MX2

Yamaha Motor Europe regrets to announce that due to health complications the defending WMX World Champion, FontaMX Yamaha WMX's Kiara Fontanesi, will not be lining up at the opening round of the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, this weekend.

Fontanesi has been facing health complications for the past 18-months and based on recent medical advice the WMX star has been advised to refrain from racing until her full fitness level returns. 

As the most successful female motocross racer in the world with six WMX World Titles to her credit, the 25 year-old Italian will still attend the opening round of the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, where she will support her new MXFonta Yamaha WMX teammate Larissa Papenmeier as she debuts her new YZ250F machine.

Kiara Fontanesi: “It’s a shame I can’t line up to challenge for a seventh world title, but at the same time, I am aware my health is very important. I have chosen not to race due to my physical condition which has not been good since 2017. I struggled last season and during the year I didn’t have the chance to train the way I should. For this season I first wanted to be 100% fit and ready, but my problems have not improved. Until my condition improves, I prefer not to race until I’m not back at my best. My “rest” time is only going to make me feel better, so I’ll hope I’ll be back to fight for the championship soon.”

Login to MXGP-TV.com now and watch the newly added 26 Min Behind the Gate special feature from the 2019 MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin!

The first race on European soil in 2019 was epic with the green hillsides of Matterley Basin perfectly prepared as the blue skies and sun shined down. Starting off the first of three back to back weekends of racing in style the MXGP of Great Britain 26 Min Magazine is packed with content. 

Starting off with a GoPro Track Preview on board the Standing Construct KTM of hometown hero Max Anstie it quickly becomes clear why the Matterley Basin circuit is known as one of the best motocross tracks in the world.

Featured teams in this edition of Behind the Gate include the Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 squad with Ben Watson and Jago Geerts as well as the new RFX KTM Racing Team and their MXGP rider, UK native and new father, Shaun Simpson!

Of course, the racing is also detailed with unseen clips of the action on track from both the MXGP and MX2 categories before Lisa Leyland wraps it up with what to expect and look out for next round in Valkenswaard, the MXGP of the Netherlands.

 Don’t miss out, log on, and be sure to see all the action of the MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley now in a whole new perspective from “Behind the Gate” HERE

Timetable and Entry Lists for the MXGP of the Nethelerlands taking place in Valkenswaard this weekend, the 30th and 31st March are available here below to be downloaded in PDF format

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

WMX ENTRY LIST

EMX125 PRESENTED BY FMF RAICING ENTRY LIST

MXGP is happy to keep running the FOX Holeshot competition trough the 19 rounds of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship season together with MXGP Partner FOX. 

The way it works is that 1 point is awarded per MXGP or MX2 championship race. The first rider who cross the white line painted on the ground at the exit of the first corner will be given a point. At the end of the season, the 2 riders – one per category - with the most FOX Holeshot points will win a mega prize. 

At the MXGP of Great Britain taking place on March the 24th in Matterley Basin Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Tom Vialle took both FOX Holeshot in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively.

 Watch the FOX Holeshots Films HERE below. 

MXGP FOX Holeshot Film

MX2 FOX Holeshot Film

TAG Heuer has been the official timekeeper of the FIM Motocross World Championship since 2014 and together with MXGP are running the fastest lap competition across each season. 

The way it works is: at each and every round of the MXGP season, the rider that sets the best lap time in each class, MXGP and MX2, will receive 1 point in the TAG Heuer competition. The rider that has set the fastest lap at the most rounds throughout the season in MXGP and MX2 classes, and has the most points, will be awarded.

This weekend at the MXGP of Great Britain it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli in MXGP class and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen in MX2 class who set the TAG HEUER best lap of the weekend. 

Here below you have the details: 

MXGP: Antonio Cairoli at Race 2 Lap 13 with 2:23:305

MX2: Thomas Kjer Olsen at Race 2 Lap 3 with 2.27:224

Check out MXGP.com home page for the the Top 3 TAG Heuer Best Lap competition’s ranking.

Great Britain’s last World Motocross Champion James Dobb turned professional in 1987, aged 15, signing a contract with the Factory Cagiva team, widely acclaimed as a future world champion. Having raced all over the world though, it wasn’t until the 1999 season that he really started making waves in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Dobb had his best finish in the World 125cc Motocross Championship in 1999 when he finished fifth on the series points. His good form saw him move to the KTM Factory Racing team in 2000, a move which gave him the momentum to challenge for the 125cc world title. He finished second to fellow KTM rider Grant Langston in 2000, before dominating the 2001 championship securing his, and Great Britain's, first title in the 125cc World Championship and their last.

Despite taking victory at the famous Foxhills circuit in 2000, one of the last times a British rider has won at home, Dobb sights the legendary circuit of Namur a year later, as his favorite GP victory.

“Namur, 2001,” Dobb said. “I had broken my collarbone in Sweden shortly before Namur, then had it fixed and raced in France a few days later. I had another crash on the Wednesday practicing after France and broke the other collarbone before Namur. I went there not knowing if I would be able to race, and of course I did, and it was amazing. It was a bit muddy in the morning, got a terrible start, then my roll-offs broke on the first lap, so I had no goggles at the end of the first lap. I think I was in 12th at the time. I ended up winning the race by 15 seconds and realistically, it was the day I won the world title, because mathematically, I could still be beaten, but the points I had at Namur, Ramon hadn’t gotten all season. So, I have my Namur jersey in my room at home and the Gaildorf one, where I officially won the championship.”

“It was the situation (of the injuries), but also Namur, having been there as a kid and like recently with that has happened to Eric. I remember being at Namur when he won his last world title (and retired). I was a big fan of Dave Thorpe, and Georges Jobe and I remember their battles at Namur as a kid. I used to be that kid, I just loved looking at factory bikes and as a kid I would just stand there and look at them, and just watching the riders and how they did. You know what Namur was like for a person, more British public than Belgians and being a bit of a historian in the sport, it was just special. It was motocross, that place was real motocross and to win there, it was special.”

Despite his championship winning season in 2001, he would never really fight for a World Championship title again, and eventually retired in 2004, satisfied with the fact he is still known as the last British rider to win an FIM Motocross World Championship.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Antonio Cairoli and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Thomas Kjer Olsen both produced brilliant performances at the British Grand Prix, Cairoli winning the MXGP class with 1-2 results, while Olsen went 1-1 to win in MX2.

Both racers won while the defending MXGP and MX2 champions, Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado, are out injured, but for now, the fact is, winning with or without these champions isn’t important, it is just important to score as many points as possible towards their championship standings.

For Cairoli, it was about enjoying a circuit he has won on six times. It wasn’t always easy, as Cairoli himself was carrying an injury he picked up during the week.

“It was a great weekend and for sure this track is one of my favorites,” Cairoli said. “I had difficulty to push from the beginning because of a problem during the week and I was stiff. It meant I got arm-pump after three-four laps. I had to be careful because on this track if you are tight then you’ll crash because it is tricky and there are a lot of strange ruts and kickers. I was cautious, and in the end, it paid off. Hopefully I can be better before next week in the sand. For the championship everything is going well and that’s my goal. I don’t want to finish second, when somebody beats you there is something burning, and this keeps me riding, because if I don’t have this, then I am not thinking correct to be a racer. You must care about the racing and not just be here for the money. I want to improve and be better.”

Kjer-Olsen might not be carrying any injury, and he has shown for sure, apart from Prado, that he is the man in the MX2 class, going 2-2 in Argentina and 1-1 in England. Probably his best weekend of his career at Matterley Basin, and for sure something that will give him confidence for the coming rounds.

“It’s just awesome to go 1-1 here in the UK,” Olsen said. “My weekend was really good – I won the qualifying race and then went on the claim the overall in MX2 with two more wins. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It’s been a long time since I got the overall win and I was happy to do it at this cool track. Matterley Basin has always been a track that I enjoy riding and this weekend I did my best to collect as many points as possible for the championship. I felt comfortable all weekend and my best race was the last one, where the track was at its roughest. I have so much full confidence in my bike, and so much trust in all the members of my team. It was good to pay them back with this win. I also secured the red plate for the first time. Now the goal is to hold onto it and push hard during the upcoming races.”

Now onto the sand of Valkenswaard in Holland, a place Cairoli has won at six times, so the Italian will go for his seventh win, and Olsen will be looking over his shoulder to see if Prado arrives from his injury, or if all the pressure will be on Olsen to reproduce his British GP victory.

MATTERLEY BASIN (Great Britain) 25 March 2019 – The Matterley Basin circuit was host to much more than just the MXGP and MX2 World Championship racing this weekend as the FIM Europe Motocross Championship joined in the action. Team Maddii Racing Husqvarna’s Alberto Forato and Verde Substance KTM’s Brad Anderson came in force to start their respective championship seasons as both winners and points leaders.

The well know class of EMX250 is a breeding ground for potential MX2 and later MXGP stars as proven by many former graduates but this weekend at the grassy and green hills of Matterley Basin an all new category joined in alongside. The all new EMX2T presented by FMF Racing sang for the first time this year and ever over the past 2 days.

EMX250 Race 1 on Saturday started off with Maddii Racing Husqvarna’s Raf Meuwissen in the lead with BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Jimmy Clochet, SMDCORSE Yamaha EMX250’s Ruben Fernandez, Honda RedMoto Assomotor’s Pierre Goupillon, and Creymert Racing’s Kevin Horgmo all right in the mix.

Fernandez took the look from Meuwissen quickly, but Maddii Racing Husqvarna’s Alberto Forato was on the move and by the end of the first official lap had taken the lead from Fernandez.

Honda RedMoto Assomotor’s Stephen Rubini battled with Horgmo before Horgmo crashed out when the pair collided on the landing of the uphill triple. Goupillon also fell but by his own doing which gave Rubini 3rd position as he also passed Clochet on the same lap. At the front Forato checked out while Fernandez settled for second ahead of Rubini, Clochet, Goupillon, and F&H Racing’s Roan Van de Moosdijk.

Today’s race 2 saw another impressive start by Forato this time ahead of a regrouped Kevin Horgmo. Pierre Goupillon was again at the front of the pack running third with Ghidinelli Racing Team’s Guiseppe Tropepe fighting Van de Moosdijk over 4th.

Tropepe dropped back two positions the first few laps to both the Kawasaki of Van de Moosdijk and the Honda of Rubini. Second place finisher from race 1, Fernandez was 35th on the first lap and had to work his way up throughout the remaining 11 laps.

Van de Moosdijk made a pass on Goupillon just past the halfway point for third which he would settle for behind Horgmo and the dominant 1-1 performance of Forato. The overall winner was clearly Forato who led every lap on the way to a perfect weekend while Rubini took second with 3-5 finishes and Van de Moosdijk finished 3rd with 6-3 scores.

Alberto Forato, “For me it was a good weekend, I lead from the first lap of every race, so I was able to focus on myself and I want to do this every weekend. It is a different bike and a different team this year but now I am really comfortable with everyone, the bike, the mechanics, and everything so it is good for me.”

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), 32:04.381; 2. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:07.871; 3. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:13.441; 4. Jimmy Clochet (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.624; 5. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, Honda), +0:20.202; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:24.296; 7. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +0:25.668; 8. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, KTM), +0:29.951; 9. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), +0:31.131; 10. Caleb Grothues (AUS, Yamaha), +0:53.522.

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), 32:24.557; 2. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KTM), +0:09.886; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:22.042; 4. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, Honda), +0:23.370; 5. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:26.631; 6. Giuseppe Tropepe (ITA, Yamaha), +1:01.793; 7. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +1:06.422; 8. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), +1:10.730; 9. Jimmy Clochet (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:13.653; 10. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), +1:17.062.

EMX250 Overall Top Ten: 1. Alberto Forato (ITA, HUS), 50 points; 2. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 36 p.; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 35 p.; 4. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, HON), 34 p.; 5. Jimmy Clochet (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 23 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), 22 p.

EMX250 ChampionshipTop Ten: 1. Alberto Forato (ITA, HUS), 50 points; 2. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 36 p.; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 35 p.; 4. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, HON), 34 p.; 5. Jimmy Clochet (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 23 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), 22 p.

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Husqvarna, 50 points; 2. Kawasaki, 38 p.; 3. Honda, 38 p.; 4. Yamaha, 37 p.; 5. KTM, 36 p.

Main Photo: EMX250 Start

Bottom Photos: 1. Alberto Forato; 2. Stephen Rubini

The EMX2T presented by FMF Racing is the newest category of EMX racing and with this weekend being the first round of the championship a long list of riders entered for their chance to become the first winner.

The first race however was a battle of the motocross veterans and former EMX300 rivals Mike Kras riding for Team Ecomaxx Fuels and Brad Anderson from Verde Substance KTM. Kras had the lead from the start with fellow Ecomaxx Fuels teammate Youri Van T Ende separating him from Anderson.

On the second lap Anderson made the pass and began his pursuit of Kras. Vaclav Kovar from the Czech Republic was the next to get by Van T Ende and only one lap later Anderson made a move on Kras to take over the lead.

Anderson’s fellow countryman Todd Kellet used the home crowd to move from 8th to 4th in only 4 laps. Including a pass on seasoned 2 stroke rider Andero Lusbo on his A1M Husqvarna. Kellet’s charge stopped at 4th however as he finished 10 second back of Kovar while Anderson took the race win by nearly 12 seconds over Kras.

Race 2 was led by Britain’s Brad Todd with Anderson in second for the first 4 laps. Kras on the hand was 8th after the first lap but suffered a mechanical failure on lap 2 which is the second year in a row his fight against Anderson has gone up in smoke at Matterley.

Following Anderson’s pass for the lead on the 5th lap Kovar took second away from Todd who was then chased by Andrea Gorini from San Marino. At the finish it was Anderson taking the race 2 win, first ever EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing overall, and the first championship red plate. Kovar’s 3-2 put the Czech rider on the second spot of the podium while Gorini stood on the 3rd step!

EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 32:30.711; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), +0:11.823; 3. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, Gas Gas), +0:18.398; 4. Todd Kellett (GBR, Yamaha), +0:28.185; 5. Andero Lusbo (EST, Husqvarna), +0:29.117; 6. Andrea Gorini (SMR, Yamaha), +0:41.229; 7. Jamie Law (GBR, KTM), +0:48.410; 8. Emanuele Alberio (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:51.244; 9. Marco Lolli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:53.367; 10. Andrea Vendruscolo (ITA, Yamaha), +0:54.018.

EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 31:53.709; 2. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, Gas Gas), +0:13.016; 3. Brad Todd (GBR, Yamaha), +0:23.472; 4. Andrea Gorini (SMR, Yamaha), +0:31.933; 5. Ben Putnam (GBR, Yamaha), +0:39.101; 6. Todd Kellett (GBR, Yamaha), +0:41.262; 7. Andero Lusbo (EST, Husqvarna), +0:42.289; 8. Matt Burrows (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:53.431; 9. Marco Lolli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:57.771; 10. Youri van t Ende (NED, KTM), +0:59.480.

EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing Overall Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 50 points; 2. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, GAS), 42 p.; 3. Andrea Gorini (SMR, YAM), 33 p.; 4. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Andero Lusbo (EST, HUS), 30 p.; 6. Ben Putnam (GBR, YAM), 26 p.; 7. Marco Lolli (ITA, YAM), 24 p.; 8. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 9. Matt Burrows (GBR, HUS), 21 p.; 10. Emanuele Alberio (ITA, HUS), 21 p

EMX2T Presented by FMF RacingChampionshipTop Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 50 points; 2. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, GAS), 42 p.; 3. Andrea Gorini (SMR, YAM), 33 p.; 4. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Andero Lusbo (EST, HUS), 30 p.; 6. Ben Putnam (GBR, YAM), 26 p.; 7. Marco Lolli (ITA, YAM), 24 p.; 8. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 9. Matt Burrows (GBR, HUS), 21 p.; 10. Emanuele Alberio (ITA, HUS), 21 p.

EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 50 points; 2. Gas Gas, 42 p.; 3. Yamaha, 38 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 30 p

Main Photo: Start EMX2T Presented by FMF Racing

Bottom Photo: 1. Brad Anderson; 2. Podium

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos from the MXGP of Great Britain will be available HERE

MXGP GREAT BRITAIN – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1950m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 14°

Weather conditions: sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 35,000

MXGP was available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

NEXT STOP

The second stop of the EMX250 Championship will take place on April the 7^thin Pietramurata, Trentino, while the second round of the EMX2T Presented by FMF racing Championship will be held on May the 12^thin Mantova, Lombardia

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

MXGP of Great Britain