MX2

ORLYONOK (Russia) 29 April 2018 - For the second year in a row the MXGP of Russia was kick started by an impressive Opening Ceremony! The Russian Children’s Center Orlyonok hosted the MXGP of Russia’s media event which invited the top riders of the World and European Motocross Championship along with various media and guests from the MXGP Paddock.

Riders joining the event included Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie and Gautier Paulin, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Vsevolod Brylyakov, Jago Geerts, and Ben Watson, Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen, TM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and Samuele Bernardini, Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Shaun Simpson and Jeremy Seewer, BOS GP’s Evgeny Bobryshev, iFLY JK Racing’s Ivo Monticelli and Manuel Iacopi, KTM Silver Action’s Stephen Rubini and Gianluca Facchetti, Team Honda Redmoto Assomotor’s Arminas Jasikonis, Petar Petrov, Alberto Forato, and Mathys Boisrame, Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki’s Alessandro Lupino, and many others.

Upon arrival to the venue the athletes were welcomed by many students between the ages of 11 to 16 years from various regions of Russia at the Orlyonok summer camp. Starting off the event was a traditional dance performance from the students and immediately after the performers fellow classmates presented the riders with sea shells from the Black Sea. The riders were then gifted bracelets tied in knots for good luck. The eager students then took in their chance to receive autographed posters and take photos with the athletes. To conclude the media event last year’s MXGP of Russia overall winner, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, rang a ship bell and then joined the rest of the riders and the children for a family photo.

From the media event the riders, children, and media made the short walk to the main square of the Orlyonok campus for one of the greatest opening ceremonies in the MXGP series. First the officials including Youthstream Vice President David Luongo, FIM Europe President, Wolfgang Srb, FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington, Motorcycle Federation of Russia (MFR) President, Alexander Dzheus, Russian Ministry of Sport Deputy, Anton Antonov, Deputy Minister of Sport of Krasnodar Region, Vadim Permyakov, and Russian motocross superstar BOS GP’s Evgeny Bobryshev were introduced and took their place on stage. Putting together a series of astonishing traditional dances and performances were the children of Orlyonok. And after a traditional Russian gift of bread and salt was given to both riders and officials the opening speeches took place.

Youthstream Vice President David Luongo said: “It’s amazing to see the energy and the passion you have here for us. On behalf of Youthstream I share our happiness to be here and I wish to say a personal thanks to Alexander Dzheus for the passion and effort he has put in the Organization of this event which was noticeable since the very first moment we met 3 years ago. I’m sure we’ll have a great race and I want to express our pride to have this event in the MXGP calendar. We hope to be back here for many more years to come”

FIM Europe President Wolfgang Srb: “On behalf of the FIM and FIM Europe I share our honor to be here. I wish to thank all who made this event possible, we can feel the hard work that is invested. But my special thanks today goes to the children of Orlyonok. This Opening Ceremony is outstanding, you let us see something special that we cannot find anywhere else in the world and this is just the beginning of what we can expect in the next days of racing.”

FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington: “This place and this atmosphere is very unique and special for us. To each and everyone involved in the Organization of the media event and the MXGP of Russia thank you; I wish the best to all the riders standing in front of me for the next days of racing.”

To conclude the event aspiring Russian motocross riders rode into the square and joined the current MXGP stars and officials. Together with the riders and officials students of Orlyonok released white pigeons into the Russian sky before taking a family photo. The event set the tone for the epic racing on the picturesque Black Sea circuit which kicks off will MXGP and MX2 Qualifying along with the first races of EMX250 and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing.

All the photos of the MXGP of Russia will be available HERE

TIMETABLE in Local Time (GMT+3)

Monday: EMX300 Free/Time practice 09:45; EMX250 Free/Time Practice 10:30; MX2 Free Practice 11:30; MXGP Free Practice 12:00; EMX300 Race 1 13:00; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:40; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:25; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:10; EMX250 Race 1 17:55.

Tuesday: EMX300 Race 2 09:45; MX2 Warm up 10:25; MXGP Warm up 10:45; EMX250 Race 2 11:30; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

MXGP of Russia

ORLYONOK (Russia), 28 April 2018 - The 6th stop of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship season is just above the beaches of the Black Sea. The 2018 MXGP of Russia is back at the Orlyonok Circuit for the second time in as many years but this year will be held on Monday 30^th of April and Tuesday the 1st of May!

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado are both on win streaks but riders such as Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass will look to repeat their Russian wins of last year.

This year’s MXGP of Russia will receive worldwide television coverage from its usual television partners plus the entire event including Qualifying and the races of EMX250 and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing will be shown LIVE worldwide from Orlyonok on www.mxgp-tv.com both Monday and Tuesday.

As usual you can watch the 26min Behind the Gate 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 MXGP of Russia:

USA- CANADA

CBS Sports Network

Tuesday 01 May – MXGP Race 2 – 07:00 pm ET (04:00 pm PT) - Delayed

Wednesday 02 May – MX2 Race 2 – 12:00 am ET (Tuesday 01 May 09.00 pm PT) - Delayed

EUROPE

EUROSPORT 2

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 17:00 – CET - Delayed

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:45 – CET - Delayed

Motorsport.tv

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

BELGIUM

PLAY SPORTS 3

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

BULGARIA

BNT

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

FRANCE

EUROSPORT 2

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 17:00 – CET - Delayed

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:45 – CET – Delayed

Motorsport.tv

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE

Wednesday 02 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 17:00 – CET - Delayed

Wednesday 02 May – MXGP Race 2 – 17:45 – CET – Delayed

ITALY

RAI Sports 2 HD

Thursday 03 May – MXGP Race 2 – 18:45 – Delayed

NETHERLAND

NOS

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live streaming

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET – Live streaming

PORTUGAL

Sport TV 5

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

SLOVENIA 

Sport TV1

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 12:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 13:00 – CET- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 15:00 – CET - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 16:00 – CET - Live

UK

Motorsport.tv

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 11:00 – GMT - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 12:00 – GMT- Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 14:00 – GMT - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 15:00 – GMT - Live

ASIA

FOX SPORTS ASIA

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

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

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

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

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

Thursday 03 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 09:30 Asia time – Delayed

Thursday 03 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 10:30 Asia time – Delayed

Thursday 03 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 11:30 Asia time – Delayed

Thursday 03 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 12:30 Asia time – Delayed

CHINA

STAR Sports China

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

KOREA

STAR Sports China

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

MALAYSIA

Fox Sports Malaysia

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

MALAYSIA

Fox Sports Philippines

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 18:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 19:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 Asia time – Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 Asia time – Live

BRAZIL

BANDSPORTS

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 1 – 08:00 – Brazil timing - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 1 – 09:00 – Brazil timing - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MX2 Race 2 – 11:00 – Brazil timing - Live

Tuesday 01 May  – MXGP Race 2 – 12:00 – Brazil timing – Live

MXGP will be 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.

All the photos of the MXGP of Russia will be available HERE

TIMETABLE in Local Time (GMT+3)

Monday: EMX300 Free/Time practice 09:45; EMX250 Free/Time Practice 10:30; MX2 Free Practice 11:30; MXGP Free Practice 12:00; EMX300 Race 1 13:00; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:40; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:25; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:10; EMX250 Race 1 17:55.

Tuesday: EMX300 Race 2 09:45; MX2 Warm up 10:25; MXGP Warm up 10:45; EMX250 Race 2 11:30; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

MXGP of Russia

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 27 April 2018 - Youthstream is proud to announce that the fifty-seventh issue of MXGP Mag is now online. In the newest issue of MXGP Mag we feature the #29 of Henry Jacobi. Also included in Issue #57 we give a recap of round 4 and 5 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, get you caught up with MXGP Academy’s trip to Russia, give you the ins and outs of the newest video game in the MXGP Franchise, MXGP Pro, and afterwards we throw it back to the past with a write-up on David Thorpe’s 1986 Honda 500 and Motocross Hall of Famer Jeff Stanton.

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

Those 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

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 27 April 2018 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that the 2018 Motocross of European Nations as well as the Women’s Motocross of European Nations will be held on the 8th and 9th of September and will once again return to Poland.

The event will be held at the Gdansk circuit for the second year in a row. Hosting both the 2005 and 2017 editions the Gdansk venue, the Polish organization and their commitment in further developing the venue, have paved the way for this much awaited return.

Click HERE to have more information on the venue

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

2018 MXoEN - Gdansk

ORLYONOK (Russia) 27 April 2018 - With the first 5 rounds of the 20 in 2018 complete, the MXGP FIM Motocross World Championship now heads to Orlyonok, Russia for the MXGP of Russia. The circuit of Orlyonok rests along the Black Sea and will host MXGP for the second year in a row. Last year’s version played out in the traditional weekend racing format but this edition racing will be held on Monday the 30^th of April and Tuesday the 1^st of May to align with the largely celebrated Spring & Labor Day holiday.

Last year we saw amazing racing in our return to Russia after many years away at a new venue in a completely different region of the country. The entire 2017 event was amazing and though rain dampened the circuit last year perfect weather conditions are expected for this upcoming week. While so far in 2018 it has been a two horse battle between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli last year’s MXGP of Russia winner Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle along with many other top racers will make the Russian trip.

Joining in the Russian racing is the classes of EMX250 and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing. In EMX250 the first 2 races crowned different round winners the first being BUD Racing's Pierre Goupillon and the second went to Red Moto Assomotor’s Mathys Boisrame. Both Goupillon and Boisrame will be racing in Russia along with points leader Mel Pocock and 49 others for a total of 52 riders entered. In EMX300 presented by FMF Racing round 1 winner Greg Smets will compete against round 2’s top finisher, GL12 Racing's Mike Kras, and defending champion, Verde Substance KTM’s Brad Anderson among several others.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has come away with 7 heats wins providing him with 4 of the 5 overall victories so far this year. The other wins have gone to his Red Bull KTM Teammate and championship rival Antonio Cairoli who, in the first five races of the season, has actually led more laps then the red plated #84.

In the past 2 rounds the difference has been the massive improvement of Herlings starts which have in turn allowed him to take the lead early and pull away from the field. Both have been strong on Russian soil each scoring the GP win in 2012 when Herlings was in MX2 and Cairoli the premier class however last year Herlings managed to reach the Orlyonok podium while Cairoli took 5th.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle had been holding down 3rd in the points until bike misfortune took him out of race 1 in Portugal allowing Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre to take the spot. Desalle has been fast all season and is one of the most likely to end the KTM dominance. Desalle won the Russian GP in 2017 and was second in the premier class in 2012.

Febvre comes to Russia with a much stronger start to the season than in 2017 and as previously mentioned has taken over the third spot in the points standings. Febvre finished 6th in Russia last year and 16th back in 2012 while riding MX2.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin is working his way forward and improving on his season with the exception of a bike issue taking him out of Portugal’s race 2. Paulin reached the final spot of the Russian podium last year and took 7th in 2012.

Missing the racing in Russia last year was Team HRC’s Tim Gajser. Gajser who missed the first round of the season with injury showed potential and the results many have expected with his podium in Portugal 2 weeks ago.

Not to go unmentioned is BOS GP’s Evgeny Bobryshev who will undoubtably be the fan favorite. The Russian superstar took 12th last year and 5th in 2012.

One other rider to keep track of this Tuesday is Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer. Seewer took the runner up MX2 position in Russia last year and the Swiss rider is no stranger to hard pack circuits.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 241 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 225 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 169 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 165 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 147 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 140 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 132 p.; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 113 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 110 p.; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 88 p.

2017 MXGP of Russia MXGP Top 3:

1. Clement Desalle
2. Jeffrey Herlings
3. Gautier Paulin

In the MX2 category Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has another pair of top performers with Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado. Jonass leads the points but has struggled the past two rounds leaving Prado to win back to back races. Last year Prado took 8th while Jonass clinched the Russian win.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen has been on of the most consistent performers of 2018 with 4 podiums out of 5 rounds. The consistent results has him placed third in the points standings.

The Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team came into the season with a brand new group of three riders and all have performed well. Perhaps the most popular in Russia will be none other than the Russian Vsevolod Brylyakov. Nicknamed the “Beast from the East” Brylyakov, who sits 6th in the MX2 championship, will race his first ever home GP after missing the 2017 event with injury.

Brylyakov’s teammate Ben Watson has surprised several this year and currently holds down the 4th spot in the points and achieved 10th at the race last year. The other Kemea rider Jago Geerts come back to the Orlyonok circuit for his second time and with fond memories after winning the 125cc FIM Junior Motocross World Championship title here in 2016.

Several other riders will content for the win as well including F&H Racing Team’s Jed Beaton who comes off an impressive Portuguese performance. Beaton turned many heads with his fight to 3rd place in Agueda.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 216 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 202 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 185 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 141 p.; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 129 p.; 6. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 115 p.; 7. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 100 p.; 8. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, HON), 99 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 97 p.; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 96 p.

2017 MXGP of Russia MX2 Top 3

1. Pauls Jonass
2. Jeremy Seewer
3. Brian Bogers

All the photos of the MXGP of Russia will be available HERE

TIMETABLE in Local Time (GMT+3)

Monday: EMX300 Free/Time practice 09:45; EMX250 Free/Time Practice 10:30; MX2 Free Practice 11:30; MXGP Free Practice 12:00; EMX300 Race 1 13:00; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:40; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:25; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:10; EMX250 Race 1 17:55.

Tuesday: EMX300 Race 2 09:45; MX2 Warm up 10:25; MXGP Warm up 10:45; EMX250 Race 2 11:30; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

MXGP of Russia

American riders Thomas Covington and Darian Sanayei must have walked under a ladder together. The two young MX2 riders are good friends, and both are suffering at the moment with ACL injuries.

We all know motocross riders are tough, and these two plan on trying to race as soon as possible. In fact, Covington will try and line up at the Grand Prix of Russia and Darian Sanayei in Latvia for the following GP. Slowing coming into their own, both Americans still feels that a GP victory is around the corner.

“Yes, that is the goal (to race in Russia). I am trying to do that, and it doesn’t feel too bad. There is some swelling, so we will try and deal with that and just tape it up. It should be okay to finish off the season. I was going into a turn; a long sweeper, I came in pretty fast, hit a soft spot and had to stick my leg out and twisted it to the outside and it ended up against my butt. I didn’t even crash, but straight away I felt a lot of pain and I knew my ACL was gone.”

As for Sanayei, he won’t make Russia, but his goal is to race the rest of the season and be back for the Grand Prix, set for Latvia in the middle of May.

“It is no secret now, but I hurt my ACL, tore it. So, at the moment I am just going to let the swelling go down and see if it is stable enough to ride some GPs and continue the season. Obviously if it’s good, I will be still going for wins. I don’t want to be done for the season, I want to try it. I will do everything I can, and I am pretty sure, once the swelling goes down and I get some physio on it, I will get it sorted.”

Covington can laugh about the injuries, but he knows that the two friends need to get their injuries fixed, so they can continue what has been impressive starts to 2018.

 “It is so weird, both out with knee injuries. Hopefully we both come back okay. I know Darian is now in the states and he will try and come back for Latvia. It is kind of weird. I tried to help him as much as I could with doctors and stuff, just getting him in. Unfortunately, I have had a lot of trouble with knee injuries. We are always trying to help each other out, whatever way we can.”

With a lot of interest from the American motocross public, you can be sure that both young riders will want to get back on track and put in some solid performances. Russia and Latvia are the starting points.

With the MXGP of Russia coming up next week, at the beautiful Orlyonok circuit, will see the best riders in the world attend, and the appearance of local riders will once again give the spectators attending something to get excited about years. A long list of Russian riders appear on the start list in all four classes, from MXGP, MX2, EMX250 and EMX300.

MXGP will see three Russian riders going for it, with Viacheslav Golovkin, Artem Guryev and of course their leading man Evgeny Bobryshev. MX2 it will be Vsevolod Brylyakov and Sergey Kurashev, and in the EMX250 class will be, Ilya Ilyukhin, Daniil Shashkov, Aleksandr Fedorov, Ilya Ryzhikh, Svyatoslav Pronenko, and Timur Petrashin. EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing has three with Egor Skorobogatov, Ignatii Lopatin, and Iurii Lukash.

The big star for Russian motocross over the last decade has been Bobryshev, and despite his lack of a factory machine in 2018, you can be sure he will want to put on a great show for his massive fan base back home. The former GP winner can’t wait to get home, visit family and experience a possible podium finish.

“Now I’m looking forward to my home GP,” Bobryshev said. “I’m going to get ready for that and hopefully get some good results over there. We are still working on the bike for GPs and hopefully after Kegums we will be able to try a new engine. My goal now is to get on the podium at a GP. That’s my main goal and everybody is working hard to get there.’’

One rider who won’t be racing but is just as excited to be attending as a fan, is former GP rider, Alexandr Tonkov.

“Yes, I will be watching,” Tonkov said. “I am there now, because it’s good weather down here. I look forward to seeing Rui, Jeffrey, Tony and some other guys. Every day 25 degrees and no rain. It’s been a year since I saw everyone, so I look forward to it. “

So now, with 14 Russians on the starting list, perfect weather reported, and a large crowd expected you can be sure this Russian Grand Prix will be a huge success.

Next week the MXGP of Russia will have a rare and special schedule with the racing taking place on Monday and Tuesday as opposed to the usual Saturday and Sunday program. This change comes due to the May 1st Holiday in Russia known as Labor and Spring day.

Spring and Labor Day is a major public holiday in Russia in which most banks, public buildings, and educational institutions are closed. The history of the holiday goes back well over a hundred years with May 1st being a day where workers in the once Soviet Union protested for better conditions and wages. Most Soviet cities had parades on the holiday until 1990 and since 1992 the day has been named Spring and Labor Day which many Russians now use as a day to relax and spend time with family and getting outside.

The holiday will join up with race day giving local fans a chance to witness the racing and spend their holiday at the world class MXGP event.

The Timetable for the MXGP of Russia is available in PDF format by clicking HERE

The MXGP of Russia will take place with a different time schedule this year as it's not going to be held on a normal weekend but in 1 week time on Monday 30th April and Tuesday 1st May. The entry lists for the event including the MXGP and MX2 classes as well as the rounds of the EMX250 and EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing are also taking place. 

Please find here below the Entry Lists up to now for each category

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

EMX250 Entry List

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Entry List

Jorge Prado of the Red Bull KTM Factory team is very much pushing closer to Pauls Jonass at the top of the MX2 points standings. The Spanish rider who has now won the last two Grand Prix’s, in Italy and Portugal, is just 14 points behind the defending MX2 champion and will head to Russia in a week’s time with a lot of confidence and his goal to climb even closer to his fellow KTM rider. His 1-1 result in Portugal was very impressive and must be worrying for Jonass.

 “Second win in a row,” Prado said last weekend. “Last year I won three Grand Prix’, but never two in a row. I also got the qualification win, and I am very happy. At the end of the day it’s the same goal, trying to get close to the leader. I didn't expect two wins in Portugal, because the track was very difficult, and I’m not used to these kind of surfaces with so many ruts but this year I feel pretty strong and I can handle it. I’m getting near where I want to be. Training hard pays off. Last weekend in Italy it was almost perfect but I made it happen here; I’m really happy.”

A week prior to Portugal, Prado also won, this time the hard pack of Pietramurata circuit, a circuit he has enjoyed in the past. With 1-2 results it wasn’t as dominant as in Portugal, having lost the second race to American rider Thomas Covington. Prado knew that he had a good chance in Trentino, as he had won the Grand Prix the previous year.

“It is great to win in Italy again, and to close up some points in the championship. I’m pretty confident on this kind of dirt and these kind of tracks. It was a very decent weekend. The goal was to get a good start and that meant first place and I did that on Saturday and the first moto, with a clear track you can ride a bit more relaxed. My lap-times were good every time I went out and I am getting more confident and stronger.”

Now onto Russia and Prado will be hoping to improve on his result at the Orlyonok circuit, where he could only manage 15-4 finishes in the two races. The teenager will also be careful not to make the same mistake he made after Russia, when he scored just three points in the next two Grand Prix’s. No doubt a year older and a year wiser should help Prado come to terms with the pressure a GP win brings.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer