MX2

ASSEN (The Netherlands) 14 September 2018 – The FIM Motocross World Championship is in the Netherlands for the penultimate round of the 2018 season. The Dutch circuit of Assen will host the fight for the world title and could very likely crown a new MXGP Champion.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has the odds in his favor with a 95 point advantage over his Red Bull KTM rival Antonio Cairoli. The “Bullet” will strive to achieve his first ever premier MXGP title and could do so as early as MXGP Race 1 on Sunday!

On top of the possible championship win for Herlings in MXGP the Red Bull KTM duo of Jorge Prado and Pauls Jonass will fight for the win before heading to Imola, Italy for the 2018 season finale!

The 2018 MXGP of the Netherlands will receive global television coverage from MXGP’s traditional broadcast partners with a massive amount of Dutch coverage from NOS who will be on site, with TV commentators and a presenter, RTL will have a crew onsite as well, along with the local Omroep Brabant for news coverage, and RTV to cover both races and the Dutch athletes.

The entire event including Qualifying heats on Saturday, the races of WMX, and the last rounds of the EMX Championships, EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, plus the MXGP and MX2 Championship races on Sunday will be streamed LIVE worldwide from Assen on www.MXGP-TV.com

As usual you can watch the 26min Behind the Gate the week after the event in Europe on motorsport.tv & MotorTrend two days after the event. It can also be viewed in the USA/Canada on BeIn and MAV TV, Finland on MTV 3, Croatia on Kreator TV, South America on FOX Sports, Asia on FOX Sports, China on Fox Sports and SINA, and the Africa on Africa XP.

Check the guides below to find out how you can watch the 2018 MXGP of the Netherlands:

USA - CANADA

CBS Sports Network

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 pm ET (09:00 am PT) - Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 01:00 pm ET (10.00 am PT) - Delayed

EUROPE

EUROSPORT 2

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 – CET- Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 18:30 – CET – Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00 – CET - Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 2 – 19:30 – CET - Delayed

BELGIUM

PLAY SPORTS 1

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET – Live

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00– CET - Live

CANVAS

Sunday 16 September - Highlights

FRANCE

EUROSPORT 2

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 – CET- Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 18:30 – CET – Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00 – CET - Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 2 – 19:30 – CET - Delayed

LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 12:00 – CET – Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 13:00 – CET - Delayed

ITALY

RAI SPORT

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET – Live

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00– CET - Live

NETHERLANDS

NOS

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET – Live

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00– CET – Live Streaming

RTL

Sunday 23 September - Highlights – 15:30

PORTUGAL

Sport TV 5

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 1 – 16:00 –  GMT+1- Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 17:00 – GMT+1 – Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 2 – 18:00 – GMT+1 - Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00– GMT+1 – Delayed

SLOVENIA 

Sport TV1

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET – Live

Sunday 16 September – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00– CET - Live

ASIA

FOX SPORTS Indonesia

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

FOX SPORTS SEA (Hong Kong – Macau – Thailand – Singapore – Indonesia)

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

FOX SPORTS Hong Kong

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

FOX SPORTS 3 Hong Kong

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

FOX SPORTS 3 SEA(Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore,  Thailand, Malaysia

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

CHINA

STAR Sports China

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 1 – 10:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 1 – 11:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 – HKT- Delayed

Monday 17 September – MXGP Race 2 – 13:00– HKT- Delayed

BRAZIL

BANDSPORTS

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – Brazil timing - Delayed

Sunday 16 September – MXGP Race 2 – 15:00 – Brazil timing – Delayed

All the photos from the MXGP of The Netherlands will be available HERE

TIMETABLE 

Saturday: 8:00 WMX Free/Timed Practice; 8:45 EMX125 Free/Time Practice, 9:30EMX250 Free/Time Practice, 10:30 WMX Race 1, 11:30 MX2 Free Practice, 12:00 MXGP Free Practice, 13:05 EMX125 Race 1, 14:00 MX2 Time Practice, 14:40 MXGP Time Practice, 16:25 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17:10 MXGP Qualifying Race, 17:55 EMX250 Race 1.

