After two rounds of the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championships things couldn’t be better for the series. As expected, the opening round in Doha, Qatar was the perfect start to what is expected to be a really exciting season.
In the MXGP class we already have two different winners in Gautier Paulin and Antonio Cairoli, and Jeffrey Herlings, despite not showing his best form, has won both GP’s in Qatar and Thailand, but the series is a lot more than just the winners.
Already the MX2 class has risen to another level. A bunch of young riders are showing amazing form, and it is looking like the MX2 class has every chance to produce some really good action in 2014. While Herlings is clearly the fastest MX2 rider in the world, his competition has risen to another level, and Herlings knows that.
“You know,” Herlings said. “My level is good, I am riding ok, but the younger guys have improved, and that is normal, they have more experience. There are a lot of guys who will improve even more as the season gets into the later rounds.”
Names like Glenn Coldenhoff, Arnaud Tonus, Dylan Ferrandis, Jordi Tixier, Alexandr Tonkov, Romain Febvre, and Max Anstie have all shown consistent form, and all are not only great racers, but really professional riders who want to give their best and are media friendly. There is no doubt, this brad pack are set to bring the MX2 class to a much higher level than we had in 2013.
While the MXGP class is full off known faces and is clearly the premier class in the World, the performances by some riders in Qatar and Thailand stood out. Jeremy Van Horebeek was probably the most improved from the class of 2013.
An extra year in the MXGP class has done wonders for Van Horebeek, and this friendly Belgian showed what he is capable of with his podium finish in Thailand. Steven Frossard also showed good speed in the opening round in Qatar, as did Kevin Strijbos.
Where this class might have the best racing though is from fifth to 15th. Riders like Davide Guarneri, Rui Gonvalves, Todd Waters, Tyla Rattray, Evgeny Bobryshev, Shaun Simpson, Xavier Boog and Jake Nicholls all have the potential to run in the top ten, and who knows maybe a podium finish is possible.
One rider who has impressed though, and deserves some respect is German veteran Max Nagl. The HRC rider struggled all 2013 with a virus he picked up the early part of the season. Now fully fit, and clearly coming off a good winter break, Nagl looks to be in the form of his life.
Second in the World behind former team-mate Cairoli everyone has been impressed with Nagl’s speed and consistency. Even in Thailand after a poor start the German rider still managed to produce a top five finish.
Whatever happens in Brazil in the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championships, you can be sure that many of these riders mentioned will be looking for the consistent season to continue. The sport sure is in a good place at the moment.
