Beaufort cup, as the first solo lady.

Nancy van de Ven: “I didn’t see this coming. But, when the band started playing Natural Woman I thought ‘no, it couldn’t be for me’. But it was!”

The EMX250 Champion Rick Elzinga, who will make his debut in MX2 in Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team,  received the Ben Major Trophy for talent of the year during the gala by Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: “Champions are the core of our sport. They give young riders a dream and a purpose. That’s why successes need to be celebrated with evenings like this. Rick you really deserve this award.” David Luongo said.

Rick Elzinga: “It was great to become European Champion, I have always worked for this. The team, my family, the bike, the feeling… Everything has to be right to put down such a season. The next step is of course to become World Champion. Hopefully I can do that in the future.”

Photo credits: Carla Gorter/KNMV

KTM’s fresh factory racing talent scheme structure for MXGP solidified even further for 2023 as promising youngsters Marc-Antoine Rossi and Ferruccio Zanchi were confirmed as part of the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team.

The French crew will enter a seventh year of collaboration with KTM, and the alliance will be closer and more productive than ever thanks to VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team’s new position as the talent ‘conduit’ for the company in the international motocross pyramid.

Based near Nantes and led by Mickaël Vrignon, with former motocross and Enduro star ‘Pela’ Renet at the head of management staff, the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team will work in European Championship competition and specifically the EMX250 category with KTM 250 SX-F machinery; the division is seen as the ‘final step’ before MX2 Grand Prix.

Marc-Antoine Rossi finished 8th in both the 2021 and 2022 EMX125 championships, both times riding the KTM 125 SX. The French 16-year-old grabbed his first moto victory and podium finish at his home round, LaCapelle Marival, in the summer of 2021 and appeared on the box again in 2022.

Like Rossi, Ferruccio Zanchi will make his debut in 2023 in EMX250 and with the KTM 250 SX-F. The Italian, also 16 years of age, has won three motos in EMX125 and registered another four top-three moto results in 2022 on the way to 7th in the standings.

As well as 2023 EMX250, Rossi and and Zanchi will be looking to gain even more experience and mileage in various domestic meetings and series in Europe, beginning already this winter and in the run-up to the new season.

Pela Renet, Team Manager: "The goal was to find young riders for the European EMX250 Championship and we worked with KTM to sign two youngsters and we are really happy with Ferruccio, a young Italian and Marc Antoine, a young Frenchman. They showed a great potential in EMX125 this season and although the transition from the 125 to the 250 is a big one they are working hard and they have a huge possibilities. For sure, the goal is to fight in front and to have the best results possible."

Mickael Vrignon, Team Owner: “Since the creation of the team in 2016, it has not stop growing and every year I try to find new solutions to keep improving. Last year, Pela started to work as trainer and this year we became the official factory junior team, and we were looking for riders with the ability to stand under our structure. Ferruccio and Marc-Antoine are two very promising riders and we can fight for good results with them. The objective has always been to form young riders to the highest level of competition and I am happy to try to reach this with KTM."

Marc-Antoine Rossi: “I am very happy to start this new adventure with the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team in EMX250. I can’t wait to start working with all the team to prepare the season and to make the move from 125 to 250 as smooth as possible.”

Ferruccio Zanchi: “I am very happy to finally have this great opportunity to ride for KTM VRT Team in the EMX250 for the 2023 season. It was not an easy choice but I strongly believe this is the right one for my personal and professional growth. I feel really good on the KTM 250 SX-F and I really look forward to start collaborating with KTM and the VRT Team for the upcoming year. So now let's enjoy!"

Robert Jonas, KTM Head of Motorsports Offroad: “We’re really pleased with how the junior program is looking now and thanks to our work with Mickael, Pela and the whole VRT team. Marc-Antoine and Ferruccio are two riders that are on the way to professional level and have stood out for their technique and their speed in the last couple of seasons in EMX125. We believe in their capabilities, and we want to give them a chance to attempt EMX250 for 2023 and continue their progression. We think there is some real potential there and we wish the guys the best of luck through the year.”

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to confirm the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team will field a strong three-rider line-up in 2023, while the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team will field an all-new and potent two-rider line-up for its 2023 EMX125 Championship campaign. Yamaha and Hutten Metaal have retained EMX250 title challenger Andrea Bonacorsi for a third season and are poised to welcome Ivano van Erp and Karlis Reisulis as they step up the Yamaha Racing pyramid. At the same time, Yamaha is excited to welcome Janis Reisulis and Julius Mikula to the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team. All five riders will campaign GYTR-kitted versions of the YZ250F and YZ125 in their respective championships.

Impressive right from the get-go, Bonacorsi has been a force to be reckoned with during his first two seasons with Yamaha inside the highly competitive EMX250 class. The young Italian celebrated two race wins and three podium finishes in his rookie season and added to that with another race win and four pieces of podium silverware, of which one was a maiden overall victory, in 2022. Going into his third consecutive season in the MX2-feeder class, the goal for ‘Bona’ is clear; he is going for the title. 

As a two-time Junior World Champion, having claimed the 65cc World Championship title in 2017 and the 125cc crown this year, Dutch prodigy Van Erp is looking forward to his debut season in EMX250 with the Dutch-based Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team. The 17-year-old talent joins Yamaha’s Official EMX250 squad after five years with Yamaha and three brilliant years with the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team in the EMX125 Championship, in which he celebrated seven stunning race wins and six overall victories aboard a GYTR-kitted YZ125. 

Like Van Erp, K.Reisulis will also move up the Yamaha Racing Pyramid after two incredible years with the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team. In 2021, the Latvian bounced back from a costly pre-season injury to end his first full EMX125 term with two podium finishes. The 16-year-old eventually proved his true potential, starting this year fit and healthy to finish as the EMX125 Championship runner-up after a brilliant race win and five podium finishes. 

All set for an exciting EMX125 campaign, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team is thrilled to welcome two of Europe’s quickest youngsters, J.Reisulis and Mikula. J.Reisulis, the younger brother of K.Reisulis, has already established himself as a name for the future. The phenomenally talented young Latvian made his EMX125 debut in 2022 and, at the tender age of 13, finished on the podium at round one. He then continued his stunning form throughout the year and ended the season third overall with five podium finishes, which includes a stunning round win in Lommel, Belgium. 

Mikula enjoyed a solid second term inside the EMX125 Championship in 2022, proving his potential with a podium finish in Lommel, Belgium, and a further two top-five finishes during the season. 

Andrea Bonacorsi, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250: “I’m really happy to stay with Yamaha and the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team for a third straight year. I had a really good rookie season with them, which I am proud of, although this year was a bit tougher. The team always supported me through the highs and lows, and I have learned a lot. After these past two seasons, I feel stronger and ready for the challenge of taking the title next season!”

Ivano Van Erp, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 rider: “I have been inside the Yamaha Family for five years, so it feels amazing to stay with Yamaha for another season. It’s always nice to be on the Official team, even more so when you are a rookie. I was already practicing on a YZ250F at the start of this season, so I know I like the bike and I’m looking forward to racing it next year. As a rookie, I will arrive with no expectations. It’s important I take the experience, have fun and enjoy my riding.”

Karlis Reisulis, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 rider: “It sure feels great to stay with Yamaha and to join the Official EMX250 team, which I know operates at a high level. I think it is a great opportunity and a great way to start my EMX250 chapter. After two good years with Yamaha, I have already been riding on a YZ250F, and I love the bike. I will go into next year aiming to qualify at every round and score good points. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Janis Reisulis, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Rider: “I am really excited to join Yamaha and the MJC team. It’s a great opportunity for me, and I look forward to the new chapter. I always dreamed of racing a YZ125, so this is a little flex! I’ve done some testing and riding on the bike, and I think my YZ125 is perfect. I enjoy riding it. In 2023, my goal is to win the European Championship and it would be perfect to add a world title to my list of achievements too.”

Julius Mikula, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Rider: “I’m very excited to join Yamaha. I look forward to the new experience. It is very motivating, and I already feel good and confident on the YZ125. I want to be top three in the European Championship next year and top three in the world too. The plan of attack is to stay healthy and keep improving.”

Thorsten Lentink, Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator: “2023 will be an exciting year for us inside both EMX250 and EMX125 Championships. We are happy to keep Andrea in blue for another year and have him lead the way with his strength and experience in the EMX250 class for our youngsters, Karlis and Ivano, making a step up the Yamaha Racing Pyramid. It’s always a pleasure to keep talented riders, like these three, within the Yamaha Family. We’re also pleased to strengthen our relationship with Hutten Metaal as it enters its fourth year as our Official EMX250 team.
In the 125 ranks, we have an exciting season ahead as we welcome two very talented youngsters to the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team. Janis, the younger brother of Karlis (Reisulis), is a rider we have watched intently this season and were very impressed with his speed and ability. Despite his young age, he has quickly progressed to the top of the ranks in the EMX125 class and is a hugely exciting prospect for the future. We are also happy to welcome Julius, a rider who has made incredible progress inside the EMX125 class over the past two seasons and a rider that we are confident will continue to grow and develop with our support.”

Fantic Racing is extremely happy to announce the 2023 lineup. 

Tom Guyon will lead the team in the FIM Motocross World Championship MX2; Hakon Osterhagen, Cas Valk and Alexis Fueri will race in the FIM Europe Motocross Championship EMX250, while Elias Escandell and Maximilian Werner in the EMX125.

The cherry on the cake is Lynn Valk riding the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship.

The Team looks very strong and motivated with the same goal and vision: giving their best every day.

Before the start of the season the Fantic Team will work to be ready and sharp for the first gate to drop.

Photo copyrights: Fantic Racing

AFYONKARAHISAR (Turkey) 4^th September 2022 – The annual MXGP Awards celebrated yet another successful season of the FIM Motocross World Championship at the final round at the Bitci MXGP of Turkiye!

Once the chequered flag had fallen for the final time this season and the 2022 World Champions were officially confirmed with gold medals, it was time to begin the festivities with the annual ceremony.

The awards took place in the Moto Festival area at the Afyon circuit, in front of a huge crowd of fans and paddock personnel who joined in on the celebrations, which was the perfect end to a thrilling season of racing.

The MXGP Awards were hosted by the MXGP-TV Commentator Paul Malin and MXGP-TV Presenter Lisa Leyland with the entire event live-streamed worldwide on www.MXGP-TV.com, as well as MXGP’s YouTube channel.

The evening kicked off with a special message from Infront Moto Racing’s CEO David Luongo and FIM President Jorge Viegas who shared a few words about the 2022 season and took the opportunity to congratulate everyone for their efforts.

Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: “First of all, Thank you all for coming to this fantastic Gran Prix here in Turkiye. Big thanks to the Governor, the Mayor, the Turkish Motorcycling Federation, the Organizer and everybody who made this event possible. This season has been a challenging one, being the first one post-covid. It was amazing to have the overseas back, with Argentina the first one, which was a big symbol and then Indonesia and other events that were missing during the previous two years, like Sweden and Finland. And also having the public back at the races was a very big and important moment. In MXGP, we have a great Champion as Tim Gajser who did not have it easy, with plenty of fast guys behind him pushing to win. And MX2… What can I say? It was incredible. Big Congratulations to Tom but also Jago who pushed hard and gave it his all. This evening it’s great to have all of the Champions with us, including the Junior and European champions, really it’s a full package here to celebrate. Thank you to all of the teams and riders for the support, motocross is a big family and everyone involved works incredibly hard to deliver a great championship like the one we saw again this year. Thank you all, enjoy your evening”.

FIM President Jorge Viegas: “Thank you so much to everyone in Turkiye, my friends, the riders, teams and special thanks to the public. What a better scenery than here, beautiful place and people. We had a wonderful championship which was decided today. We look forward to coming back even better next year. Enjoy your evening with the best riders in the world”.

The Awards ceremony officially began, as the winning teams and manufacturers were presented with their awards. Team HRC and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing received their winners’ plaques for securing the MXGP and MX2 titles, while Yamaha swept the manufacturer titles in MXGP, MX2 and WMX.

This year’s champions received their prizes next, with Timoteï Cez being the first to collect his award for winning the Junior e-Motocross series, followed by Ricardo Bauer the EMX65 Champion, Vitezslav Marek who won the EMX85 title, EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Champion Cas Valk, EMX250 Champion Rick Elzinga, as well as the WMX, EMX2t and EMX Open Champions, Nancy Van de Ven, Toms Macuks and Jose Butron.

We also celebrated the FIM Junior World Champions in 125cc (Ivano Van Erp), 85cc (Gyan Doensen) and Lucas Leok who was the 2022 65cc World Cup Winner.

This year, Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Simon Längenfelder was the recipient of the Jan de Groot Award that honours the most promising young talent. Längenfelder was impressive this season as he ended the year third in the MX2 standings with 2 race wins, five podiums, including his Grand Prix win in Great Britain!

Additionally, Tom Vialle and Jorge Prado were presented with the Fox Holeshot Award, for their incredible starts this season. For Prado, this was his fifth consecutive Fox Holeshot Award, while for Vialle it was his third.

And then it was time to find out which MXGP rider was the winner of the Best Rider of the Year Sponsored by Athena prize! The newly crowned MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser was declared winner, having received the most fans’ votes in total throughout the 2022 season.

The evening then concluded with the awards for the two FIM Motocross World Champions, Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle who each received their championship plates, along with their champions rings as part of their prizes for this season.

Here is the complete list of winners, below:

MXGP Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

MXGP Winning Team: Team HRC

MX2 Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

MX2 Winning Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

WMX Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

WMX Winning Team: Ceres 71 Racing

“Jan De Groot” Award (cheque €5.000): Simon Längenfelder

Junior e-Motocross Series: Timoteï Cez

EMX65 European Champion: Ricardo Bauer

EMX85 European Champion: Vitezslav Marek

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing European Champion: Cas Valk

EMX250 European Champion: Rick Elzinga

EMX2T European Champion: Toms Macuks

EMX Open European Champion: Jose Butron

65cc Junior World Cup Winner: Lucas Leok

85cc Junior World Champion: Gyan Doensen

125cc Junior World Champion: Ivano Van Erp

Women’s Champion: Nancy Van de Ven

MXGP Best Media Opportunity: Indonesia

MXGP Best Promotion: Turkiye

Best Rider of the Year, Sponsored by Athena: Tim Gajser

Fox Holeshot Award MXGP and MX2: Jorge Prado & Tom Vialle

MXGP Best Organizer: France, Ernée

MX2 World Champion: Tom Vialle

MXGP World Champion: Tim Gajser

All the photos from the MXGP Awards will be available HERE.

Missed the MXGP Awards? Watch the replay HERE!

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

Afyonkarahisar