Sunday: 08:45 EMX125 Race 2, 09:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of the Netherlands

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13 September 2018 - The 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship and FIM Junior Motocross World Cup took place at the Horsham, Australia circuit just a short time ago and the Behind the Gate feature from the event is set to be aired around the world and on MXGP-TV.com!

The best young riders in the world made the trip for a chance to represent their nations and fight for the title of World Champion or World Cup winner. The special Behind the Gate feature gives a look at both the racing, riders, and event as a whole.

The program will air in Europe on Motorsport TV and Motortrend, Belgium on Play Sports, Finland on MTV3 Max Finland, Croatia on Kreator TV, Slovenia on Sport TV, Portugal Sport TV, France on La Chaine l’Equipe, Bulgaria on BNT, both South America and Asia on FOX SPORTS, China on SINA Sports, Africa on XP Africa, Brazil on Band Sports, along with the US and Canada on CBS Sports, MAV TV, and Motortrend.

Watch the Magazine on MXGP-TV Youtube page and don’t miss your shot to get behind the gate with the best young racers in the world, tune in to watch the new Junior World Champions, the FIM 65cc World Cup winner, and much more!

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Junior MX World Championship

26 Min Magazine

The 2018 MXGP season is coming to an end in just a few weeks and one of the first rounds of 2019 is already getting ready.

Just around the corner is the 2019 MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin and tickets are on sale now! The early ticketing available is perfect to take advantage of the UK’s most popular Motocross event at the best price you can get.

Save your spot for the event at one of Europe’s most famous motocross venues, in its stadium like natural terrain!

For more information about the ticketing options or to purchase online now visit https://greatbritain.motocross-tickets.com/en/2943-great-britain-motocross-tickets/

ASSEN (The Netherlands) 12 September 2018 – The FIM Motocross World Championship has reached its penultimate round at the MXGP of the Netherlands in Assen this weekend. The Dutch TT circuit has been transformed into a Motocross Championship venue full of sand. Last year’s Dutch motocross fans witnessed the MXGP Championship being decided as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli took his 9th World Title. This year however the crowd is hoping to see their fellow Dutchman, Jeffrey Herlings, take his first ever MXGP title on Sunday.

Joining the World Championship classes of MXGP and MX2 is the Women’s Motocross World Championship and the European Championships of EMX125 presented by FMF Racing and EMX250. In the fight for the Women’s title is MXFONTA Racing Syneco’s  Kiara Fontanesi and the Netherlands’ Nancy Van de Ven after Yamaha has announced the Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Courtney Duncan, who leads the points by 21, will not compete in the remainder of the season due to a foot injury.

In the class of EMX125 presented by FMF Racing MJC Yamaha’s Thibault Benistant has a 33 point lead over the injured KTM Junior rider Rene Hofer, and another 6 over Mattia Guadagnini. While the EMX250 championship was wrapped up in Bulgaria by Honda RedMoto Assomotor’s Mathys Boisrame several other riders are looking for a race win to end their season.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has a massive 95-point lead over his teammate and 2017 World Champion Antonio Cairoli. Only 100 points remain on the table this season and Herlings is positioned better than ever to not only claim his first ever MXGP Championship but to do so in Sunday’s Race 1 and in front of his home crowd.

Cairoli is not one to give up the fight but is also one of the most experienced and patient riders in the world. Rebounding from one injury to another throughout this year Cairoli comes to Assen with the memories of 2017 when he claimed his 9th World title here. Cairoli will be one to watch and see how he performs after a difficult MXGP of Turkey 2 weeks ago where he left with a new injury to his right hand.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle holds 3rd in the points and has reached the podium the last several rounds. Last year’s visit to Assen ended with a back injury for Desalle but the Belgian clearly has a much better outcome in mind this year. Going for another a podium Desalle will look to finish a spot if not two higher than his recent 3rd place results.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is another rider who has made his way back on the podium recently. Gajser speed has been comparable to Herlings but maintaining it lap after lap is the missing element. Gajser finished 29th here last year and 18th the year prior. The Slovenian will be looking not just to improve but to return to his winning form here in 2015.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre crashed hard at the MXGP of Turkey in a practice session and did not compete. With a broken rib still on the mend Febvre will also sit out the action this weekend. Febvre was second here in 2017 and was on track for another good result before the Turkish crash.

Also to watch this weekend is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff in what is a home GP along with the debut of Team HRC’s Brian Bogers who returns to racing after a preseason injury took him out of contention.

Last to mention but not least is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie and Todd Waters. Anstie has been fighting for better results lately and could potentially score his best finish this week after reaching the podium here in 2017. Waters meanwhile has moved to Honda Redmoto Assomotor and will compete with the new team in Assen.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 833 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 738 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 619 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 591 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 544 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 514 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 475 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 423 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 404 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 328 p.

2017 MXGP of the Netherlands MXGP Top 3:

1. Jeffrey Herlings
2. Romain Febvre
3. Max Anstie

MX2’s championship fight has been building between the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider of Jorge Prado and Pauls Jonass. The young Spaniard and the defending World Champion from Latvia have been on another level this year but a collision in Turkey has brought new fuel into the fire. With two weekend of racing remaining it is anyone’s guess who will be crowned champion. Prado is the statistical favorite this weekend after winning here last year and taking third in 2016 as a rookie.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen has the 3rd spot in the championship standings and won on sand earlier this season in Latvia. Olsen and his teammate Thomas Covington have both been fast and fighting for wins but struggled with consistency. Covington found the winning combination last round perhaps it is time for Olsen to do the same this weekend? Olsen has two 5th place overall results coming from here in 2016 and 2017 while been in the top ten but never the top 5 on the circuit.

Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 team’s Ben Watson has been working to find the right set up on his new 2019 Yamaha. Work appears to be going in the right direction however as he put in one of the fastest lap times at the MXGP of Turkey. Watson’s Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Teammate Jago Geerts will also line up at home this weekend after missing the last three rounds of racing with a broken collar bone.

Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen will be one to watch in Assen as well, the South African born Dutchman has been impressive this season especially since his win in Indonesia. Riding for the Netherlands at the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Vlaanderen will not only be busy he will be the focus of many fans this week.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 773 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 749 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 593 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 551 p.; 5. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 525 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 483 p.; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 346 p.; 8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 337 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, HON), 305 p.; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 301 p.

2017 MXGP of the Netherlands MX2 Top 3:

1. Jorge Prado
2. Pauls Jonass
3. Jeremy Seewer

All the photos from the MXGP of The Netherlands will be available HERE

TIMETABLE  

Saturday: 8:45 EMX125 Free/Time Practice, 9:30EMX250 Free/Time Practice, 10:15 WMX Free/Time Practice, 11:30 MX2 Free Practice, 12:00 MXGP Free Practice, 13:05 EMX125 Race 1, 14:00 MX2 Time Practice, 14:40 MXGP Time Practice, 16:25 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17:10 MXGP Qualifying Race, 17:55 EMX250 Race 1, 18:45 WMX Race 1.

Sunday: 08:45 EMX125 Race 2, 09:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of the Netherlands

The leader of the 2018 FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, Altherm Yamaha Official WMX's Courtney Duncan has suffered another heart-breaking injury blow that will put her out of the remaining two rounds of the championship, in Assen, The Netherlands, and Imola, Italy.

The 22-year-old New Zealander injured her right foot while bravely racing against the men at a round of the French Championship in June. Her foot was crushed in the incident, which caused a lot of damage to the small bones inside her foot and the surrounding ligaments. Following expert medical advice, she stayed off the foot for nine-weeks before resuming her usual training program, only to have the injury flare-up almost instantly.

After seeking medical advice from top surgeons in Belgium, Duncan has been advised to take a three-month break from riding, or placing any type of stress on the foot, to avoid risking permanent damage.

Duncan is the only rider to have finished on the podium at every single round of the Women's Motocross World Championship this year. She has won five races, from eight starts, and left the fourth round of the series with a 21-point advantage over fellow Yamaha YZ250F riders Kiara Fontanesi and Nancy van de Ven, who are tied on points in second-place.

With only two rounds remaining and with a healthy 21-point lead, luck has robbed the enormously talented New Zealander of yet another WMX World Title. The 'Kiwi Girl' made her FIM Women's Motocross World Championship debut in 2016, and won three out of the first four races before colliding with a photographer that was standing in a blind spot on the downside of a hip-jump. She was injured in the incident, and had to miss two rounds of the championship, which cost her the title.

In 2017, she was leading the penultimate race of the season by more than 30 seconds, before a cluster of five fallen riders blocked the track. With no clear path ahead, she fell while trying to weave through the carnage and got stuck. The race jury initially ruled the results would be awarded based on the rider positions from the lap before the track was blocked, when Duncan led. But this decision was then changed and the results at the end of the race were reinstated, meaning Duncan missed out on winning the championship by a slender 3-points. Nevertheless, she made a statement by winning the final race of the season by 46 seconds.

Courtney Duncan: "I don't think there's a word to describe how I'm feeling right now. It breaks my heart to know I won't be able to line up and go for the world title. I have to think of the bigger picture. I am only young and I've got championships to deliver in the future. I want to thank my sponsors and supporters and those who have stuck by me for the past couple of years."

Josh Coppins, Altherm Yamaha Official WMX Team Manager: "We had some mixed information about the recovery period. Initially we thought it was shorter and with the penultimate round approaching, Courtney resumed riding after nine weeks. Unfortunately, she reinjured her foot 10 days ago. We have sought three different surgeons' opinions and all of them concurred that under no circumstances can she ride a bike for three months. They all said there's not even a remote chance she can ride this weekend. It's not an injury that's just about managing the pain, as I know Courtney would just grin and bear it. It could affect her for the rest of her life if she damages her foot any further. I am so disappointed for her, especially off the back of a rollercoaster three years. This year she rode so well and put herself in the best possible position to bring home a world title. The other WMX riders have been given a bit of a gift now but that's sport - there's soaring highs and crushing lows."

BOS GP has announced their plans for the 2019 FIM Motocorss World Championship with Evgeny Bobryshev and new rider to the team Tommy Searle. Both Bobryshev and Searle will ride the new released and redesigned 2019 Kawasaki KX450F in the premier MXGP class.

The team will now be an official Kawasaki team led by JJ Luisetti formerly with CLS. Looking to combine the new Kawasaki with their own suspension BOS has high hopes for the new year.

Olivier Bossard, BOS GP Team Owner: "I’m stoked to sign with the best motocross bike after only one year of MXGP Racing. Every Monday, we look at the results of Eli Tomac and Clément Desalle which gives us a high hopes for sure. That 450 is well born and I just can’t wait to try to make it even better with our suspension knowledge.”

JJ Luisetti, BOS GP Team Manager: “My relationship with Kawasaki is basically a love story. I sold green bikes in my French shop for 30 years. My Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team won EMX250, MX2 and MXGP races for 13 years, so you can imagine happy I am to wear a Kawasaki Racing shirt again! All these years gave me experience, and my goal, with Olivier’s help, is to quickly get the best combo; a strong bike, talented riders and a safe, efficient chassis. I clearly feel that BOS GP will be able to offer that to its riders for 2019.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's Romain Febvre, who crashed out of the MXGP of Turkey 10 days ago, will not participate in the MXGP of The Netherlands that will take place at the Dutch TT Circuit in Assen this weekend.

After setting the fastest lap time in the first practice session at the MXGP of Turkey, Febvre suffered from a heavy fall in the second session that resulted in a broken rib.

Febvre returned to his home, in Belgium, after the Grand Prix and used the weekend off to rest and recover from the impact. He tried to ride for the first time since the accident earlier this week where he confirmed that the rib is not yet healed. Due to the immense pain he was experiencing, the 26-year-old Frenchman has decided to withdraw from the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

Despite missing the most recent Grand Prix, Febvre remains fifth in the MXGP Championship Standings. An update on his condition and his return will be shared on www.yamaha-racing.com and all of Yamaha Racing's Official Social Media platforms.

