MX2

One event that really stands out as something that could change the sport in Europe forever is the Monster Energy Supermotocross Riders Cup, set for Veltins Stadium in Germany on October 8. We walked the paddock and asked some team managers what they thought of the event and did they know yet what teams they might have involved.

Stefan Everts of the Suzuki Factory team committed very quickly to the SMX and believes Youthstream have their best intentions to make a really exciting event.

“We have committed to this race with Youthstream. I think it is important to support Youthstream in events like this and it’s actually the time we are all testing, but we can fit it in between and we have to support Youthstream in the best possible way and we do that at Suzuki also.”

Antti Pyrhonen of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory team is also looking forward to being involved. Their team selection is just weeks away and there could be some nice little surprises when it is announced.

“Definitely excited, we don’t know who we will have in the team at the moment, we will know soon, but for sure I am excited for that event. There will be some top American riders, like we all know it is always exciting and spicing up the field a bit and I think it will be a great event. All the top European riders are healthy and I have a feeling some of the top American riders like Jason Anderson are healthy soon, and I would like to get him, so we can battle for the win. We will confirm the team in the coming weeks.”

Dirk Greubel the Red Bull KTM MX2 Factory team manager knows that some of the leading MXGP riders are available, but needs to wait on the condition of his own MX2 riders are many are suffering from injuries.

“At the moment we don’t know the team, not at all, we will work out a good team, but with Jeffrey out injured, Pauls out injured, Davy Pootjes is struggling with his wrist. I think Cairoli is in at the moment, and Coldenhoff. Maybe we talk to our America team to see if we can get one of their riders over, but at the moment we can’t mention a team.

Roger Harvey from HRC does know who his team will be, as HRC and Youthstream held a press conference last weekend to explain how HRC will look at this event.

“There were a few things we needed to get organized, because it is an extra event on our calendar. We are fully committed and the team will be Tim Gajser, Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryhev. We are looking forward to it, hopefully it will be a special event and it looks like it is going to go that way.”

One thing is sure, with all the leading Grand Prix teams sending their best riders and names from the American series also being included, you can be sure the Monster Energy Supermotocross Riders Cup is going to more than just a little bit special.

FRAUENFELD-GACHNANG (Switzerland), 03 August 2016 - The last two rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, rounds thirteen and fourteen, took place at two very iconic tracks, both known for their strong heritage and rich history. While it’s always nice to return to those venues that have provided a massive amount of riders with moments they’ll never forget, it’s also nice to switch things up every now and again with a new track and location that no one knows. This weekend we’ll enter the land of the unknown with the fifteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship set to take place at Frauenfeld-Gachnang, in Switzerland.

The first ever motocross grand prix in Switzerland was held in Geneva back in 1957, while the last Swiss grand prix, for the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc, took place in 2001 at Roggenburg. James Dobb, Claudio Federici and Marnicq Bevoerts were the victors in their respective classes on that day.

Almost sixteen years on and the FIM Motocross World Championship will return to Switzerland, a country that seems to have a thriving moto-demographic right now as a result of the success of MXGP’s Swiss sensation, Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Valentin Guillod, and the kid closest to Jeffrey Herlings in MX2, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer. This will add to the atmosphere in and around the paddock.

The MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will also host the sixth round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, as well as the final rounds of the European Championships EMX125 and EMX250 and the penultimate round of the Honda European EMX150 Championship.

Just when you thought it was out with the old and in with the new, three of the most seasoned and accomplished riders go and top the box. Last weekend Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos floored everybody when he topped the box at his home grand prix, the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium. Don’t take anything away from Kevin, he is easily one of the best riders in the world, it’s just that he hadn’t won a grand prix in 9 years. And then… at the age of thirty-years-old, he goes and does it. So, with that said, who is game enough to put money on a pick for the podium for this weekend?

If you are, there is a good chance Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl will be one of your picks. The German has just moved up to third in the championship standings and has looked better than ever at the last two rounds of MXGP. Last weekend an uncharacteristic crash in race two cost him the overall, but he still made the second step of the podium, which was impressive given the contrast of terrain in Loket, where he won with a double moto victory over Gajser, and in Lommel.

Despite not making the podium last weekend, for the first time this year, chances are Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser is at the top of your list for the win. The track this weekend is man-made, and has never been raced on before. It’s about as new-school as you can get, which is likely to suit the new school riding style of our championship leader.

Another rider with a super flamboyant new-school style is Switzerland’s own Valentin Guillod. Guillod loves his fans too, so there is no doubt that the number 92 onboard the Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team will be absolutely buzzing around the track.

Meanwhile, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli is still in the process of channeling frustration and turning it into race wins, as is Team HRC’s duo of Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev. Paulin in particular since he was completely off the ball last weekend. He’ll want to prove he’s still got the goods take a chunk of that HRC bonus money that seems to be funneling into Gajser’s bank.

Fifteenth overall at the last round of the series, in Belgium, doesn’t even come close to reflecting Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre’s speed. The defending champ was actually on the cable all weekend, in fact, he set the fastest lap of the day and was awarded 1 point in the Tag Heuer Fastest Lap competition. This weekend his main goal will be to keep the bike rubber side down.

Last but not least, keep an eye on the Belgian’s Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek. Both are more than capable of landing on the box when things go their way.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 607 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 504 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 490 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 464 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 445 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 417 p.; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 292 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 277 p.; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 273 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 264 p.

There is a possibility Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings is back this weekend, but don’t hold your breath, The Bullet will be back when he’s 100%, fit and ready to win. If he’s not lining up once again, there is bound to be another influx of riders with itchy trigger fingers.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis are the three most likely candidates for the win. Ferrandis was the first rider to break Herlings thirteen round win streak, but missed the box completely at the last round.

Anstie will be surfing a wave of confidence after topping the box for the first time this year last weekend, but has a habit of tipping over at the wrong time. With that said, it could be the Swiss native, Seewer, who is next in line for a round win?

It is hard to choose a winner. All we know is that Ferrandis and Anstie are two throttle happy riders who tend to get a little happier when the number 84 doesn’t come to the waiting zone. And in saying that, it is worth a mention that Jeff is not the only Red Bull KTM Factory rider capable of lighting the candles. Pauls Jonass could also be back this weekend and ready to put some serious points on the board.

There are also a few underdogs worthy of a mention: Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Benoit Paturel has been chipping away and is now only 10 points shy of Jonass in third, while HSF Logistics Motorsports Brian Bogers has started pulling some killer laps out of the bag. He set the fastest lap time of the day, in MX2, last weekend, which proves he’s got some magic hidden away.

And to wrap up our preview, keep an eye on Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov. The Bulgarian is after another bottle of bubbles. One bottle a year is not enough for the big kid who is determined to prove he can ride hard-pack as well.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 597 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 510 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 393 p.; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 366 p.; 7. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 319 p.; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 294 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 280 p.

All the photos of the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will be available HERE

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed Practice 07:30; WMX Free Practice 08:05; EMX125 Free/Timed Practice 08:30; EMX25 Free/Timed Practice 09:05; WMX Time Practice 09:40; MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; EMX150 Race 1 12:20; EMX125 Race 1 13:10; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; WMX Race 1 15:20; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; EMX250 Race 1 17:45.

Sunday: WMX Warm-up 08:15; EMX150 Race 2 08:50; WMX Race 2 09:35; MX2 Warm up 10:10; MXGP Warm up 10:30; EMX125 Race 2 11:10; EMX250 Race 2 12:10; 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 Switzerland presented by iXS

The French Motorcycle Federation is pleased to announce the 2016 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) Team to represent France in Maggiora, Italy on September 25th.

The team will consist of :

Romain FEBVRE - MXGP -  YAMAHA 

Dylan FERRANDIS - MX2 - KAWASAKI

Gautier PAULIN -  OPEN - HONDA

Replacement rider (MXGP/MX2/OPEN) : 

Benoit PATUREL - YAMAHA

 Team France will be aiming to win a third straight MXoN victory in Maggiora.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 02 August 2016 – During the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium which took place at one of Belgium’s most famous tracks, Lommel, last weekend, the President of the FMB-BMB, Mr. Oliver Rougraff, and the General Secretary of the FMB-BMB, Mr. Stijn Rentmeesters, had a meeting on behalf of the Belgian Motorcycle Federation, FMB-BMB, with Youthstream President, Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, FIM Europe President, Dr. Wolfgang Srb, and FIM Board Member, Mr. Jos Driessen concerning the development and future of Motocross, especially focusing on youth activities that will assist and nurture young talent. They also discussed the calendars of the FIM Motocross World Championship and their national championship, and how they will be coordinated in 2017.

As a result of the meeting, all parties are feeling positive and excited about the productivity of their cooperation. 

 LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

Photo: From left to right: General Secretary FMB-BMB S.Rentmeesters, FIM Europe President W.Srb, President of FMB-BMB Olivier Rougraff, Youthstream President G.Luongo, FIM Board Member J.Driessen

The Entry lists for the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS which will take place in Frauenfeld-Gachnang the upcoming weekend are online.

Together with the MXGP and MX2 classes, the European Championships EMX250, EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, the Honda EMX150 Championship and the Women’s Motocross World Championship will be taking place.

Please find here below the Official Entry Lists.

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

WMX Entry list

EMX250 Entry List

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Entry List

Honda EMX150 Entry List

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 FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium which was held in Lommel on July the 31^stHitachi Construction Husqvarna’s Jake Nicholls and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl took the FOX holeshots in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively.

Meanwhile in MX2 Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis took the FOX Holeshot in race 1 while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Conrad Mewse took the FOX holeshot in race 2 for the first time in his MX2 career.

Watch the FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium ‘Fox Holeshot’ films here below.    

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium FOX Holeshot MXGP Film

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium FOX Holeshot MX2 Film

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 01 August 2016 – Following the release of the provisional calendar for the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship, which did not include the European Championship EMX300 as a support class, it was bought to Youthstream’s attention that a large number of manufacturers, teams, riders, partners and fans would like to see the EMX300 championship continue.

Due to its increase in popularity over the last few years, Youthstream have agreed to add the European Championship EMX300 class to the 2017 MXGP calendar.

FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb said, "I am very happy about this solution. The EMX300 class has developed very well and it is good for all of the parties involved that this European class remains within the FIM Motocross World Championship."

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

LOMMEL (Belgium), 1 August 2016 – Using the European Championship to dip your toes into racing the FIM Motocross World Championship just got voided. Not really, it still is the best way to test MXGP’s waters, but the word ‘dip’ isn’t at all accurate with the ninth round of the premier Amateur series, the EMX250, and the sixth and seventh rounds of European Championships EMX300 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, taking place in Lommel, the gnarliest track in the world. It is more like diving in the deep end.

At the conclusion of what was an epic weekend, champions have been crowned in all three classes. Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts won the EMX125 Championship Presented by FMF Racing after winning both races this weekend, while Bodo Schmidt Motorsports Thomas Kjer Olsen wrapped up the EMX250 title in Race 1 with five races left to go in the series, although the EMX250 round of Belgium was won by Team Suzuki World MX2’s Bas Vaessen who, like Jago, won both races.

As for the European Championship EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing, it went down to the wire with Mike Kras taking the title by 7-points over the round winner, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Yentel Martens.

Lommel favors the sand specialist and no class made it more obvious than the EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing with nine riders out of the top ten being Belgian and Dutch. Yesterday, in Race 1, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing’s Yentel Martens obliterated everyone for his third race win of the season. Wild card entry, Michael Hool was second ahead of the championship leader, Mike Kras, who was third.

It was an early start to the day for the beasty sounding 300cc two-strokes with the gates dropping for their second race of the weekend at 08:30am this morning. When they did, it was Kras who made his intentions clear with a holeshot ahead of Kevin Van Geldorp, Dietger Damiaens and Kay Ebben. The Race 1 winnner, and local star, Yentel Martens was also right there and didn’t waste any time in moving to the front of the pack.

Martens knows the sand of Lommel like the back of his hand, and in all honesty, the way he was riding this weekend he could have won it with one arm tied behind his back. The tall and lanky Belgian totally dominated both races for his first double moto victory of the season.

This weekend was never going to be about winning the battle for the Red Plate holder, Mike Kras; it was all about winning the war, which is what he did. The Dutchman was crowned champion, with two consistent performances for second overall.

Holland’s Michael Hool gave everyone but Martens and Kras a riding lesson today. He tied with fellow Dutchman, Kras, on 42 points but had to settle for third overall since Kras had the better result in the final race. Dietger Damiaens wrapped up his season with his first ever top five finish despite his bike blowing more smoke than a steam train as a result of an issue with the radiator. The Belgian finished fourth in Race 2 ahead of fellow Belgian Mike Vanderstraeten.

It was a less than ideal finish to the championship for GL12 Yamaha’s Brad Anderson who was a massive title contender only two rounds to go. The stocky Brit ended up facedown in the sand a couple of times this weekend, which was reflected in his result. He finished sixth in the race and in the overall for the round of Belgium.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Yentel Martens (BEL, Husqvarna), 30:16.134; 2. Michael Hool (NED, KTM), +0:27.964; 3. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), +0:45.526; 4. Stefan Hage (NED, KTM), +0:58.810; 5. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), +1:07.106; 6. Dani de Vries (NED, Yamaha), +1:19.456; 7. Brad Anderson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:32.067; 8. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), +1:52.855; 9. Kevin Van Geldorp (NED, Yamaha), +2:10.432; 10. Mathias Plessers (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s).

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Yentel Martens (BEL, Husqvarna), 30:20.147; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), +0:17.715; 3. Michael Hool (NED, KTM), +0:34.998; 4. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), +0:43.100; 5. Mike Vanderstraeten (BEL, TM), +1:00.176; 6. Brad Anderson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:08.852; 7. Stefan Hage (NED, KTM), +1:21.026; 8. Mathias Plessers (BEL, KTM), +1:27.036; 9. Kevin Van Geldorp (NED, Yamaha), +1:41.215; 10. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), +1:44.701.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Overall Top Ten: 1. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 50 points; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Michael Hool (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Stefan Hage (NED, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Brad Anderson (GBR, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Mathias Plessers (BEL, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Kevin Van Geldorp (NED, YAM), 24 p.; 9. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Dani de Vries (NED, YAM), 19 p.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Championship Top Ten: 1. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 264 points; 2. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 257 p.; 3. Brad Anderson (GBR, YAM), 203 p.; 4. Matthew Moffat (GBR, KTM), 150 p.; 5. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), 135 p.; 6. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), 113 p.; 7. Francisco Utrilla Antonio (ESP, YAM), 110 p.; 8. Mathias Plessers (BEL, KTM), 107 p.; 9. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 104 p.; 10. Joshua van der Linden (NED, YAM), 101 p.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 271 points; 2. Husqvarna, 257 p.; 3. Yamaha, 244 p.; 4. TM, 106 p.; 5. Honda, 37 p.; 6. CZ, 15 p.

When the gates dropped it was the Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei took the holeshot ahead of Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha’s Karlis Sabulis, Bodo Schmidt Motorsports Thomas Kjer Olsen & Team Suzuki World MX2’s Bas Vaessen.

Coming from America he would have had to put in some hard yards to learn to ride sand this deep, as everyone who watched the 2012 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations which took place right here, would know. Within a couple of laps, Sabulis, Kjer Olsen & Vaessen broke away. It was a bit of a brawl in the first two laps until Vaessen got to the front and cut loose.

As we learned at Mantova, Vaessen, who is training under the watchful eye of Stefan Everts, knows a thing or two about riding sand. He won in the shallow sand of Lombardia, and looked to be in his element today as he cruised his way to a massive victory.

Kjer Olsen is a beast. His Husqvarna looked like a 65cc in the deep sand as the tall Dane used his long legs to muscle his bike over the deep holes on his way to second place.

Sanayei got back to third after Sabulis ran out of steam. Speaking of steam Miro Sihvonen put in an epic ride and challenged Sanayei for third before his bike started puffing. Sihvonen nursed his bike to fourth ahead of Belgium’s own Kevin Wouts.

In the second moto, the kiwi kid who finished second place in the EMX125 championship last year, KTM Factory Junior’s Josiah Natzke, got off to a ripper of a start ahead of the usual front runners, Kjer Olsen and Sanayei. Kjer Olsen launched into the lead before the end of lap two and ran away with it.

In the sand, mistakes are costly because of the amount of momentum that is lost. Natzke learned that pretty quickly when a little swapper slowed him down enough for Sanayei, Vaessen and Sihvonen to pass him on the same straight. Speaking of Vaessen, he was outside of the top ten around turn one, but the Dutch youngster has got some serious skills in the sand, and he didn’t waste any time in showing them off on his way to second place.

Vaessen’s win it or bin it riding style saw him bite the dust at the half way mark when he folded the front end on a sweeping turn. The Suzuki star lost a spot but bounced back immediately and within two laps he passed Sihvonen to take back second place.

Sihvonen was no match for Vaessen, so he didn’t have much to worry about with Wouts and Sanayei making up the top five, a further 13 seconds back. Fast forward the race, and with 2 minutes plus two laps to go, Vaessen was right on the new champ. A small mistake by Kjer Olsen and Vaessen pounced.

The Dutchman carried that flow all the way home for his first double moto victory of his career. Kjer Olsen came home in second ahead of Sihvonen, Sanayei and Wouts in that order.

Team Suzuki World MX2’s Bas Vaessen was the clear-cut winner this weekend. Bodo Schmidt Motorsports Thomas Kjer Olsen is yet to finish off of the podium and maintained his streak with second, ahead of KTM Diga Junior Racing’s Miro Sihvonen who landed on the box for the first time this year, in third.

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), 30:16.450; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:09.823; 3. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:13.313; 4. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:17.885; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:51.260; 6. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +1:00.468; 7. Anton Gole (SWE, Husqvarna), +1:02.611; 8. Ken Bengtson (SWE, Yamaha), +1:03.186; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:07.625; 10. Erki Kahro (EST, KTM), +1:12.075.

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), 29:45.450; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:01.813; 3. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:25.929; 4. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:27.299; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:30.245; 6. Anton Lundgren (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:40.358; 7. Anton Gole (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:53.688; 8. Ken Bengtson (SWE, Yamaha), +0:57.540; 9. Erki Kahro (EST, KTM), +1:01.894; 10. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +1:19.178.

EMX250 Overall Top Ten: 1. Bas Vaessen (NED, SUZ), 50 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 44 p.; 3. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 38 p.; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Ken Bengtson (SWE, YAM), 26 p.; 8. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Erki Kahro (EST, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 18 p.

EMX250 Championship Top Ten: 1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 404 points; 2. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 323 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, SUZ), 286 p.; 4. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 236 p.; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 217 p.; 6. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 210 p.; 7. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 201 p.; 8. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KTM), 197 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, KAW), 167 p.; 10. Mike Stender (GER, SUZ), 130 p.

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Husqvarna, 421 points; 2. Kawasaki, 359 p.; 3. KTM, 340 p.; 4. Suzuki, 312 p.; 5. Yamaha, 233 p.; 6. Honda, 175 p.

Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts got off to a blistering hot start to the weekend yesterday afternoon with a massive win in the opening race ahead of IceOne Husqvarna Racing’s Mikkel Haarup and HSF Logistics Motorsports Raivo Dankers.

In Race 2 this morning, KTM De Carli Racing’s Gianluca Facchetti took the holeshot ahead of two of Holland’s hottest young riders Raivo Dankers and DP19 Yamaha’s Roan Van de Moosedijk. Yamaha MJC’s Zachary Pichon was also in the mix and was the first to make a charge when found a nice line and took fourth away from Van de Moosedijk.

The Frenchman hooked a few gears and upped his pace, maybe a little too much as he went hot up the inside of Dankers, who was all over Fachetti and ended up nailing the little Italian. Fachetti stayed up but at the cost of two places, while Pichon hit the deck hard. Dankers and Van de Moosdijk took over second and third while Fachetti struggled to regroup and eventually dropped back to tenth.

The Dutch sensations went bar to bar for second place in the laps that followed while the likes of IceOne Husqvarna’s Mikkel Haarup and Monster Energy Bud Racing’s duo of Brian Moreau and Kim Savaste were on the move from outside the top ten.

Moreau and Savaste soon found themselves scrapping over fourth while Haarup had come from miles back to challenge Dankers for third before throwing it all away with a high side.

With only 2 minutes to go, Van de Moosedijk hit the wall. Dankers, Moreau, Savaste and Haarup all capitalized on it, and with two laps to go the real race was on. It was a nail biting end to the day as Moreau and Savaste ganged up on Dankers who ended up being knocked back to fourth.

On the final lap, Savaste dropped the hammer and passed his teammate for second. Moreau tried to respond, but didn’t come up with the goods. Haarup finished a close fourth while Dankers put in another superb result with fifth.

After a grueling day in the sand Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts was in a league of his own and won both races by massive margins for the win here at his home round. Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Kim Savaste and IceOne Husqvarna’s Mikkel Haarup both made the box for the first time in their 125cc racing careers.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 29:57.690; 2. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:18.406; 3. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), +0:34.303; 4. Kim Savaste (FIN, Kawasaki), +0:35.702; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Yamaha), +0:48.515; 6. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:54.739; 7. Zachary Pichon (FRA, Yamaha), +0:59.732; 8. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), +1:00.771; 9. Szymon Staszkiewicz (POL, KTM), +1:02.261; 10. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), +1:04.975.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 30:01.114; 2. Kim Savaste (FIN, Kawasaki), +0:24.322; 3. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:27.251; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:27.350; 5. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), +0:30.816; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Yamaha), +0:48.948; 7. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), +0:53.795; 8. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), +0:54.182; 9. Szymon Staszkiewicz (POL, KTM), +1:00.421; 10. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), +1:35.411.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Overall Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 50 points; 2. Kim Savaste (FIN, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, HUS), 40 p.; 4. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 35 p.; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 31 p.; 7. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), 25 p.; 8. Szymon Staszkiewicz (POL, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Taylor Hammal (GBR, KTM), 17 p.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Championship Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 307 points; 2. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), 248 p.; 3. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), 207 p.; 4. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), 186 p.; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 183 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, HUS), 171 p.; 7. Zachary Pichon (FRA, YAM), 149 p.; 8. Kim Savaste (FIN, KAW), 144 p.; 9. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 144 p.; 10. Szymon Staszkiewicz (POL, KTM), 116 p.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 350 points; 2. Yamaha, 241 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 197 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 186 p.; 5. TM, 119 p.

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FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1675m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 24°C

Weather conditions: changeable with some showers

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 25,000

MXGP was 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

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium