MX2

For many of the MXGP and MX2 riders, the chance to race the MXGP of Patagonia - Argentina is a dream come true. The brilliantly build circuit, and the massive turn-out of fans makes it one of the highlights of the Grand Prix season, and while it usually early in the season, this year it will open the 2018 championship

British rider Adam Sterry made his Grand Prix debut at the Patagonian track, and his memories are fond of the circuit hidden in the Argentinian nature.

“I have raced Argentina a few times now,” Sterry said. “I did my first Grand Prix there, so that was good. Its one of my favourite tracks. It’s a long way away, but it’s really worth going to, the track, the crowd. I think it’s better as the first round and I can’t wait to get the season started.”

Arnaud Tonus loves to travel as much as anyone and the whole experience of racing in a different country and the excitement of visiting a different culture makes his Argentine trip a pleasant one.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Tonus said. “Also, the human experience. The land and the trip, it was special for me, so it’s a plus. Mentally we have two days we have to be sharp in mind, but we have Thursday and Friday we can enjoy the country. It’s also a pretty cool track, and you can do nice whips there and it’s nice to get rid of some of the pressure and enjoying what you do.

Thomas Kjer Olsen knows that the long trip to Argentina will bring happy memories him.

“I like going there (to Argentina),” Olsen said. “Argentina is a really nice track, so I am looking forward to it. We will try and ride a little more in Belgium, and then I go home quickly to Denmark before the two pre-season races, then it’s pretty much Argentina. There isn’t a lot more time for preparation. We have done a lot of hours on the bike and I feel strong and it’s a little like the settle down moment, the hard work is done

Jeffrey Herlings, the three times MX2 world champion enjoys the layout of the circuit and will no doubt be hoping to add to his success in Argentina.

“Obviously I love the track,” Herlings said. “I also had some bad luck, won a race in 2015 and Pauls Jonass landed on me in the other race, 2016 I won and 2017 was one of the worst races ever. I like the fans there and the track and I like starting the season outside of Europe. It is a nice calm start to the season. It’s going to be a long season. I want to be there for the long run, for the championship. I will try and be consistent in Argentina, and of course it would be nice to win, but to get the championship, you need to get on the podium or top five. If I come out of Argentina with a top five it will be way better than how I started 2017.”

So now with a little over two weeks before the Grand Prix riders start their assault on 2018, many are already placing importance on a good start to the season, in the beautiful country of Argentina. 

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 16 February 2018 - Youthstream is very pleased to announce that a new agreement has been reached with Portuguese Television Channel SPORT TV. The new 3 year agreement will be to broadcast the entire MXGP season plus the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations LIVE as well as MXGP’s 26 min Mag.

Youthstream and SPORT TV have partnered in the past and with the addition of the MXGP of Portugal in 2017 plus its return in 2018 both sides are excited to collaborate once again.

SPORT TV is the leading sports channel in Portugal and is transmitted by subscription cable and satellite, entirely dedicated to national and international sports events. Its first broadcast was in September 1998. SPORT TV develops a concept which is pioneer in Portugal and carried out by a specialised, young and dynamic team, that intends to offer the most varied and quality programming to meet the interests of the Portuguese viewer.

SPORT TV has five sports premium channels in Portugal focused on broadcasting “live and exclusive” major sports events and a free-to-air channel in the pay-tv platforms, covering all the relevant sports news in Portugal and in the World, with daily news programmes live from its studios. SPORT TV has won some of the most prestigious trophies in TV journalism for its programmes and ranks 1st in pay-tv channels. On a regular basis, Sport TV is the most viewed of all Portuguese channels.

David Luongo, Youthstream Vice President and Head of Operations: “Youthstream wants to thank Sport TV, and we are glad to be back on the Portuguese market with the broadcasting of the most prestigious 2 wheels off road Motorsport in the World, the MXGP World Championship for the next 3 years. The Portuguese fans will have the opportunity to follow the full FIM Motocross World Championship.”

Nuno Ferreira, Director of SPORT TV: "It is for us a great pride to have MXGP back in Portugal for 2018. The competition completes our offer with the most prestigious motorsports. We are certain that the renowned cooperation will be a great success!”

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

SPORT TV

Youthstream is proud to release the updated entry lists for the first round of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship at the beloved track of the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina which is set to take place in Neuquen on the 3rd and 4th March.

The new entry list features 72 riders between the respective classes including an impressive 12 of which coming from the host country of Argentina.

What was already expected to be an epic weekend of racing will now become even more competitive with the additional entries. To see all those who will be lining up in Argentina you can download the MXGP & MX2 Entry Lists here below in PDF version:

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

TIMETABLE

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 15 February 2018 – Youthstream gladly announces that Polisport will again be on board for the 2018 MXGP season after renewing their agreement. Polisport is a master in the production of after-market plastic parts and accessories.

As a partner of the 2018 MXGP series Polisport’s bike stand and bike mat will be featured in the MXGP podium ceremonies. They will also have various advertising boards positioned around the many tracks, giving the brand television coverage, as well as worldwide recognition.

The company based in Portugal is only a short distance from the Portuguese GP in Agueda and is excited for the return of racing to its backyard. Polisport was founded in 1978 and with their first products being replica plastics for motorcycles. This has been the foundation of the business since and now, Polisport is the leading supplier for the top motorcycle brands in the industry, as well as a partner with the best teams in MXGP, such as Kawasaki Racing Team.

The inspiration to form a company focused on off-road bikes came from the heart, as the founder and current CEO – Pedro Araújo - was an avid off-road rider. Since its opening Polisport has made a solid name for itself producing top of the line after market plastics for motocross, enduro and supermoto bikes. Their products include full replica plastic kits, headlights, hand guards, body protectors, along with some of the most innovative accessories on the market. 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Polisport

Youthstream announces that Ticket sales are now OPEN for the 2018 MXGP of Turkey in Afyon scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd of September. The stop in Afyon will be the first return of MXGP to Turkey

in recent years and the new venue is an amazing sports complex with various recreation facilities all in a touristic area.

The MXGP of Turkey will certainly be one GP not to miss on the 2018 calendar.

Click the following link to get more details and purchase the tickets: https://turkey.motocross-tickets.com/23901-mxgp-of-turkey/en/

Strengthening their strategy for 2018, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. will officially support two teams and a total of five riders inside the world's premier class, MXGP. Spearheading the effort and set to take the YZ450FM to the top of the podium, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team remains unchanged for a third consecutive season where they hope to toast success once again with 2015 MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre and 2014 MXGP vice World Champion Jeremy Van Horebeek.

The Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team will enter their second season on YZ450Fs inside the top-tier class with a dynamic three-man team. Last year's challengers Arnaud Tonus and Shaun Simpson remain under the 'Wilvo' awning and will be joined by one of MXGP's hottest rookies, two-time MX2 vice-World Champion Jeremy Seewer.

In MX2, the Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 outfit has had a total reshuffle with the introduction of three new riders. Heading the line-up, the British Motocross MX2 Champion Ben Watson will be joined by blisteringly fast Russian prodigy Vsevolod Brylyakov and young Belgian mega-talent Jago Geerts. The trio will be manning YZ250F machinery.

Also armed with YZ250F technology, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. is proud to support three teams and riders inside the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship. Leading the charge is none other than the reigning WMX World Champion FontaMX Yamaha Official WMX's Kiara Fontanesi, and looking to dethrone her are fellow Yamaha Riders, Altherm Yamaha Official WMX's Courtney Duncan and NoFear Yamaha Official WMX's Nancy van de Ven.

In the European Motocross Championship, the ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX250 Team returns with Dutchman Roan van de Moosdijk who remains on the team for a second term where he will be joined by American ace Tristan Charboneau and Italian hopeful Nicolas Lapucci. Meanwhile, in the youngest class that is only open to riders under the age of 17-years-old, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team holds onto French talent Thibault Benistant and Dutchman Rick Elzinga, who have welcomed with open arms the winner of the 2017 YZ125 bLU cRU Cup, Estonian Jörgen-Matthias Talviku.

Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Manager: "We are in for a very exciting year. This year we didn't focus on quantity, adding more riders, but instead we focused on the quality of riders that we will support in 2018. This year we aim to further establish the existing teams from 2017, one Factory Team in MXGP and at least one Official Team in every single class, MXGP, MX2, EMX250, EMX125 and WMX. I am excited to see what the boys and girls can do. I believe our line-ups are very talented, very strong and very stable, and that the riders are all highly motivated to achieve their goals.

The winter has been a successful one for the boys with not too many issues to speak of, which is an achievement as we have fifteen male riders, but it could have been slightly better for our three female athletes as Courtney spent some time recovering from a knee surgery, while Nancy broke her leg training in Spain. Nevertheless, I am confident that both girls will be fit to join the five time WMX World Champion Kiara Fontanesi at the first round, while the boys are sure to be on top of their game and prepared to fight for a good place at the opening rounds of the FIM MXGP and MX2 World Championships, and the EMX250 and EMX125 Championships."

Copyright: Photo: Yamaha Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 09 February 2018 - Youthstream is proud to announce that the fifty-fourth issue of MXGP Mag is now online. In the new issue of MXGP Mag we feature the young Kemea Yamaha group as team of the month and highlight their changes coming into 2018. Also included in Issue #54 we give a preview of some of the main contenders in the soon to start 2018 season, plus we provide more information on MXGP’s return to Turkey in a special feature, and afterwards we throw it back to the past with a write-up on the 1982 Gillera 125cc and Corrado Maddii plus an article on Hall of Famer of the month Marcus Hansson.

Click here to read the fifty-fourth 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

When the dust settled on the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship season, two young Australian men stood on top of a Grand Prix podium. At the Gran Prix of Pays de Montbeliard, played out at the Villars-Sous-Ecot circuit in France, Hunter Lawrence and Jed Beaton made Australian motocross history.

Finishing second and third in the GP behind American Thomas Covington, the two Aussies had done what had never been done before, not when Australian motocross legends Jeff Leisk, Chad Reed, Andrew McFarlane or Dean Ferris rode Grand Prix motocross.

All four previously mentioned Australians all won at Grand Prix level, but none stood on a GP podium with a countryman by his side. While both Lawrence and Beaton win a Grand Prix, you get the feeling 2018 might change all that, and who knows, maybe that double podium can be duplicated again this year.

For Lawrence the final two races of last season showed what we can expect in 2018, as he finished second in that final Grand Prix of the season in France, winning a race and being just four points off winning the French Grand Prix. He then turned up at the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations and pulled off a big shock, by winning the MX2 class against American 250 champion, Zach Osborne.

“I am looking forward to the season,” Lawrence said. “Pre-season doesn’t mean much, and a lot can change when we get to round one, but it gives us good direction and something to work on, and I am going to just keep my head screwed on for the rest of the series. Any win changes your confidence, that is normal. I mean that is how it is. That was cool (MXoN performance), and it was a weekend I will never forget, but I didn’t feel like I rode over my head or anything. I just think I pulled that ride from nowhere, but really, after Germany last year, or even Valkenswaard, things were going in the good way. Then I hurt my back in Russia and things went off a little, but we went to the end of the season and we got two more podiums.”

As for Beaton, his 2017 season was very up and down, and his EMX results not really what he expected, but once he picked up a ride on the HRC factory bike, he showed what he was capable of, finishing third in that very same French Grand Prix that his fellow countryman finished second. Two Aussies on a GP podium, and Australian motocross history made.

“Yes,” Beaton said. “It was pretty cool (getting on the GP podium). It didn’t actually sink in until after the podium, but when it did sink in it was pretty special. I didn’t take any notice of who else was on the podium, afterwards Hunter said he thought it might be the first time two Aussies were on the podium, so it was nice to make some Aussie history. I don’t know, I have been working hard and I will be competing in a new class (for a full season). I came early to be better prepared, much better than last year. So, on that side of things. Obviously, it’s my first full year in MX2, I have done some races, so I know what to expect. I am looking forward to it and same goal as last year, see where I am at in the early rounds, and take it from there.”

Now onto Argentina, for the opening race of the 2018 MX2 championship. Standing in the way of the two Australian youngsters will be defending World MX2 champion Pauls Jonass, on a Red Bull KTM Factory machine. If they can top the Latvian in Argentina, then they could be heading to something else no other Australian has been able to achieve on the Grand Prix scene, and that is a Motocross World Championship. 

Copyright: Photo: Bavo Swijgers

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 6 February 2018 – Youthstream is very pleased to have recently welcomed Indonesian Officials to its office in Monaco. The important visit comes just one month shy of the 2018 MXGP season opener in a year of racing that will visit the country of Indonesia twice. The 2 races scheduled for Indonesia, the MXGP of Indonesia and the MXGP of Asia, will be on two different Indonesian Islands giving fans from around the country a chance to witness the FIM Motocross World Championship.

The purpose of the visit from the Indonesian delegation was to give updates on the organization’s progress and preparation of the two events. The Indonesian delegation was headed by Mr. Erzaldi Rosman Djohan, Governor of Bangka Belitung Island together with the Major of Pangkal Pinang and Chairman of PT Arena Sirkuit International, Mr. Muhammad Irwansyah Sofyan, the Vice President of IMI, Mr. Medya Saputra, the Organizer of both Indonesian Grand Prix, Mr. Alfonsus Judiarto along with prominent representatives of Bangka Island where the Grand Prix of Indonesia will take place on July 1st.  The delegation was welcomed by Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo, Youthstream Group Vice President Luigi Zompetti, Youthstream Vice President David Luongo and Youthstream Directors Daniele Rizzi and Nikos Gounaris.

Both Indonesian stops are extremely important to Youthstream and the motocross industry as the country and its surrounding regions comprise of one of the biggest motorcycle markets in the world. Perhaps even more notable, the country also has a massive number of fans and is one of the largest consumers of MXGP digital content worldwide making it the perfect double host.

At the conclusion of the meeting both Youthstream and the Indonesian delegation were mutual satisfied. Each party expressed their satisfaction at the level of commitment taken by one another and both are now looking forward to the success of the important MXGP events in Indonesia this July.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Indonesia

MXGP of Asia

Team HRC is ready to spearhead their attack on the 2018 MXGP and MX2 titles with a strong rider line up consisting of two-time World Champion Tim Gajser and new signings Brian Bogers (MXGP) and Calvin Vlaanderen (MX2). For the forthcoming 19-round 2018 season, the team will field the latest evolution of last season’s race-winning CRF450RW and the much-anticipated, all-new Honda CRF250RW, two machines that build on Honda’s history of success in the series.

Tim Gajser needs no introduction: the sensational 21-year-old Slovenian rider has made history with Honda by winning back-to-back MX2 and MXGP titles in 2015 and 2016 and taking the whole MXGP championship by storm. With one more year of experience within the class and a strong finish to his 2017 campaign, Gajser is now looking forward to trying to regain the crown that slipped from his grasp last year.

Brian Bogers is one of the two new arrivals in the Team HRC’s family: the 21-year-old from the Netherlands will enter his rookie season in the MXGP class alongside Gajser, although he is still recovering from a foot injury that will briefly delay his debut in the senior class.

Calvin Vlaanderen is the new standard bearer of Team HRC in the MX2 class. The young South African rider has already shown great speed in the championship, and is now looking forward to stepping up his game on board the new Honda CRF250RW, which he rode to third place in the first race of the ‘Internazionali d’Italia’ in Riola last weekend.

The 2018 MXGP season will get underway at Villa La Angostura (Patagonia - Argentina) on March 3-4.

Tim Gajser: “We have finished testing and I must say I’m really happy with the bike, so I’m now looking forward to the season beginning. I learned a lot from last year and, although it was an up and down season, we finished on a high note so we now hope to keep the momentum going heading into 2018. I love the bike and it feels good to reunite with the team, so I’m excited to see what this season will bring!”

Brian Bogers: “It’s such an honour to be a factory Honda rider and obviously a dream for me to be racing in the MXGP class. The Honda CRF450RW is a fantastic bike – I was able to ride it at the end of last year and it really impressed me on every level. I have had a chance to spend some time with the team and I must say they’re great people and I look forward to joining them for my MXGP debut!”

Calvin Vlaanderen: “I’m really happy to be part of Team HRC and to be racing in the MX2 again with such a competitive package. I know the class well but obviously this is a new journey for me and I can’t wait to exploit the potential of the new Honda CRF250RW. I feel we’re definitely heading in the right direction. I would like to thank the team and Honda for this amazing opportunity and look forward to the first race of the season!”

Marcus Pereira De Freitas: “We are ready and motivated for what is going to be a very exciting season for us in the factory Honda MXGP team. We feel we have all the ingredients needed for a successful campaign: the new rider line up is young and extremely talented, and we have two amazing bikes in the Honda CRF450RW and the new CRF250RW. Tim is eager to make his way to the top, while Brian and Calvin are looking forward to showing what they’re capable of as part of an official effort. I see no reason why 2018 can’t be an ultra-successful year for us, so we can’t wait for the action to start!

Copyright: Photo: Honda Racing