Jago Geerts will make his comeback on Sunday at the MXGP of the Netherlands in Assen, in the penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The 19-year-old Belgian broke his collarbone three weeks ago during the GP in Switzerland and had surgery a day later. At the beginning of this week, the Kemea Yamaha rider was given the green light by his doctor to resume the competition. Kemea Yamaha will be in full force again in Assen, with also Ben Watson and Anthony Rodriguez eager to put in great results.

"I started riding again last weekend", says Geerts. "I went to Olmen both Saturday and Sunday to practice and that went pretty well. I had no problems at all. I could go full gas, also on the jumps. I had no pain on the next day, I was just a little stiff. But that's normal after three weeks without riding. I'm especially happy to be part of the championship riders again."

Assen is normally a track that suits Geerts, a sand specialist. At the beginning of the season this Grand Prix was one of his main goals. "But the situation is completely different now, because of that surgery. I have no idea how my physical shape has suffered. I don't want to make any predictions. I'm just going to do my best and see where I come in."

Although Geerts missed three Grand Prix due to his injury, he is still seventh in the World Championship. But the Italian Michele Cervellin is only nine points behind him. "I will do everything in my power to keep that seventh place in the two remaining Grand Prix", says the former youth world champion. "And then there's the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, my first time, straight away in America. I'm really looking forward to that."

MXGP and Moto Master Brake Systems have teamed up for a Quiz and Win competition on MXGP Facebook Page for this weekend’s MXGP of the Netherlands in Assen.

All you have to do to WIN:

•  a Moto Master Front Brake Kit for your bike
• an MXGP-TV.com Season pass
•  a copy of the new MXGP Pro video game

is name 3 from MXGP or MX2 riders from different manufacturers who use Moto Master brake systems in 2018!

Click HERE and Enter the draw to WIN! Contest will end on Tuesday 18 September

Link to enter trough Mobile phone: https://a.pgtb.me/5dQ9Wd

The Battle of the giants is very much the way the MXGP class will be looked at for this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. When you talk about the fastest riders in the World, four names stand above all the others, and those names of Jeffrey Herlings, Eli Tomac, Antonio Cairoli and Ken Roczen have all selected to race in the MXGP class for this year’s event, set for the Redbud circuit in USA.

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings, who will race for Team The Netherlands, is the rider many consider to be the fastest rider in the World, due to his victories in last year’s USGP and also a round of the championship Tomac was racing in. The Dutchman is excited to go to USA and once again rule, or at least, he wants to battle with the likes of Tomac and Roczen.

“The European guys are not just fast in Europe,” Herlings said. “But also to really say who is faster, it’s hard to say. Last year I went to USA, I rode with Tomac in his championship and I beat him there, but he was riding for a championship and we shouldn’t underestimate that as well. The weekend after in the USGP, I beat him straight up in a fight in the second race, and the first race he took holeshot and Tony and I were 15th in the first turn, so that wasn’t a real fight. I hope this year, me and Tony, because we are the two top guys from here, and Roczen and Tomac, we can all have a good start in that final race, and see who the fastest guy is this season, and we will be racing on his home turf and a track they know.”

As for Tomac, he knows that competing for Team USA will bring pressure, he also knows that individual honours bring something extra, but it’s a team victory that is on the mind of the American champion. Having lost twice now with Team USA, in 2013 and 2014, and having suffered crashes in both events, you can be sure the AMA number one will want to keep it on two wheels, rather than risk everything for a race win.

“Having the opportunity to race the MXoN,” Tomac said. “To represent your country in front of the world stage is a feeling like no other, and this year with it being at RedBud, it’s going to be next level for the entire event, and fans will be going absolutely bonkers. Myself, Justin (Barcia), and Aaron (Plessinger) will be ready for the battle, and it’s a track that suits our riding style. I have a really good feeling this is the year the USA gets the Chamberlain Trophy back in hand.”

So when the MXGP class line-up on the start gate at this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, make sure you have a good vantage point, as the battle of the World’s best will be something not to be missed.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer