MX2

VILLA LA ANGOSTURA (Patagonia-Argentina) 6 March 2024 – The 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship blasts into action at the opening round of the 20-GP season, taking place at Villa La Angostura for the YPF INFINIA MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina. 

This will be the 8th time that the circuit has hosted an MXGP event and the 4th time that it has kick-started the season! The first time MXGP went to Villa La Angostura was in 2015, which consecutively hosted the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina since then and only missed the 2020 and 2021 years due to Covid. The track and venue are amongst the favourites with the whole paddock, with everyone enjoying the incredible welcomes from the Argentinian people and the scenic Andean backdrop. 

In 2023, Villa La Angostura hosted the first round of the campaign and saw the first ever RAM Qualifying Races that counted for points towards the World Championships on the Saturday afternoon. It was suspected that the rule change to make the Saturday RAM Qualifying Race count for points would benefit Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, whose amazing starting technique put pressure on his title challengers all season long, and the Spaniard met those expectations with the Saturday race win to instantly fit the Championship leader’s red plate onto his machine.

Team HRC’s Rubén Fernández won the overall Grand Prix on the Sunday with 5-1 finishes compared to Prado’s 1-6 scores, but Jorge kept the red plate due to his advantage from Saturday.  That would go on to be a regular occurrence all season!

The 2024 season starts with an amazing line-up.  For only the second time in history, two five-time World Champions will start the season together to race for a sixth title, and for the first time ever, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Team HRC's Tim Gajser, they are both under 30 years old! Also, unlike 2004 with Stefan Everts and Joel Smets, neither one of them is reigning Champion as Prado will carry the #1 plate on the only MXGP Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing machine.

Gajser and Herlings have both stayed on the same machinery, HRC Honda for the Slovenian, and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the Dutchman.  Frenchman Romain Febvre, second in last year’s Championship despite winning 6 Grands Prix to Prado’s 2, remains with KRT and continues his nine-year quest for a second world crown after winning in 2015.

Romain is joined in Kawasaki Racing Team team by 2023’s 3rd-placed rider, Jeremy Seewer. With 5 Silver medals to his name as well as the Bronze from last year, he will be hoping that the green machine will make the difference to finally get some Gold on his shelf.

While Herlings is the sole MXGP rider for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Team HRC continues with Ruben Fernandez, who never got to the top step again in 2023 but still managed 5th in the series.  Glenn Coldenhoff, changes machinery but is effectively with the same team as Louis Vosters’ Dutch outfit takes over the reins of the Fantic Factory Racing effort, alongside fellow Dutchman and MXGP rookie Roan van de Moosdjik.  If Coldenhoff were to win a Grand Prix on the Fantic, he would become only the third rider in Motocross history, after Yves Demaria and Alessandro Puzar, to win Grands Prix on five different brands of motorcycle throughout his career.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP promote third-year MXGP man and 2021 MX2 World Champion Maxime Renaux to team leader after the Frenchman won his second GP on a 450, before a foot injury put him out of title contention.  He did come back in time to represent Team France at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, winning his class and helping his nation to a famous home victory.

He is joined on the team by the most successful non-Champion on the grid, four-time MX2 Championship runner-up Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jago Geerts. With 24 GP wins to his name (the same total as both Antonio Cairoli and Tom Vialle managed in their MX2 careers), Geerts made a superb showing at the 2022 Monster energy FIM MXoN, his 450 debut and he is likely to be a threat!

The third rider on the squad is two-time GP winner Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Calvin Vlaanderen, who moves onto factory machinery for the first time in his career. Can it bring him into regular podium contention? The Dutchman will be hoping so!

Sadly, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing have lost their MXGP rider Mattia Guadagnini to a shoulder injury sustained in pre-season testing.  The MRT Racing Team BETA squad once more field British hope Ben Watson, this time with the returning Ivo Monticelli under the same awning. The Italian who didn’t race the MXGP series last year missed being in the big leagues! The Swiss rider Valentin Guillod remain with Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR, who also welcome Norwegian Kevin Horgmo up from MX2, where he took his first heat win last season.

Standing Construct Honda MXGP hold onto our sixth World Champion in the line-up, 2017 MX2 title winner Pauls Jonass, but welcome the popular Italian Alberto Forato to the squad after he finished 7th in the 2023 Championship.  JM Honda Racing continue with Brent van Doninck, whilst Swedish star Isak Gifting moves up to the 450 with JK Racing Yamaha.  Shaun Simpson’s Gabriel SS24 KTM squad will join the series full-time with Josh Gilbert also making his first attempt at a full Grand Prix season.  Slovenian Jan Pancar moves up from MX2 on his own Tem JP253 KTM Racing Team effort.

Main Photo: 2023 MXGP Start Patagonia-Argentina

Bottom Photos: 1. 2023 MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado; 2. Jago Geerts, 2023

2023 MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina MXGP Top 3:

1. Ruben Fernandez 
2. Jeffrey Herlings
3. Jorge Prado

6 World Champions – 16 Titles between them!

Jeffrey Herlings – 5 titles - 2012-13 & 2016 MX2; 2018 & 2021 MXGP

Tim Gajser – 5 titles – 2015 MX2; 2016, 2019-20 & 2022 MXGP

Jorge Prado – 3 titles – 2018-19 MX2, 2023 MXGP

Romain Febvre - 1 title – 2015 MXGP

Maxime Renaux – 1 title – 2021 MX2 

Pauls Jonass – 1 title – 2017 MX2

In MX2 last year, Jago Geerts dominated the GP by winning all three races.  Andrea Adamo surprised on his debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with two third places for 2nd overall with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Thibault Benistant rounding out the podium.

MX2 saw four first-time GP winners in 2023, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Liam Everts claiming 3, eventual champion Adamo claiming two, and Husqvarna pairing Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen taking one apiece.

In 2023, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing once more brought in riders to the team and turned into GP winners and gained yet another Championship, their 20th in MX2, with Andrea Adamo.  Liam Everts put up a spirited chase towards the end of the season with three GP wins.  Both riders return for the team in 2024, as does Sacha Coenen, but Liam has picked up a thumb injury in February which will keep him out of Argentina, possibly returning for round two in Spain. 

Thibault Benistant stays with Yamaha Factory Racing MX2, as does 2022 EMX250 Champion Rick Elzingaand his successor to that title, Andrea Bonacorsi. Bonacorsi was amazing on a 450 at the Monster Energy FIM MXoN, claiming 3rd in the Open class and helping Italy onto the podium.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing have a fast line-up with GP winners Kay De Wolf and Lucas Coenen, both returning for the team and looking to carry their speed into 2024, after injury hampered both of their title campaigns last season. De Wolf was one of several riders who got hurt just as they started to hit their stride. Coenen could also be the real threat, often looking faster than anybody in the class last year, especially in the sand. 

The third Austrian factory squad, Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, has its own title contender in Simon Laengenfelder. He eventually claimed the Bronze medal right at the final round from Everts, and sits on three GP wins like the Belgian. He’ll be hoping to do his talent some justice in 2024. He's joined by a French rookie with some star power, the mercurial Marc-Antoine Rossi.  A multiple winner in EMX who took a fine 8th as a wildcard at his home round MX2 GP debut, his swagger and personality could prove to be a big hit in GP racing.  

Another rookie, Italian Ferruccio Zanchi, joins the mighty Team HRC on their new MX2 project, and he has already shown great speed in the pre-season with a surprise win.  Yet another rookie, French kid Quentin Prugnieres, races for F&H Racing Team in 2024 after also impressing at the French GP last year.

The exciting news on the team front is the first new project from a British side in decades, with Monster Energy Triumph Racing bringing their new TF250-X machine to Grand Prix racing.  With promising Dane Mikkel Haarup and South African Camden McLellan, a former EMX85 Champion, they have a solid rider line-up, and Haarup has been right amongst the established contenders in pre-season internationals.  The slick new black machines could very well be a successful package!

The Fantic Factory Racing Team graduates to GP racing after several years in EMX, and they field second-year Spaniard David Braceras alongside fast but unfortunately recently injured Dutch teenager Kay Karssemakers. 

Among a very hot young pack of MX2 stars, the all-English-speaking Bike It Kawasaki squad of Floridian Jack Chambers and Englishman Bobby Bruce could also be ones to watch on what should be the leading green machines in the paddock.

Main Photo: 2023 MX2 Start Patagonia-Argentina 

Bottom Photos: 1. 2023 MX2 World Champion Andrea Adamo; 2. Simon Langenfelder, 2023

2023 MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina  MX2 Top 3:

1. Jago Geerts
2. Andrea Adamo
3. Thibault Benistant

6 Grand Prix Winners – 13 Wins between them!

Liam Everts – 3

Simon Laengenfelder – 3

Thibault Benistant – 3

Andrea Adamo – 2

Lucas Coenen – 1

Kay De Wolf – 1

The races will be broadcasted LIVE on MXGP’s streaming service www.MXGP-TV.com, while results throughout the weekend will be available  HERE.

All the photos from the YPF INFINIA MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina will be available HERE.

TIMETABLE (Local Timing UTC-3)
 

SATURDAY: 10:45 MX2 Free Practice, 11:15 MXGP Free Practice, 13:20 MX2 Time Practice, 14:00 MXGP Time Practice, 15:25 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 16:10 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina
 

VILLA LA ANGOSTURA (Patagonia - Argentina) 6 March 2024 – The 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship kickstarts in Argentina as MXGP arrives at Villa La Angostura for the opening round of the series on 09-10 of March!

Checkout the Timetable and entry lists for the YPF INFINIA MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina below:

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

Harry Norton is very much a young man in a hurry. Having arrived in Europe a few years ago, the Australian was teamed up with another unknown in Tom Vialle, Norton the mechanic and Vialle the rider, and together they scored a MX2 World Championship.

With that success, Norton was then moved into the role of technical responsible for the Red Bull KTM Factory team and then late last year, given the position as team manager, taking over that position from Antonio Cairoli, who had moved onto Ducati, as team manager.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Norton though, as he tried to figure out the different weather, different culture and being involved in a series that was something he had never worked in before. MXGP isn’t child’s play, although Norton has clearly stepped into his own little playground and having fun with it.

“I had never been to Europe,” Norton said. “I had travelled a bunch in US and Canada, like for personal stuff, but I had never been to Europe. My boss in Australia Rob Twyerould, he has been to Europe many times and I think he has been with KTM more than 20 years. I said to him one day, Rob, I need to get out of here. I need to move to the next thing. I am not fussed if I go to Europe or America, but I want to make that step. I ended up here, in Europe.”

For sure, his arrival in the later stages of winter back six years ago, Norton felt overcome with excitement, but also surprise at the difference to his lifestyle back in Australia. What did stand out though, was the machinery he would be working on, and that was more than enough to make those cold nights in Austria a little warmer.

“It was a massive culture shock. Moving from Australia to Austria also. I would say living the Belgian life is easier than Austria, it was a big culture shock mate. However, I came here with a super open mind, and I just wanted to learn, have fun, work on some cool bikes. I have always been interested in the process of how teams work. That was one of the big reasons I wanted to come here. I love the process of, why are teams successful and the Red Bull KTM factory team was and still is, pretty successful group of people.”

Being team manager means having his eyes on the whole group and making sure that everyone is run smoothly. From the riders, the mechanics and also the position he left to become team manager, the technical responsible job.

“As team manager I work with all the riders. Only team manager and we have eight mechanics on the team and Stefan Simpson, who looks after a lot of the technical things in the team. Doing a lot of the organization. He isn’t coming to as many GPs as a typical technical responsible normally would, but he will be on control of a lot of the organizing of the technical side and working behind the scenes. Our team is a little different than most, as we have two workshops in two countries, so we have a lot of logistics and Stefan is behind all that.”

Now, as the team packs their bags and gets set to board a plane to Argentina, the real pressure will arrive, as the Red Bull KTM factories MXGP efforts prepare to chase the MXGP and MX2 World Motocross Championships. Living the dream is something that Norton is living right now, but the hard work has just begun.

Photo Credit : Ray Archer

Feruccio Zanchi is set to ride in his MX2 Rookie Year as he is the new face of Team HRC in MX2. The Italian youngster will lead the renewed CRF250R programme for 2024.
After showing his talents in EMX250 last season, Zanchi will be one to watch and can become a serious MX2 contender with the factory team

Photo Credit : ShotByBavo

Ahead of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship, join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at Red Sand as Jeffrey Herlings, Andrea Adamo, Liam Everts, and Sacha Coenen style it up for the cameras and enjoy a little downtime before the serious business starts.

The opening YPF INFINIA MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina promises to big!

Photo Credit : Ray Archer

Swiss Moto is excited to announce the project « Motocross of Nations 2024 » (MXoN). The Sports Director and future CEO of Swiss Moto, Rolf Enz, put together a first-class team that will manage the Swiss team.

The management which is officially presented today includes:

• ·  Fabian Tellenbach: Team coordinator providing his prior expertise.
• ·  Diego Clément: Former Team Manager from 2011-2017, who brings a wealth of experience

that will lead the team to succeed.

• ·  Mat Rebeaud: The 2006 FMX World Champion, will take over the role of Team Manager (the

circle closes after his father was Team Manager in Roggenburg (CH) 30 years ago).

The highly motivated team is full with ideas that are built around optimal care for the riders. The combination of experience and fresh ideas promise an exciting and successful future for the Swiss MXoN team. But that's not all - the management team is also working on a promising experience platform for supporters, fans and sponsors.

No matter, whether the fans will be on site to cheer for the team or enjoy the MX Olympics in Switzerland - the project is planning a unique platform for all motorsport enthusiasts. You can look forward to innovative concepts and an incomparable motocross experience!

In 2023, the Swiss riders Jeremy Seewer, Valentin Guillod and Arnaud Tonus achieved a good 6th place (ex aequo with the 5th team Belgium) at the Motocross of Nations. The managament will do everything in its power to ensure that optimal conditions are created in 2024 so that the riders can seamlessly thrive on this impressive wave of success.

Contact: sport@swissmoto.org

Photo Credit : Swiss Moto

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider Thibault Benistant is very much in the picture when it comes to contenders for this year’s MX2 World Championship. The Frenchman is 21 years old and has a little more experience than many of the younger riders in the 250 class, and he feels that it might help him on occasions this year.

“I think we will have some young guy riding in front,” Benistant said. “A lot of the time and for sure, somebody like Liam (Everts), Simon (Langenfelder) and myself, we will be smarter and maybe win a few GPs in a row. I think my experience will help a lot. We all want that World championship, but I want to be consistent and that will lead to a World championship, I think. So, both really, go for the championship and being consistent. Of course, and it will be tight, because some guys get more experience, and some young guys are coming up also. I don’t really look at them and just focusing on myself and do what I can. I train good and focus on my program and see how that goes at the beginning of the season.”

With two stunning Grand Prix victories in 2023 and a handful of podiums finishes Benistant knows his way to the top three, however he only rode 14 GP’s last year and that is also a trend, as he rode 15 in 2022 and 16 in 2021. That is something he has worked on in the winter, to keep away from the back of an ambulance.

“Some is bad luck. I crashed in the start last year after somebody caught my wheel. When I am not feeling 100% or great with the track and my rhythm wasn’t good, then I took it easy last year. For the championship I was riding good, but that start crash was just bad luck. In the previous years it was my fault, the injuries.”

Fortunately, while the Monster Energy Yamaha MX2 team has changed hands in 2024, the “new” team is a team that Benistant feels comfortable with and had success back in his European championship days.

“I rode for this team when I was European champion on EMX250, and I just changed my mechanic, and the manager of the team has been my trainer for the last four years now. We have a good communication and even the boss of the team I talk to all the time at the races, so it really isn’t something new for me. The way of working I know, and it isn’t similar, but it is really good, and I am very comfortable there.”

Now, as we edge towards the opening round of the MX2 championship in Argentina on March 10, the feeling is that, anyone of 10 riders can win that Grand Prix. For Benistant, he will go in with the goal to finish well inside the top five and come out healthy for rounds two in Spain a couple of weeks later. A good start and many points will without question make the rest of the season a little bit easier.

Photo Credit: Fullspectrum image

MX2 Grand Prix winner Liam Everts will sit out the first round of the 2024 MXGP series at Villa La Angostura in Argentina on March 9-10 to recover from an injury to his right thumb, sustained in in pre-season.

The Belgian MX2 contender athlete suffered a fall while in preparation for the new season. After undergoing an operation on Thursday the 19-year-old requires a month of convalescence before he can get back on his bike and could be in contention for the second fixture of the year in late March at the MXGP of Spain.

Harry Norton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Tough news for Liam and the team but we all know these setbacks can happen. The operation went well and now we need that four-week period for him to feel strong and to get full use of his hand. Argentina is out, but we are hopeful that his recovery goes to plan and Liam can start his championship in Madrid.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 15 February 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is happy to announce that tickets for the Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany on the 1^st & 2^nd of June are officially on sale.

The iconic circuit of Teutschenthal is set to host and welcome the German Grand Prix of the FIM Motocross World Championship for the 28^th time in its history.

In 2023, the German venue saw Jorge Prado get the victory ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff and Rube Fernandez in MXGP while Liam Everts won his first Grand Prix in front of Andrea Adamo and Thibault Benistant.

That's not all! Alongside the intense MXGP and MX2 races, fans will also be treated to thrilling competitions from the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and EMX250.

Get your tickets HERE for the Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany.

Upgrade your experience HERE with our VIP Gold Skybox packages for the ultimate MXGP! 

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 14 February 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is delighted to announce that the general tickets for the MXGP of Galicia are now on sale. 

Motocross fans who have been eagerly awaiting this moment can now purchase them starting from today. The FIM Motocross World Championship race, which will arrive in spring at the Jorge Prado Municipal Circuitin Lugo, has generated great anticipation as it marks the first time that MXGP comes to Galicia, coinciding with the peak of this sport in Spain.

All tickets are valid for both days of competition. On Saturday, the 11th, there will be the RAM Qualifying Races, as well as the first races of the EMX125 presented by FMF Racing and Women's World Championship, and on Sunday, the 12th, the remaining six races.

Tickets are now available HERE

• The general admission ticket, grants access to all common areas of the circuit, allowing spectators to move around the track to see different corners and zones. 
• Additionally, three large elevated grandstands will be installed, providing better visibility from reserved seats. 
• The "Olas" grandstand overlooks the long and demanding uphill straight, as well as the finish line jump and the always spectacular start. 
• The "Triple" grandstand is right at the take-off point of the triple jump and also offers views of the lower part of the track with the tunnel jump, the lower wave section, and the new series of jumps. 
• Finally, the "Double" grandstand, located in the middle of the circuit, allows spectators to overlook the various jumps and corners that crisscross the venue. 

Additionally, you can get your VIP Tickets HERE and experience the MXGP of Galicia like never before.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Galicia