MX2

The popularity of the Yamaha Motor Europe YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup continues to grow apace, with a record number of young riders registered to take part in the unique pan-European race series in 2023. The riders, aged 8-16 years, will all compete for a place on the start gate at the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale, which will run alongside the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Ernée, France over the weekend of 6-8 October 2023.

Since its inception in 2015, the Yamaha YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup has attracted the best young riders from around Europe. This year the number of riders registered to contest the series has increased by more than 40% compared to 2022, with 536 youngsters from 28 countries set to compete on Yamaha YZ65, YZ85 and YZ125 machinery in 2023.

The top 120 riders from the various countries will secure a place on the start gate at the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale and the chance to race alongside the stars of MXGP at the prestigious Monster Energy Motocross of Nations.

The podium finishers, plus two wild cards and the top two female racers in each class will receive an invitation to the Yamaha bLU cRU Masterclass, where they will receive coaching over two days from an experienced team that includes Yamaha Factory MX riders past and present.

The riders will also be assessed over the course of the two days, with one rider from each class selected to receive support from Yamaha for the following season. For the YZ125 rider selected, this support will comprise a fully funded ride in the EMX125 Championship.

The importance of the Yamaha bLU cRU program in ensuring that racing remains accessible to the next generation of young riders was recognised in 2022 with the presentation of the prestigious FIM Award for the Future to Yamaha Motor Europe President and CEO, Eric de Seynes, during the end of season FIM Awards Ceremony in Rimini, Italy.

Paolo Pavesio, Marketing and Motorsport Director, Yamaha Motor Europe: “We are immensely proud of our bLU cRU program, which continues to live up to its goal of supporting the next racing generation. This year we will have more than 500 young riders racing under the bLU cRU banner at national level, a significant increase on previous seasons, and made possible only with the support of our European Distributors. However, the scope of the bLU cRU program extends further, providing a progression path from grass roots racing to the very pinnacle of the sport, all within the Yamaha racing family. While this will be a path followed only by the few, every single one of our bLU cRU riders will take away with them memories that will last a lifetime, and that is important also. I wish everyone of our young racers success this season, and I look forward to meeting some of them in person at the YZ SuperFinale in October.”

Copyright Photo: Yamaha Racing

Motocross Grand Prix and the country of Argentina have created a very strong relationship over the last decade, with the MXGP Championship returning there in 2015 and running nearly every year since then, apart for those tough years of Covid in 2020 and 2021.

While the last six visits to Argentina have really surprised and excited the MXGP paddock, it was way back in 1985 that the first ever Grand Prix was held in the country. Finnish rider Pekka Vehkonen won the 125cc Grand Prix at the Salta circuit and a year later it was Dutchman Dave Strijbos who stood on top of the podium in Argentina. 

In 1987 American Rodney Smith won the 250cc Grand Prix of Argentina, held at the Salta track. Smith went 1-1 to lead on Jorgen Nilsson and Rob Herring. A year later, little known Giuseppe Andreani also won on Argentine soil, also at the Salta circuit. It was the last of four Grand Prix wins for the Italian, a rider who was a regular top ten guy in his career and took out that victory in Argentina with 4-1 results in the 250cc GP, beating better-known riders Vehkonen and American Ricky Ryan. That win in Argentina was something of a surprise as the aging Andreani was edging close to the end of his career and actually finished 12^th in the Motocross World Championship in 1988.

In 1989 another American stood on top of the podium as Trampas Park won at the Cosquin circuit, taking 3-1 results to finish ahead of countryman Mike Healey and Italian Alessandro Puzar. Parker also went on to win the 125cc Motocross World Championship in that 1989 season.

The Grand Prix series didn’t return to Argentina for a handful of years, but in 1994, yet another American won there with Bobby Moore finishing with the victory in the 125cc Grand Prix. Moore went 1-2 to lead home his compatriotBader Manneh with 3-1 and future 125cc World Champion Alessio Chiodi, who scored 2-3 scores.

Chiodi set to become a three-time Motocross World Champion a few years later, was becoming hard to beat and in 1995, again at the Cosquin track, the Italian finished first with 1-4 scores. Second on that day was American Jimmy Button and third Frenchman Mickael Maschio (another future World Champion).

As we all know, the Motocross World Championships didn’t return to Argentina for 20 years and in 2015 German rider Max Nagl took the victory from Clement Desalle and Antonio Cairoli. Nagl was on fire in 2015 and finished with 3-1 results, while Desalle came home with 1-3 and Cairoli 2-2. A handful of races later and all three riders were out of championship running with injuries.

In another surprising win, Dylan Ferrandis won the MX2 GP in 2015, beating Pauls Jonass and Jeremy Seewer, two riders from the current list of elite MXGP riders. It was Tim Gajser, who finished in fifth place in this race that would go on to win the MX2 World Championship and his relationship with Argentina would grow as the years went on.

Gajser sure enough won in Argentina a year later, scoring 3-1 and beating Cairoli and Nagl, who joined him on the podium. In the MX2 class that year, Jeffrey Herlings added his name to the winners list in Argentina, scoring 1-1 toclean up Seewer and Russian rider Aleksandr Tonkov.

Gajser showed his liking for the Patagonian track with another win, but this time 1-1 in the MXGP class, behind him came Jeremy Van Horebeek and Evgeny Bobryshev. In the MX2 class Jonass won in front of Jorge Prado and Seewer.

In 2018, Herlings now in the MXGP class, won a classic battle against Cairoli, Herlings scoring 2-1 results and Cairoli 1-2, in third was Desalle with 3-3 scores. In the MX2 Jonass won again, ahead of Thomas Olsen and Hunter Lawrence.

A year later Cairoli took his first win in Argentina, finishing with a perfect 1-1 ahead of Gajser with 2-2 and Van Horebeek 6-3 scores. MX2 saw the arrival of Prado as a winner on the magnificent Patagonian circuit, he scored 1-1 to lead home Thomas Olsen and Mitch Evans.

As mentioned, 2020 and 2021 we missed travelling to Argentina as COVID 19 rocked the World, but we did return last year with huge reception from the large spectator turnout. Gajser won again with 2-1 with Maxime Renaux and Prado behind him. In the MX2 it was Frenchman Tom Vialle who won from Jago Geerts and Mikkel Haarup.

Now we return again to Argentina and as always, the MXGP paddock and the enthusiastic locals will celebrate this strong bond between MXGP and Argentina. Bring on round one of the 2023 MXGP and MX2 Championships.

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Acevedo

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 17 February 2023 - In just a few months’ time, the third running of the incredibly popular Junior e-Motocross Series will kick-off in Spain with the full championship calendar officially being announced today! All five rounds will take place on the same weekends as selected MXGP events and will conclude with a double-header at the Loket circuit in the Czech Republic in July. For eager young riders and their parents, entries for the 2023 series will open on March 3.

Starting earlier than previous seasons, the MXGP of Spain on May 7 hosts the opening round of the European Junior e-Motocross Series with the remaining four events taking place during the early summer months. Familiar venues return, with round two in France visiting the superb Villars sous Ecot track. Round three takes place at Teutschenthal, Germany before the series then culminates with a two-day event at Loket, the MXGP of Czech Republic, on July 15-16, where the overall champion will be crowned.

Calendar – 2023 Junior e-Motocross Series

Round 1: 7 May, MXGP of Spain – intu Xanadú - Arroyomolinos

Round 2: 21 May, MXGP of France – Villars sous Ecot

Round 3: 11 June, Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany - Teutschenthal

Round 4: 15 July, MXGP of Czech Republic – Loket

Round 5: 16 July, MXGP of Czech Republic – Loket

To discover everything there is to know regarding the 2023 Junior e-Motocross Series, please visit - www.junioremotocross.com – where registrations for the new season will be available from March 3.

David Luongo – Infront Moto Racing CEO: “In the continuity of 2022 season, Infront Moto Racing is really happy and proud to support and collaborate with KTM AG for the promotion of the European Junior e-Motocross series for five rounds. It is a fantastic platform for the kids to get a first touch and feeling with motocross. The races are taking place on the same weekend that MXGP and this is a fantastic feeling for the riders. They race in front of thousands of fans and they will keep for sure unforgettable memories. We really look forward to the new 2023 season”

Federico Valentini – Vice President Global Motorcycle Marketing: "The European Junior e-Motocross Series is really important as the world continues to head towards an electric-powered future and the series shows just what is possible regarding offroad e-mobility. The series also helps nurture future stars, as they learn from such a young age about racing, working with the media, and presenting themselves off track in a professional way. We’re 100% committed to both racing and our e-mobility research and development, I have no doubt that the 2023 European Junior e-Motocross Series will once again be a huge success and I can’t wait for round one in Spain.”

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

Junior e-Motocross

JORGE PRADO, MATTIA GUADAGNINI AND SIMON LÄNGENFELDER FOCUSED ON SUCCESS THIS SEASON.

The Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing trio will enter the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship with lofty expectations, after a rather productive off-season. Jorge Prado, Mattia Guadagnini and Simon Längenfelder have built on the positive results that were gained last year and are chomping at the bit at the prospect of achieving so much more when the new season fires into life.

- Jorge Prado excited about progress made in the off-season.

- Mattia Guadagnini keen to show potential on the MC 450F.

- Simon Längenfelder focused on fight for the 2023 MX2 title. 

Jorge Prado had a positive start to his career as a GASGAS athlete, as he took the bronze medal in the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship and won a Grand Prix on the MC 450F. '61' wants so much more than that though and has made many steps forward in the wintertime to ensure that he is ready to contend for the premier class title. Prado is rejuvenated and keen to start his bid for the crown when the nineteen-race campaign fires into life in Patagonia-Argentina on March 12.

Joining Prado in the premier class is Mattia Guadagnini, who will aim to make a splash in his first full season aboard an MC 450F. Guadagnini obtained valuable knowledge in the ten rounds of competition that he did on the more powerful machine and will apply that when the new season starts. Remember that he finished the previous season with 4-5 scores at the season finale and showed that he is a force to be reckoned with! Watch this space.

Simon Längenfelder was a revelation in his first term with the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing squad. '516' shocked the world at round one, as he raced to a dominant victory after winning the qualifying heat and both races, and then maintained that fine form in the events that followed and claimed third in the points quite comfortably. Now, armed with confidence and momentum, he is motivated to get on the gas and make a bid for the world title.

The Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing squad will warm up for the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship by competing in select pre-season events, such as the first round of the Internazionali d'Italia series this weekend. The Grand Prix season starts in Patagonia-Argentina on March 12.

Watch the riders in action at our pre-season shoot here.

Download high-res images of our racers in action at our pre-season shoot here.

Jorge Prado: "We have had a good off-season so far. We made some changes and I feel better prepared. I am really excited to go back racing in a month! I hope that I can be on the podium at every single round this year and get as many wins as possible. For sure, the main goal is to get the title. I think I am capable of doing that. It is already my fourth year fighting for it, so hopefully I can do the same this year."

Mattia Guadagnini: "I made a mid-season change of class last year, did some GPs in the premier class and gained some good experience. Now with more hours on the MC 450F and better preparation, I feel ready for my first full MXGP season. 2023 is about to start and I cannot wait!"

Simon Längenfelder: "I am super happy to start my second year together with the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team, powered by De Carli. We showed some good improvements last year. There were some ups and downs, but we finished third in the MX2 championship standings. Now I cannot wait to see what 2023 brings."

Davide De Carli (Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing Team Manager): "We have had great winter preparation with all three of our riders, who have been putting in the work on every type of ground that we are set to meet this season. We are also developing the bike and cannot wait to start the season! The team is exactly the same as last year – the riders are talented guys and I am really confident. The goal for this season is to be on the podium at every Grand Prix and to reach the main goal, the world title!"

Robert Jonas (Head of Motorsports, Off-Road): "I am so excited to see what our GASGAS trio can do when the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship starts in a little over a month. Davide De Carli has done such a good job since stepping into the role of team manager, and I am certain that he will help his riders achieve their respective goals over the coming months."
 

Watch the video introduction Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing

Photo Credit: Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing

The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team is excited to reveal its new livery ahead of the 2023 FIM MX2 World Championship season. The YZ250FM, which will be raced by MX2 title favourites Jago Geerts and Thibault Benistant as well as Yamaha's hot young rookie Rick Elzinga has a sleek black and blue base with an aggressive twist featuring a splash of grey and the new Monster Energy claw logo. 

The look, that will also be utilised by the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 and MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 teams in 2023, emulates the same bold and edgy design that will be used by the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory teams across the board in MotoGP, MXGP, Supercross and ProMotocross.

Sardinia was the place to be for Yamaha Factory MX2 and Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 riders and team members during the month of January. The island in the Mediterranean Sea, located just off the coast of Italy, has long been a hub for elite motocrossers during the winter period, with each year seeing hundreds of riders flock to its sandy tracks. 

During the teams’ time on the island, the riders dedicated two days to Yamaha Racing’s media production, where the official photography of the teams in 2023 livery was obtained.

Click here to view the official 2023 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team gallery featuring Factory YZ250FM riders Jago Geerts (93), Thibault Benistant (198) and Rick Elzinga (44).

Click here to view the official Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team gallery featuring its GYTR kitted YZ250F riders Andrea Bonacorsi (32), Karlis Reisulis (47) and Ivano van Erp (432). 
 

And, while the rest of the world may be shivering in the cold, we're gearing up for a season of red hot, or shall we say 'blue hot' racing! Both teams are set to open their account at the first pre-season outing in Ponte e Egola, Italy, on February 12th

Photo Credits: fullspectrummedia

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 3 February 2023 - Infront Moto Racing together with the FIM are pleased to share the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship Regulations which were approved by Infront Moto Racing, the MXGP Manufacturers and the FIM.

The regulations are defined by the Motocross Commission, composed of Messrs. Antonio Alia, Chairman (FIM Motocross Commission Director), David Luongo (Infront Moto Racing CEO), Biense Bierma (MSMA Secretary General) and the Permanent Bureau composed of Messrs. Jorge Viegas (FIM President) and Giuseppe Luongo (Infront Moto Racing President) who unanimously approved the 2023 FIM MXGP / MX2 / Women’s / Junior World Championships and MXoN Regulations on January 26, 2023. 

Being a pioneer back in 2010 when we launched the Qualifying Races as part of the weekend format of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MXGP is excited to present a significant update to the Saturday’s qualifying heats which will feature a brand-new scoring points system from now on.

First of all, the top ten qualifying riders from both classes MXGP and MX2 will score points as follows: the rider who wins the Qualifying Race will receive 10 points, the 2^nd will receive 9 points and so on, in a sliding scale down to 1 point for the 10^th position.

Points gained during the Qualifying Race will count for the MXGP and MX2 Championships standings, as well as Manufacturers’, but they’ll not be considered for the GP overall results. The Grand Prix overall results will still only count the points coming from the combination of the two main races.

After the Qualifying Race on Saturday, the Championship points leader will display the front red number plate on the bike with white numbers during both races on Sunday.

Another important update is about the number of MXGP riders admitted to an event as we’ll open the opportunity to participate to more than 40 riders to the MXGP category. The wildcard riders will compete in an additional qualification time practice where the fastest will be able to join the OAT riders in the main MXGP Qualifying Race. Two additional riders will remain as reserve riders and can step in, whenever one of the qualified riders cannot participate.

Additionally, MXGP will officially present its brand-new Paddock Show, where fans will be able to meet stars of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship series closer than ever. The paddock show will feature interviews, giveaway, music and much more, and will give fans the possibility to have an exclusive paddock experience the whole weekend. In order to celebrate the Winners of the Qualifying Races, top qualifying riders as well as the red plate holders will be part of the Paddock Show held on Saturday after the races.

Moreover, in order to support the participation of riders in these challenging times, the entry fees foreseen for wildcard riders participating in the MXGP and MX2 classes have been significantly reduced while the freight allowance for the non-factory teams attending the overseas rounds will increase to cover all their transportations’ needs.

All of these novelties are made with the aim to always develop the MXGP series. Allowing more riders to participate and travel overseas the MXGP World Championship will get more and more global while the new format featuring riders who earn points in Qualifying Races will offer heightened competition for the greater enjoyment of every motocross fans who will witness even more motocross action during the race weekend.

All Qualifying Races on Saturdays will be also broadcasted exclusively on MXGP-TV throughout the season.

Please find the complete 2023 FIM MXGP / MX2 / Women’s / Junior World Championship and MXoN Rules HERE.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 1 February 2023 - Infront Moto Racing would like to announce updates to the 2023 calendar of the FIM Motocross World Championship and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations previously scheduled on October 22^nd in Ernée, France, will be brought forward to October the 6^th,7^th & 8^th. This decision was tough to take but thanks to FIM, Infront Moto Racing, FFM, and the Motoclub of Ernée we were able to take the right action. The great collaboration between Infront Moto Racing, MX Sports and Feld was key to align with worldwide racing calendars, after the end of the racing season in the United States had to reshuffle.

The updated date foreseen for the MXoN will allow the best riders based and competing in the USA series to participate to the event, as the desire to create the top conditions for an epic MXoN show is crucial for the greater enjoyment of the fans. The Monster Energy FIM MXoN is the most important Off Road event of the season with the aim to offer the best experience for motocross fans, with the best riders from all over the world.

David Luongo, Infront Moto Racing CEO: “The date change of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations to the 7/8th of October occurred to ensure the best show to Motocross fans, because with the calendar modifications of the various championships around the world it appeared that some riders and Federations would have difficulties in attending the biggest Off Road event of the year and we had to find a solution. Our objective is always to deliver the best show possible to the public and therefore I would like to thank the Motoclub d’Ernee, the FFM and the FIM to have reacted positively and rapidly to this change. Now we can all focus on making the 2023 edition of the MXoN as one of the best events ever in the history of Motocross”. 

Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing, producers of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series: "After many great talks with Infront Moto Racing we strongly agree with the complicated decision to change the date of the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France, to earlier in October. Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the new SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs and Finals, the date of the final round was moved from October 14 to September 23, which meant that the AMA season would end nearly a month before the MXoN was set to be run at Ernée. We believe that the Monster Energy FIM MXoN is extremely important to the entire global motocross community and fans deserve and expect to see the best riders from each nation compete together this one time every year. 

"Moving the date closer to the end of the AMA schedule will help secure the participation of a very strong Team USA, as they seek to successfully defend the Peter Chamberlain Trophy for the first time since 2011," added Feld Motor Sports' Dave Prater, Vice President-Supercross. "Last year's winning Team USA lineup of Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton and Justin Cooper have all expressed interest in returning to defend their title. This change of date also helps ensure that other AMA-based riders like Hunter and Jett Lawrence of Australia, Germany's Ken Roczen, French heroes like Dylan Ferrandis, Marvin Musquin and Tom Vialle, Japan's Jo Shimoda, Sweden's Fredrik Noren and more would then be available to participate in the '23 MXoN, if chosen by their respective home countries."

"Infront Moto Racing, Feld Motor Sports, and MX Sports Pro Racing are committed to working together to make sure we can deliver the best events for the crowd and also help to make sure the fans at Ernée will get to watch the best riders in the world compete in the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations," added Coombs. "And when the event comes back in the near future to the U.S., we will all work together to continue to make the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations the exceptional competition that it always is, as well as a huge annual celebration of motocross for fans from all over the world." 

Infront Moto Racing also wishes to give a special thanks to the organiser, the Motoclub Ernée for their great cooperation and responsiveness towards this update.

Consequently, the rescheduling includes a date change of the MXGP of Great Britain which will be held in Matterley Basin and will also be brought forward to September the 30^th and October the 1^st, along with the supporting classes of EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and EMX250.

Meanwhile, the Motocross of European Nations is set to take place on October the 14^th and 15^th with the venue to be announced.

Importantly, together with the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, also the Yamaha YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Superfinale will be held on the weekend of October the 8th. All the tickets already bought for the Monster Energy FIM MXoN will of course be valid for the new date. Tickers are available HERE with a special offer running until February the 28^th.

Infront Moto Racing would like to thank the FIM, FIM-Europe, the organisers and federations along with all the parties involved in MXGP for the commitment to bring another impressive season of racing!

Click HERE to download the updated 2023 calendar

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

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

Dear MXGP Friends,

In less than two months the 2023 MXGP World Championship season will start! We cannot wait to start the engine on the exceptional track of Villa la Angostura in Patagonia, Argentina. I have no doubt that the upcoming season will be very exciting and unpredictable. All the stars of the championship are now preparing themselves to be ready for the 12th March and the first GP!

January has been a busy month for us, as we were able to publish an updated calendar of the upcoming 2023 season. The comeback of the MXGP of Switzerland is the great news of the month! After several years missing in the calendar, thanks to the tremendous work of the organizing committee of the Swiss Grand Prix leaded by Willy Laederach and all the support of Infront, we have been able to bring back the FIM Motocross World Championship to Switzerland. The patriotic Swiss fans of Jeremy Seewer and Valentin Guillod will be able to cheer for them! This Grand Prix will have the particularity to be organized on 3 days. The Saturday program will take place as usual, then the Easter Sunday will be a day off and finally the racing on Monday. We will put in place some activities in the paddock on Sunday for the fans who are present onsite the 3 days. Then Riola Sardo in Sardinia has also been confirmed as the first Grand Prix of the season in Europe, on a track that the whole paddock knows very well as most of them are training right now in Sardinia.

December and January are the months we receive the surveys and the reports about the MXGP audience on TV and the different economic impact analysis of the events on the countries, regions, and the cities where a GP takes place. It is always very rewarding to understand how much interest a Grand Prix brings to a region and a country. In Europe, most of the time, we talk about more than 20.000 people traveling for the GP weekend and using the facilities, hotels, restaurants of the region, visiting some touristic places and having a great time during the Grand Prix. Concerning the TV audience, we reached an impressive 44 million of unique TV viewers on the different broadcasters which are showing MXGP Worldwide (the data are presented by Nielsen, the world sports data analyst’s leading company). This represents more than 15% increase compared to 2021 season.

The fans of MXGP are also young and very dynamic people, our social networks continue to grow with more than 3 million fans on Facebook, 1.2 million followers on Instagram and more than 15 million views on YouTube during the last season with 50% of MXGP audience between 18 and 34 years old! The new MXGP-TV pass for the upcoming season is already available with an Early Bird promotion. MXGP-TV will also receive some extra program in the upcoming season, giving more focus on our legends and riders to enlarge our offer other than LIVE sport.

On the novelties side for the next year, the freight allowance for the private teams that come to the overseas will increase. We clearly witnessed during the last years, especially during the Covid time, a big increase of the costs for the transportation. This situation is clearly affecting all of us. On another way it is also very clear that the MXGP World Championship has to go worldwide and to continue to develop our favorite sport in new markets where fans are growing, too. It was important to adapt our support to the situation. Therefore, we are sensibly increasing the support for the private teams and riders, this will allow a better and more comfortable participation to the overseas Grand Prix for the teams. The beauty of motocross has always been the fact that the man counts more than the bike and we always had great stories of riders coming from the pack and winning races or having great results from a private structure. In the upcoming days, more novelties will come and I will be able to present them in my next editorial.

The wintertime has also been the occasion to renew some very important historical partnerships. On TV, we already renewed some important markets like Motorvision, TVG and USA with CBS SN. More will come in the upcoming days.

I would like to thank all the MXGP partners, the FIM, FIM Europe, the manufacturers, the media and last but not least all the MXGP fans.

I wish you a great 2023 year.

David Luongo, CEO of Infront Moto Racing

The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team is full of excitement, because the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship is a little over a month away and thus another opportunity to pursue gold awaits. The three-rider team will consist of Kay de Wolf, Roan van de Moosdijk and Lucas Coenen when the new term begins.

Kay de Wolf is about to embark on his third season as an MX2 rider and has his sights set on making a step forward aboard his FC 250. De Wolf has already finished on the Grand Prix podium eight times in his young career and, in addition, he has won two motos in the MX2 division. There have been many highlights since he first joined the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team and '74' is keen to add to that list in the not-so-distant future.

Motivated to achieve similar success is Roan van de Moosdijk. Moosdijk, who is from The Netherlands, has spent a year aboard the FC 250 now. Although he missed a lot of the previous season with an injury, he still climbed onto the box at the season finale and established momentum that is set to serve him so well when the new season begins with the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina on March 12.

New to the squad and the MX2 class is Lucas Coenen, a generational talent from Belgium. Coenen captured the attention of motocross fans across the globe whilst competing in the EMX250 class last term – he won seven of the last eight motos and confirmed that he will be an immediate force with support from the elite Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing squad. There is a wealth of experience under the team tent and Coenen will be able to rely on that to advance his progress.

The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship will start in Patagonia-Argentina on March 12. Before then, the team will compete in various pre-season races that have been selected to give the riders optimum prep for the new season.

Download high-res images from the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team shoot.

Watch the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team video from the pre-season shoot.

Kay de Wolf: "I am really happy at the moment. The off-season has been great – I have had a lot of time on my FC 250 and I feel good. I cannot wait to start racing and have another solid season with the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team. It will be good to implement everything that I have learned through the winter."

Roan van de Moosdijk: "It feels great to work with the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing crew for the second season in a row! I am really happy with the improvements that we have made during the off-season and I cannot wait for the gate to drop again. Seeing as this is my final year in MX2, the team and I will do everything to get the maximum out of it."

Lucas Coenen: "I am looking forward to the new season. I was in EMX250 last season, so this is a massive change and I am very excited. I will get to do a lot more races and learn as much as possible. My FC 250 is really, really good. I am counting down to the first race in Patagonia-Argentina and cannot wait to start my MX2 career with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing."

Photo credit: Husqvarna Racing