MX2

It might seem like it’s still quite a way off but actually, if you blink you might be in danger of missing it! Round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship is braced to make a welcome return to Indonesia on March 4^th / 5^th just one week after the opening round in Qatar.

It’s been a while since we last visited these parts, and only four GPs have ever been held there and if you’re not French then look away now! Of the four GP’s previously held in Indonesia, there have been THREE French winners and one Italian victor. The omens are good for Kawasaki, too, as it has taken three of the four victories, with Yamaha winning the other. Let’s fill you in.

Read the complete feature HERE

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 9 February 2017 – Polisport, the brand that has mastered the production of after-market plastic parts and accessories, have strengthened their already fantastic relationship with Youthstream and the FIM Motocross World Championship by renewing their agreement. Being a partner of the 2017 MXGP series is an exciting deal for Polisport, who are pumped to have a home Grand Prix in 2017 at Agueda, Portugal, a track that is only a stone-throw away from the company’s headquarters. 

Similar to their exposure in previous years, Polisport’s bike stand and bike mat will feature in the MXGP podium ceremonies. They will also have a number of advertising billboards strategically placed on the tracks, giving the brand great television coverage, as well as worldwide recognition, and they will also have a display area inside the MXGP paddock where fans can physically view and gather information about their products.

Polisport was founded in 1978 and their first products were replica plastics for motorcycles. This has been the core business of the company since then and, nowadays, Polisport is the leading supplier of the top motorcycle brands in the industry, as well as the partner with the best teams in the MXGP, such as Kawasaki Racing Team. The inspiration to form a company focused on off-road bikes came from the heart, with the founder and current CEO – Pedro Araújo - was an avid off-road rider. Since 1978, 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, handguards, body protections and some of the most innovative accessories on the market. 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Polisport

As the new racing season draws closer, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. took a moment between pre-season testing activities to gather all of the Official Yamaha Race Teams, both On and Off-Road, for an Official Race Teams Press Conference. The special event took place on the 7^th of February at the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy, where all of the Official line-ups and their 2017 liveries were presented to the international racing media. 

Hosted for the third year running by MotoGP Championship commentator Gavin Emmett, the event saw an impressive 15 teams and 41 riders and their team managers unveil their impressive Yamaha machinery to the gathered press and partners. Prior to the teams unveiling, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Eric de Seynes, took a moment to share his insights on the 2017 line ups, and on Yamaha’s racing strategy with some additional information and statistics regarding the Off-Road market sales.

Kicking off the motocross sector, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V’s Motocross Racing Manager Erik Eggens shared the strategy for the coming year before making room for the Monster Energy Yamaha MXGP Factory Team, who were present to reveal their 2017 colours. 2015 MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre and 2014 MXGP Vice World Champion Jeremy van Horebeek took the stage as Yamaha’s factory squad. Both riders are feeling fitter and faster than ever, and are determined to take their YZ450FM’s to the top in 2017.

Meanwhile, Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP have stepped up from MX2 this year and will join the Factory Team in the premier class. The team has placed a YZ450F in the very capable hands of highly acclaimed motocross talents Arnaud Tonus and Shaun Simpson. Tonus is a former MX2 Grand Prix winner who is making a welcomed return to the FIM Motocross World Championship after spending the past two years racing in America, while Simpson is one of Great Britain’s finest who claimed his first ever MXGP Grand Prix win onboard a Yamaha back in 2013 in the sand of Lierop, The Netherlands.

“It feels to be great back on Yamaha, I haven’t spent too much time on a YZ450F, I loved my YZ250F though, so the 450 is new but I think it fits really well with my style and I am just looking forward to Qatar and being up front in MXGP” Tonus said.

Set to shake things up in MX2, Gavin Emmett introduced the Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team that boasts three highly touted youngsters, Benoit Paturel, Brent Van doninck and Alvin Östlund. “We have already achieved our goal for 2017,” Hans Corvers, Kemea Team Owner said, “Benoit’s goal for last season was top five, so the next step was top three, and he has already achieved that as well. The next thing will be to be world champion and I think he has a good chance.” All three riders are eager to put their YZ250F’s on top of the box.

Next up and set to take on another full-throttle season in the world’s most prestigious Amateur series, the European Championship EMX250, former MX1 World Champion David Philippaerts has joined forces with the SDM Course MX Team to form the all-new ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX250 team. The youthful team will cast the 2015 Junior 125cc Motocross World Champion Maxime Renaux, with last year’s Junior 125cc Vice Champion Roan van de Moosdijk and Latvian talent Kãrlis Sabulis.

After entering the 2016 YZ125 bLU cRU Cup and winning it, young Swedish hopeful Tim Edberg landed a dream ride on the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team alongside two other kids that are chalked as a couple of the most promising young riders in Europe, Rick Elzinga and Thibault Benistant.

Last but by no means least, as the leading manufacturer in women’s motocross Yamaha will be the envy of all other brands as the official supporter of three of the fastest ladies on the planet, Kiara Fontanesi, Nancy van de Ven and Courtney Duncan. The current vice world champion Van de Ven and the four-time WMX world champion Fontanesi have each formed their own teams. Van de Ven has named her team NVD Yamaha Official WMX, while Fontanesi’s is Fonta Yamaha Official WMX. Fellow title threat Courtney Duncan will be riding under the watchful eye of former MX1 vice world champion Josh Coppins on his team Altherm Yamaha Official WMX.

With the gate drop for the opening round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship less than a month away, invited media from around the world headed to the Suzuki World MXGP Team headquarters in Lommel, Belgium today to check-out the brand new, never-seen-before 2017 RM-Z450WS which will be ridden by Kevin Strijbos and Arminas Jasikonis in the World MXGP class this year. 

In an event that was broadcasted live around the world, no expense was spared with the presentation of the RM-Z450WS machine that had been successfully kept under wraps until the grand unveiling yesterday at 2pm CET. 

Also being presented was the rest of the Suzuki World team which included riders from the 85cc, EMX250 and the MX2 class, in a squad that is brimming with potential. 

Led by General Manager and 10 times World Champion Stefan Everts, the team is looking to bring success to the Suzuki brand in what is a concerted effort from Europe and Japan to support their assault on the World Motocross Championships. 

He had this to say about the new bike and upcoming campaign: “I am very excited of course, it’s my second year with Suzuki and I am so happy and honoured to be able to present this new RM-Z450WS. It is a great bike, it looks fantastic and it is new motivation for everybody involved to take the brand back to the top step of motocross. Of course there is still a lot of work to do in the future for myself and the team but having this backup from Japan and this new bike is something great for everyone.” 

Also in attendance was Jan Breckwald, General Manager Sales and Marketing Suzuki EU who commented: “I can’t wait for the season to start, so best wishes to Stefan, all the riders, all the mechanics and all the people who are involved in this team; lets rock and roll!”

Leading the team will be the experienced Kevin Strijbos who recently celebrated becoming a father for the first time, and he will be looking to back-up his Lommel victory from last year on this new RM-Z450WS.

I’m excited with the bike and looking forward to it, I had a good off-season staying in shape and although I had a bit of illness recently, I still feel good. Having a kid has certainly made things strange because I still want to ride, but it’s not the most important thing in the world to me now. Even if I have bad day, when I see my kid smile, it makes me feel better and I hope being relaxed will help take some pressure off and allow me to be more comfortable on the new bike.”

For Lithuanian Arminas Jasikonis, this will be his first full year under a factory awning after what ended up being a successful audition filling-in for Ben Townley in 2016 and he sees it as a great honour to be a part of this ground-breaking project: “I am really excited for this new year. The new bike is something special and a lot of people are really going to be excited to see it. This is my first full year as a factory rider, coming from a small country and a small team, so I am really pumped and excited and I think we are going to do well. There is still work to do but I have improved a lot already thanks to Stefan and his program. And I’m excited.” 

In the MX2 class, a lot is expected from the trio of Jeremy Seewer, Bas Vaessen and Hunter Lawrence as the division is wide open, with many riders still looking to win their first race. Leading the way is 2016 MX2 runner-up Seewer, who will be looking to go one-step higher this year. 

The young Swiss title contender is feeling confident though: “I had a really good winter, improving the bike where we needed to improve it and myself I feel really good, especially my fitness which is on a new level. There is only one spot left to improve after 2016, which is to win the title but I don’t think it will be that easy. There are a lot of fast guys out there so it will be tough, I will try to be consistent, take it race-by-race but I want to win GPs and be up front at the end of the championship.”

Joining him is Dutch rider Bas Vaessen who finished third in the EMX250 class last year and looks like continuing the nation’s history of producing top quality riders.

Obviously this is every young boy’s dream so understandably Vaessen was very excited about getting started: “I’m pumped about this new season. I’ve rode my entire life for this moment, to be a full-time Grand Prix rider and I’m excited. It’s going to be a long season, a tough season but we’ve worked hard for it, so it should be good.”

Also stepping-up from the EMX250 class is Australian Hunter Lawrence, who had an interesting first year in Europe, winning a couple of races before succumbing to a knee injury midway through the year. He’s hoping he can bounce back to his pre-injury form, on the RM-Z250.

The likeable Aussie had this to say on his switch to the Suzuki World MXGP team: “This year I’m trying not to put results into my head, we all want to win, that’s for sure, but I need to go in and do my best each race and the results will be what they are. I’m just trying to focus on making good progress throughout the year, learning racecraft, and getting as much experience under my belt as possible. I’m really looking forward to it though.”

A step below on the ladder is newly signed EMX250 rider Zachary Pichon whose father Mickaël Pichon raced for the GRP Suzuki team in the past, successfully winning two world titles for them. Pichon still has a long way to go to emulate his father but his journey begins this year, on what is his first season on four-stroke machinery.

“I’m very happy and excited to start the new season. Also with the bike, it is very good and I have a good feeling when I’m riding it. And to be a part of the factory team is great step for me. I feel comfortable moving up to the four-stroke as I think it suits my style really well,” commented the young French rider.

While the current stars are looking good, the Suzuki World team is also excited by the future with Liam Everts and Jett Lawrence joining the squad in the 85cc division. With Liam being son of General Manager Stefan, and Jett being the younger brother of Hunter, there is a real family environment with the team which should stand Suzuki in good stead for many years to come.

Being son of the Team Manager can come with a lot of pressure but Liam seems to be coping just fine. “I’m just going out there to do my best and try to improve race by race and not to expect to be so high, I hope I can stay injury-free and learn as much as I can.”

His team-mate had this to say about the move under the Suzuki awning. “I’m excited for this year because I get run under the guidance of a 10-time World Champion so I’m just going to do as much as I can and be as good as him.”

After a rebuilding year in 2016, the Suzuki World MXGP team will look to come out firing on all cylinders for this upcoming campaign, with podiums and race wins the least that is expected from this highly talented group of riders.

Copyright: Photos: Suzuki Racing

SHIFT is excited to announce the signing of 3 times MXoN winner, Gautier Paulin to its Syndicate. Gautier will have a fresh start to his MXGP season with a completely new team and bike while wearing the all new SHIFT 3LUE Label gear. Gautier will debut the second SHIFT 3LUE Label Limited Edition racewear at the opening round of MXGP in Losail, Qatar.

"It feels amazing to join SHIFT.” says Paulin.“When i first saw the first sample of 3LUE Label a few months ago, i was immediately so excited for this project, so im proud to be part of it! This is the most technical gear i´ve ever seen. And it looks reallt athletic. This is the future and i love it!” 

"It's a great pleasure to welcome GP21 to the SHIFT Syndicate," says , Philippe Casadesus, Brand Manager Shift MX Europe. "His unique style and personality are the perfect fit for the Shift MX brand."

For more information on SHIFT and Paulin visit www.shiftmx.com, and make sure to follow @shiftmxeurope on Instagram.

Watch the Video Below

In three weeks the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship will kick off at Losail International Circuit, Qatar. 

The MXGP of Qatar wil be held on Saturday evening, 25th February and the official Timetable is now online. 

Donwload the Official Timetable of the MXGP of Qatar by clicking HERE!

Suzuki fans will get a front-row seat to the Team Suzuki World MXGP and MX2 team launch, plus an exclusive first-look at the new Factory RM-Z450WS, in an internet Livestream Show tomorrow, February 3rd at 14:00hrs (CET). 

World Media and Suzuki Management from Japan will be in attendance for this one-off special presentation at the team’s headquarters in Lommel, Belgium, where 10-time World Motocross Champion and Team Manager Stefan Everts will introduce his new team of riders and a brand-new machine that will be used in the 2017 World MXGP Championship by Kevin Strijbos and Arminas Jasikonis. 

The event will be streamed exclusively on the Suzuki World MXGP Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SuzukiWorldMXGP. 

Hosting the event will be former Motocross GP rider, turned MXGP TV Commentator, Paul Malin, who will introduce the new line-up of riders from 85cc-to-MXGP and MX2, respective Team Managers Everts and Thomas Hannecke, along with key personnel and Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Ichiro Kondo – who is flying-in for the event from this week’s Sepang MotoGP™ Test in Malaysia, where new 2017 Suzuki rider Andrea Iannone set the second fastest lap-time over the three days aboard his GSX-RR. 

Time: 14:00hrs (CET) / 13:00hrs (GMT) 

Tags: #YellowMagic 

Full Event report and high-resolution photographs will be available on Team Suzuki Racing’s website: www.suzuki-racing.com soon after the event finishes. If you want to make sure you never miss latest news like this from Team Suzuki Racing, you can subscribe to our free email news service: HERE FOR SUZUKI NEWSLETTER

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings might have left the MX2 class for the bigger MXGP class, but he will still enjoy watching the younger riders going around in MX2 in 2017.

While his MX2 career ended with a trio of titles, and 61 GP wins, the Dutchman feels, that his departure has made the 250cc class a lot more exciting, and he wouldn’t like to pick a winner in a class full of amazing talent.

“I think it’s open who wins the MX2 title. Now I think the doors are open for a bunch of guys, it can be Jorge Prado, can be Benoit Paturel, Jeremy Seewer, even Brian Bogers man, there are so many guys with the potential to win a moto or a GP now. Anything can happen, in 2015 it was meant to be between myself and Jordi Tixier and we both got injured, and Gajser ended up winning it. Also the year before with me and Tonus. It’s hard to be fit for the whole season, it’s such a long season. Prado has an advantage because he is light and he is a good starter and with a good start you can stay out of the injury zone.”

The three times MX2 champion isn’t that surprised that the MX2 class has only one former GP winner in it, and with a smile he was quick to point out why.

“That’s because I stole all the GP wins man (laughing). I won 61 GP wins, and one of the best 250 riders in the history, but now with me gone, everyone is like Herlings is gone. It’s pretty special that only one guy has won a GP and that is Covington. All the rest of the guys are going to get some wins.”

When asked if he will watch the MX2 motos this year, his answer was quick, and to the point. Despite a busy MXGP schedule and him making his debut in the class, Herlings is still a fan of the sport, and knows that the wild youth in the MX2 class will make for some great racing.

“For sure, I mean they are all young guys, and when the gate drops they just go all out. By the end of the moto they used to fall like flies, but at the beginning of the moto they went crazy. I think MXGP is more calm and a lot of the top guys have already had big injures, but somebody like Prado, he is young, he hasn’t had any big injuries and he doesn’t really understand the risk maybe. Because of that the level will get higher and higher. We are all a bit longer, like Cairoli, Strijbos, Searle, those guys are like between 25 and 35 so they have had big injuries and the mind-set gets different.”

Roger De Coster is without doubt one of the most iconic riders the world of motocross has ever seen; his dashingly handsome looks and effortless style on the bike won him an army of fans all over the world. He truly was a global superstar and if the truth were known, he still is to this day.

Roger first started riding a bike aged 17 and like most riders of that era the bike of choice was European; in Roger’s case it was a CZ and while he was relatively successful with the Czech brand with three 500cc GP wins in consecutive years ’68,’69 and ’70, it wasn’t until he switched to Suzuki that his star status began to shine. In his debut season with Suzuki in 1971, the Belgian raced to the first of his five world motocross titles, and his RN71 Suzuki that took him there is our feature bike in MXGP Mag this month.

Read this special feature from the MXGP Mag #40 HERE