EMX85

KTM Factory Racing, a major player in international motocross in recent years, is not only committed to fielding strong and competitive factory teams but also to nurturing the next generation of potential stars.

For this reason, Stefan Everts has been charged with the development of KTM Juniors Jorge Prado of Spain, British rider Conrad Mewse and New Zealander Josiah Natzke. The three riders have all played a leading part in recent Junior World and European Motocross Championships and are considered riders of significant potential.

Everts is a 10-times world champion and a former professional rider of great standing in the world of motocross. He has also been managing the KTM MX2 riders in recent seasons and is considered the right man with the required depth of experience and knowledge of the sport to bring out the best in this trio of young stars.

Stefan Everts: "These KTM Juniors represent a lot of talent. They are potentially also the future of the KTM Factory Racing Team. International competition is getting tougher and standards of racing are becoming more demanding. To be ready for this they need to know their race craft and be physically and mentally prepared to meet those challenges. Taking care of the next generation of top KTM riders is very high on our list of priorities."  

Copyright: Photo: KTM Racing

With the depth of young talent across the globe continuously getting deeper and deeper Youthstream and the FIM Europe have taken it upon them to form the ultimate training tool for any aspiring young rider. Combining years of passion and experience with inside tips and advice from some of the worlds greatest ever motocross riders, Youthstream and the FIM Europe proudly present the MXGP Academy.

Leading the Academy, and ultimately guiding young riders to the premier MXGP series is the two-time FIM Motocross World Champion John Van Den Berk. Having been around the MX block a few times, John knows how to get the best out of any young rider and is enthusiastic about making the MXGP Academy the best training school in the world.

Recently, MXGP Mag caught up with the champ John Van Den Berk to dig a little deeper into the MXGP Academy program and find out what it is all about.

Click HERE to read.

On behalf of MXGP, our FIM Motocross World Champions would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with the video below!

KTM Marchetti Racing announced their extensive 2015 line up last weekend at the stunning Montepardiso resort in Viterbo, Italy. 2013’s FIM MX2 world number three, Spaniard, Jose Butron will be racing in 2015 under the Marchetti umbrella as one of MXGP’s fastest rookies, while in MX2 Italy’s own Ivo Monticelli will be flying the flag.

In addition to two of the hottest competitors in MXGP and MX2, Tommaso Isdraele Romano will race the European Championship EMX250, while FIM junior motocross 85cc world champion Kim Savaste will contest the EMX125 championship with Ivan Petrov and the little Alessandro Facca rounding out the European Championship trio in the EMX85.

Team Manager Elio Marchetti said: “We are working for 2015 enthusiastically as the MXGP Championship and European Championship is always more important and interesting and we hope to reach good results in both categories.“

Over the years since its inception in 1988 the European Championship has developed step by step into the most prestigious amateur motocross series in Europe. The championship doesn’t only provide the best racing in Europe, it also provides our future stars with first hand experience, knowledge and exposure, things that are of real benefit to a rider setting out on the journey to becoming a motocross professional. Click HERE to read more.

After defined the team who will participate in the 2015 world championship, with Ivo Monticelli in MX2 and Jose Antonio Butron in MXGP, Marchetti Racing KTM team has completed the ranks of the junior team, confirming Alessandro Facca (European 85cc), Ivan Petrov (European 125cc) and the 85cc 2014 World Champion, Kim Savaste, who will take part in the European Championship 125cc with KTM SX 125.

A team of promising boys, which confirms the interest and support of KTM in the promotion of motocross among young riders.

Born January 16, 2000 in Helsinki, Kim Savaste already at nine years old he won (with 65cc.) the Finnish and Estonian championships. In 2010 and 2011 he won the Finnish Championship 85cc and in 2012 (KTM SX 85) got the individual win in the prestigious team competition of the World Cup 'Coupe de l'Avenir'. In 2013 he won the Nordic Championship, the round of the European Championship in Denmark, and he was ranked fourth in the finals European Championship  85cc. Also in 2013, the town of Riihimäki has awarded him with the 'young athlete awards.'
In 2014 he became world champion 85cc in the Junior Motocross Wrold Championship in Lierneux (Belgium).

Copyright: Photo: Marchetti Racing Team KTM

HYVINKÄÄ (Finland), 13 July 2014 - It all starts here for many of MXGP’s future stars with the European Championships EMX65 and EMX85’s final taking place along side the big-brother classes EMX250 and EMX300 who were in contention for their seasons sixth round.

While an event of this caliber was very new for many of the young talents in the EMX65 and EMX85 races, you never would have guessed it as they flaunted their very impressive speed and skills out here on the Finnish circuit in Hyvinkää, which embodies one of the most mentally and physically demanding terrains in our sport, sand.

While young Russian Nikita Kucherov and Belgian star on the rise Jago Geerts were crowned EMX65 and EMX85 champions respectively, HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers tightens the points in the EMX250 with his second overall victory this year while TM Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini extends his points lead with his fifth overall win.

EMX65

Watching those little 12” wheels tearing through the sand on a full blown MXGP circuit was astonishing, as was the speed and poise of the eventual EMX65 champion Nikita Kucherov from Russia who rode impressive in both races to be crowned champion with a second place in race one and a win in race two this morning.

Landing on the second step of the podium, young Swede Noel Nilsson was clearly the fastest kid on the track. He isn’t afraid to ride on the edge which worked both for and against him this weekend when he cartwheeled it on the first lap of both motos yet managed to get away unscathed and impressively battled his way back for two thirds and second overall.

Race one winner Maksim Kraev, also from Russia, looked a little less comfortable on the rougher circuit today, yet still put in a stellar performance for sixth despite being wiped out through the waves by young Dutchman Kay Karssemakers. With the overall classifications tying him on forty points with Noel Nilsson, Kraev was forced to settle for third overall as second place went to the rider who had the best race finish in the final moto, which was Nilsson.

Meanwhile young Dane Rasmus Pedersen was super pumped with fourth overall thanks to his 4 – 6 place results while Latvia’s Kristians Freimanis rounded out the top five finishing one point shy of Pederson with a score of 4 – 7.

EMX65 Race 1: 1. Maksim Kraev (RUS, KTM), 16:25.566; 2. Nikita Kucherov (RUS, KTM), +0:09.111; 3. Noel Nilsson (SWE, KTM), +0:14.125; 4. Kristians Freimanis (LAT, KTM), +0:15.511; 5. Magnus Smith (DEN, KTM), +0:20.538; 6. Rasmus Pedersen (DEN, KTM), +0:22.362; 7. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, KTM), +0:24.240; 8. David Braceras Martinez (ESP, KTM), +0:25.977; 9. Gerard Congost (ESP, KTM), +0:30.359; 10. Adam Kovacs (HUN, KTM), +0:33.132.

EMX65 Race 2: 1. Nikita Kucherov (RUS, KTM), 17:14.396; 2. Max Palsson (SWE, KTM), +0:01.016; 3. Noel Nilsson (SWE, KTM), +0:04.701; 4. Rasmus Pedersen (DEN, KTM), +0:09.580; 5. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Husqvarna), +0:14.709; 6. Maksim Kraev (RUS, KTM), +0:16.790; 7. Kristians Freimanis (LAT, KTM), +0:28.751; 8. David Braceras Martinez (ESP, KTM), +0:32.414; 9. Artsiom Sazanavets (BLR, KTM), +0:43.122; 10. Paul Bloy (GER, KTM), +0:47.734.

EMX65 Overall: 1. Nikita Kucherov (RUS, KTM), 47 points; 2. Noel Nilsson (SWE, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Maksim Kraev (RUS, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Rasmus Pedersen (DEN, KTM), 33 p.; 5. Kristians Freimanis (LAT, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Max Palsson (SWE, KTM), 31 p.; 7. David Braceras Martinez (ESP, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Kay Karssemakers (NED, HUS), 23 p.; 9. Adam Kovacs (HUN, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Magnus Smith (DEN, KTM), 20 p.

EMX85

It’s unbelievable to see the talent in the EMX85 class and how far that depth spreads across Europe with all five of the top five hailing from different nations.

A pair of very average starts allowed Belgian Jago Geerts to prove he is undeniably the best 85cc rider in Europe at the moment as he held that Sahkar Racing KTM 85SX pinned around a very choppy Hyvinkää, putting on a full display of his talent and skill as he threw sweet scrubs and wheelies to win both races and be crowned the 2014 European Championship EMX85 Champion.

Meanwhile Hollander Roan Van De Moosdijk, who races the newly crowned champion Geerts at the local Dutch Championship on a regular basis, put in two smooth and consistent rides for a pair of seconds and second overall, while local hero Kim Savaste threw away two possible race wins after crashing in both races. Nevertheless the Fin managed to remount for a couple of thirds and third overall.

Rounding out the top five, Danish Mikkel Haarup went 4 – 4 for fourth while Italian Gianluca Fachetti went 5 – 6 for fifth.

EMX85 Race 1: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 25:23.329; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +0:05.487; 3. Kim Savaste (FIN, KTM), +0:19.236; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), +0:29.348; 5. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), +0:52.829; 6. Jan Pancar (SLO, Yamaha), +0:59.353; 7. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, Suzuki), +1:04.607; 8. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), +1:05.670; 9. Taylor Hammal (GBR, KTM), +1:15.540; 10. Andreas Hiiemagi (EST, Husaberg), +1:42.506.

EMX85 Race 2: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 25:05.131; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +0:10.122; 3. Kim Savaste (FIN, KTM), +0:20.749; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), +0:23.414; 5. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, Suzuki), +1:14.858; 6. Taylor Hammal (GBR, KTM), +1:16.840; 7. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), +1:29.690; 8. Rasmus Hakansson (SWE, KTM), +1:42.782; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, Yamaha), +1:46.428; 10. Emil Weckmann (FIN, KTM), +1:53.271.

EMX85 Overall: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 50 points; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Kim Savaste (FIN, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, SUZ), 30 p.; 6. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Taylor Hammal (GBR, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Tom Vialle (FRA, YAM), 22 p.; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Rasmus Hakansson (SWE, KTM), 21 p.

EMX300

Hyvinkää allowed the riders of the EMX300 championship today to fully utilize the torque of their powerful 300cc two-stroke machines with the sandy surface providing a good amount of traction for them to sink their tyres into.

With a chopped up sand track being presented for the sixth round of their championship, two riders stood head and shoulders above the rest. TM Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini didn’t waste any time in moving to the front in both motos to take two very convincing wins for his fifth round win of the season. Meanwhile GL12 Racing’s Lewis Gregory was also unchallenged in second onboard his Yamaha YZ 280cc two-stroke sealing the deal on two second place finishes for second overall.

Meanwhile Team Maddii Racing’s Marco Maddii wrapped up fourth yesterday and third today for third overall while Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Kenny Van Dueren managed to salvage fourth after an impressive third in race one came undone when he washed the front end and bit the dust hard in race two, and only coming back for seventh. Swedish Kevin Davidsson rounded out the top five.

EMX300 Race 1: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 30:02.792; 2. Lewis Gregory (GBR, Yamaha), +0:13.769; 3. Kenny Vandueren (BEL, KTM), +0:19.995; 4. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), +0:38.506; 5. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), +0:43.240; 6. Kevin Davidsson (SWE, KTM), +1:06.554; 7. Ardo Kaurit (EST, Yamaha), +1:48.952; 8. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 9. Txomin Arana (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s)

EMX300 Race 2: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 28:58.801; 2. Lewis Gregory (GBR, Yamaha), +0:19.624; 3. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), +0:37.636; 4. Kevin Davidsson (SWE, KTM), +1:13.425; 5. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), +1:35.760; 6. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 7. Kenny Vandueren (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 9. Txomin Arana (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Martin Vanleeuw (BEL, Yamaha), -2 lap(s)

EMX300 Overall: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 50 points; 2. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 44 p.; 3. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Kenny Vandueren (BEL, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Kevin Davidsson (SWE, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), 32 p.; 7. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Txomin Arana (ESP, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Ardo Kaurit (EST, YAM), 23 p.

EMX300 Championship Standings: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 285 points; 2. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 251 p.; 3. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 232 p.; 4. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 151 p.; 5. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), 151 p.; 6. Txomin Arana (ESP, YAM), 139 p.; 7. Kenny Vandueren (BEL, KTM), 138 p.; 8. Bence Szvoboda (HUN, KTM), 101 p.; 9. Jean Loup Lepan (FRA, YAM), 100 p.; 10. Toms Macuks (LAT, KTM), 94 p.

EMX250

Sand always throws a spanner in the works, as it requires a type of motocrossing finesse to ride. With today being the semi-final round of the EMX250 championship, and the final being in the dunes of Lommel in three weeks time, the Dutch riders, known for their superior sand riding ability, took full advantage of banking crucial championship points.

Yesterday, Creymert Racing’s Brent Van Doninck banked his first lot of twenty-five points when he took the checkers ahead of HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers and Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Nick Kouwenberg.

When the gates dropped for race two, the sand was a little deeper and a lot gnarlier than yesterday which played right into the hands of HSF Logistics Motorsport Team duo of Brian Bogers and Ceriel Klein Kromhof. While Klein Kromhof led the way around turn one it was only a matter of turns before his teammate Bogers pushed through to take over the lead.

With the championship right in his sights, Bogers, who was practically born in the sand, took full advantage of his position and led the race from start to finish for his second consecutive EMX250 overall win. With the same knowledge of the sand as his teammate, Klein Kromhof kept Bogers honest all the way to the finish for second and second overall, standing on the podium for the first time this season.

While the Dutchmen checked out, Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Adam Sterry, who has really started to blossom over the last couple of rounds, was feeling the heat from Martin Racing Technology Team’s Michele Cervellin. With the Italian Cervellin pestering British Sterry the entire race, the persistency finally paid off as a tired Sterry had a few close calls with two laps to go allowing Cervellin to capitalize and bring home third.

Sterry held on for fourth with the red plate holder CNC Doors KTM’s Steven Clarke rebounding from his race one shambles, where he crashed hard on turn one and only managed to salvage thirteenth, for fifth.

With the combination of both race results, HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers took his second overall victory to close up the championship chase, as he now trails CNC Doors KTM’s Steven Clarke by eleven. HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Ceriel Klein Kromhof uncorked his first bottle of champagne in second with Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Nick Kouwenberg occupying the third step. The Brits, Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Adam Sterry and Hitachi Construction Machinery UK KTM’s Ben Watson rounded out the top five.  

EMX250 Race 1: 1. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 30:18.565; 2. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:01.281; 3. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Yamaha), +0:15.325; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), +0:24.627; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:30.629; 6. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), +0:37.050; 7. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), +0:37.900; 8. Santtu Tiainen (FIN, KTM), +0:41.126; 9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +0:43.014; 10. Karl Vilhelm Linus Olsson (SWE, Honda), +0:43.880.

EMX250 Race 2: 1. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 28:52.026; 2. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), +0:07.166; 3. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:16.887; 4. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +0:22.403; 5. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), +0:29.098; 6. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Yamaha), +0:30.772; 7. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.053; 8. Santtu Tiainen (FIN, KTM), +0:35.290; 9. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Honda), +0:48.299; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), +0:50.766.

EMX250 Overall: 1. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 47 points; 2. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 37 p.; 3. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, YAM), 35 p.; 4. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 30 p.; 5. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 7. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Santtu Tiainen (FIN, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 23 p.

EMX250 Championship Standings: 1. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 206 points; 2. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 195 p.; 3. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 176 p.; 4. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 174 p.; 5. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 170 p.; 6. Sullivan Jaulin (FRA, KAW), 158 p.; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HON), 156 p.; 8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 140 p.; 9. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 120 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 120 p.

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Finland will be available here

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition, and is also globally available to view live and in HD on www.MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks, viewing times can be viewed by clicking on the logo of your chosen broadcasting network.

MXGP FINLAND – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1540

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 28°

Weather conditions: sunny

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

MXGP of Finland

HYVINKÄÄ (Finland), 12 July 2014 – Hyvinkää brings out those emotions you get when your local track gets its first ‘big-time’ race. It has a homely feel with flowing loamy turns and tricky sand straights that get incredibly chopped up and technically challenging. Proving to be the masters of the sand, as predicted, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s pair of champions Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings bagged pole in their respective classes.

Meanwhile also taking place here at MXGP of Finland, the first races of the European Championships EMX65, EMX85, EMX250 and EMX300.

Starting with the little dudes, Russian Maksim Kraev ran away for the first EMX65 race win ahead of fellow Russian Nikita Kucherov while super Swede Noel Nilsson recovered from a hugely impressive superman/indian air/nac-nac turn crash, to wrap up an impressive third.

In the EMX85, Belgium’s future star Jago Geerts put in a sensational ride claim the maximum twenty-five points while Holland’s Roan Van De Moosdijk took second with local kid Kim Savaste rounding out the top three.

With all three growing up racing in the sand of Belgium and Holland, Creymert Racing’s Brent Van Doninck, HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers and Kemea Yamaha Racing Team’s Nick Kouwenberg came home in first, second and third in the EMX250 respectively, while in the EMX300 TM Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini dominated from start to finish for his eighth race win of the season. GL12 Racing’s Lewis Gregory came home in second with Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Kenny Van Dueren rounding out the top three.

MXGP

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli welcomed everyone to the Tony Cairoli show today when he had his KTM350SX-F tapped off the start to take the holeshot and run away for his fifth pole position of the season.

Meanwhile behind the defending champ, BikeIT Yamaha Cosworth’s Rui Gonçalves was feeling it, chasing TC222 around turn one and finally showing what he is really capable of, while Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Hitachi Construction Machinery UK KTM’s Shaun Simpson followed.

Before the end of lap three, Van Horebeek made a nice move up the inside of Gonçalves to take over second, but was already up against the eight ball for the win with Cairoli out front making the most of his clear track.

Engaging in one of the most impressive battles of the race, Gonçalves kept a tenacious Simpson at bay for at least half the heat before relenting and settling for fourth.

Despite a mediocre start, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Tommy Searle got creative out there to push his way into fifth and round out the top five while props have to be given to Swedish Filip Bengtsson who was hauling all day, remarkably topping the charts in both free and timed practice and finishing his day off with a sixth place finish in the qualifying heat race.

MXGP Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 23:43.894; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:09.461; 3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:13.782; 4. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), +0:15.663; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:20.507; 6. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +0:23.730; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:27.886; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:28.907; 9. Nathan Watson (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:29.773; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:31.514.

MX2

The thrills and spills of MX2’s qualifying heat race here in Hyvinkää made it easily the most captivating qualifying race of the season. With sand being the surface, most would have expected Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings to run away with it, and while the Flying Dutchman did win; it was far from an easy feat.

When the gates dropped, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier was the man who threw together the best jump, traction and gear shifts to take the holeshot ahead of the local hero Sahkar Racing’s Harri Kullas, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis and Standing Construct KTM’s Valentin Guillod. Herlings came around turn one in sixth but wasting no time in typical Herlings fashion had already moved into second before the end of lap one.

By the end of lap two Herlings had drag raced his teammate Tixier down the back straight to take over the lead. While Tixier appeared more determined than ever to hold onto the back of the reigning world champ he soon came undone with a horrendous crash over the finish line jump.

Like dominoes, the riders started dropping with the ‘most surprising fall award’ going to Herlings who was pinning it around a berm which broke away at the exit high siding him off the bike and knocking the wind out of him.

While Herlings struggled to get his breath back, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis and Standing Construct KTM’s Valentin Guillod inherited the first and second positions.

While Guillod pushed to keep Ferrandis honest, the same corner that caught Herlings out was causing absolute carnage with riders like Yamaha Factory Racing’s Christophe Charlier, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre being just a few of a handful to fall victim to the tricky turn.

As the race went on, Herlings who had only lost a few positions, slowly started to regain his rhythm, charging past the Fin Kullas, who was doing an amazing job in third, before going to work on Guillod. Speaking of the Swiss sensation Guillod, an ‘A’ for effort has to be given as he held off the hot favorite for at least ten minutes.

After eating roost off of the back wheel of Guillod’s Standing Construct KTM, Herlings soon had had enough and made an aggressive pass on the Swiss rider. After moving into second it was four laps to go for the champ who was about eight seconds down on the leader Ferrandis. Nevertheless, he was determined and it was obvious there is no way ‘The King of Sand’ would want to be beaten on his number one surface.

With two laps to go, it was evident it would be a race to the finish. Herlings had closed right up on Ferrandis who had taken a look over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of the red plated number 84 machine. While the Frenchman rode phenomenal in what was one of the best qualifying race show-downs of the season, about fifteen seconds from the checkers the eager Dutchman threw in a scrub and got his weight right back for maximum traction to out drag the CLS Kawasaki rider and take over the lead for the race win.

Guillod came home in a convincing third, twenty-one seconds clear of Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Petar Petrov and Sahkar Racing’s local lad Harri Kullas, who both obtained their best place finishes of the season in fourth and fifth respectively.

MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 23:32.491; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:00.386; 3. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), +0:08.644; 4. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), +0:29.617; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, KTM), +0:32.289; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, Suzuki), +0:36.672; 7. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:41.318; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:43.458; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:44.411; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Honda), +0:51.709.

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Finland will be available here

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition, and is also globally available to view live and in HD on www.MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks, viewing times can be viewed by clicking on the logo of your chosen broadcasting network.

MXGP FINLAND – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1540

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 25°

Weather conditions: sunny

TIMETABLE

SUNDAY: EMX65 Warm-up 07:45; EMX85 Warm-up 08:00; EMX300 Warm-up 08:15; EMX250 Warm-up 08:30; EMX65 Race 2 09:10; MX2 Warm-up 09:40; MXGP Warm-up 10:00; EMX85 Race 2 10:30; EMX300 Race 2 11:20; EMX250 Race 2 12:10; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Finland

With MXGP of Finland welcoming the little rippers that are in contention for the final round of the EMX65 and EMX85 European Championships, one of the most respected brands in off-road sports Scott Sports jumped on-board to do something special for the kids today before they put on their real race-face tomorrow morning.

On a set of wavy dirt-jumps built along side the sandy circuit in Hyvinkää, Diego Clement, a representative of Scott Sports, marked out a track for the energetic youngsters to race each other on. More than twenty-one kids showed up where they were split into teams of three and supplied with a single speed Scott Voltage bike.

All the kids had impressive speed and skill on the bikes, which was eye opening for the media representatives who were enjoying photographing and filming the laughter and smiles on the little racers faces. Each lap was intense and fun with the winning team each being rewarded a cool pair of Scott goggles.