MX2

Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl will not compete in this weekend’s MXGP of the Czech Republic, round 13 of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Working determinedly in recent weeks in order to make a return to MXGP racing following his left ankle injury and subsequent surgery during the MXGP of Germany, the decision not to compete at Locket was taken following a practice session earlier this week. Although able to ride, discomfort from his ankle after riding and a subsequent medical check-up determined that Max will have to wait a little longer before he can return to racing.

Max Nagl: “This is really disappointing. But as much as I want to return to racing for myself and for the team, it’s not something I can do before I am fully ready. Despite doing all I can I am not ready yet, my leg needs more time to heal. I rode earlier this week but pain in my ankle showed me that I am not ready. It is really frustrating but I have to listen to my body and return when I know I am ok to do so.”

LOKET (Czech Republic), 23 July 2015 – This weekend the thirteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will return to the hard and slick clay surface of Loket, Czech Republic. Last year, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube's Jeremy Van Horebeek took his first ever MXGP overall, can he do it again this year?

Tune into watch and find out! MXGP of Czech Republic is available to the world to watch LIVE and OnDemand on www.mxgp-tv.com, get in quick! And you can save 50% on a season-pass which includes access to the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations that will take place in Ernee on the last weekend of September.

All races will be screened on FOX SPORTS Asia LIVE, while both MX2 races will be broadcasted LIVE on Eurosport as will MXGP race two.

Also don’t forget to check out our feature series ‘Behind the Gate’, which is a filmed production that covers all the action, both on and off the track, with highlights from racing in MXGP and MX2, a GoPro on-board lap of the track, as well as the inside scoop from the pits at each round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The 26mn Magazine covering MXGP of Czech Republic will be screened on Wednesday July 29th at 01:00 (CET) on Eurosport International.

Check the guides below to find out how you can watch MXGP of Czech Republic:

EUROPE 

EUROSPORT INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday 29 July - 01:00 CET - 26mn magazine «Behind the gate » 

EUROSPORT 2 – LIVE

Sunday 26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

MOTORS TV – LIVE 

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

BULGARIA

BNT - LIVE 

Sunday 26 July  – 14:00 local – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 local  – MX2 Race 2 

ITALY 

ITALIA 2 – LIVE

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

PORTUGAL

Sport TV5 - LIVE  

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

SLOVENIA 

Sport TV - LIVE 

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

ASIA

FOX SPORTS  3 HD – LIVE 

Sunday  26 July  – 19:00 local – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 20:00 local – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 22:00 local – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 23:00 local – MXGP Race 2 

THAILAND 

TRUE VISION – LIVE 

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

USA

CBS Sports Network - DELAYED

Sunday 26 July: MXGP Race 2 – 12.00 pm EST (09.00 am PST)

Sunday 26 July: MX2 Race 2 - 01.00 pm EST (10.00 am PST)

BRAZIL 

BANDSPORTS - DELAYED 

Sunday 26 July – 13:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA  

BeIn SPORTS - LIVE 

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

AFRICA

Sport TV Africa 2 – DELAYED

Sunday  26 July  – 13:00 CET – MX2 Race 1

Sunday 26 July – 14:00 CET – MXGP Race 1

Sunday 26 July  – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 26 July  – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

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.

All the photos of the MXGP of Czech Republic will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed practice 08:20; EMX300 Free/Timed practice 09:00; WMX Free practice 09:45; MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; WMX Time practice 11:40; EMX150 Race 1 12:30; EMX300 Race 1 13:20; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; WMX Race 1 17:45.

Sunday: EMX300 Warm-up 07:50; EMX150 Warm-up 08:05; WMX Warm-up 08:20; EMX300 Race 2 09:00; EMX150 Race 2 09:45; WMX Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 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 Czech Republic

LOKET (Czech Republic), 22 July 2015 - This weekend the thirteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place at the beloved old-school style circuit of Loket in the Czech Republic. Even this far into the season, picking a box topper is next to impossible. In MX2 we can expect to see the return of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, although it is hard to say how his finger will hold up, while in MXGP devastating news has broken that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli will sit this one out due to the injury he has sustained to his elbow.

On a brighter note, the FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion will be crowned this weekend in what is certain to be a battle to the finish between Team One One Four’s Livia Lancelot and Yamaha FontaMX Racing’s Kiara Fontanesi. At the moment, the 2008 WMX World Champion, Lancelot, leads the defending three-time world champion, Fontanesi, by a minuscule two points.

The fifth round of the European Championship EMX300 will also take place this weekend, as will the fourth round of the Honda European Championship EMX150.

If any of the most recent rounds of MXGP are anything to go by, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s rookie Romain Febvre will be the solid bet for this weekend, especially with the track being that super slick and marble like clay he excels on. This weekend will be the number 461’s fourth outing with the coveted red plate.

Another rookie who is starting to turn heads is Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff. Coldenhoff suffered from a few minor set backs at the beginning of the season with a couple of broken toes making life a little harder than it needed to be. Nevertheless, the Dutchman is coming into his own, which he proved at the last round of MXGP in Latvia when he took his maiden MXGP overall.

Consistency was the goal for Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin this year, and it is one that seems to be going to plan as he goes into Loket only twenty-five points shy of Tony Cairoli, who is currently second in the championship. With Tony not racing, Paulin should move into second at the end of this weekend so his main mission will be to try and close the gap on fellow Frenchman, and championship leader, Romain Febvre.

Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Jeremy Van Horebeek took his first and only MXGP overall victory here in Loket last year, which should put him in good spirits for this weekend.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos is well overdue a MXGP win. The Belgian was runner-up last year and is showing good form at the moment. This could be his weekend.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 419 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 380 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 360 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 351 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 319 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 291 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 257 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 232 p.; 9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 224 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 196 p.

2014 MXGP of Czech Republic, Loket, MXGP Top 3

1. Jeremy Van Horebeek

2. Kevin Strijbos

3. Antonio Cairoli

Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie was absolutely untouchable at the last round of MX2 in Latvia. Although Loket is an entirely different track and compound to Kegums, Max has shown he’s got just as much skill on the hard pack with his impressive performance in the second race at the MXGP of Germany in Teutschenthal. If the Brit brings that same confidence and intensity he demonstrated in Latvia, there is no doubt he is in with a shot at the overall.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass has been on the podium three times this year. While it is said that the Latvian prefers the softer terrain, he knows that to be a champion he needs to be well rounded, so he will give it all he’s got this weekend.

As for the dark horse, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Harri Kullas, now is the time to back his surprise podium performance up.

Meanwhile Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer is always there lurking around the podium while his fellow Swiss Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube’s Valentin Guillod will be pumped to be back on the hard pack and in his comfort zone.

Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser is also a bit of a hard pack specialist and will be a threat this weekend, as will Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier who took his first ever MX2 overall victory here last year.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 423 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 345 p.; 3. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 335 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 311 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 307 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 306 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 262 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 259 p.; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 256 p.; 10. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 205 p.

2014 MXGP of Czech Republic, Loket, MX2 Top 3

1. Jordi Tixier

2. Valentin Guillod

3. Christophe Charlier

All the photos of the MXGP of Czech Republic will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed practice 08:20; EMX300 Free/Timed practice 09:00; WMX Free practice 09:45; MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; WMX Time practice 11:40; EMX150 Race 1 12:30; EMX300 Race 1 13:20; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; WMX Race 1 17:45.

Sunday: EMX300 Warm-up 07:50; EMX150 Warm-up 08:05; WMX Warm-up 08:20; EMX300 Race 2 09:00; EMX150 Race 2 09:45; WMX Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 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 Czech Republic

It is the time of the year that many of the teams and riders look for signing their contracts for 2016. Of course the HRC effort is already finalized with Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev staying on as they focus on trying to capture the biggest prize in world motocross.

Kawasaki has of course signed world MX2 champion Jordi Tixier from the MX2 class to move to the MXGP class in 2016, and many young riders are in the midst of joining the GP scene.

Two leading team managers Antti Pyrhonen of the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna factory team and Tim Mathys of the Standing Construction Yamaha are busy putting together their plans for next season.

Pyrhonen is very much moving forward with the team as they continue to develop as one of the newest teams in the paddock. In 2016 the team look likely to keep a similar line-up as in 2015 and the Finnish team manager is excited for that.

“Actually we have a two year agreement with Max,” Pyrhonen said. “So he will continue with us and we are so happy with his professional attitude, and how we melded together in the winter and during this season. As for the second rider this is currently open, and we need to follow how the season goes, but Todd Waters and Nathan Watson are doing a good job and a big possibility they will continue with us also.”

Mathys who has been building his team for some time now, and is in 2015 one of the most competitive team’s in the GP paddock. Mathys is always looking for ways to improve his set-up, and it looks like 2016 will be a massive year for the Belgian based team.

“We will nearly surely continue with Valentin in 2016 and in the MXGP class,” Mathys said. “His riding style suits better for a 450 than a 250, he rides the 250 like it’s a 450, not much clutch use. The contract is between Valentin and myself, and we are pretty sure that everything will continue next year in my team. Next year we will be even more important for Yamaha, doing their development, but our focus will also be in MX2, and we have signed another rider who has won moto’s this year, but we can’t make that announcement until the contract with his current team is over. We want to respect that.”

No doubt as the season progresses to the final rounds many of the MXGP and MX2 teams will be looking to finalize their riders. As is the case every season the opening round in 2016 will see new colors, new bikes and as always an exciting element to what is the most competitive series in the world. 

This coming weekend the Spanish town of El Molar, will host one of the most anticipated events of the season at the circuit of El Molar, close to Madrid and surrounded by the amazing Jarama Mountains. Around one hundred and fifty riders from twenty-nine nations will attend this weekend’s FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, which this year includes a new prize for  the “greenest” team.

This award is for the team that shows the best behaviour towards supporting and crusading for positive environmental actions. The cup that will be the first to deliver by the International Motorcycling Federation in the context of a sporting event, aims to educate young riders about the importance of participating in an environmentally compatible event and thus providing integrated education of such matters at the same time. Furthermore as already part of the sport regulations demand, the FIM requires organisers to follow a series of conditions ensuring the environmental sustainability of the race as well as a total respect for the environment. A panel of sport and sustainability experts will be present during the weekend to evaluate and advise the teams as part of the many actions developed by the International Environment Commission of the FIM. The most important point is to show to the juniors that they must respect our planet as part of their sport.

Giuseppe Luongo President of Youthstream

'For our company it is very important to work to high standards at all levels, in order to develop high-level races and events that have an appropriate infrastructure to accommodate large numbers of spectators, serve better to our VIPs, press, riders etc. Motocross is an absolutely fantastic sport, very photogenic, extreme, appealing to fans, but we also understand that as an activity that takes place in contact with nature it may cause some impact.  The positive impact we try to maximise and the negative impact we try to minimise by working hand in hand with the FIM through the application of their environment rules during the competitions, also the recently launched Ride Quiet campaign and this year we are fully supporting the FIM Ride Green Cup to ensure its success. We believe that the future of the sport will largely depend on the respect that we as promotors, organisers and practitioners of this sport show towards nature.'

Tony Skillington, Director of the FIM Motocross Commission

'The FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in El Molar will go into history as the event where the first edition of the “FIM Ride Green Cup” was held. Motocross is not always warmly welcomed by the environmentalists. However many seem to forget that the FIM was the first international sports federation ever to draft an Environmental Code in 1997. More recently, the FIM launched its “Ride Quiet” campaign in motocross showing its “green” engagement again. And now, it is time for the “FIM Ride Green Cup” which aims to reach and educate competitors at their youngest age. Or as they say: ‘The lessons of our youth are carried for a lifetime’. Juniors, the time is now!'

Kattia Juárez Hernandez, Director of the FIM International Environment Commission

My beginnings in the motorcycling world were beside my son Guillermo who was a renowned motocross rider from the age of 4. Every weekend we visited different motocross tracks and increasingly noted that it was essential to organise races that leave no environmental footprint.  The sport greatly contributed to modelling the character of Guillermo and I verify that it is definitely at an early age that we can sow seeds of sustainability with our youngsters. Today young people have an environmental awareness higher than previous generations and it is our responsibility as leaders to contribute to an integrated education. The Ride Green Cup is an excellent formula to show our young riders, in a fun way, the importance of incorporating sustainable practices in their sport and to train them in a comprehensive manner. Athletes are an excellent vehicle to raise awareness in their community, with them being exemplary sports persons. Because ‘To be a real champion they must respect the planet’.

KTM Factory Racing has announced that they have reached agreement with the talented young Spanish rider Jorge Prado to ride for the Factory team until 2020. 

Prado, who first rode a motorcycle at aged three and is now 14, was World and European 65 cc Champion in 2011, which placed him firmly on the KTM radar screen of future talent. Riding for KTM he continued to perform well in the junior classes and went on the seal the 85 cc European Championship title last season. Prado is currently contesting the EMX125 where at the time of writing he was third in the championship standings, 12 points off the leader and four points behind his KTM Factory Junior teammate Josiah Natzke in second place.

For next year he will still be part of the KTM Junior program, but as he develops incredibly quickly, the step into the MX2 Factory team seems to be not too far away. 

KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer said KTM had a vested interest in cultivating the next generation of leading riders like Prado. “We aim for excellence not just in the current season but in the long-term, so the nurturing of riders of the caliber of Jorge Prado is an essential part of our planning. We have known for some time that he is an outstanding rider for his age and we are very happy that we can work together to build on the next steps of his career.”

Jorge Prado: “For me KTM is the best bike and the best team in the world and I'm proud to be part of this family. For a young rider like me the trust and confidence that KTM has given me was very important to get to this point in my career. Now it is a very special motivation to continue chasing my goals. I get a lot of support from my team and this is what I need to face my future goals. With this extra motivation I'm now completely focused on my next challenges in the World and European 125 cc Championships.” Prado is also a Red Bull athlete.

When young Latvian rider Pauls Jonass crossed the finish line at the Grand Prix of Latvia, held at the Kegums circuit last weekend, and was awarded second overall there was something special about the celebrations. Not only had the Latvian rider completed a nearly perfect weekend, but he has also completed a goal he and his manager had many years ago.

“I can’t explain how much it meant to me to be on the podium in Kegums,” Jonass said. “You know when I first worked with KTM I came to Kegums for a test, and my manager, who was the KTM dealer here in Latvia asked me what my goal was. I told him I want to be the best. That was like a week before the first Grand Prix was ever held at Kegums. He said his goal is to have a Latvian rider standing on the podium, he asked me if I could do that, and I said I would do my best. Now he is the track owner and that makes it more special, and we were so happy that I made the podium together.”

The podium finish was also time to celebrate with his massive fan base. Hundreds of Latvians followed every move of the Red Bull KTM Factory rider as he tried to do the impossible, after not having the best preparation.

Jonass who crashed hard at the Grand Prix of Sweden limped into the Kegums circuit and not even he could ever imagined he would walk away with a top three finish. His fellow Latvians though never had any doubt as they screamed his name and motivated him to fight on despite the pain.

“I want to thank my family, the team, my girlfriend, Willy and Stefan and all the fans around the track. I could hear them in all the corners. It was so special to lead the first race and my heart rate was pumping so hard like it was like 220 the first laps, I got more tired from my heart rate than the riding. After my crash in Sweden I am lucky to be here.

“After the Swedish GP I could only ride like five laps in practice during the week. Nobody expected I could ride here, but I felt good and while the speed and fitness wasn’t there, it was good for me to be able to get on the box. Max was riding very well, he deserved to win.”

Now a week’s break to rest his wearing body and then onto the last hurdle of the 2015 MX2 championship. No matter what happens now in this season you know that the goals Jonass made with his manager has been accomplished.

The gates dropped at round twelve of the FIM Motocross World Championship at MXGP of Latvia in Kegums. Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin set the fastest lap time for the weekend in MXGP while Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie set the fastest time over the weekend in MX2.

Both riders have added one point to their TAG Heuer fastest lap score sheets. Paulin is now second in the TAG Heuer fastest lap competition, one point shy of Antonio Cairoli , while Anstie has also moved into second behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings.

If you don’t know about this competition, the way it works is; he who sets the fastest lap time in each MXGP or MX2 over the weekend at each round of MXGP this year will be awarded 1 point towards the TAG Heuer sponsored ‘fastest lap’ competition. At the end of the season, the rider who has the most points will be awarded an elegant gift of prestige, a TAG Heuer watch.

If you scroll down on the main page at MXGP.com you will see the TAG HEUER Fastest Lap results grid which is situated directly underneath the FOX Holeshot results grid.