MX2

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 MXGP of Qatar MXGP’s round winner Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl had the perfect start to the season, claiming both FOX Holeshots and going on to win both MXGP races for the overall victory. Meanwhile in MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass claimed his first FOX Holeshot of the season in race one with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis claiming the other in race two.

Watch MXGP of Qatar ‘FOX Holeshot’ slow mo’s in the videos below.

MXGP: Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl claims both MXGP FOX Holeshots

MX2: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass claims the FOX Holeshot in race one with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis claiming it in race two.

LOSAIL (Qatar), 28 February 2015 – It was an emotional beginning to the start of what is essentially the most anticipated season in the history of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MXGP 2015, as the recently named ‘Dad’ of a beautiful baby boy Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and the kid who has been on the recovery road from hell Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings both surprised everyone, including themselves, with impressive double victories.

We learnt a handful of things about Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl tonight. Firstly, he can start. The German pulled off two very impressive Fox Holeshots, which has given him the early advantage in the race towards the €10,000 Fox Holeshot purse. Secondly, he’s fit, fast and fierce - he led ALL thirty-six laps even despite being under immense pressure from a previous MXGP of Qatar winner, Clement Desalle, in race one. Thirdly, he is and will be a solid part of Husqvarna’s re-rise to FIM Motocross World Championship glory. And lastly, he is very humble, admitting he even surprised himself tonight.

Meanwhile the all-new super smiley version of Rockstar Energy Suzuki World’s Clement Desalle looked on form out on track tonight making some bold statements when he passed and pulled away from two of MXGP’s hottest players Antonio Cairoli and Gautier Paulin. Desalle said “I am really happy with my riding at the moment, I feel good in my body and also on the bike. In the morning I will go home because I think it will benefit me more to do this than it will to stay over in Thailand.”

Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin couldn’t be missed, not only because of his super bright Fox kit, but also because of his unique BMX style which happened to look even more awesome than usual on the man-made jumpy circuit here in Losail. While the Frenchman had a lot of fans backing him for the win this weekend, the strong Frenchman was satisfied with his 4 – 3 performance saying, “I’m really happy to start the season like this, it is always good to be on the box, actually on the top, but it is still a long season, so it is good to start with a third”.

What may come as a surprise to many, especially after his dominating performance in the Qualifying race yesterday, is the fact that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli didn’t make the podium. Although, in saying that, the Italian did tie with Paulin for third but was knocked off the box with Paulin achieving the better result in the final race. Despite only finishing up the weekend in fourth, you can rest assured that Tony knows it is a long championship and already looking fast and aggressive.

It was a feeling of deja vu for Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek who put together two fifth place finishes for fifth overall just as he did in 2014. The Yamaha rider, who admitted in the Press Conference earlier this week “I want to do better than I did last year, and there is only one place more” was content with fifth today as he knows better than anyone, it CAN get better. Just look at last year’s eleven round podium streak.

Also representing Yamaha Factory Racing and more than worthy of a mention is MXGP class rookie Romain Febvre. The young Frenchman caught our attention as one to watch after footing it with some of the most seasoned riders in both MXGP races.   

As for Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Ryan Villopoto, it was just one of those events you just have to put down to experience. Although we are sure RV didn’t get the result he anticipated, we have to admit his one of a kind riding style was so cool to watch. The American took to Social Media after the event accepting, “It was a tough weekend”, but ended his post positively saying “but we’ll get there”.

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 34:52.985; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:01.221; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:18.550; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:24.809; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:34.810; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.395; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:47.295; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:56.052; 9. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:59.609; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:03.179

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 35:00.295; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:06.023; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:08.752; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:12.787; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:17.740; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:24.676; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.357; 8. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:40.816; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:03.294; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +1:07.182

MXGP Overall: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 50 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 44 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 38 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 25 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 25 p.; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 24 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 21 p.

MXGP Manufacturer: 1. Husqvarna, 50 points; 2. Suzuki, 44 p.; 3. Honda, 38 p.; 4. KTM, 38 p.; 5. Yamaha, 32 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 25 p.; 7. TM, 17 p.

It was one of the biggest displays of emotion we have ever seen from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings as he genuinely broke down in tears only moments after taking his second victory to look down a perfect start to the season. “You can’t believe what was going through my head on the last laps, I was seeing the craziest things”, the kid known as The Bullet said, “I have just had a lot of bad luck in the last months, struggling with my leg for a long time, seeing this doctor, that doctor, and onto the next doctor, but finally it’s okay and I can finally ride. Yeah, my riding wasn’t that great but for me it wasn’t even about that. I am just so happy to be here.”  

The most impressive performance of the night had to be that of Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube’s Julien Lieber. The tiny Belgian rode absolutely amazing in both races to stand on the FIM Motocross World Championship podium for the first time in his career. He modestly said, “It was definitely not easy for me this weekend, but in the race my riding was good and Dylan crashed in the second race, so I got third in the first race and could get second in the last race. I am looking forward to Thailand, I know it will be difficult to do the same but I will try my best and we will see.”

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis was undoubtedly making a MX2 title run this weekend as he charged unbelievably hard in both races for third overall. Race two in particular was gnarly for the Frenchman who bounced back from a strange crash adding a fourth place finish to his second place finish of moto one. The Frenchman then went on to inform during the press conference, “I am happy with today because I haven’t been riding that long because I had an operation on my shoulder after I crashed riding supercross. It was my second operation on that shoulder, so I am happy with return and my speed.”

Meanwhile Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser wrapped up fourth despite having a horrendous crash in race two. Nevertheless, the Slovenian who is making a name for himself as a warrior, battled on to finish seventh which was in addition to his fourth in race one.

Rounding out the top five, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Aleksandr Tonkov wound out the night strong with a thrilling run at Julien Lieber in the final race for second, but couldn’t quite make it happen and was forced to settle for third. 

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 33:51.825; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.674; 3. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.052; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:11.387; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:12.575; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:14.559; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:28.803; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:29.400; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:36.823; 10. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:40.860

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 33:56.613; 2. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:02.731; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:05.065; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:10.885; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:11.093; 6. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:18.511; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:20.689; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:26.731; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.798; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +0:54.200

MX2 Overall: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 38 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 32 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 31 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 29 p.; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 28 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, KAW), 21 p.

MX2 Manufacturer: 1. KTM, 50 points; 2. Yamaha, 42 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 38 p.; 4. Honda, 32 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 31 p.; 6. Suzuki, 29 p.

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Qatar are available here

MXGP QATAR – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1595m

Type of ground: hard pack

Temperature: 21°C

Weather conditions: clear

Crowd attendance: 9000

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 MXGP

The next round of MXGP will take place next weekend, March 08, in Nakhonchaisri, Thailand. 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Qatar

LOSAIL (Qatar), 28 February 2015 –The official guide to the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship is now available for download in PDF format. The guide contains all the essential information about the FIM MXGP & MX2 World Championships, which includes: entry lists, track details, rider and team profiles, statistics, TV broadcasters, as well as all of MXGP’s rules and regulations.

The official guide also offers a brief summary of the FIM Motocross World Championship and looks at the history of the FIM Motocross of Nations. It also includes rider profiles of the defending European Champions and the FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion.

Click here below to download the Guide in PDF format:

High Definition (98.9MB)

http://docs.mxgp.com/tvinfo/YOU-15-4242_MXGP_Official_Guide_2015_HD.pdf

Medium Definition (44,0 MB)

http://docs.mxgp.com/tvinfo/YOU-15-4242_MXGP_Official_Guide_2015_MD.pdf

Low Definition (35,9 MB)  

http://docs.mxgp.com/tvinfo/YOU-15-4242_MXGP_Official_Guide_2015_LD.pdf

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Here are the MXGP Qualifying Race highlights from MXGP of Qatar where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli has taken the early advantage at the first round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship by qualifying on pole.

Also, MXGP-TV Host Paul Malin catches up with 2014’s MXGP of Qatar MX2 race winner Dylan Ferrandis and the Belgian on the mend Ken De Dycker, as well as a Ryan Villopoto associate, Kawasaki Europe Racing Team Manager Steve Guttridge.

LOSAIL (Qatar), 27 February 2015 – Mud, speed and intensity are three important elements to a good race. Throw in at least twenty of the world’s best MXGP riders and another handful or two of mega talented MX2 riders, with the addition of an amazing floodlit track surrounded by impeccable facilities and you’ll have one of the best off-road sporting events the world has ever seen. You’ll also have something that simulates the season opener to the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship which took place last night at the amazing man-made motocross circuit of Losail, Qatar, where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings both took pole.

Also putting in some laps out here last night, the women of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship had two sessions where the defending three time FIM WMX World Champion Kiara Fontanesi was the fastest with Team One One Four’s Livia Lancelot and young Dutch girl Nancy Van de Ven rounding out the top three.

When the gates dropped for MXGP’s first qualifying heat of the year, everyone was on their toes yearning the race that was about to unfold. The anticipation was immense but it soon diminished when the eight-time FIM Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli took the holeshot and checked out.

With Cairoli getting comfortable right off the bat in the last position his opposition would want him in, the race for second was unfurling. Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl was boasting an all-new aggressive style, which appeared to be working in his favor for at least half of the race as he tried to maintain second in the wake of Cairoli.

Eventually the previous MXGP of Qatar winners, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle and Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin found their turbo buttons and made a run at Nagl. While the German, Nagl, tried to match the pace it would appear he was a little caught off guard as both Desalle and Paulin blitzed past him.

With Nagl dropping back to fourth a few seconds clear of Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos in fifth, the duo of Desalle and Paulin went at it. Desalle, who was the fastest rider of the race began to chomp away at Cairoli’s lead, but Cairoli being as clever as he is, had it all under control and cruised home for a relatively comfortable win.

Desalle sealed the deal on second while Paulin looked good in third. Nagl and Strijbos rounded out the top five with Yamaha Factory Racing’s young rookie Romain Febvre putting in an impressive performance for sixth.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson nursed his smoking privateer machine home for seventh, while the guy we have all been dying to see, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Ryan Villopoto made life tough for himself after a mediocre start left him bar bashing through the pack. The American also went down early in the race while trying to find some new lines, but made a good come back to finish hot on the heels of Simpson in eighth.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 23:57.028; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:04.946; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:07.150; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:12.479; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:16.261; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.411; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:32.424; 8. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:33.693; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:43.779; 10. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:48.825

Could the first MX2 race of the year be a sign of how the championship might play out? When the gates smashed to the ground for the under 23’s first qualifying race of the season it was the young guns who were most eager. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s latest prodigy Pauls Jonass bought the confidence from his phenomenal pre-season to the line and nailed the holeshot followed by Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s young American Thomas Covington.

Chasing the surprise leaders, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings made life a little easier with a decent start in fourth behind Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier. A little nudge around turn four shifted Herlings up to third and left Tixier on the deck and outside of the top twenty.

As Tixier went to war in attempt to bounce back, Covington started to creep up on the Latvian, Jonass. It was hard to tell if Jonass was feeling the pressure or not, but either way he made a simple error at the end of pitlane and lost the front which dropped him back to fifth.

With Covington taking the reigns of the race, a much calmer Herlings rode cool and collective in second. Meanwhile with five minutes plus two laps to go, Covington’s Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team teammate Dylan Ferrandis started to hustle making the closing stages of the race a three-way for the win.

One-lap to go and a kid who resembled ‘the real’ Jeffrey Herlings showed up and pinned it up the inside of Covington to take over the lead. Covington, who admittedly wanted to fight for the win, couldn’t respond but managed to hold off his teammate for an impressive second. With Ferrandis being forced to settle for third, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Aleksandr Tonkov rode a lonely race in fourth while Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki Racing’s Max Anstie made a late race pass on Jonass to round out the top five.

The defending FIM MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier managed to charge his way back through the pack for eighth.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:28.446; 2. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +0:01.375; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.747; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:08.952; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:15.652; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:18.887; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:26.010; 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.476; 9. Damon Graulus (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.039; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:44.011

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Qatar will be available here

MXGP QATAR – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1595m

Type of ground: hard pack

Temperature: 16°C

Weather conditions: sunny

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.

Saturday: WMX Warm up 16:30; MX2 Warm up 16:50; MXGP Warm up 17:10; WMX Race 1 18:15; MX2 Race 1 19:15; MXGP Race 1 20:15; WMX Race 2 21:10; MX2 Race 2 22:10; MXGP Race 2 23:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Qatar