MXGP

FRAUENFELD (Switzerland) 24 August 2024 – Round 17 of the MXGP World Motocross Championships kicked into life today at the Schweizer Zucker circuit in Frauenfeld for the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by IXS, and with beautiful blue skies the conditions were on the hot side for the afternoon’s RAM Qualifying Races.

The battle at the top of the MXGP World Championship continues to tighten up as Jorge Prado took the win for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, narrowing the gap to just eight points behind Tim Gajser, who took second for Team HRC.  He also closed the gap in the race for the RAM Driving Experience as well, taking his fifth Black Plate of the year compared to the seven of Gajser!

The MX2 class again saw a battle between the Championship rivals from the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team, with Lucas Coenen emerging triumphant after a big crash for Kay de Wolf left him lucky to still pick up second place.

Tim Gajser showed his pace on the Swiss grassland surface with the fastest time in both Practice sessions, just ahead of Prado in Time Practice, with home hero Jeremy Seewer getting amongst the top men with third for the Kawasaki Racing Team ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Jeffrey Herlings.

There was a strong return to racing for Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez as he launched around the first corner in the lead, just ahead of Seewer who got the banks of Swiss fans screaming for their man! Another rider back from injury, Maxime Renaux of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team, was a good fourth at the start behind Prado, while Herlings and Gajser were down in eighth and ninth!

On the third lap Seewer, who had made several attempts to pass Fernandez for the lead, tipped over in a deep rut and dropped to seventh.  On the same lap, Renaux got passed by Gajser and Herlings as the Slovenian had sneaked past “The Bullet” on the opening lap. The three title contenders then took their turns to get past Fernandez and stayed in those positions for the final ten laps!

The crowd were kept entertained by the recovery of Seewer, who skipped deftly past Fernandez on lap eight and chased after Renaux.  Meanwhile, Romain Febvre, having recently renewed his contract with the Kawasaki Racing Team, recovered from a poor start and passed Alberto Forato for ninth in the closing stages after the Standing Construct Honda man fell from sixth, but would claim the final point.

Fernandez dropped to eighth as the early pace and heat wore him down. Glenn Coldenhoff took sixth for Fantic Factory Racing, and Kevin Horgmo a charging seventh for Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR.

Seewer took one final lunge at Renaux but nearly fell again on the last lap, having to settle for fifth behind the Frenchman and console himself with his move up to fourth in the Championship ahead of Renaux’s absent teammate Calvin Vlaanderen.

Prado led his fellow title contenders as Gajser and Herlings took second and third. Herlings is now 36 behind the Slovenian, but the reigning Champ continues to reel in the leader with the deficit now down to just eight points!

Jorge Prado: ”I mean it's very warm today yeah especially now I think it was way warmer than this afternoon. About the race, I made good passes and got the lead and got another qualifying race win. It's good for the championship so let's go get it!”

MXGP - RAM Qualifying Race – Classification:  1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 24:23.958; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.569; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:11.492; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.152; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:24.277; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:32.957; 7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:35.355; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:40.358; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:48.526; 10. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:49.545; (BEL, Honda), +0:38.225; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:39.200

MXGP - World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 810 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 802 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 774 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 553 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 500 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 494 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 363 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 306 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 283 p.

Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser; 2. Jeffrey Herlings

Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing star Simon Laengenfelder was fastest in the first Free Practice session, but the advantage was grabbed by Kay de Wolf in Time Practice as the red plate holder took first gate pick ahead of the German, with Lucas Coenen not far off in third.

Lucas Coenen bolted into the first corner in front, but there was confusion at the starting line as several gates appeared not to drop evenly. Further investigation revealed that the issue was caused by riders hitting the gate, so the race was allowed to continue.

Andrea Adamo had started up in second, but De Wolf was quickly past the man he intends to succeed as World Champion and took up the chase on his teammate. Laengenfelder fired around Adamo for third on lap four but could not get close to the flying Husqvarna men out front.

Adamo’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Liam Everts was right up there in fourth to begin with but made a stunning pass on the Italian on lap seven, cutting from outside to inside on the fast approach to the finish line!

Rick Elzinga held down a solid sixth place for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, just ahead of his teammate Thibault Benistant, the winner here last year who was in his first race back from injury.  Monster Energy Triumph Racing star Mikkel Haarup fought past the Frenchman on lap nine and would also pass Elzinga for sixth as time expired.  Elzinga would claim seventh, ahead of his other teammate Karlis Reisulis, who passed Benistant with three laps to go for eighth. The second Triumph of Camden McLellan took the final point in tenth.

Meanwhile, the tension was building at the front, as using some dazzling lines around the roughening Frauenfeld circuit, De Wolf closed to within a second of his teammate. It was looking like a showdown between the top two with three laps to go, but just as they caught a bunch of lapped riders, De Wolf’s rear wheel skipped sideways on the face of a jump and he suffered a spectacular crash in front of the fullest bank of fans!

With the bike looking twisted he was able to remount still in second place, and just managed to hold back Laengenfelder for second to the flag.  Everts came home in fourth ahead of Adamo. It was Lucas Coenen, however, who won the RAM Qualifying Race for the seventh time this year!

All of the riders were feeling the heat from the hot Swiss sun today, but the weather is due to be cooler tomorrow with the possibility of rain on the horizon. It could be a completely different challenge for everybody on Grand Prix Sunday and should make for some fascinating racing as the sharp end of the Championship draws near!

Lucas Coenen: “It was a good race. The start was not bad. I had a good jump and I made my way up to the lead, so I was happy about that. And then I just did my own race, not really pushed on the limit because this track is quite sketchy. So I just went, not cruise mode, let's say, but just riding smooth, because it was difficult to find the rhythm this morning. So, I mean, it's good to kick the weekend like this. So tomorrow is another day, and we will see.”

MX2 - RAM Qualifying Race – Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 24:14.196; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.052; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.670; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:13.130; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:25.943; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:29.791; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:31.863; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:33.395; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.189; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.963

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 786 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 743 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 684 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 643 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 551 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 547 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 496 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 444 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 316 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 290 p

Top Photo: Lucas Coenen

Bottom Photos: 1. Kay de Wolf; 2. Simon Laengenfelder 

​WATCH RAM QUALIFYING RACES HIGHLIGHTS HERE 

All the photos from the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF SWITZERLAND PRESENTED BY iXS QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1500m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 32°

Weather conditions: Sunny

TIMETABLE 

SUNDAY: 09:45 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:20 MXe Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Frauenfeld
 

FRAUENFELD (Switzerland) 24 August 2024 – The always enthusiastic army of Swiss fans in red and white will descend on the Schweizer Zucker circuit of Frauenfeld for the MXGP of Switzerland this weekend, as round 17 draws the last triple-header of the 2024 MXGP World Championships to a close!

It is getting close at the top of MXGP, with just nine points between points leader Tim Gajser and reigning Champion Jorge Prado, as both men declare that the final four venues of the year all suit their styles! However, Jeffrey Herlings is the only two-time winner at this circuit and will be aiming to continue his chase as he lies only 35 points back from the leader!

Local hero Jeremy Seewer will start his 200^th career Grand Prix – and that is 200 in a row as the Swiss hero has never missed a round - in front of his vocal local supporters who will deafen the riders if their man hits the front! Maybe he can be inspired to claim his first GP win of the year, and his first at Frauenfeld after two runner-up finishes in recent years!

The MX2 class could be wide open as the hard-pack lovers rub their hands at the prospect of the Swiss grasslands, but Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen still have a Championship within their grasp and will give no quarter to anyone, especially not each other, as the series gets to the sharp end!

Swiss TV will be onsite at Frauenfeld with Live commentary, broadcasting Sunday’s two MXGP races on SRF Live.

Check our listings below for the full list of TV channels that will air LIVE and delayed action of the MXGP of Switzerland, as well as the 26-minute Behind The Gate magazine show featuring the best moments from the races, exclusive interviews and more.  All of this footage will be available on MXGP-TV.com and via our TV magazine partners following the Grand Prix.

As always, MXGP fans can follow the races LIVE throughout the weekend. All you need to do is log onto www.MXGP-TV.com Saturday and Sunday, from wherever you are in the world.  The last GP before a week’s break and then two long-distance races should serve up a feast of shocks and surprises in Switzerland! Join us!

USA CANADA

CBS Sports Network

Sunday August 25 th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 10:00 ET – LIVE

Sunday August 25 th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 11:00 ET – LIVE

LATIN AMERICA

Direct TV

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

BRAZIL

Bandsports

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

MEXICO

FOX SPORTS Mexico

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

BELGIUM 

PLAY SPORTS OPEN

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

ESTONIA

Go3

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

FINLAND

MAX

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 18:00 – Finnish timing - LIVE

FRANCE

AUTOMOTO TV LA CHAINE 

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 15:00 CET Delayed

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE. Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE Streaming

EUROSPORT 2

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

ITALY

RAI SPORT

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

EUROSPORT 2

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

LATVIA

TV3 Sport Open

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

LITHUANIA

Go3

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

SLOVENIA

Sport TV1

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

SPAIN

TV Galicia

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 16:00 – CET Delayed

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 19:00 – CET Delayed

SWITZERLAND

CHSRF

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

CHRTS

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE Streaming

ASIA

Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
 

EUROSPORT ASIA

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
 

VIACOM  - Jio Cinema

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 16:30 IST – Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 17:30 IST – Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 19:30 IST – Streaming

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 20:30 IST – Streaming

INDONESIA

CHAMPIONS TV

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

VIDIO

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 – CET LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 – CET LIVE

PACIFIC / AUSTRALIA
 

STAN SPORTS

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 1 – 21:00 AEST – LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MXGP Race 1 – 22:00 AEST – LIVE

Sunday August 25th 2024  – MX2 Race 2 – 00:00  AEST – LIVE

Monday August 26th 2024  – MXGP Race 2 – 01:00 AEST - LIVE

26min Behind-the-Gate Magazine Partners:
 

AMERICA

Latin America             Direct TV                                 Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

Mexico                        FOX Sports                              Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm

USA                             BEiN USA                                 TBA

EUROPE

Albania                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Austria                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Baltics                          TV3 Sport Open                      Thursday after each MXGP

Belgium                       Play sports                              tba

Belgium                       SPORT TEN                              tba

Bosnia                         GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Croatia                        GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Finland            MTV                                        During the week after the event

Hungary                      GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Kosovo                        GP1                                        Thursday after each event at 20:15

Montenegro                GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Northern Macedonia  GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Portugal                      SPORT TV                                Tuesday after the event        

Romania                      Look Sport                               Wednesday after each event

Serbia                          GP1                                         Thursday after each event at 20:15

Slovenia                      Sport TV                                  Tuesday after the event

INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
 

VIACOM 18                                                                        Wednesday after the event

INDONESIA                  Champions TV

                                    Moji

                                    Vidio

AUSTRALIA

Australia                      Stan Sport                               Wednesday after each event

WORLDWIDE

Worldwide                  Motorvision                            During the week after the event

Worldwide                  Redbull TV                               Race Craft and Vlog

Worldwide                  YouTube – MXGP TV               16 days after the event

MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS LIVE MXGP-TV.COM Timetable 

TIMETABLE 

SATURDAY: 7:30 EMX125 Group 1 Free practice, 8:00 EMX125 Group 2 Free practice, 08:30 MXe Free practice, 8:50 EMX250 Free practice, 09:20 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying practice, 09:55 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP OAT Free Practice, 11:45 EMX250 Qualifying practice, 12:20 MXGP Wildcard Free/Qualifying practice, 13:20 MXe Race 1, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 EMX125 Race 1, 15:45 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 09:45 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:20 MXe Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

Frauenfeld

The Motocross of Nations will be held this year on October 4-5-6 in Matterley Basin, UK.

Last spring, the CEO of Swiss Moto, Rolf Enz, presented a top-notch team to support the Swiss team this year. Mat Rebeaud (Team Manager), Diego Clément and Fabian Tellenbach will accompany the riders for the 2024 edition.

Switzerland does things differently and thoughtfully. A preliminary selection of five riders for the Motocross of Nations has been made. To keep the suspense, the final selection, which will include only three riders, will be announced after the national Grand Prix in Frauenfeld (TG) this weekend.

The five riders have distinguished themselves through their performances at both international and national levels. They are:

Jeremy Seewer: Currently in 5th place in the MXGP World Championship, riding this year in the team of ex. Formula 1 driver Kimi Räikkönen. He has achieved many respectable successes this year and definitely has the potential to be on the box in his categorie.

Valentin Guillod: Valentin is already a permanent guest in the top 10 of the premier class. He can carry his momentum from last season into the 2024 season and continue to move forward. Even a heavy crash in the Czech Republic could not stop the 9th-placed rider in this year's MXGP championship. The experienced rider has a lot of motivation and wants to take his momentum into the “Nations”.

Arnaud Tonus: An experienced and passionate rider, a young father, we known him for his great technique and immense experience in MXGP with several podiums in the big boys classes. With multiple participations at the Motocross of Nations, he currently dominates the Swiss championship in the premier class (after winning in 23'), once again proving that he is one of the best riders in the country. With a committed heart to representing Switzerland at the highest level, Arnaud Tonus continues to be a key figure in motocross.

Nico Greutmann: Nico is shaking up the ADAC MX Masters Youngster Cup this year and has his name at the top of the championship standings after winning several races. The Red Plate was one of his childhood dreams. He has definitely earned it, the title is within reach with his Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna. He was also able to make his mark in the European Championship in Sweden, finishing in the top 10.

Kevin Brumann: Kevin is collecting points in the premier class of the World Championship this year. He continues to make progress on his Sixty-Seven Husqvarna and already has 34 championship points to his name. At the age of 20, he is definitely a promise for the future; his current form and speed are just right.

In the selection process, both the established riders of recent years were taken into account, supplemented by two young up-and-coming riders who have already been able to set one or two exclamation marks.

The official MXoN Team Switzerland will be announced on Thursday, August 29 at 8.00 pm. The highly motivated support squad is focused on the upcoming event so that the riders can seamlessly build on the 2023 wave of success. Specific goals for this year's event will be communicated when the official team is announced.

Photo: (Left to Right) Jeremy Seewer, Fabian Tellenbach, Valentin Guillod, Diego Clément, Arnaud Tonus, Kevin Brumann, Mat Rebeaud, Nico Greutmann, Rolf Enz

Defending MXGP champion Jorge Prado of the Red Bull GASGAS factory team heads to Switzerland this coming weekend with one aim, and that is to leave the weekend with the red plate and even more momentum heading to the following round in Turkiye.

“My goal is to always go for the win,” Prado said. “I just go for the win every time out, but last year I could afford to be on the podium and no winning the GP. I just made the best out of it and stay safe. I had almost 100-point advantage, so that is a lot of points. That is a lot of points to play with and with my good starts and good riding last year, I could manage that gap very well. This year is different, I lost points in Arco with the mechanical issue and 25 straight away in Maggiora with the start crash, so, that is 35 points I lost very quickly, and it isn’t easy, because Tim is also riding very well and very consistent. We are getting closer, but it takes sometimes and hopefully in the next rounds, I can ride my best level, like I am doing now and not make any mistakes and get the red plate.”

In fact, Prado has started doing something of a Tim Gajser mentality, with 2-2-2-1-2-2-2-1-1-3-2-2 results since returning from Indonesia. What is most impressive about Prado, he isn’t making huge mistakes like his rivals and has looked very, very calm.

While it is Gajser who currently holds the red plate, but Prado knows that the pressure is all on the HRC man, and the Spaniard wants to be sure that if he does take the red plate, he wants both Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings to be around to watch it. In his championship winning season of 2023, Prado won with both Gajser and Herlings out injured, and he would love nothing more than beat these two legends on the track and not with them on the sideline.

“The championship now is tight with us three and it is a high level. Last year Jeffrey got hurt in Germany, so he was out after half season and Romain had a crash and Tim was not there, so, right now, we are all fit and all three battling for the title. It is very close with us, so you cannot afford to make any mistakes. My goal right now is to start first and stay in that position, which is my tactic.”

So, while a win in Switzerland would be nice, the three-time World Champion also knows that being consistent, as he has been the last six weeks will bring him the red plate. Anything outside of the top three just isn’t good enough and you can be sure, that Prado will do everything in his powers to take Grand Prix victory number 46 and put even more pressure on both Gajser and Herlings.

Image Credit : GasGas

Frauenfeld (Switzerland) 23 August 2024 – The MXGP of Switzerland is a vital one for the contenders at the top of the standings in both MXGP and MX2 this weekend, but for some riders it signals the return to the MXGP Paddock for the first time in many months as they come back from their injury-enforced absences to compete once more at the highest level.

For Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, former MX2 World Champion Maxime Renaux lines up for the first time since the second round in Spain, when he aggravated his right foot injury sustained at the same circuit in 2023.  After being announced as part of the unchanged Team France line-up for the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, he will surely need to build race fitness to ensure that he gives his country the best possible chance of defending its MXoN title.

Maxime himself has no expectations of repeating his overall victory at last year’s MXGP of Switzerland: “I’ll just dive in the deep end and build from there; I’ll line up aiming to race clean, without too much risk, just to get some racing under my belt.”  Meanwhile, although still on the Entry List, his teammate Calvin Vlaanderen’s participation is uncertain after hurting his left knee in a first corner crash at the MXGP of The Netherlands. He will have his knee examined by specialists this week to determine the best course of action, and whether or not he can ride.

Jago Geerts continues his fight back from his Argentina injuries after completing the first MXGP race laps of his career at Arnhem for 10-13 finishes.

In the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 awning, there will be a full compliment of three riders ready for action, with Thibault Benistant returning after his practice crash at the Monster Energy MXGP of France.  The French star, who also won his class at this venue in 2023 and was fourth in MX2 before his injuries, will be welcomed back to the grid as he also begins to build for 2025, which will be his final year in MX2.  “I’m definitely not at 100% yet. Still, I feel good on the bike and really enjoy riding again.  I like the track – it’s full of ruts and bumps, which I actually enjoy.  My only expectation is to have fun being back on track.”

Meanwhile, Team HRC will enjoy being back at full strength at Frauenfeld as Ruben Fernandez joins Tim Gajser and Ferruccio Zanchi for the first time since Argentina.  The Spaniard, fifth in last year’s MXGP World Championship, has been out with a lower leg injury since the opening corners of the RAM Qualifying Race in Patagonia.  After a successful Spanish race at Sariego, it was decided that the Frauenfeld circuit would be a perfect place for his return. “I am very excited to be back in the paddock and going racing again in the MXGP class. I know the journey isn’t over, but this is another important step in my recovery process, so that eventually I can get back to winning Grands Prix.”

Another rider who surely has hopes of competing at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, it will be fascinating to see where Ruben emerges at the end of the weekend, but with him, Maxime, and Thibault returning to action, the MXGP of Switzerland is certainly all the better for their presence.

FRAUENFELD (Switzerland) 21 August 2024 – From the deep, sandy terrain of the Netherlands, the FIM Motocross World Championship transfers to the grasslands of central Europe, as the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS welcomes round 17 to the Schweizer Zucker circuit in the north-eastern city of Frauenfeld.

One of 10 separate venues to host World Championship Motocross in Switzerland, the Frauenfeld facility held its first GP back in 1981, a 125cc event won by a teenage Eric Geboers on his factory Suzuki, although it was Italian legend Michele Rinaldi who won the first individual race on his Gilera. A year later American legend Johnny O’Mara took a double-race 125cc victory here in his only GP outside of the USA. A third GP in 1983 was won by Georges Jobe in the 250cc class, but it would be 33 years before Grand Prix Motocross would return to the area.

Antonio Cairoli and Max Anstie were the MXGP and MX2 winners at the re-designed track in its 2016 return, but the most successful rider at this particular venue is once again Jeffrey Herlings of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, who took victory in 2017 and 2018.  Last season it was “Le Marseillaise” that rang out around Frauenfeld in both classes thanks to Monster Energy Yamaha Factory racers Maxime Renaux and Thibault Benistant, both of whom are sadly unable to join us for the 2024 event.

Swiss racers Jeremy Seewer for the Kawasaki Racing Team, Valentin Guillod for Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR, and Kevin Brumann for Team SixtySeven Husqvarna, will all fly the flag proudly at Frauenfeld, and Seewer in particular will look to go one better than the two second-place trophies he has earned here before!

With just three rounds to take place after this one, the season is approaching its vital final stages, and while Tim Gajser still leads the MXGP class for Team HRC, he has seen his advantage reduced to single figures, just nine points ahead of Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s reigning World Champion Jorge Prado. Both men have declared that the remaining tracks in the calendar are good for them, but they also have to watch out for Herlings, who has closed to within 35 points of the series leader after his double victory at Arnhem. 

The MX2 class has looked more competitive in action than on paper all season long, but Kay de Wolf and his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Lucas Coenen both have their sights set on claiming the first world title for the brand under Austrian ownership. With 44 points between them, Lucas will need others to get between them, and Simon Laengenfelder is hoping to bounce back for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing after a disappointing MXGP of The Netherlands, especially as he will have a lot of support just 20km away from the German border!

The epic EMX250 Championship battle resumes this weekend, with just 15 points covering the top three of last year’s EMX125 winner Mathis Valin for Bud Racing Kawasaki, Cas Valk of the Gabriel SS24 KTM team, and Valerio Lata for Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors. Tall Swiss racer Nico Greutmann lies sixth in the points and will be hoping for podium success on the Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna.

Another tight points situation faces the top riders in the penultimate round of the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing European Championship, with just five points separating the season-long red plate holder Noel Zanocz for Fantic Factory Racing EMX125 and the Racestore KTM Factory Rookies flyer Gyan Doensen! The Dutchman took a double victory at home in Arnhem and with just Frauenfeld and Cozar left to race he is knocking on the door of the Hungarian as we enter the final two rounds of the series!

The situation continues to get closer between the leading riders in the MXGP World Championship, as the titanic three-way battle between multiple World Champions Tim Gajser, Jorge Prado, and Jeffrey Herlings continues to rage through the season!

After another incredible performance in the sand at Arnhem, Herlings must feel optimistic that the 35-point deficit to the top of the table, which is the closest he’s been since round two, is something that he can hack down with the speed that he has shown even on harder surfaces this season. The key for him has to be the start, his real Achilles’ Heel this year, as he will be unable to reel in his competitors on the tracks to come at the same rate as he has in the sand. “The Bullet” has to make up just under nine points per round, which is certainly attainable, and his good history of two GP wins, including three individual race wins at the Frauenfeld venue.

Series leader Gajser took the second race win at the first event on the revamped circuit here in 2016, but hasn’t competed here since 2018. Prado took the overall victory in MX2 back in 2018, and won the opening race here last year to finish second overall behind Renaux. Both of the top two will fancy their chances against Herlings on the hard-pack surface, despite the Dutchman’s excellent record here.

There will be a notable wild card appearance for a real Swiss favourite, as Arnaud Tonus lines up for Hostettler Yamaha at the site of his only MXGP class race success. He won the first race in 2017 and still won the Swiss Championship, so the 33-year-old could surprise a few!

There is just one other rider who will line up at Frauenfeld with a GP win to his name here, and that is French De Baets Yamaha MX-Team lone wolf Benoit Paturel! The Frenchman took his only ever GP winner’s trophy home from this venue back in 2017, scoring 2-1 finishes to deny home favourite Jeremy Seewer.

Seewer himself would love to take his first GP win in his home country after a disastrous weekend last year, but he hasn’t finished on the podium here since that 2017 event.  He is close to moving up to fourth in the standings, and for sure his vocal local fans will get behind him! His Kawasaki Racing Team stablemate Romain Febvre has been on the MXGP podium here at every visit apart from 2017, when he just missed out, and was third overall last year.  His pace has been growing since his return from injury and he could get amongst the title contenders this weekend!

Just outside of the top five, Glenn Coldenhoff moved up to sixth with his brilliant performance at his home GP for Fantic Factory Racing, and home hero Guillod will enjoy his home turf as he tries to defend ninth in the series from Coldenhoff’s teammate Brian Bogers, who has just climbed into the top ten himself!

The stakes are high on the firm ground of Frauenfeld to show who is the best on hard-pack heading into the final three rounds!

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 801 Points;   2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 792 Points; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 766 Pts; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 Pts; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 547 Pts; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 495 Pts; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 492 Points; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 359 Pts; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 306 Pts; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 283 Pts.

Main Photo: MXGP Start Switzerland 2023

Bottom Photos: 1. Jeremy Seewer ; 2. Valentin Guillod

The tension at the top of the MX2 Championship table is starting to build to a fever pitch, as the duelling Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen head to Switzerland with the Belgian chaser reducing the Dutchman’s gap to 44 points.  Recent mistakes from De Wolf have helped Coenen’s cause, and although he needs to claw back an average of 11 points per round, it’s the big chunks of points that Kay has given away that will give Lucas hope that it can be done. De Wolf did finish third overall here last year with 2-4 finishes, having a much better day than Lucas did, but a lot has changed since then!

Behind the leading two, Simon Laengenfelder had his worst weekend of the season at Arnhem, and will be hoping to bounce back on a surface where he should be more competitive. Reigning Champion Andrea Adamo has raised himself back up to fifth in the series behind his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Liam Everts, and took second overall here last year behind Benistant. 

Once more, nobody in the MX2 line-up has won a race at Frauenfeld, as the first race was won by Dutchman Roan van de Moosdijk, although Rick Elzinga scored an EMX125 podium here in 2018, and is hopeful of improving from seventh in the series, where he sits behind the Monster Energy Triumph Racing rider Mikkel Haarup.

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 777 Points; 2.  Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 733 Pts;  3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 676 Points;  4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 636 Pts; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 545 Pts;  6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 542 Pts; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 492 Pts; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 444 Pts; 9. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 315 Pts; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 290 Pts.

Top Photo: MX2 Start Switzerland 2023

Bottom Photos: 1. Lucas Coenen ; 2. Andrea Adamo

Don’t miss your chance to watch the MXGP of The Switzerland Presented by iXS this weekend. Get your tickets HERE!

All the photos from the MXGP of The Switzerland Presented by iXS will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

TIMETABLE 

SATURDAY: 7:30 EMX125 Group 1 Free practice, 8:00 EMX125 Group 2 Free practice, 08:30 MXe Free practice, 8:50 EMX250 Free practice, 09:20 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying practice, 09:55 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP OAT Free Practice, 11:45 EMX250 Qualifying practice, 12:20 MXGP Wildcard Free/Qualifying practice, 13:20 MXe Race 1, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 EMX125 Race 1, 15:45 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 09:45 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:20 MXe Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

Frauenfeld