MX2

While defending champions Antonio Cairoli and Pauls Jonass of the Red Bull KTM Factory team prepare to carry their red-plates into Italy next weekend, a bunch of riders will be looking to challenge the two champions and their place at the top of the MXGP and MX2 points standings.

Jeffrey Herlings in the MXGP class, Thomas Olsen and Jorge Prado in the MX2 class are the most consistent of the challengers, and all three want to fight for that red-plate in Italy.

Of course, Herlings goes to Italy with the idea of winning, but he also knows it is a circuit that will be difficult if he doesn’t have starts.

“It is basically the home from Tony,” Herlings said. “At least we will do our best. It is his home Grand Prix and he will be extra motivated with all the Italian fans and stuff, but I will take it as it is, run around for the championship. He will be really motivated to go there any win, but from my side I hope for the best and see what happens. The competition is strong, and it’s tough to always come through the pack, and every week I have to do it and just make it, so it kind of not nice to start from that position. I know we have a great team behind me and we will work on that in the coming weeks. Maybe it won’t be solved we keep improving. I am not the best of starters, but I keep working on it.”

Jorge Prado has started showing good form, but like Herlings can see a long season ahead and many points to be won.

“Well, it is still a long season,” Prado said. “I didn’t do good in Valkenswaard, and the Spanish weekend was a good weekend and I am happy with my second place. The first race was good, the second I struggled a bit, but we’ve been working hard so I’m pleased. For sure everybody wants to win in Italy, and Pauls is difficult to beat! Lately he has been riding even better than usual. So, we’ll keep trying!”

As for Olsen, he knows that being consistent is the most important aspect of being a top sportsman, and he goes with Italy with his confidence high.

“I mean for sure he (Jonass) is really strong, he is the champion from last year. He has been good in all his races, but I am not setting myself up against him, because there are so many good guys and I just want to focus on getting the best result possible. I am not going into a head to head battle with him, because the other guys might sneak up on me.”

And now let’s see if anyone can stop Cairoli and Jonass when the flag drops at the magnificent Pietramurata track on Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer

PIETRAMURATA (Trentino) 4 April 2018 - MXGP championship has arrived to Italy this weekend for the MXGP of Trentino at the beautiful Pietramurata circuit! The track has been a stop of the MXGP championship the past several years whose hard pack surface set against the Dolomite Mountain range always leads to amazing racing. Last year was no exception as Italian MXGP superstar Antonio Cairoli came back in dramatic fashion passing the top racers in the world lap after lap to steal the over win from Tim Gajser.

Not only will Cairoli and Gajser again face off again but for both it will be packed with their fans making the trip. The Italian motocross community will without doubt come out to support Cairoli as the newly appointed red plate holder in his home GP but joining in the action is a motivated Jeffrey Herlings, Clement Desalle, Romain Febvre, and Gautier Paulin among others. Plus the stars of MX2 will fight for supremacy including the unbeaten Pauls Jonass, defending GP winner Jorge Prado, Darian Sanayei, Thomas Kjer Olsen, Hunter Lawrence, and more in what is a huge pool of young talent.

This weekend’s racing will also include the first races of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship featuring the 5 time World Champion from Italy, MXFonta Yamaha’s Kiara Fontanesi, along with other heavy hitters such as Altherm Yamaha’s, Courtney Duncan, NoFear Yamaha’ s Nancy Van de Ven, and even some newcomers such as Avrie Berry from the United States. Alongside the MXGP, MX2, and WMX World Championships will be the second round of EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing boasting an incredible 97 rider entry list, including KTM Junior Racing’s Rene Hofer who took double race victories to start the season at Valkenswaard.

This weekend in the premier MXGP class Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings will be looking to make a statement and top his main rival and teammate Antonio Cairoli at Cairoli’s home GP.

Cairoli had a miraculous comeback here in 2017 but so far in 2018 it has been Herlings who is fighting his way through the pack. In the past 5 years Cairoli has won the MXGP in Trentino 3 times with a second in 2015 after his worst finish of 5th the year prior. Herlings has a similar record in the MX2 class with 3 wins and a second, but last year in his rookie MXGP season he took 8th.

3rd in the 2018 MXGP Championship after the first 3 rounds of the season is Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle. Desalle consistency has paid of so far but only 5 points separate himself from the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Romain Febvre and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin.

Desalle has finished in the top 5 in 3 of his 4 Trentino appearances including the overall win in 2014, however his worst performance on the circuit came just last year with 6th. Meanwhile Febvre has never won here but came close in 2016 when he finished second overall marking his best result just one year before scoring his worst during the 2017 stop with 13th place. Paulin is another rider who has missed the mark on his 5 previous Pietramurata outings, the Frenchman had his best finish back in 2013 when he took the final spot on the podium.

One rider to keep in mind this weekend is Team HRC’s Tim Gajser. Gajser just narrowly lost out on the win due to the magnificent Cairoli comeback last year after taking third in 2016 and winning the GP in 2015. Not to forget is that this is also the closest to a home GP Gajser has with many Slovenian fans making the short trip to cheer on the MX idol.

Another rider to point out is the newly signed Marchetti Racing KTM rider, Benoit Paturel as we might see him riding here for Marchetti racing in his rookie MXGP season.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Julien Lieber could impress again this weekend as he has done already many times this season, especially when you consider that he was on the Trentino MX2 podium only one year ago.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 141 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 141 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 103 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 101 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 98 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 79 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 78 p.; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 60 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 59 p.; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 54 p.

2017 MXGP of Trentino MXGP Top 3:

1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Tim Gajser
3. Arnaud Tonus

Meanwhile in the MX2 category things are getting more heated between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s unbeaten Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado who is shooting for his first win of 2018. The racing has continually been tighter weekend after weekend between the pair and only one year ago Jorge Prado won his very first GP here.

Looking the most likely to throw a wrench KTM MX2’s  successful start to 2018 is BIKE IT DRT Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen.

While Olsen has been consistent and inched his way closer to the lead of Jonass with his trio of podiums, Sanayei has been faster than ever. For Sanayei small hiccups and bike malfunctions have left the American struggling to take the results which he is clearly capable of. For Olsen this GP will bring back fond memories as he placed 4th here last year in what was his rookie MX2 season.

Honda 114 Motorsport’s Hunter Lawrence is also looking for his first victory of 2018 with his new team. Lawrence will not only want to but also need to improve on his 2017 performance at the Trentino GP of 16th overall if he wants to contend for the MX2 title.

Tied for 5th in the MX2 championship standings at 81 points a pair is Hitachi KTM UK’s Conrad Mewse and Kemea Yamaha Yamalube Racing Team MX2’s Ben Watson. Both have been on the gas so far this year but with 17 rounds remaining including this weekend the Brits will have to work to keep the pace of the other front runners.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 150 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 120 p.; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 105 p.; 4. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, HON), 99 p.; 5. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 81 p.; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 81 p.; 7. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 72 p.; 8. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 68 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 63 p.; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 54 p.

2017 MXGP of Trentino MX2 Top 3:

1. Jorge Prado
2. Pauls Jonass
3. Julien Lieber

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

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX125 Group 1 Free/Time practice 09:00; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Time Practice 09:45; WMX Free/Time Practice 10:30; MX2 Free Practice 11:30; MXGP Free Practice 12:00; EMX125 Last Chance Qualifying Race 13:00; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:40; WMX Race 1 15:25; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:25; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:10; EMX125 Race 1 17:55.

Sunday: EMX125 Race 2 09:45; MX2 Warm up 10:25; MXGP Warm up 10:45; WMX 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 Trentino

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 4 April 2018 - The Motorcycle Federation of Russia, VDC "Orlyonok" and the Yakhnich Motorsport Team were delighted to recently host the MXGP Academy international training and sport seminar for both instructors and athletes in Orlyonok, the venue of the MXGP of Russia, set to take place on April the 30^th and May the 1^st.

MXGP Academy coaches and coordinators Martin Van Genderen and Jan Postema traveled to Orlyonok to meet the President of the Russian Motorsport Federation  Mr. Alexander Dzheus, the Vice President of the Russian Federation Nikita Tepper and Russian Federation member Evgeny Parshin. In additon FOX- Russia, Tatyana Savelyeva, Head of Yakhnich Motorsport Athletes department Nata Lubimova, Project manager and head of “Government cup” (Road racing) Ekaterina Rutskova, a group of professional translators, and the Russian MX-GP Academy certified trainers of Evgeny Mehaylov and Dmitiri Parshin attended the event together hosting specialists from various regions of Russia looking to get their official trainer certificate. 36 aspiring trainers were present and 27 riders from an 8 year old on a 65, to the older 85 and 125cc riders. At the conclusion event the FIM-E MXGP Academy database of trainers reached 123 trainers who can work within the system, located throughout 14 different countries.

On the first day of the seminar, the coordinator and coach of MXGP ACADEMY Martin Van Genderen informed Russian specialists about the development of a new system of classification of coaches and athletes, comparing it with obtaining belts of different colors in karate: 'MXGP ACADEMY will train and improve the skills of professionals and motorcycle racers," Martin Van Genderen said, “As in the past year, such training will be conducted within the framework of the Russian stage of the Motocross World Championship in "Orlyonok". The new system will lead to stronger motivation for professional development for both coaches and athletes. As if in a computer game, they will move from level to level, increasing their theoretical knowledge and practical skills.'

The seminar covered theoretical apects as well as practical training on the track. At the conclusion of the theoretical training, Martin Van Genderen together with the President of the Motorcycle Federation of Russia and the Director of the VDC "Orlyonok" Alexander Dzheus, a riding enthusiast himself, was very motivated and satisfied with the event, delivering the official certificates of coaching MXGP ACADEMY to the participants.

 'We have to raise the athlete discretely – step by step to teach him to be not just a good motocrossman, but to be able to control their physical training, eat right, interact with sponsors, have good relationships with their team and mechanics. MXGP ACADEMY teaches these simple truths. We also plan to hold a large seminar for mechanics, because now the level of our athletes is quite high, the technique is complex, and in Russia, unfortunately, there are few trained specialists, which also hinders the development of motocross. Motorcycles have difficult settings that depend on the type of track, weather, weight of the rider, and characteristics of riding technique. Motocross is a very complex and synthetic sport, which should include the work of people and professionals trained in the necessary competencies.' Alexander Dzheus commented.

Jan Postema eventually commented: 'As Martin mentioned, we didn’t know what to aspect, but after a few hours I was convinced and impressed about the whole situation. The goal was to work on a basic training to start with and shift to higher level. Riders understood it so they enjoied the training as it was intended. We saw many smiles on faces.. and that was the most important after learning new skills.'

'The MX Academy team organized in close cooperation with the Russian Federation a perfect training for young riders and trainers as preparation to many activities and to the Russian MXGP' stated Martin de Graaff, FIM Europe First Deputy President. 'In the long range of Countries and Federations Russia is now added to the list. FIM Europe thanks the Russian Federation for this initiative and for the invitation to this important activity'.

The Russian Federation was very keen to support such initiative and the great passion they have in the sport is the key to lift up motorsports education in Russia.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP Academy

MXGP and RAI Sport Improve Italian TV Coverage

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 4 April 2018 - Youthstream is proud to announce that Italian Television RAI will extend on its MXGP coverage for the 2018 season. This news is as exciting as it is important for MXGP and Italian fans of motocross.

Italy is one of the leading countries for motocross in Europe full of dedicated and passionate MXGP fans. Italy’s own Antonio Cairoli, the 9-time and reigning MXGP FIM Motocross World Champion, has a massive following from his home country and this new agreement will allow fans to better follow the 2018 racing action.

RAI Sport is very proud to cover all races from the 2018 season delayed on the following Thursday evening but most notably the channel will broadcast MXGP Race 2 LIVE from this weekend’s 2018 MXGP of Trentino which will have an Italian Commentary onsite.

The races listed below will have MXGP Race 2 broadcasted LIVE Sunday on RAI Sport, further GPs going LIVE will be communicated shortly:

08/04/18 MXGP of Trentino, Pietramurata

03/06/18 MXGP of Great Britain, Matterley Basin

10/06/18 MXGP of France, St.Jean d’Angely

17/06/18 MXGP of Lombardia (ITA), Ottobiano

01/07/18 MXGP of Indonesia, Pangkal Pinang

08/07/18 MXGP of Asia, Semarang

22/07/18 MXGP of Czech Republic, Loket

05/08/18 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel

19/08/18 MXGP of Switzerland, Frauenfeld – Gahnang

26/08/18 MXGP of Bulgaria, Sevlievo

02/09/18 MXGP of Turkey, Afyon

16/09/18 MXGP of Netherlands, Assen

30/09/18 MXGP of Italy, Imola

Youthstream Vice President David Luongo stated: “This is a historical step for the MXGP World Championship that will be broadcasted live on one of the most prestigious channel in the world. RAI Sport is the home of the major sports and we want to thank them to put their trust in Motocross. A big part of our industry is based in Italy and we are sure that this step will allow our sport to strengthen its dynamic and popularity.”   

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

RAI Sport

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 4 April 2018 - Youthstream is proud to announce that the fifty-sixth issue of MXGP Mag is now online. In the newest issue of the MXGP Mag we feature the newest team making waves in the paddock, Honda 114 Motorsports. Also included in Issue #56 we give a recap of round 2 and 3 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, get you caught up with the activities of MXGP Academy, talk about the IRP Bal de Printemps event, and afterwards we throw it back to the past with a write-up on Heinz Kinigadner’s 1984 KTM 250, and Motocross Hall of Famer Joel Smets.

Click here to read the fifty-sixth 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

Scotsman, Shaun Simpson of the Wilvo Yamaha team, currently 13^th in the MXGP point standings, continued to be that guy just hanging on the edge of the main group, waiting to join them. As he could be so much better.

“For sure,” Simpson said. “I always think the first two or three GPs it’s hard to come out swinging like Herlings and Cairoli. You are building, and you get stronger, and faster and you start attacking the track, so your bike also needs to improve, so the team needs to be on it, improving the suspension and the power and you need to go in the right direction. I felt in the past that second group, I was with them early, but would lose ground at a point in the season and then I am the first of the third group. I always felt I should have been in that front group and now I am there, and it feels like I belong there, and I think I will stay there.”

A solid off-season has helped Simpson come in fit and strong for the 2018 season, and after more than a decade at the top level, it isn’t a surprise he sometimes needs to take a rest and just enjoy being a normal person.

“Physically and mentally I am in a much better place. We went off to New Zealand and I just cleared my head and my wife, and I just relaxed. I feel like every aspect of my life is dialled now. It’s all rolling nicely and it’s easy, gym, cycling, racing, practice starts. I just know everything is done and I want to go even faster.

With 17 rounds still to be run, and still a lot of travelling to places like Indonesia, the Yamaha rider knows that he has time to climb back inside the top five in the series points.

“Looking at the long series, I am definitely here for the long haul, and I always planned to be in that position, I just feel like the base is really good. I have just been there, I haven’t felt once that I was off the pace, like I needed to find two seconds or something. That is a testament to the way we approached our off-season and how we have worked with the bike, taking it back to a nearly stock 2018 450 Yamaha and started building it up from there. Last year we grabbed the bike, threw in some suspension and really changed it before I had even ridden it.”

Now onto Italy, and Trentino, where the fourth round of the MXGP championship will be played out. With 11^th, 8^th and 10^th positions from the last three years at the circuit, you can count on Simpson looking to improve and hang with that top group.

Copyright: Photo: Yamaha Racing

MXGP is back in Trentino, Italy for the 4th round of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship. Together with the MXGP and MX2 classes also the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing as well as the first round of the Women's Motocross World Championship will be held at the circuit of Pietramurata. 

Please find here below the links to download the TIMETABLE and the ENTRY LISTS for the MXGP of Trentino

TIMETABLE

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

WMX Entry List

EMX125 Presented By FMF Racing Entry List

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 3 April 2018 - Youthstream, the FIM and MXGP are very happy to announce that Airoh, one of the world’s leading helmet manufacturers, will continue to provide top range helmets to the flag marshals at all of the FIM Motocross World Championship events in 2018.

First implemented at the 2017 Edition of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Presented by Fiat Professional, Airoh helmets have been worn by flag marshals in an effort to protect those who protect the riders of MXGP and MX2. Both Youthstream, the FIM, and Airoh consider safety of the riders and track personnel the top priority and a happy to continue their important partnership.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Airoh

KTM Marchetti racing team is pleased to announce the agreement with Benoit Paturel, to ride the remaining of the 2018 FIM MXGP World Championship.

The twenty-three year old (born on 7.12.1994 in Lyon, France), made his debut in the FIM MX2 World Championship in 2012. In 2016 he finished third in the overall standings of the FIM MX2 World Championship and won the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations with the French team in Ernée. Last year Paturel won his first MX2 Grand Prix in Switzerland.

Copyright: Photo: Marchetti Racing

There is no doubt, the nine motocross world championships, and 84 Grand Prix victories are something a very young Antonio Cairoli could never have imagined when he arrived on the Grand Prix scene back in 2002 at the GP of Belgium, in the then 125cc class.

Maybe as a young GP rookie he was just happy to qualify, maybe get a top ten, or top five. Was a GP victory possible? For most young riders, no matter how good they eventually get, those early years in Grand Prix motocross are harsh.

While the 2002 and 2003 seasons didn’t go to plan for the young Sicilian, where he failed to score a single GP point, his arrival was as stunning as it was exciting. It was 2004 that Cairoli was first noticed, and after scrapping through the first two Grand Prix’s with six points in round one, and 22 points in round two, he began to get confident, and that speed came to him.

It was obvious his confidence was growing and round three brought him 27 points and a fourth-place finish in the second moto in second moto. All was set for round four in Valkenswaard, Holland, where the little guy from Sicily actually led series leader Ben Townley for a handful of laps, before eventually finishing third behind KTM factory riders Townley and Tyla Rattray.

Many motocross insiders were surprised by his performance, but Cairoli wouldn’t stop with these type of performances, winning his first Grand Prix at the famous Namur circuit, and ending the season in third place in the championship points. This same little guy who hadn’t scored a GP point until that opening round six points was suddenly a hot commodity.

That first world MX2 championship in 2005 after a season long battle with Australian Andrew McFarlane. Also, his first GP race win, and a handful of GP wins to add to his Namur success.

Of course, the rest of Cairoli’s career is well documented. His climb to legendary statues written with truckloads of GP wins, and world titles. Along the way becoming the greatest Italian motocross rider of all time, the only rider to ever win at least one GP for 15 years running, and possibly soon to become the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time (many believe he already is).

But the legacy is far from over. Now in the most heated battle of his career, where he is fighting the young lion in Jeffrey Herlings, Cairoli continues to improve, surprises us, and heads towards world title number 10.

On April 8, at the Pietramurata circuit in Trentino, Italy, the Italian hero will return to the place he pulled off that surprising victory in 2017. Coming from a crash, and down in the pack, Cairoli showed his strong will, and his determination to never surrender. You see, Antonio Cairoli isn’t racing for any status in our sport, he is only racing for one thing, and that is to hold the MXGP championship trophy above his head in September, at the famous Imola circuit in Italy.

If he does get world motocross championship number 10 in September, it won’t be as much as surprise anymore. In a career of unbelievable memories, and broken records, Antonio Cairoli remains modest and friendly to his fans and the people around him. With those values, every single race win, GP victory and championship has been deserved. Maybe the only real surprise why many didn’t see it coming in 2002.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer