MX2

LOMMEL (Belgium), 31 July 2016 – During the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium, Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo and FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb had a very productive meeting with the President of Motorsportclub Teutschenthal Mr. Joachim Jahnke and the Deputy President of Motorsportclub Teutschenthal Mr. Günter Scholz.

Youthstream is very delighted to announce that Teutschenthal will host the 2017 MXGP of Germany which will take place on the 14^th of May 2017.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

Photo: From left to right: FIM Europe President W.Srb, President of Motorsportclub Teutschenthal J.Jahnke, Youthstream President G.Luongo and Deputy President of Motorsportclub Teutschenthal G.Scholz

LOMMEL (Belgium) 31 July 2016 – The fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship wrote a story of drama and excitement as the brutal track conditions put the best of MXGP to the ultimate test here at the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium, in Lommel, where Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie topped the box for the first time this year.

The experienced riders finally got the upper hand on the younger stars this weekend with Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli making up the podium.

Belgian fans eat, sleep and breathe motocross, so for Kevin Strijbos to take his first grand prix victory in nine years here on home soil was definitely something special, not only for him, but for his Belgian based team, Team Suzuki World MXGP, which is now owned and managed by Stefan Everts. 

It’s official. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl has an epic dirt-bike riding skillset! The German star rocked up to Lommel today, fresh off of a double moto victory on the hardest of clay at Loket, and won the first race and almost the overall. Unfortunately he stacked it in the second race, and that cost him the win. Regardless, it looks like there is some wind behind his sails and he could be the one to watch over the next four rounds.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli has a killer style in the sand and is typically THE guy to beat, but today he looked a little rusty in Race 1. Despite a slow, at least by Cairoli's standards, start to the day, he seemed to come to grips with the track in Race 2, which landed him on the third step of the podium. “I’m not so happy because normally on this type of track I can ride better”, he said, “in the first race the feeling was not there and I made some little mistakes and fell back to sixth.”

While Tony Cairoli may have felt like he had a rough day, he wasn’t the only one. Lommel got the better of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle who crashed out of a podium finish and had to settle for eighth, while the defending champ Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre had a day to forget with a bunch of spills dropping him down to fifteenth overall. Luckily for the guys in blue, Jeremy Van Horebeek put in two solid rides for fourth.

Most riders have a love-hate relationship with Lommel. When you’re feeling good on a track this gnarly, there is no better feeling in the world than timing the sand waves to perfection, but to the contrary, when you have a rough day, it’s the last place you want to be. Ask Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser. The nineteen-year-old Slovenian has been flawless this year, but even the best fall down some times, which is what happened to Gajser in Race 1 where he finished fifteenth.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the current championship leader though; he bounced back with a vengeance as the winner of Race 2.

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 34:19.494; 2. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:09.152; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:13.700; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:16.852; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:18.247; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:18.848; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.021; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:40.038; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, KTM), +0:43.251; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:55.033.

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:41.636; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:13.289; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:36.471; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:40.503; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:47.864; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:53.330; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +1:00.924; 8. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +1:04.634; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:08.197; 10. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:16.375.

MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 40 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 39 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 32 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 31 p.; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 29 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 29 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 26 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, KTM), 22 p.

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.

MXGP Manufacturers: 1. Honda, 620 points; 2. Yamaha, 556 p.; 3. KTM, 522 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 505 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 374 p.; 6. Suzuki, 302 p.

The absence of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings left a handful of riders in MX2 licking their chops at the thought of a potential grand prix victory. Most bench racers would have put their chips on Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie for the win since he has won the grand prix here for the last two years. Anstie said, “I wasn’t sure I could make it happen this weekend. Everyone was telling me I should win, I crashed in the qualifying race, and I didn’t sleep last night”. Nevertheless, the Brit went 1-1 for his first victory of the season, yet his third GP win at this track.  “I do love it here” he said, “I was pushing hard and I’m glad to get this result for my team.” His team is based right around the corner, literally, and his win marks the first ever for Husqvarna here in Lommel.

Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer has put to bed his previous struggles in the sand. The Swiss rider hit a career milestone with his first ever qualifying race win. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would do it at Lommel, the craziest sand track in the world. Anyway, he did it, and backed up that outstanding achievement with two second place finishes for second overall.

No-one actually LOVES Lommel except Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov who seems to step it up here every year. Petrov managed to lead a few laps today which was exciting for him, maybe a little too exciting, “I’m not used to leading” he said, “so I tightened up a bit.” The Bulgarian took home his first piece of silverware this season with a 2 – 6 finish.   

HSF Logistics Motorsports’ Brian Bogers was lightning quick all weekend. The Dutchman set the fastest lap of the day in MX2, which was in Race 1 where he led a few laps before crashing. He finished fourth overall with a 5 – 4 result.

If anyone spiced things up, it was Kemea Yamaha MX Official Team’s Benoit Paturel. Like Seewer, Paturel is not really known for his sand skills, but he seems to be heading in the right direction. Paturel went 3 – 7 for fifth overall. He is now only 10 points shy of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass in third.

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 36:12.881; 2. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:11.777; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.189; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:20.081; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:20.819; 6. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +0:42.291; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:46.331; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +0:52.785; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:54.990; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +1:04.456.

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 35:16.537; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:09.198; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:16.432; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:17.172; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:49.525; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:04.026; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:06.321; 8. Lars van Berkel (NED, Husqvarna), +1:33.680; 9. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:36.713; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +1:40.398.

MX2 Overall Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 40 p.; 3. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 37 p.; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 34 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 23 p.; 8. Lars van Berkel (NED, HUS), 21 p.; 9. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 20 p.; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 19 p.

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.

MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 660 points; 2. Kawasaki, 527 p.; 3. Suzuki, 510 p.; 4. Yamaha, 484 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 456 p.; 6. TM, 294 p.; 7. Honda, 264 p.

Click here to obtain the complete result

All the photos of the FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium will be available HERE

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.

NEXT ROUND

The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place next week, 6th and 7th August in Switzerland, Frauenfeld – Gachnahg for the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium

Watch the official GoPro Lap of Lommel. Riders: Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing's Jeremy Van Horebeek & Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki's Tommy Searle.

LOMMEL (Belgium), 30 July 2016 – “Lommel…it’s like survival of the fittest” were the words that came out of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek’s mouth before the gates had even dropped for the Qualifying Race here at the fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium, which was won by Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser in the end, ahead of the home turf titan Jeremy Van Horebeek.

As one of the most iconic tracks in the world, notorious for its sand surface, it also put the best to the test in the MX2 Qualifier which saw Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer take his first ever Qualifying Race win.

Meanwhile in the European Championships, Lommel’s own Yentel Martens had his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna absolutely nailed today at the sixth and final round of the European Championship EMX300 series Presented by FMF Racing. The tall Belgian, son of former world champion Jacky Martens, obliterated the field for his third race win of the season. The championship leader, Mike Kras, finished third and now has a 10-point lead heading into the final race, which will take place tomorrow morning.

The European Championship EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing also took to Lommel today where Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts strengthened his grip on the title with yet another race win. Geerts now has a 34-point lead over Silver Action KTM’s Stephen Rubini, who is in second place and is not racing this weekend due to injury.

Until Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser came along it would have seemed impossible for a nineteen-year-old rookie to dominate the premier class in the sea-deep sand of Lommel. Gajser announced his partnership with Monster Energy yesterday, and who better to represent the brand than the most flamboyant and energetic rider on the track who for the eighth time this year, unleashed the beast, pulled a holeshot, and checked out for yet another qualifying heat victory.

Fellow Monster Energy athletes, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Romain Febvre, had their Monster Energy Yamaha Factory machines singing on the opening lap, in second and third, before Febvre chucked his away and dropped off the radar.

The defending champ had a couple more spills and only came home in twenty-first. Van Horebeek, on the other hand, remained strong. He looked good today. He set the fastest lap in Timed Practice and stayed cool in the qualifier for second place.

Behind the number 89, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos had a decent scrap for third with Strijbos eventually winning that battle after charging hard up the inside of Desalle for the spot with only five minutes to go.

The winner of the most recent round of MXGP, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl, rounded out the top five after taking a few laps to find his mojo. In the end, he had the sand dialed and finished right on the rear wheel of Desalle.

With 100cc less than everyone else, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli was outside of the top ten around turn one, but as the track got rougher, he excelled and managed to fight his way back to sixth. Last years’ MXGP of Belgium winner, Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson also put in a good performance for seventh.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 25:28.215; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:05.417; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:10.291; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:19.063; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:19.689; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:21.256; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:23.132; 8. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:28.968; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:32.312; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:32.590.

After topping the charts in Timed Practice, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie got off to a perfect start as he led the way around turn one with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis on the right of him and Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer on the left. That was already an epic start to the weekend for the thousands of fans that have come out to watch here in Lommel, since Anstie, Ferrandis and Seewer are the hottest picks to win in the absence of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s sand masters’ Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass.

Countless hours playing in the sand-pit with the king, Stefan Everts, have paid off for Seewer who passed Ferrandis like he was standing still almost straight away before Ferrandis put himself out of contention for the win when he folded the front end on lap two. On lap three, Anstie decided to join the club of dirt samplers when he threw away the lead with a massive crash on a wide sweeping turn.

With Anstie down, Seewer jumped into the drivers seat and led a freight train of sand specialists, namely, Petar Petrov, Brian Bogers, Brent Van Doninck and Calvin Vlaanderen.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov was in beast mode. He hammered it around the outside of HSF Logistics Motorsports KTM’s Brian Bogers for second and managed to challenge Seewer for the lead. A few mistakes stopped him from making a move, but the Bulgarian who resides just up the road here in Lommel was pumped to finish second, “I wish there was points for qualifying,” he laughed, “but it’s tomorrow that counts.”

Bogers is always a force to be reckoned with in the sand, a statement that was backed up with his third place finish. Meanwhile, Kemea Yamaha MX Official Team’s Brent Van Doninck made an impressive return to the championship, after a two-month hiatus, with his fourth place finish ahead of HSF Logistics Motorsport KTM’s Calvin Vlaanderen who was equally as good, in fifth.

Ferrandis and Anstie recovered from their slip ups for sixth and seventh, in that order.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), 25:38.485; 2. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:07.915; 3. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:14.815; 4. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:19.182; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:27.456; 6. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.488; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:35.997; 8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:37.963; 9. Conrad Mewse (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:43.262; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:46.581

Click here to obtain the complete result

All the photos of the FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium will be available HERE

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1675m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 22°C

Weather conditions: changeable

TIMETABLE

Sunday: EMX300 Race 2 08:30; EMX250 Race 1 09:30; MX2 Warm up 10:10; MXGP Warm up 10:30; EMX150 Race 2 11:10; EMX125 Race 2 12:05; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; EMX250 Race 2 15:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

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

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium

Watch the Qualifying Race Highlights from the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium here:

MXGP Qualifying Race Highlights

MX2 Qualifying Race Highlights

CLICK HERE FOR FREE VIDEO CONTENT
 

LOMMEL (Belgium), 30 July 2016 - Following the Qualifying Race press conference here in Lommel at the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium, Honda have announced their team for the Monster Energy SMX Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup, the first ever stadium motocross race, which will take place at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on October 8^th.

HRC representatives Mr. Tetsuhiro Kuwata and Mr. Shuhei Nakamoto and HRC’s General Manager Mr. Roger Harvey joined Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo and FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb on stage, where Mr. Harvey in introduced the team, “The team needs no introduction,” he laughed, “Tim Gajser, the kid leading the MXGP world championship, Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev will be our official team. I’m really looking forward to it, I think it will be a very good event, a very popular event, and Honda are looking forward to backing it up.”

Mr. Giuseppe Luongo said, “I would like to thank HRC and Honda for confirming their attendance. They took their time to make their decision to attend this event, they were the last to confirm their attendance, but are the first to announce their team. It’s exciting to have them confirmed because it’s Honda, one of the biggest manufacturers in the world and when they decide to do something, they go big.

Everything is looking good at the VELTINS-Arena, it is sure to be a fantastic show.”

Dr. Wolfgang Srb concluded the presentation, “Thanks to Honda for being the first to announce their team.” He said, “it’s also an honor to have the HRC representatives all the way from Japan here with us. I think this event will be the start of something very big, so thanks to everyone involved.”

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

Monster Energy SMX Riders' Cup

Watch the first GoPro lap of Lommel with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Yentel Martens: 

CLICK for FREE video content

One of the most fearless, capable and naturally gifted off-road motorcycle racers on the international stage has joined the thriving stable of Monster Energy athletes and is an exciting new figurehead in the FIM Motocross World Championship for the worldwide drinks brand. Current MX2 World Champ and leader of the premier class – MXGP – in his rookie year, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser is an electric addition to the Monster Energy crew.

Just nineteen years old, the Slovenian has helped turn a number of circuits on the eighteen round MXGP series a bright shade of yellow and red as the ‘243’ has seen a booming group of native fans invade the typical Grand Prix audience. Gajser’s profile in the central European country is rising close to celebrity status and his efforts in 2016 at the highest level with seven Grand Prix wins and a 100% podium record means he is the hottest property in motocross at this time. His power, maturity and grounded personality has gained legion upon legion of followers and motorcycle racing enthusiasts.

Hard-charging and occasionally wild on a 250 in MX2, Tim’s surging, proactive and flowing style has been a majestic fit on the factory HRC CRF450RW. He dominated the Grand Prix of Qatar for his debut in the MXGP division in February and has barely slacked off the throttle since.

In the same way that Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre cut a blaze through the 2015 MXGP field in his first term, Gajser is having an equally astonishing impact and will now see out the remaining five rounds of the current campaign with the green claw on his race lid and with further branding on the two Honda Gariboldi machines.

“For sure this is really nice and it’s an honour to be part of Monster; you just have to look around MXGP and you can see it everywhere, it's a really big deal in motocross,” said Gajser who leads the MXGP standings by 107 points prior to this weekend’s Grand Prix of Belgium and a maximum of 250 points left to win this season. “I’m always watching the races. Every time I go into the gym I put the TV on and do my work with the race running there. It is great to see everything going so well and being a rookie in this class against such big talent and legends like Tony Cairoli, Romain Febvre, Clement Desalle and Ben Townley and many others. There are many guys who can win and the competition is really tough. It is so nice to be in front of everyone.”

“Motocross has really grown a lot in Slovenia in the last two years,” he adds. “It feels like it is in the newspapers or on the TV a lot and whenever I look I see ‘Tim Gajser’! It’s really nice for me and my family because we have been working for that and we wanted to get to the top and to be well known. It is great for me but also for the country and what we have seen around the tracks recently at Mantova [Lombardia] and also Loket [Czech Republic] is unbelievable; it is unusual to see so many supporters there just because of one rider. Those guys spend their money and holiday time to travel and come to the races and not just from Slovenia but from all over Europe so I’m really thankful and appreciate everything.”

Copyright: Photo: Monster Energy