MX2

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 21 May 2015 - The event originally scheduled on 16^thAugust has not been confirmed. As a replacement, the fifteenth round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship will now take place in Mantova, Italy on the 22^nd and 23^rd of August with the title of the event being MXGP of Lombardia.

Please find here below the updated calendar.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

There is no better place to be at this time of year than at the home grand prix of Motocross. Yes, back in the early part of the last century motocross was born, just 20 miles from the site this years British GP will be held.

The sport has developed a lot since that first race, and the fortunes of riders from Great Britain has been a little of a rollercoaster.

It has been a long time between drinks for British motocross fans. While their riders have been picking up the odd GP victory, the last time they had a world motocross champion was back in 2001 when James Dobb grabbed his chance with both hands and pulled the title from the hands of second placed man Steve Ramon.

The Brit really had dominated the early part of the season winning seven of the first 10 GP’s, but a crash in round seventh round in Sweden nearly stopped him in his tracks. Despite a broken shoulder Dobb continued to ride, and wrapped up the title in Gaildorf, Germany with three rounds remaining.

“It wasn’t easy,” Dobb told at the time. “I had a lot of pain, but I wasn’t going to let the chance slip away. I had ridden all my life to be world champion and to be so close I couldn’t just let the championship go. To be the last rider to win a world title for England is pretty special.”

Since that day in Germany the British riders haven’t had much success. A GP win here and there, some really solid rides from riders like Gordon Crockard, Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson, Max Anstie and Jake Nicholls have given the British fans something to cheer about, but that motocross world championship has eluded them for nearly 15 years.

The 2015 season has also been a tough one of the Brits, with early injuries to Searle and Anstie in Qatar and Thailand, and less than stellar form from Simpson until now. Add to their problems Jake Nicholls was injured the week before the GP season began.

Heading to Matterley Basin though Simpson and Anstie are coming into better form, with Anstie looking the most likely to bring something special to their home GP.

Simpson is in fact undefeated in the British Motocross Championship this year, so he has massive pressure to continue that form in the MXGP class. With an overall victory last weekend at a Belgian International race the Scotsman must be feeling pretty happy with his current form.

“I won there (Wuurstwezel) for the first time which was pretty cool,” Simpson said earlier this week. “But I’m a bit fed-up to be honest. It didn’t even seem that sandy, which is unusual for here and was a bit sketchy. My results were okay, but they should have been better and I just didn’t really enjoy it. Anyway, we shouldn’t grumble too much and I’m really looking forward to Matterley Basin now.”

So the British riders head back home to England this week, confidence building and who knows, with a little luck we might see a Brit on the podium. It would take a huge surprise for one of them to win the GP, but bigger surprises have occurred this season.

MATTERLEY BASIN (Great Britain), 20 May 2015 - Riders and fans alike couldn’t be more excited for the MXGP of Great Britain, round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship, which set to take place at the glorious track Matterely Basin this weekend.

As always, the ambience in and around the paddock will be epic with thousands of fans expected to flock to the venue to witness what is one of the greatest and most spectator friendly grand prix on the calendar.

The first MXGP to take place on the wide, flowing and grippy natured Matterley Basin was back in 2006 where Stefan Everts won the premier class and David Philippaerts won in MX2. Since 2006, the British Grand Prix has been held at Matterley Basin a total of six times with its most recent grand prix being last year, in 2014, where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli won the MXGP while his teammate Jeffrey Herlings won MX2.

Also joining in on the action this weekend, the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship will return after a long break to take on the third round of their championship. As it stands, the defending WMX world champion FontaMX Yamaha Racing’s Kiara Fontanesi has the red plate but is tied for points with former WMX world champion Team One One Four’s Livia Lancelot.

Meanwhile the fourth rounds of EMX125 and EMX250 will also take place with KTM Factory Juniors Jorge Prado leading the 125’s by nineteen points over Kemea Yamalube Yamaha’s Maxime Renaux, while J-Tech Honda’s Nick Kouwenberg leads the EMX250 by five points of Bud Racing Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Maxime Desprey.

The Honda European Championship EMX150 will also be hosting its second round with Swede Albin Larsen narrowly leading the championship by one point over Fin Emil Weckman. 

.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli decided to switch things up last weekend when he rocked out with an extra 100cc, due to the swap from the KTM350SX-F to the KTM450SX-F, and a new color scheme in his choice of AXO race wear. With the change attracting a lot of attention, it was a move that panned out for the Italian who won his first grand prix since August 2014. This weekend in Matterley, the eight-times FIM Motocross World Champion will be the likely bet for the win having won here last year and if he does so, he will claim his sixth British Grand Prix victory which will make him the most successful MXGP rider on British soil.

Again, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl cannot be counted out. With so much hype surrounding Tony and his random choices at MXGP of Spain, it has shadowed the fact that Max did tie with Tony on forty-five points for the grand prix win. Of course the victory was awarded to Tony who had the better result in the final race, but we can expect to see Max eager to be back on top this weekend.

It’s hard to believe Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre is still a MXGP rookie. We are getting so used to see him running up front, it almost wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if he bags a race win or even an overall before the season is out. The little Frenchman landed on the podium for the first time in his premier class career at MXGP of Spain and is bound to be hungry to do it again.

Meanwhile in 2013 Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle edged out TC222 for the Grand Prix of Great Britain victory. TC retaliated last year and edged Desalle out for it, so as always, we can expect to see the MX Panda, who has admitted he loves the track in Matterley, at the sharp end of the field, possibly vying for his first MXGP overall of the year.

Both of Team HRC’s talents Evgeny Bobryshev & Gautier Paulin are always potential podiumers. Seven rounds in to the MXGP series, we’ve learnt that if these two get off the start up front, that’s where they remain. So it’s up to them to notch some of those FOX Holeshots to their belts and bank some valuable championship points.

Another hot topic is the presence of American Mike Alessi. Alessi will race his Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Suzuki this weekend, which will add a little more flare and excitement to the already stacked MXGP class. The last time Alessi raced the FIM Motocross World Championship was back in 2010 at the US Grand Prix in Glen Helen where he finished second overall to Antonio Cairoli.

There is sure to be a ton of hype surrounding Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson. Okay, so we know Shaun is actually Scottish, but this is the closest grand prix he has and as the multi-time British champion he is bound to have loads of support. As for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle, it appears that he will not be lining up after breaking his collar-bone in the crash he had in Spain.

Unfortunately the number two machine of Ryan Villopoto won't be on the line this weekend which was confirmed in a press release from his team Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing, "The specialist medical team working with the four time US Supercross champion have confirmed Ryan’s coccyx injury and have also discovered an L4 compression in Ryan’s lower spine. Upon close examination, X-rays indicated that the injured bone material is healing but not at the speed either the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team rider or his advisors would hope." 

2014 MXGP of Great Britain MXGP Top 3

1. Antonio Cairoli

2. Clement Desalle

3. Jeremy van Horebeek

It has already been a pretty crazy year for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s MX2 phenomenon Jeffrey Herlings. Jeffrey has had some pretty massive get offs this season, of which he has been very lucky to come away unscathed. Despite each of those uncharacteristic occasions, the twenty-year old knows how lucky he has been and is just happy to retain the red plate.

How amazing would it be if Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube’s Valentin Guillod took another race win this weekend. Let’s face it, the kid from Switzerland has insane speed and style and he brings another dimension to MX2 racing. Now that he had a taste of what it is like to stand on top of the box, we are sure he is confident he can do it again and we look forward to seeing what he will bring to the table this weekend.

The defending champion Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier will be hoping he can minimize his errors this weekend and throw together two solid results. Meanwhile a lot of the attention within the team will be placed on their latest import Bulgarian Petar Petrov who will be filling in for the injured Dylan Ferrandis who underwent a knee operation last week.

Rounding out this weekend’s preview, two riders who could set Matterley on fire are Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and the local hero Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie. While Gajser proved he is capable with his race and overall win at MXGP of Trentino, he will need to keep the bike rubber side down if he is to be of any genuine threat to Jeffrey this weekend. The same can be said for Max.

2014 MXGP of Great Britain MX2 Top 3

1. Jeffrey Herlings

2. Arnaud Tonus

3. Tim Gajser

All the photos of the MXGP of Great Britain will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed practice 07:45; WMX Free practice 08:20; EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 08:45; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 09:20; WMX Time practice 09:55; MX2 Free Practice 10:30; MXGP Free Practice 10:55; EMX125 Last Chance Qualifying Race 11:30; EMX250 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 12:00; EMX250 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 12:35; EMX150 Race 1 13:30; 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; EMX125 Race 1 17:40; EMX250 Last Chance Qualifying Race 18:25.

Sunday: EMX150 Warm-up 07:45; WMX Warm-up 08:00; EMX125 Warm-up 08:15; EMX250 Warm-up 08:30; EMX150 Race 2 09:10; WMX Race 2 09:50; EMX125 Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX250 Race 1 12:00; 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.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Great Britain

During the MXGP of Great Britain which will take place in Matterley Basin near Winchester in England this weekend, you have the chance to WIN one of THREE awesome prize packages which includes: one pair of Air Defence FOX Goggles, a copy of MXGP The Official Video Game and an all-season pass to MXGP-TV.com.

All you have to do to PLAY is guess who will take the FOX Holeshots in both MXGP and MX2 races.

There are THREE prize packages up for grabs. So what are you waiting for? PLAY now!

Click here to PLAY & don’t forget to ‘Like’ or ‘Follow’ us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!

If you are on your GSM Mobile phone PLAY here: http://a.pgtb.me/SDH8B5

This May, why not take junction 9 off the M3 in Hampshire? Why you ask? Well two reason, one is the historic market town of Winchester with its world famous cathedral, its quintessentially English atmosphere and its Great hall, the only surviving part of Winchester castle and the bit that contains King Arthur’s legendary round table. It’s a city that bridges the gap between the green commuter belt that surrounds London and the rugged protected wilderness of the South Downs National Park, and it is a perfect jumping off point for outdoor holidays that make the most of Britain at its best. 

Click HERE to read more on the venue of MXGP round seven in Matterley Basin, United Kingdom.

Yamaha Motor Europe are pleased to announce that Julien Lieber will remain on the YZ250F and as part of the formidable Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube racing team for the 2016 MX2 FIM Motocross World Championship. The 20 year old (21 in June) is negotiating his fifth season of Grand Prix competition in 2015 and has already set a small milestone by obtaining his first podium finish, secured at the opening round at Qatar.

Lieber's progress under the auspices of the Belgian team run by Tim Mathys have been one of several positive narratives for Yamaha in the six rounds of the MX2 campaign so far. The crew celebrated their first GP win with the YZ250F thanks to Valentin Guillod - who has to depart MX2 next year due to his 23rd birthday in December - and have eyed Lieber to continue his speedy evolution in the category for the future and more spoils in Blue. 

"We've been working very hard with the team to get the race bike how we'd like it so we can try for the best results in MX2," Julien said. "I feel happy being here and it is great to confirm that we will be together for 2016. I don't know yet how the team will be structured but I know the riders here are treated well and there is not the feeling of a 'number one' or 'number two'. We'll continue to do what we can now this season and always aim for the best."

"Julien started the year in great form and has a lot of potential on the YZ250F," commented Yamaha Motor Europe Motocross Racing Manager Erik Eggens. "Standing Construct have been pushing very hard with their development and the high standards with which they go racing and Yamaha could not wish for better partners than that. I think we have established an excellent base with both the team and Julien and it makes perfect sense to keep him as part of our set-up and plan to continue to build Yamaha's presence through the levels in world and European Motocross."

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 15 May 2015 – Youthstream is pleased to announce renowned French television network L’Equipe 21 have agreed to broadcast MXGP of France which will take place in Villars sous Ecot on the weekend of May 31^st as well as the biggest and best event of the year, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations which will take place in Ernee, France on September 26^th and 27^th.

L’Equipe 21 is a popular sporting channel in France. The network, which was launched in December 2012, provides a free service for its viewers. It covers entertainment, daily news and live events, and reaches more than 22 million viewers every month.

Thanks to the cooperation of L’Equipe 21, MXGP of France and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will be easily available for millions of French fans to tune in and watch.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

L’Equipe 21

As a result of his heavy second moto crash in Valkenswaard 24MX Honda’s Filip Bengtsson suffered a severe concussion. Like many of his fellow riders in a similar situation the multiple Swedish champion underestimated the impact and continued to train and ride. 

Medical checks after his disastrous Spanish MXGP, where Bengtsson suffered concentration and felt a lack of energy, have revealed no damage. Still the talented Honda rider will need more time to recover completely. At this moment Filip is not sure if he will be ready to compete in Matterly Basin, for the 7th round of the FIM MXGP World Championship.

Filip Bengtsson:  “After my crash in Valkenswaard I've been feeling a little under the weather. I've had headaches. I had difficulties to focus and felt tired all the time. I didn’t take the symptoms very serious and just kept on going. But after Spain, where I felt really bad, I decided to check what’s wrong. Today I had a CT-scan of my head and they could see that I had a hard hit to my head, a concussion and a small bleeding to my brain. The bleeding has healed by itself and now the only thing to do is rest. Unfortunately I will miss the Swedish Championship in Arsunda this weekend but I hope to be back for the coming GP's.”

Copyright: Photo: Bavo Swijgers

Matterley Basin is known as a circuit that not only produces great racing, but also has amazing atmosphere. Built by Johnny Douglas Hamilton and promoted by Steve Dixon this facility is everything motocross should be and more. Despite it not even being a decade old Matterley Basin has seen some great battles and has quite a story-line of its own.

It was back in 2006 that Matterley Basin came alive as Stefan Everts and David Philippaerts won their respective classes at the first ever British Grand Prix held at the circuit.

In the MX2 class on that day two other Matterley favorites Antonio Cairoli and Tommy Searle finished second and third overall. Cairoli scored 40pts and won his first ever moto at the circuit.

A few months later the best riders in the world returned to Matterley as the Motocross of Nations was held. This time it was Team USA (James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Ivan Tedesco) who went home with the victory, but nobody will ever forget the battles between Stefan Everts and James Stewart in the MX1 class and Ryan Villopoto and Antonio Cairoli in the MX2 class.

Everts went 1-1 in front of one of the biggest motocross crowds ever seen for the MXoN, and RV scored 2-3 results for the MX2 overall, but it was Cairoli who scored his second moto victory at Matterley Basin for his second overall in the class.

After a handful of other circuits held the British Grand Prix from 2007 until 2010, Matterley Basin returned back to the GP scene in 2011, and again Cairoli took a moto win as he scored victory in the MX1 class. Young German rider Ken Roczen won the MX2 class with 1-1 scores.

A year later in 2012 that man Cairoli goes 1-1 in the MX1 class, taking his fourth and fifth moto wins at the circuit on his way to a dominant performance. In the MX2 class Tommy Searle and Jeffrey Herlings went to war as they battled for the small bike honors. Searle scored 1-1 results as Herlings crashed out of one moto while on the back wheel of the Brit. The huge crowd went wild as the home boy handed the world champion defeat.

2013 and while Cairoli was able to pick up another moto win, but it was Clement Desalle who won the MX1 overall with 2-1 results. In the MX2 class a classic GP was held as a handful of riders fought for the GP victory. With world MX2 champion Jeffrey Herlings out of the GP due to injury it was his countryman Glenn Coldenhoff who took the win.

Last year Cairoli went 1-2 for the MXGP overall victory and in doing so scored his seventh moto win from 12 starts. No doubt the last 10 years has seen Cairoli as the most decorated rider at the beautiful circuit build in a valley. In the MX2 class in 2014 the Dutchman Jeffrey Herlings finally scored his first GP victory at the circuit.

Now in 2015 we return to this magnificent circuit, King Cairoli coming off his victory in Spain last weekend, and a long list of riders wanting to cancel out his love-affair with the circuit. A betting man would bet on Cairoli, but as we have seen so many times already this season anything is possible.

Already a GP winner this season in Argentina, Dylan Ferrandis has been one of the leading contenders in the MX2 world series, but the young Frenchman, who will turn 21 at the end of this month, was unfortunate in Talavera de la Reina as he hit twice the ground with his left foot and felt intense pain in his knee. He bravely rode in pain to third place in the second race, but back home in France he had several examinations which revealed damage to the ligaments and meniscus of his left knee. Professor Sonery Cottet, who already took care of him two years ago, will carry out the surgery on Dylan on Thursday in Lyon.

Jean Jacques Luisetti (team owner): "It is a very bad news for the team because Dylan had the potential to win GPs this year as he proved in Argentina. I am sure that he will return to racing even stronger after this injury. His goal is to be back as soon as possible, but without taking any risks, and he is already looking forward to 2016 when he will try to get his first World title. We want to thank all our sponsors who are not putting any pressure on us to replace Dylan. We are going to think carefully about our plans."
 
Steve Guttridge (Kawasaki EU Racing Manager): "Dylan's done a great job this year having been at the top of the MX2 standings all season with the team. Of course we are really disappointed about the injury finishing his season early but he is one of our Kawasaki guys and we must look after his future and health as a priority. I'm sure he will be back even stronger when he returns again to fight for the title in 2016!"

Copyright: Photo: Stanley Leroux / Pascal Haudiquert