MX2

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 17 January 2020 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that after a long and very successful partnership with Sidi Sport, both parties will continue working together after agreeing to another multi-year deal.

Sidi Sport and MXGP have worked together for many years, striving for a common goal of growing motocross all over the world, which Sidi have contributed towards, by providing their valuable support to the FIM Motocross World Championship riders.

In 2020, you can expect to see Red Bull KTM Factory riders, Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado wearing brand-new Sidi Atojo SRS boots, alongside Alessandro Lupino, Julien Lieber, Stephen Rubini and Alvin Ostlund, just to name a few. In addition, the brand is also supporting the WMX, EMX250 and EMX125 riders with their fantastic products.

The all-new Atojo SRS boot was introduced in EICMA in late 2019 and developed with the help of the nine-time World Champion, Antonio Cairoli. The name of the boot is dedicated to their three World Championship riders, Alessandro Lupino (A), Tony Cairoli (TO) and Jorge Prado (JO) that make up the name Atojo. The boot was designed to be light, sleek and give the rider excellent bike control.

Not only are Sidi boots worn by the best, the company strives to be the best, combining innovation with a half-century of experience, to produce its most advanced footwear designs that combine comfort without sacrificing safety and protection.

To view the entire Sidi range and to find out more about Sidi Sport and their work, follow this link: www.sidi.com

Main Photo - from left to right: Sidi Sport’s Co-Owner Rosella Signori & Youthstream CEO David Luongo

Bottom photos: 1. Antonio Cairoli; 2. Jorge Prado

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

SIDI

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 15 January 2020 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that Parts Europe will continue their great collaboration with the FIM Motocross World Championship for another three years.

The partnership with Parts Europe has been a long running collaboration, that started many years ago and will once again see Parts Europe continue to promote its house brands, including THOR and Moose Racing. The continued partnership is a sign of good relationship between Youthstream and Parts Europe, as well as being mutually beneficial for both parties as it helps in not only the promotion of the events but also provides a worldwide stage on which the brands can be displayed.

Parts Europe is a wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts and accessories for the powersports industry in addition to gear and apparel for all segments of motorcycles, ATV/UTV, personal watercraft and snowmobiles, which they deliver to the whole of Europe, the Middle East and South Africa.

WE SUPPORT THE SPORT® – The corporate slogan embodies Parts Europe’s high commitment to motorsports industry.

In house brand THOR was created by Swedish motocross legend, Torsten Hallman, in 1968 and now 50 years later is a leader in off road racing apparel and is partner of top MXGP Athletes. THOR’s newest partnerships: The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team. The team will consist of the current heavy hitter, nine-time FIM Motocross World MXGP champion, Antonio Cairoli and the double FIM MX2 world Champion prodigy Jorge Prado.

Not enough with that: Continuing to grow their winning program, the Standing Construct team has made the switch to Factory GasGas motorcycles and will retain teammates Glen Coldenhoff and Italian native Ivo Monticelli. Coldenhoff is coming off a fantastic 2019 MXGP season and an extremely difficult 1-1 win at the Assen Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations that mirrored his Red Bud performance the previous year.

One of the other house brands of Parts Europe, Moose Racing, has been dedicated to providing riders and racers with the highest quality and best performing products since 1986. Moose Racing produces thousands of items ranging from racewear to casual apparel and boots to the finest of hard parts and accessories. The diverse and extensive product line ensures that every rider's needs are met. An exciting new partnership has been formed between MOOSE Racing and the Yamaha Gebben Van Venrooy team from Rogat, NL this year: Alessandro Lupino, a former junior world champ and now MXGP regular and will be joined by two MXGP rookies, namely Thomas Covington and Calvin Vlaanderen, who between them have amassed a string of MX2 podiums and 5 MX2 wins. The three riders will all sport the full color range of Sahara, M1 and Qualifier Moose Racing apparel in the 2020 MXGP World Championship.

Parts Europe will support the Team as exclusive distribution partner which will see a selection of Moose Racing hard parts and accessories adorned on the teams 450 machines.

Both, Youthstream and Parts Europe are very excited to continue this wonderful relationship for another three years.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Parts Europe

Moose

THOR

Photos:

Antonio Cairoli: Copyright Stefano Taglioni

Calvin Vlaanderen: Copyright Eric Laurijssen

H&H Sports, the organiser of the Just1 MXGP of China Presented by Hehui Investment Group has been awarded by the CAMF (Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People’s Republic of China).

The MXGP of China organiser received two awards, one of which was for the ‘2019 Top 3 Events’ after it successfully hosted the MXGP in China. The award was to celebrate the fantastic job on the organisation of the event, while also helping the development of motorsport in China and getting it to a higher level. During the MXGP race days, 25000 audience from all of China came to Shanghai International MX circuit to watch the very first MXGP in Shanghai, making for a very successful event.

At the same time, H&H Sports was invited to participate in the 2019 Shanghai “Splendid Pioneer for City of Fashion Award” ceremony, and they were awarded one of the “2019 Fashion Event & exhibition”.

The Ceremony was organised by Shanghai government, to show appreciation to the contributions made to Shanghai’s “Fashion Center” development. It is a great honour for H&H sports to be awarded this prize.

Ni Ming, the Vice President of H&H Sports speaking at the awards ceremony: “I would say thanks to our Government, federation, society, clubs, fans, and of course our team. The MXGP of China would not be success without the help from all of you. Next year, we would keep work hard, and bring another fantastic GP to you in September 2020”.

It is with immense sadness MXGP heard about the passing away of Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves during the 7^th stage of the Dakar yesterday morning.

Paulo Gonçalves was a great sportsman, taking part of his 13^th Dakar at the age of 40, always a big fan of Motocross and friends to many in the MXGP Paddock.

The MXGP World extends sincere condolences to his family and his close people.

Copyright: Photo: Dakar Rally

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 10^th January 2020 – Youthstream is excited to announce the official entry lists for the opening round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, taking place at Matterley Basin, Great Britain on the 29^th February and 1^st March.

The fast-flowing track based in the south of England has hosted more GP’s than any other British venue and in 2020 it will be the 10^th time that Matterley Basin makes an appearance on the MXGP race calendar and it will also be the first time, since 2012, that the British circuit will kick of the 2020 season in Europe!

Last year the MXGP of Great Britain hosted some epic race battles between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin and Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, with the 9-time World Champion taking the overall win that weekend. Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider, Thomas Kjer Olsen with the podium victory, Henry Jacobi, now riding for Yamaha SM Action MC-Migliori, in second and the rookie, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, starting the season strong in third. But with a competitive field of riders and new ones coming through the ranks, it will be interesting to see who will be present on the podium at the first Grand Prix of the season.

To see the list of MX2 and MXGP riders who will be lining up at Matterley Basin for the first round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, check out the list below:

Click HERE to download the MXGP and MX2 Entry List for the MXGP of Great Britain in PDF format.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Great Britain

THOMAS KJER OLSEN, JED BEATON AND KAY DE WOLF SET TO START THEIR 2020 CAMPAIGNS ABOARD FC 250 MACHINERY

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to release official imagery of the 2020 Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team, featuring team riders Thomas Kjer Olsen, Jed Beaton and EMX250 rider Kay de Wolf. 

With the opening round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship now only a little over seven weeks away, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team are currently based in Spain, at the Redsand MX Park facility, where all three riders are working on both their off-bike physical training and riding, aboard their FC 250 machines. 

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team will then ready themselves for the start of the 20-round FIM Motocross World Championship, which kicks off with the GP of Great Britain on March 1 at Matterley Basin. 

Rasmus Jorgensen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 Team Manager: “With the start of the season not too far away now, things have been going really well recently. All riders took some much-needed time off at the end of last year before starting their physical preparations in November and returning to riding in December, in Belgium. Since the New Year we’ve been in Spain at Redsand MX Park and the atmosphere among the three riders is really positive – it’s great to see so much energy and willingness to work hard. Ahead of us are many more weeks of training and testing, but all riders are already feeling really comfortable and enjoying both the on and off bike work we’re doing.”

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 10 January 2020 – The 77^th issue of the MXGP Magazine is now available to read online!

This month’s cover features JM Honda Racing Team, new team in the MXGP paddock managed by motocross legend Jacky Martens, and inside you can also find a special feature on the Final OAT (Officially Approved Teams) list for the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship! Besides you can download the 2020 OAT LIST in PDF format by clicking HERE.

The 77^th issue also features a selection of mechanic board images from the 2019 season and a discussion about why they are used. Additionally, you can read about Joel Smets and his 1995 Husaberg 600 in the vintage section, John Banks who is highlighted in our January Hall of Fame as well as a recap of the great achievements MXGP reached in digital platforms during the 2019 season.

Click here to read the 77th issue of MXGP Mag or download it for FREE on Apple Store or Google Play.

Users who have already downloaded other issues on their iOS device can automatically download the new issue by opening the News Stand and clicking on the cover of the MXGP Mag. Whereas those readers using an Android device will be able to download the magazine for free thanks to this app: http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP MAG

Shaun Simpson of the SS24 KTM MXGP team will lead a short list of British riders into the opening round of the 2020 MXGP championship, set for Matterley Basin in the south of England on the first weekend of March.

While a bunch of seeded riders from the UK are expected to line-up alongside Simpson and Adam Sterry in the MXGP class, including recently retired (from Grand Prix) rider Tommy Searle, the MX2 class will also have a handful of local riders battling with the best in the World.

Simpson, who is now the longest standing Grand Prix rider from Great Britain, and has also seen a couple of era’s fall in his long career, is excited to be the top home rider, but Simpson is also a little nervous as he enters a GP for the first time as a team owner too.

“It will be incredible,” Simpson says. “But also, very overwhelming and possibly a bit stressful all at the same time. The goal is to go to Matterley Basin and get two solid results first up. We haven’t had a European GP opener for a few years and there is a lot going on with media and other things. We want a Simpson Army thing going on there and we need to manage that within my circle so I can just go racing. I also enjoy the fly-away races, and it was important for me to commit to the complete championship. Starting in Europe I hope we get a good crowd.”

Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2 rider Ben Watson, should be the leading British rider in the MX2 class and knows that the crowd will be on his side at Matterley Basin. While he wants a good result, he is also excited to head to places like Argentina, which is round three of the 2020 series.

“The home GP is nice,” Watson says. “It could be wet, or it could be dry like this year. Obviously for the British riders it is special, that home GP excitement and adrenaline. It is nice to get a few races under your belt before heading to Argentina. Flying to Argentina for the first one is a bit long, but for the racing this season is better, two before we have to fly to Argentina.”

Of course, other British riders like Adam Sterry and Conrad Mewse are also expected to be in contention for major points at the season opener, giving the expected large crowd something extra to cheer about.

Yamaha Motor Europe wishes to invite riders that are eligible to join the 2020 YZ125, YZ85 and YZ65 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup programs to register now.

Since 2015, the YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup has been the best opportunity for young motocross riders to find their feet in the world of professional racing, an opportunity that successfully extended to YZ85 and YZ65 riders in 2019.

The program is open to riders that ride either a YZ125, YZ85 or YZ65 in one of the approved national championships. Throughout the season, riders will accumulate bLU cRU points, and the best 40 in each class will be invited to race the bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale which will take place in Ernée, France at the prestigious Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

The top three riders from each class competing at the SuperFinale will be joined by two wild card riders from each class at the bLU cRU Masterclass, which will take place at the end of the season.

The bLU cRU Masterclass is an event specifically designed to give young riders, from road and off-road backgrounds, a taste of what the racing world can throw at them as well as being a place to receive expert tuition from Yamaha Racing’s bLU cRU ambassadors. They'll compete, learn, grow and develop over three days of intense training and competition. At the end of the three days, one YZ125 rider will be chosen to join Yamaha’s Official EMX125 Team where he or she will contest the EMX125 Championship, and the 65 and 85 riders will win technical support by GYTR for the next season.

For riders that want their best shot at taking their riding to the next level, now is the time to enter. Please follow the instructions at the following link and sign up as soon as possible. Entries will close 28 February 2020.

Romain Febvre, the newest member of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, will open a new chapter of his already highly-successful career this year when he mounts the #3 plate on his KX450-SR.

Back on a bike for just four weeks after a three-month pause due to injury, the Frenchman has hardly had a day off his Kawasaki since his return and, after a few days back home to celebrate Christmas, he’s now back on Sardinia where he has regularly spent several weeks each winter preparing in the best conditions for the new season. “Some riders like going to Spain but I prefer Sardinia; I enjoy the island and know all the practice tracks where we can ride. The weather is usually pretty good and you don’t need to spend hours on the road to go from one location to another,” he explained. Romain was already in Sardinia in December to start working with his new crew and ride his Kawasaki following a brief session in Belgium after he was given the green light from his doctor to resume riding. “I just did a few laps on a production bike in Belgium to check if everything was OK with my leg and then I joined the mechanics who were already on Sardinia. It was a real pleasure to ride again, even though I had some slight discomfort in my leg for a couple of days. I already enjoyed the production bike but of course the feeling was even better with the factory bike and as soon as I jumped on it I felt very comfortable. The engine characteristics suit my riding style perfectly and it’s so good to have this feeling even before we start testing different options and settings. Until now the main goal was to find my marks after such a long break and we’ll start testing mid-January to prepare for my racing comeback. It’s too early to say when and where I will have my first race on the Kawasaki but I am already looking forward to it with enthusiasm,” he added.

For this new stage of his career, changing team and bike for the 2020 season, Romain will have the #3 plate on his Monster Energy Kawasaki; incidentally this is the same number which Monster Energy Kawasaki US leader Eli Tomac races in the States. “It’s just a coincidence that we will have the same number,” explained Romain. “When I was in hospital I didn’t have so many things to do, and one day I had the idea to change my racing number. I wanted a short number and this one was available for MXGP. I have always raced with #461 during my professional motocross career but the number was not really significant for me. I had #61 when I was a kid but when I moved from supermoto to motocross that number was not available for the French series; the only possibility to keep 61 was to add a 4 so that’s how the 461 came about. So for this new decade I have changed team, bike and also number, and I really appreciate working with different people; I had a great relationship with my previous team but it’s also great to have a fresh feeling around me in my new environment,” he concluded.

Copyright: Photo: Kawasaki Racing