MX2

SI RACHA (Thailand), 08 March 2014 - The heat of the sun beaming down on the golden soil of Si Racha was nothing in comparison to the heat of the racing here for qualifying at round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Reigning world champion Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli appeared to be back to full strength, taking his first pole position of the year while CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis is proving to be a strong force in the MX2 taking home his first qualifying heat win.

When the gates dropped for MXGP’s qualifying race, it was evident the holiday was over for typical MXGP front runners Rockstar Energy Suzuki World’s Clement Desalle and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, when the duo went one two around turn one. Although it was initially Desalle who led the way, Cairoli made it known he meant business today passing Desalle a few corners in and running away with the win. While Desalle kept Cairoli honest in the early stages, the moment arrived when he decided to settle for second and let Cairoli go. Back in third, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek was forced to entertain himself with no challenge or defense, while the battle for fourth, a further six seconds back, was looking sharp. HM Plant KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson was showing that same brilliant form he showed late last year when he held off the wrath of fellow Brit CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Tommy Searle for fifth.  The current red plate holder Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin put in a fantastic ride after his shocking start, to chase his teammate Steven Frossard home for seventh.

In the MX2 qualifying heat, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis was put to the ultimate test when he took the holeshot ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Glenn Coldenhoff. Herlings, who had admittedly put his struggles in Qatar down to his bad starts, was in the prime position to pounce, but bobbled on turn two allowing Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre to sneak through. Quick to respond to his early mistake, Herlings passed Febvre early in lap two and was soon back on the tails of the hard charging leaders Ferrandis and Coldenhoff.

While CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis kept his head cool out front, Glenn Coldenhoff was forced to deal with some serious pressure from the red plate holder, Jeffrey Herlings. With five minutes plus two laps to go, Herlings found a way around Coldenhoff and charged after Ferrandis only to pass him with two laps to go. A fired up Dylan Ferrandis, who definitely wasn’t lining up for second, charged back at the reigning MX2 world champ, with an impressive pass around the outside. Ferrandis took back the lead, and rode a strong last lap to win his first qualifying heat of the season ahead of Herlings and Coldenhoff. Meanwhile Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier rode smooth for fourth with BikeIT Yamaha Cosworth’s Max Anstie rounding out the top five.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 24:56.883; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:10.168; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.661; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:44.039; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:47.785; 6. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:49.718; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:53.359; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:57.074; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:02.133; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, Honda), +1:04.243.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 25:25.891; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:00.783; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:05.915; 4. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:07.141; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Yamaha), +0:09.218; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:13.203; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:27.491; 8. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:36.962; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), +0:42.924; 10. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Honda), +0:47.463.

Click here to obtain the complete results.

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

MXGP THAILAND – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1550m

Type of ground: intermediate to soft

Temperature: 32°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 www.MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

TIMETABLE

Sunday: MX2 Warm-up 09:15; MXGP Warm-up 09:40; MX2 Race 1 13:10; MXGP Race 1 14:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Thailand

The first round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Qatar hosted the best MX2 racing we have seen in a while, with only two seconds separating the lap times from first to eighteenth. As always, there are those guys you expect to see battling for the win, the Jeffrey Herlings, Jordi Tixier and Arnaud Tonus’s of the sport, and then there are those guys who have got so much talent it's ridiculous, but are completely over looked.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Thomas Covington was one of those guys, at least until the final waving of the checkered flag at the first MX2 Grand Prix of the season in Qatar. Covington, the eighteen year old super talent from California, America showed everyone what’s up when he charged his way to a third place finish in moto two. A DNF in moto one hindered Covington’s overall result, but his remarkable result in race two landed him as the most talked about rider of the night.

I managed to catch the friendly Monster Energy Kawasaki rider right after his first practice session here in Si Racha, Thailand, for a few quick words.  

Thomas, what an amazing debut to the FIM MX2 World Championship, third place in moto two! How did it feel?

Covington: It felt great to just go out there and get a great finish like that. I mean, I knew I could do it from the start but I just wasn’t sure the level of these guys over here. It’s a good confidence booster going into this weekend and I’m really enjoying being over here racing the GP’s and being able to travel to all these new places to race. It’s really cool.

Is the top three somewhere you expect to be?

Covington: For sure it’s the goal. I would love to be there every weekend, I definitely won’t be happy unless I’m in the top five but podiums are for me the goal and hopefully I’ll eventually be able to win.

So you nailed a top three in the last race in Qatar, now we are in Thailand for round two. Do you feel more pressure?

Covington: I don’t know really. Actually it’s the exact opposite, getting a good finish just lifted some weight off my shoulders after training so long for these races. I feel great now; I’m having fun out there and just trying to ride my best, the rest is just up to the lord I guess.

I’ve heard you’re only planning to do the first four races in MX2 before heading back to the US. Have you thought about racing the entire FIM Motocross World Championship series?

Covington: I’ve definitely thought about it. I guess we will just make that decision after the first four rounds and see how I am standing in the points.

You did a bit of riding in Europe last year. Now we’re at the fly away rounds of the MXGP series, but still the same people build these tracks. So how are you finding them? Especially in comparison to what you have in the US?

Covington: The tracks I wouldn’t say are much different. I mean, in the US we got all kinds of different tracks, like hard pack and a few sandy ones, I mean, nothing like in Lommel or anything but these first rounds of MXGP so far are a lot like what we have back home. So I really like them, I really feel at home, and this one here in Thailand is now one of my favorite tracks, it’s awesome!

Why do you think it is that more Americans don’t come over and do the World Championship series?

Covington: I think really they just love it in California in the US. I think they are just comfortable in their own environment, I mean, they can go back home every week and fly out to the races every week. But as far as I can tell, I love it over here, it’s been awesome and I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t wanna come.

You’ve just finished your first practice here in Thailand, what are your first impressions?

Covington: The track is awesome, its got really good dirt and the jumps are fun too. I was having a really good time out there in the first free practice and in a couple hours is timed practice so I just hope I get a good time in. But I love this track it’s awesome.

In the 75th and latest issue of award-winning On-Track Off-Road – a free bi-weekly digital publication that focuses on MXGP, Supercross, MotoGP and Superbike – you can see extensive coverage of the Grand Prix of Qatar and the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

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It’s been a busy day in the paddock of MXGP today with all the mechanics, staff and pit crew working hard to get everything prepared and ready for tomorrow, day one of MXGP round two in Si Racha, Thailand. While most people had their hands full, Youthstream organized a media opportunity for all MXGP and MX2 riders to race each other in a traditional Thai Tuk-Tuk. This unique opportunity was also open for the photographers and journalists of MXGP to snap some shots of all the riders messing about and having a good time.

The MXGP Tuk-Tuk Championship started with a bang, quite literally, when Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Mattis Karro came into a hairpin too hot and rolled the poor Tuk-Tuk on the training laps. Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Petar Petrov, who was in the back seat of Karro’s Tuk-Tuk at the time, was gifted his adrenaline spike of the day, but luckily no harm was done and everyone managed to laugh it off. With one Tuk-Tuk down, the officials running the MXGP Tuk-Tuk race opted to change the circuit from an oval ring race to a 200m straight-line drag race in order to protect the Tuk-Tuk’s, as well as the riders. Nevertheless, it proved to be just as fun with the riders holding those things pinned for the full 200m.

After a series of ‘knock-out’ rounds, the riders had dwindled down to four teams of two, for the Semi-Finals. TM Ricci Racing’s Davide Guarneri and Tanel Leok were up against Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Todd Waters and Pascal Rauchenecker while 24MX Honda’s Xavier Boog and Honda JTech’s Klemen Gercar were up against HM Plant KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson and Mel Poccock. With the settling of the thick blue smoke produced by the tiny old 200cc scooter engines, it was Teams Waters/Rauchenecker and Boog/Gercar who had won their Semi-Final heats and were able to proceed to the Finals.

In the Final race of the day, both teams revved their tired engines as they waited for MXGP’s TV Host Amy Dargan to wave the green flag. Finally, with the waving of the flag, both teams were pedal to the metal putting it all on the line for the prestigious title of MXGP Tuk-Tuk Champion. As they approached the 100m mark, both teams Boog/Gercar and Waters/Rauchenecker were neck and neck, but thanks to a lane swap by Boog/Gercar and a somewhat friendly nudge, Team Boog/Gercar was able to inch ahead and claim their first ever MXGP Tuk-Tuk Championship title.

SI RACHA (Thailand), 07 March 2014 – The second MXGP of the 2014 season will receive live and delayed coverage worldwide via prominent TV networks Eurosport, CBS Sports Network, FOX sports, Mediaset, BEIN Sport, BNT, True Vision and MotorsTV. Local Thai television networks will be also in attendance to provide news coverage over MXGP on Thai channels 3, 5 and 7.

The second MXGP of the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship in Si Racha, Thailand will be broadcasted LIVE in the UK and Europe on both Eurosport and MotorsTV. CBS Sports Network will cover the United States and Canada screening delayed coverage on Sunday 9 March starting at 11am EST. BEIN sport will cover parts of Europe as well as The Middle East, North Africa and South Africa while FOX Sports will cover Asia and Australia. Local Thai Network True Vision is covering Thailand’s round of MXGP for the second year in succession while Mediaset will screen the final race of both MX2 and MXGP LIVE in Italy on Italia2.

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition, and is also globally available to view live and in HD on www.MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

MXGP THAILAND – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1550m

Type of ground: Intermediate Soft

TIMETABLE

Saturday: MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; MX2 Qualifying race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying race 17:00.

Sunday: MX2 Warm-up 09:15; MXGP Warm-up 09:40; MX2 Race 1 13:10; MXGP Race 1 14:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Thailand

Guess the top three in both MXGP and MX2 classes to WIN MXGP-TV access to the MXGP of Thailand and LIVE access to one MXGP round of your choice.

All winners will go into the draw to WIN a grand prize at the end of the season. Details over the grand prize will be released leading up to the next round of MXGP in Beto Carrero, Brazil.

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SI RACHA (Thailand), 05 March 2014 – From the deserts of Qatar to the exotic countryside of Thailand, round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship is set to take place for the second year in succession at the circuit of Si Racha, Thailand. Located in the province of Chonburi, Si Racha is a small municipality that is now widely recognized for its world class MXGP circuit. Meanwhile the province itself (Chonburi) is notorious for its tourism industry as it is homes Thailand’s number one tourist hotspot, Pattaya.

The circuit in Si Racha is located in the Pinthong Industrial Estate 3, and is made from a soft soil which has been locally extracted from a river not far from the track. The track itself is 1,550 meters long, wide and flowing with 18 corners and a series of tricky and massive jumps, one of which was only jumped by two riders in MXGP last year.

Weather conditions are going to be a determining factor in this weekend’s races with temperatures forecasted to be above 30 degrees Celsius and almost 100% humidity.

Last year, the MXGP of Thailand was the second most watched Grand Prix on TV, with more than 83.6 million viewers across 171 countries tuning in to watch. Quick to stamp their authority on the 2013 season, both reigning FIM Motocross World Champions Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings went 1-1 in their respective categories to present their team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with both MXGP and MX2 red plates.

MXGP

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin will be running the red plate as the series leader after his impressive performance at round one in Qatar. The Frenchman, who placed second here in Si Racha last year, will be looking to go one better when the gates drop this weekend but not without a solid challenge from the stellar MXGP line up he is up against.

After standing on the second step of the podium last weekend, Team HRC’s Max Nagl has proved he is fit, healthy and ready for 2014. This will be the first time riding the circuit of Si Racha for the German since last year he fell ill with a stomach virus around this time. Taking all precautions to avoid getting sick this year, Nagl has flown back to Europe where he can return to his normal day-to-day routine before flying out to Thailand on Friday.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli shone here in Si Racha last year when he took home a double victory. Last weekend, the current World Champion nursed his injured ankle to third overall, although he did admit it didn’t really affect his riding. Nevertheless, a further six days rest will have done it some good and we can expect to see the Italian turn it up a notch this weekend in Si Racha.

2013 MX1 Podium

1. Antonio Cairoli   

2. Gautier Paulin

3. Clement Desalle

2013 MX1 POLEMAN: Antonio Cairoli    

MX2

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, with the expectation that he will be just as dominant this year as he was in 2013. The reigning MX2 world champ won in Qatar last weekend, although it wasn’t as smooth sailing as expected. This weekend in Thailand, the MX2 ace will be looking to up his game and put in a repeat performance of last year.

A lot of MX2 riders have raised the bar this year and momentarily are looking like genuine threats to the MX2 championship. CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis will be out to prove he’s not a one-race wonder, after winning race one in Qatar and getting sixth in race two for second over all. The young French talent didn’t have the best performance here in Thailand last year, but has already shown he can in fact run the pace and will be out to prove it this weekend.

Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre had an impressive start to the season last year. The French star took two podium finishes at the opening rounds in 2013 with a third in Qatar and a second here in Thailand. This weekend fans of MXGP will have the opportunity to see just how far he has come as he looks to do the same, if not better.

2013 MX2 Podium

1. Jeffrey Herlings

2. Romain Febvre

3. José Butrón

2013 MX2 POLEMAN: Jeffrey Herlings

All the potos of the MXGP of Thailand will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; MX2 Qualifying race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying race 17:00.

Sunday: MX2 Warm-up 09:15; MXGP Warm-up 09:40; MX2 Race 1 13:10; MXGP Race 1 14:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Thailand