With all the excitement of the 2015 MXGP battle, many of us have forgotten about the players in the MX2 championship. Defending champion Jordi Tixier will have his hands full this season, as not only series favorite Jeffrey Herlings is working hard to regain his MX2 title, but a long list of young guns are also trying to improve their speed to become championship contenders. Let us look at some of the riders who will enter the Grand Prix of Qatar with their hopes high.
Two times MX2 champion Jeffrey Herlings is the man everyone will want to beat, and while he is returning from an operation to take pins out of his troublesome leg, his speed looks good coming into Qatar, but that opening round will be a race he will probably just want to get out of the way and move onto the second and third rounds in Thailand and Argentina.
“There was always just one expectation to win,” Herlings said. “Sometimes it was not about winning, but how far could I win, at the moment (due to his recovery) I need to think differently. Qatar is a special track, with the lights and everything, and it’s the first GP of the season. It’s a nice event. If I can get a win that is beautiful, if I get fifth I will be happy. I only had my operation two months ago and I am already back on the bike.”
For Jordi Tixier it’s going to be a nice feeling turning up with the number one on his bike. He is the MX2 champion, but he knows as well as everyone that he has to beat Herlings to keep the bragging rights for 2015. The Frenchman improved a lot at the end of the 2014 season and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he actually raced with Herlings in Qatar and maybe even beats him.
Another Frenchman in contention for victory in Qatar is Dylan Ferrandis. Ferrandis is a very technical rider with good skills and at the opening round the conditions will suit him perfectly. His performances in the later part of 2014 and at the MXoN will have given him more confidence.
The big surprise of the 2015 pre-season is new Red Bull KTM Factory signing Pauls Jonass. The Latvian has enjoyed being part of the biggest team in the paddock, and he has taken away victories in Italy and France so far this season. Smooth, smart and consistent is his plan for this year.
“I go into 2015 with the plan to show my best,” Jonass said recently. “No big expectations, go to the races and see what it brings. If you expect too much you get down, so I don’t expect anything, just see what it brings. I don’t bother with the pressure, I just do my job and have fun.”
Slovenian Tim Gajser, who signed for the HRC Factory team for 2015 will be looking to continue his improvement as a motocross racer. His early season form has been good, and with the help from HRC I wouldn’t be surprised to see him become the second best guy in the class behind Herlings.
British rider Max Anstie and Russian hero Aleksandr Tonkov are both riders who can win moto’s and possibly even GPs. Anstie of course started 2014 with some amazing speed in Qatar, only to suffer bike problems, and nobody has forgotten the battle between Tonkov and Herlings in Maggiora a couple of years ago.
There will no doubt be more contenders in 2015, but the group above seem to have the best shot at being on the podium in Qatar.
