MX2

This weekend during the MXGP of Europe which is taking place in Valkenswaard we run a competition where you could WIN a massive Twin Air prize, a copy of MXGP2, The Official MXGP Videogame and an all 2017 season pass to www.mxgp-tv.com.

All you have to do is to guess the MXGP of Europe’s top-three overall in MXGP class. Competition ends on Sunday, April the 23rd at 17:00

Click HERE to play the quiz on MXGP Facebook and follow this link to enter from a mobile phone: https://twinaircompetition.pgtb.me/Gq8g60

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Thomas Covington has made good inroads into the MX2 top ten after his brilliant win in Leon, Mexico a couple of weeks ago, and he followed that up with a solid performance in Italy last weekend, scoring fifth place overall.

Now eighth in the series points the American rider will try and be consistent in the sand of Valkenswaard, Holland and Kegums, Latvia, before the series heads back to his favoured hard pack track in Teutschenthal, Germany.

Q: What about last weekend, how did that feel?

Covington: It was a good GP for us. We had some ups and downs but we showed the speed is there. I had a bad start in the opening moto and then it was really hard work to come through the pack. I made some good passes but as I was battling to get inside the top six I went over the bars so had to settle for 11th. Then in moto two my start was much better. I was fourth for most of the race but I felt really good and pushed hard for third. Overall, I’m really happy with my riding in Italy. The goal is to minimise mistakes so that we can consistently fight for the top three in each of the coming GPs.

Q: You won Mexico, how did it feel?

Covington: It was great. I think I always do well at Mexico, and it isn’t anything to do with the track, but I seem to do well that I spend some time at home before that round, I spend time with family, they are always in Mexico and it gives me a better feeling.

Q: How did you feel about the track conditions in Mexico?

Covington: The track and conditions, it was super wet on Saturday, but Sunday it was a lot better. They fixed a lot of the jumps. I am trying to get the same feeling in Europe. In Trentino I was fastest in timed practice, so I am getting there.

Q: You are looking faster, is that confidence or your bike?

Covington: I think another part is we have the bike really dialled in right now and the suspension is working perfect and really happy with the bike. I think we will keep it going and we have some sand races coming up and I will try and be top five in those.

Q: Onto Holland this week. Do you look forward to that?

Covington: Sand races are not my favourite races and the Dutch and Belgian guys grew up on it. I have some tracks back home that are sand, but nothing like the sand tracks in Europe.

Q: It was announced recently that the MXGP of US is going to Gaterback. That is a track you must have raced a lot of a junior?

Covington: I am looking forward to the Monster Energy MXGP of US. I know that track well, having spent a lot of weekends racing there, so I am pumped we go there. I only heard the week before Mexico that they have built a new track there, but I know when they had a GP track, it was always cool. It’s always good to have a home GP, always good to get home and talk to fans I speak the same language and maybe some of my family will drive down from Alabama. 

Copyright: Photo: Juan Pablo Acevedo

VALKENSWAARD (The Netherlands), 19 April 2017 - The 6th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is upon us for the MXGP of Europe. After last weekend’s amazing and historic racing MXGP, MX2, and EMX250 classes are ready to do it all over again. The sandy track of Valkenswaard will also host the first round of the European Motocross Championship EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing with 91 2-strokes signed up to race.  It’s not one to miss!

While in MXGP and MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado Garcia will go to Valkenswaard with a GP victory in the pocket and the Red Plate holders Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass are keen to show their supremacy at the MXGP of Europe.

In addition Round 2 of the EMX250 championship will take to Valkenswaard this weekend as well. Simone Furlotti is in the points lead after winning the season opener in Trentino. Furlotti will have to battle with several top level competitors on a circuit that is quite different from the previous. With Morgan Lesiardo, Miro Sihvonen, Karlis Sabulis, and Nick Kouwenberg hot on Furlotti’s heals you can expect some close battles and shifting of the points.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser had an impressive race 2 in Trentino and so far this season he has shown that he is the one to beat. Gajser has never won in Valkenswaard, his best result here came last year when he reached the 3rd spot overall. The pressure of the points lead shrinking after Cairoli’s win in Trentino may propel the Slovenian to respond and claim his first Valkenswaard win this weekend.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli is coming into Valkenswaard after an amazing weekend in Trentino. The Italian has won in the GP in Valkenswaard 6 times, 5 of which in the MXGP class. It’s been 2 years though since he has seen the top step of the podium here. Striving to keep momentum from his impressive and historic race in Trentino you can be sure Cairoli will come out ready to fight.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle is another rider who has yet to win in Valkenswaard. The Belgian has finished on the podium twice there in the past and will hope to do the same this time. Desalle still sits third in the championship but only 6 points ahead of 4th and 5th.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin had some of the fastest laps in Trentino where he finished 5th overall. Paulin won the MXGP of Europe in 2015 and he has what it takes to win this year. Expect the #21 Husqvarna machine impress when the gate drops in Valkenswaard.

Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev has had some strong results this year and narrowly missed the podium in Trentino. The Russian has never finished outside of the top ten in Valkenswaard with his best result being 3rd in 2013. All things considered if he can have two consistent races his speed will put him in the top 5 if not the podium.

Last year’s winner and 2015 MXGP Champion Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Team’s Romain Febvre hasn’t had the season he has wanted and after a disappointing 13th overall last weekend he will be searching for the Valkenswaard form of past years this Sunday.

This weekend will be a home GP for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings. Herlings just had his best 450 result this season during the Race 2 at Trentino finishing 4th. The #84 has never lost a world championship race in Valkenswaard and he hopes to keep it that way by scoring his 8th victory on this track and 1st on a 450 Sunday.

Swiss rider, Wilvo Yamaha MXGP’s, Arnaud Tonus is coming into Valkenswaard with new found confidence and momentum after Trentino, where he reached the podium for his first time ever in the MXGP class

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl was on the podium here last year and is still looking for his first one of the season in this ultra competitive class.

Glenn Coldenhoff is another Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider that  will be racing at home this weekend. The dutchman has had some terrific starts this year and is now looking to do the same to impress the home fans.

2016 MXGP of Europe MXGP Top 3

1. Romain Febvre
2. Max Nagl
3. Tim Gajser

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 201 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 183 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 151 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 145 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 145 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 144 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 106 p.; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 101 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 95 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 90 p.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass is continuing to shine this season finishing on the podium once again in Trentino. The Latvian is accustom to soft soil similar to that of Valkenswaard. Jonass finished second here last year but only to Herlings who is no longer a challenger. Jonass may very well score his first victory in Valkenswaard this weekend.

Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer lost his points’ lead he had worked so hard for in Trentino. Seewer will look to forget the problems of the past weekend and try to respond by out finishing his main competitor, Pauls Jonass.

LRT KTM’s Julien Lieber is an experienced soft soil rider hailing from Belgium. Lieber last raced here in 2014 and he finished 9th. With multiple podiums under his belt this season he’s striving for his first race win and overall in Valkenswaard.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen rode the best we’ve seen of him in Trentino, he won the qualifying race and he finished fourth overall on Sunday. The former EMX250 Champion will try to learn from the few mistakes of Trentino, which most likely caused him to miss his first podium, and focus on the racing ahead.

Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Benoit Paturel was left scratching his head in Trentino where he finished 19th. Paturel has struggled off the start and he is taking the hard route to the top. Last year the French finished 5th in Valkenswaard, he is now 5th in the championship and could really use another top five this weekend’s visit to the starting gate.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado Garcia scored his first career victory in Trentino at 16 years old last weekend. The self proclaimed soft track rider will go for 2 wins in a row on the sandy soil of Valkenswaard.

HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers and Clavin Vlaanderen are no strangers to this track and they will look to use their experience of racing on this soil and the home fans to their advantage.

2016 MXGP of Europe MX2 Top 3

1. Jeffrey Herlings
2. Pauls Jonass
3. Jeremy Seewer

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 192 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 183 p.; 3. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), 175 p.; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 158 p.; 5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 147 p.; 6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 123 p.; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 117 p.; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 113 p.; 9. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 110 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 99 p.

All the photos of the MXGP of Europe will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed Practice 08:00; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed Practice 08:45; EMX250 Group 1 Free/Timed Practice 09:30; EMX250 Group 2 Free/Timed Practice 10:15; MX2 Free Practice 11:45; MXGP Free Practice 12:15; EMX125 Last chance Qualifying Race 13:10; EMX250 Last chance Qualifying Race 13:55; MX2 Time Practice 14:30; MXGP Time Practice 15:00; EMX125 Race 1 15:30; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:25; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:10; EMX250 Race 1 17:55.

Sunday: EMX125 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

MXGP of Europe

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 19 April 2017 – Youthstream and Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services are delighted to announce the renewal of the partnership agreement for the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services is the commercial division dedicates to spare parts and workshops network. It distributes spare parts, automotive components and it offers training and technical know-how to the independent Aftermarket.

The company, via the Magneti Marelli Checkstar brand, which identifies the network of 4,000 specialised garages and body shops throughout the world, aims to consolidate its presence in all of the stages of the MXGP championship, strengthen relations between the brand and enthusiasts who share a passion for the motoring world, and develop initiatives dedicated to clients and partners from all around the globe.

David Luongo, Vice President of Youthstream Group and Head of Operations stated: We are proud to renew our partnership with Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services. This agreement shows the interest of mainstream companies for the MXGP World Championship. For sure we will continue to propose our onsite services such as the VIP Skybox to allow such companies to live the motocross experience and to follow the action from the closest point of view.”

“Thanks to the extraordinary results achieved during the last sporting season, we were delighted to renew the sponsorship agreement with MXGP,” confirmed Stefano Sancassani, the CEO of Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services. “The world championship offers us the opportunity to bring our brand closer to action sports and an audience of enthusiasts who love the most authentic traditions of motor sport, as well as satisfy clients and partners with exclusive and dedicated competition experiences”.

MXGP has as its undisputed lead figure the eight-time world champion Antonio Cairoli, who, in this first part of the season, has demonstrated excellent performance and character, with great results in the rankings despite the injuries he suffered last year. Antonio Cairoli is a testimonial for Magneti Marelli Checkstar as well as a great talent in rallying, where he participates flying the Team Magneti Marelli Checkstar flag.

Magneti Marelli Checkstar is the official sponsor of the FIM Motocross World Championship, and will be visible within the world championship competition areas through the display of the brand, which is ever increasingly a by-word for passion and competence in the world of car repair and in the sale of quality spare parts.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Magneti Marelli Checkstar

Copyright: Photo: MMC

The MXGP of Europe is taking place on the sand circuit of Valkenswaard the next April 23rd 2017

Together with MXGP and MX2 Class also the second round of the EMX250 and the first round of the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Championships will be held. Timetable and official Entry Lists of the event are able to be downloaded in PDF formats by clicking on the links below

TITMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

EMX250 ENTRY LIST

EMX125 presented by FMF Racing ENTRY LIST

Here we are! One of the most awaited moments of the week: MXGP in collaboration with Monster Energy has the pleasure to interview a Monster Girl at every GP. The feature will go up the week after the event.

At the MXGP of Trentino we had the pleasure to catch up with Martina. Here what we asked:

How did you like the atmosphere in Trentino?

It was amazing, being Italian, it is so great to see the fans singing out national anthem!

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? 

Yes, I have ridden a road bike! I loved it and want to do it more!

Who is your favourite rider?

Roman Febvre, he has such an amazing style on the bike!

To get to know more about your favorite Monster Girl, check out our Monster Girls section on http://www.mxgp.com/ or click HERE, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.

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

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

The terrific races at the Pietramurata Circuit saw both MXGP of Trentino winners Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado Garcia set the fastest lap time for the weekend in MXGP and MX2 respectively.

Antonio Cairoli certainly didn’t crack under pressure as he put in his fastest lap time just four laps before the finish of race 2, he raised the bar with a 1:42.800 on lap 15, which was 1.643 seconds fastest than anyone else in the race.

Please find here below the details:

Antonio Cairoli: 1:42.800

Jorge Prado Garcia 1:43.758

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

Log on to MXGP-TV.com and watch the exclusive 26 min Behind the Gate from the MXGP of Trentino where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado Garcia made history scratched their names in the record books.

In this Episode you can watch the official GoPro Lap, as well as the racing highlights of an insane race weekend and you can experience the crazy atmosphere of the Italian public onsite. Additionally don’t miss Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Team Report featuring Antonio Cairoli and Glenn Coldenhoff as well as a terrific moment with Samuele Bernardini enjoying the local mountains.

All this and More only subscribing to MXGP-TV and watching the 26 min ‘Behind the Gate’. Watch it HERE

The Fox Holeshot award runs across the entire MXGP season. The way it works is 1 point is awarded for each race holeshot. He, who has the most points in MXGP at the end of the season will win the grand prize of €10,000 while he with the most points in MX2 will win the grand prize of €5,000.

At the fifth round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship which was held in Pietramurata, Trentino, GP winner Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli took the FOX Holeshot in Race 1 and Team HRC’s Tim Gajser took it in Race 2.

Meanwhile in MX2 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Duo Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado got it in Race and Race 2 respectively.

Watch the MXGP of Trentino ‘Fox Holeshot’ films here below.    

MXGP of Trentino FOX Holeshot MXGP Film

MXGP of Trentino FOX Holeshot MX2 Film

(PIETRAMURATA) Trentino, 16 April 2017 - The first 250cc European Motocross Championship race concluded today with the first points being tallied. The local fans were treated to another Italian winning in Trentino but this time it was Yamaha SM Action’s Simone Furlotti.

For Yamaha SM Action’s Simone Furlotti Saturday Race 1 was perfect, he ran away with win and made it look easy but a bad start in today’s Race 2 had him near 13th position on the opening lap. Furlotti managed to work his way into 3rd in passing many riders in bar banging action which gave him the overall and seeing it is the first race of the season it also gives him the points lead.

Another Italian, Morgan Lesiardo, who finished 5th on Saturday’s Race 1, used the home crowd advantage to help him grab the Holeshot in race 2 and follow it with the race win to take 2nd overall ahead of KTM DIGA Junior Racing’s Miro Sihvonen.

Sihvonen who finished 6th in last year’s championship accomplished his podium finish taking 4th in race one and then battling throughout race 2 eventually passing F&H Racing’s Ruben Fernandez for second. Fernandez would fall one more spot Furlotti before crossing the finish line.

While race 1 had Furlotti coming out in the top spot, behind him the battle for second between ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha’s Karlis Sabulis and Alberto Forato lasted all the way to the last corner where Sabulis came out ahead. Sabulis used this as motivation to move through the field on Sunday in another strong showing after being way outside the top 10, he fought hard and he finished 5th earning a well deserved 4th overall.

With the EMX250 races ultimately coming down to a test of consistency, Dutch rider Nick Kouwenberg’s 10-9 finishes surprisingly claimed the last spot among the top five overall.

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Simone Furlotti (ITA, Yamaha), 29:56.680; 2. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:22.357; 3. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:22.814; 4. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:31.291; 5. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), +0:34.942; 6. Jens Getteman (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:36.324; 7. Joakin Furbetta (ITA, KTM), +0:42.068; 8. Ken Bengtson (SWE, Yamaha), +0:42.184; 9. Tristan Charboneau (USA, Kawasaki), +0:45.317; 10. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Yamaha), +0:47.356.

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), 29:14.387; 2. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:08.165; 3. Simone Furlotti (ITA, Yamaha), +0:27.910; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:45.489; 5. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:54.619; 6. Jere Haavisto (FIN, KTM), +0:55.475; 7. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), +0:56.191; 8. Todd Kellett (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:57.109; 9. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Yamaha), +1:00.646; 10. Michael Sandner (AUT, KTM), +1:02.923.

EMX250 Overall Top 10: 1. Simone Furlotti (ITA, YAM), 45 points; 2. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, YAM), 38 p.; 5. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 6. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 20 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 18 p.; 8. Filippo Zonta (ITA, HON), 18 p.; 9. Ken Bengtson (SWE, YAM), 16 p.; 10. Jere Haavisto (FIN, KTM), 15 p.

EMX250 Championship Top 10: 1. Simone Furlotti (ITA, YAM), 45 points; 2. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, YAM), 38 p.; 5. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 6. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 20 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 18 p.; 8. Filippo Zonta (ITA, HON), 18 p.; 9. Ken Bengtson (SWE, YAM), 16 p.; 10. Jere Haavisto (FIN, KTM), 15 p.

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha, 45 points; 2. KTM, 43 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 33 p.; 4. Honda, 28 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 19 p.; 6. Suzuki, 9 p

NEXT ROUND

The next round of the European Championship EMX250 will be held in 1 week time in Valkenswaard, for the MXGP of Europe.

Click here to obtain the complete results

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

MXGP of Trentino – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1660m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 19°C

Weather conditions: varied

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 29,500

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.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

MXGP of Trentino