MXGP

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) – 4 April 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is happy to bring you the online release of issue #126 of the MXGP Magazine! 

With news and in-depth stories from the core of the Motocross World Championships, the MXGP Mag provides an enhanced experience, to immerse fans even further into the world of MXGP.

The latest edition features a catch up on the first two rounds of the 2024 season, with the final trip to Villa La Angostura in Argentina firing the racing year into life, before reigning World Champion Jorge Prado’s Spanish fans getting an earlier look at their hero at intu-Xanadú Arroyomolinos.

This month's Rider of the Month is the Baltic Battler Pauls Jonass, and we put the spotlight on one of six World Champions in this year’s MXGP roster, and the only one not on a factory team, who has had a solid start to the season and looks to stay towards the front.

The Vintage Bike section features the last racing machine of the legendary Eric Geboers, the late five-time World Champion whose GP win record was matched by Jorge Prado at the start of this season. His beautiful RC500 Honda still oozes racing pedigree.

We have a Special Feature on the various awards that get given out across the GP series by our partners Fox, Acerbis, and RAM, plus our new PodCast section features MXGP’s Argentine guests the Benavides brothers after they drove the crowd crazy with a special appearance in Patagonia.

To complete the Spanish-speaking flavour this month, our Hall of Fame section features the very first rider from Spain to take a Motocross Grand Prix win, as we review the career of Javier Garcia Vico.

You can find all of this and more in the 126th edition of MXGP Magazine, which you can download for FREE on the Apple Store or Google Play. Read it HERE

Users who have already downloaded other issues on their iOS device can automatically download the new issue by opening the News Stand and clicking on the cover of the MXGP Mag. Whereas those readers using an Android device will be able to download the magazine for free thanks to this app: http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Mag 126

Yamaha Motor Europe is thrilled to announce that Todd Kellett, the reigning FIM Sand Race World Cup Champion, will be making a special appearance for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team at the upcoming MXGP of Sardinia in Riola-Sardo, replacing the injured Jago Geerts.

Kellett, known for his exceptional sand-riding skills as demonstrated by his recent victories at the Enduropale du Touquet in France and the Enduro del Verano in Argentina, will join Calvin Vlaanderen under the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team awning for the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Kellett adds an exciting dimension to the team and the MXGP series as they prepare to tackle one of the most challenging sand races on the calendar.

Lining up for one event only as a reward for his World Cup success, Kellett will showcase his sand racing prowess aboard a factory YZ450FM at the MXGP of Sardinia before shifting his focus back to defending his World Cup title.

Todd Kellett
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider
“I’m pleased I have been given the opportunity to race the MXGP of Riola, Sardinia for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team. It’s an opportunity that I am very grateful for, and the team have been very supportive. We have done some testing and the bike is next level! I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in this adventure. It’s not the “usual” race format for me, but we will give it 110% in the soft stuff and see what we can put on the table!”

Alexandre Kowalski
Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “We’re looking forward to having Todd at the MXGP of Sardinia in Riola. Over the past few years, Todd has gone from strength to strength. He’s at the top of his game at the moment, having won Enduropale du Touquet in France and Enduro del Verano in Argentina. So, as a token of appreciation for his Sand World Cup success last season, we’re giving him this amazing opportunity to race a round of MXGP on our factory YZ450FM. Filling in for Jago Geerts, who is still recovering from the elbow injury sustained in Argentina, Todd will only join the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team for one event, as his main priority remains defending his Sand World Cup title.”

Photo Credit : Yamaha Racing

For 26-year-old Ben Watson from Nottingham in England, racing the Beta RX450 in the 2024 season has started as he probably expected. Holding down 12^th place in the MXGP championship standings, with 37 points, he is just 12 points off the top ten, and while his 10-12 from the opening round in Argentina is more than likely where he will finish on most occasions, he knows that there is more to achieve as the season rolls on.

“The first World Championship race of the season got me a little confused,” Watson mentioned. “I was feeling good on Saturday. In qualifying I was riding a bit tight, but that's normal at this time of the season. I finished 11th, ensuring a good start at the gate for the Sunday races. In the first race, I felt really good, my speed was good, and I finished 10th. In the second one I didn't get off to a great start but in the first two laps I made up several positions. Unfortunately, in an attempt to move up to 7th position I forced the entry into the corner and slipped on the ground, getting back on the saddle I lost a few laps to get back on the pace, but I climbed back up to 12th position. The feeling on the bike is good and I was confident about the results we could get in Spain.”

A couple of weeks after the opening round in Argentina, round two in Spain went slightly worse, with 12-13 scores from the two races on the Sunday. Watson just wasn’t feeling it in round two and starts were a major part of his problem. As anyone knows, a bad start in the MXGP class usually means holding your place and not making a lot of progress forward and that was that happened for the British rider in Spain.

“I have to admit that it was a tough race for me. In general, I didn't have a good feeling throughout the weekend, especially when I tried to increase my speed. In qualifying it went better, so I managed to secure a good position at the gate. During the Sunday, I struggled to find a rhythm that would allow me to be fast enough. Unfortunately, at the moment I can't hit the starts and together with the team we will have to work a lot to improve. When you start behind then it is really very difficult to catch up. I am confident for the next race in Sardinia because I have always been fast on the sand.”

Now onto Riola in Sardinia, where Watson finished 12^th overall in 2023 with 14-13 finishes and in 2022 17-18 results. Nothing to write home about, but the continued push for better results will come and you just know that Watson is giving it all he has, in very tough conditions and a class that is stacked with factory machines and elite riders.

Photo Credit : FullSpectrum

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 3 April 2024 – Round three of the MXGP World Motocross Championship heads to the first sandy circuit of the year at Riola Sardo for the MXGP of Sardegna this weekend!

After the dominant display on home ground by Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team leader Jorge Prado, who swept all three races at round two in Spain, the chasing pack will be hoping that the deep sand will give them a chance to find a weakness in the reigning Champion’s armour.  The #1 plate holder still has that red background and a ten-point lead over Team HRC’s Tim Gajser.

The MX2 class has proven to be wildly unpredictable this season and Kay de Wolf brings the red plate on his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing to the circuit where he so nearly won his first Grand Prix last year. He has won both of the first two GPs and holds a 12-point advantage over Simon Laengenfelder, who won a race at the venue earlier this season for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing at an international event.

This will be the fourth Grand Prix to be held at the popular training venue on the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and the previous three editions have all seen Dutch winners in the MXGP class.  The MX2 class will see a new winner at the circuit this season, as it has only ever seen GP wins for Tom Vialle and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team's Jago Geerts leading into this season.

The MXGP of Sardegna will also host the second round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, as last year’s Riola Sardo winner Daniela Guillen looks to build on her 6-point lead from the emotional win at her home GP at intu-Xanadú Arroyomolinos. Dutch ace Lotte van Drunen on the De Baets Yamaha-MX Team will be looking to chase Daniela down to avenge her narrow defeat in Spain.  

The EMX125 Championship Presented by FMF Racing also gets underway this weekend, with Hungarian prospect Noel Zanocz in a confident mood after winning here in February for Fantic Factory Racing EMX125, and Dutchman Gyan Doensen should also be a force for Racestore KTM Factory Rookies. Northern Irish star Cole McCullough also climbed the podium here in February and will be one to watch on his Fantic as well!

Jorge Prado hit an amazing milestone in Spain with his 40th career Grand Prix victory, and looked in amazing form on home ground. Tim Gajser was able to keep within reach in the Championship, and with a double win in the February international at Riola Sardo, he will be hopeful that he can match that form with Prado in the race this time. Tim’s best GP race result at the circuit was a 2nd, back in 2022, and he was out injured for last year’s GP.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Jeffrey Herlings is historically the most successful MXGP rider at Sardegna, with a double victory in 2021 (finishing ahead of Prado and Romain Febvre both times), and taking the overall GP with two 2nd places last year.  Prado did win both the RAM Qualifying Race and the first GP race in 2023, before dropping to 6th in race two. Glenn Coldenhoff took the second race victory, his most recent in GP racing. His replacement at Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team, Calvin Vlaanderen, won both GP races in 2022 for his only overall victory in the class.  Prado is the only non-Dutch rider to take an MXGP chequered flag at the circuit.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre lies third in the Championship, and finished 2nd to Gajser here in February. He hasn’t got as high as his 2021 finishes here in a GP since then, but also needs to try and halt the Prado express train.  Herlings lies 37 points behind the Spaniard and knows that this is one circuit where he needs to go all out for another GP win to stay in the title hunt!

There will be new faces for 2024 at the MXGP of Sardegna, as Fantic Factory Racing MXGP line up with two riders in the class for the first time, having signed Brian Bogers up to join Coldenhoff on the XXF 450 for the rest of the season. Sardegna will be the first home GP of the season for Ivo Monticelli of the Italian team MRT Racing Team Beta. English racer Todd Kellett, winner of the FIM Sand Races World Cup, gets a fill-in ride with the Monster Energy Yamaha MXGP Team in conditions that should feel very comfortable for him. Roan van de Moosdijk returns from a pre-season injury to take a fill-in ride for Team HRC and make his MXGP class debut. JM Racing Honda also have a new fill-in rider joining them, with Swedish racer Tim Edberg standing in for Brent van Doninck.

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 114 Points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 104 Points; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 92 Points ; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 77 Pts; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 73 Pts; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 68 Pts; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 63 Pts.; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 56 Pts; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON) 49 Pts; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 49 Pts;

Main Photo: 2023 MXGP Start Sardegna

Bottom Photos: 1. Glenn Coldenhoff; 2. Jeffrey Herlings

2023 MXGP of Sardegna MXGP Top 3:

1. Jeffrey Herlings
2. Glenn Coldenhoff
3. Jorge Prado

Although none of the MX2 riders heading to Riola Sardo have ever won a GP at the circuit before, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Championship Leader Kay de Wolf only lost the 2023 edition to Jago Geerts on a tie-breaker, after winning his first GP race outside of Lommel in the first outing. He also took a podium in his rookie season here in 2021. The Dutch teenager holds a 12-point advantage over Simon Laengenfelder, who has never finished on the overall GP podium in Sardegna, despite winning a race in the pre-season international here.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo showed a welcome return to form in Spain with the second race victory and third overall, and he now lies third in the points as well. With a 31-point gap between himself and De Wolf, a win against the Dutchman on the series leader’s favourite surface would be a great mental blow for him!  De Wolf’s teammate Lucas Coenen currently occupies fourth in the standings and will be hoping to improve from there, as will fifth-placed Thibault Benistant for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team. The Frenchman has been on the podium twice before in the sands of Sardegna, so might be a bigger threat than many might think. His teammate Andrea Bonacorsi will be one of the local riders coming at Riola Sardo. The Italian won last year in EMX250 and will take that experience on board to try to collect big points this weekend.

Mikkel Haarup will look to pick up the pace again for the new Monster Energy Triumph Racing team, after a dream debut podium in Argentina was followed by a difficult weekend in Spain, but he still lies sixth in the standings and is no pushover in the sand.  

Marc-Antoine Rossi is the top rookie in the series for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing and will be looking to dig into these conditions, while Ferruccio Zanchi from Team HRC will be hoping to lift himself from 13th on a circuit where he took a surprise win ahead of Laengenfelder and Adamo in February. 

Liam Everts is just ahead of Zanchi in the points for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and after a decent return to racing after missing the Argentina opener, the Belgian will be looking to show his sand skills and advance further.  His team is the most successful in MX2 history here due to wins for Tom Vialle in 2021 & 2022.

As always in MX2, it could be anybody’s race and a real shoot-out for victory in the savage sand!

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 113 Points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 101 Points; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 82 Pts; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 75 Pts; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 72 Points; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 64 Pts; 7. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, GAS), 59 Pts; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 53 Pts; 9. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 52 Pts; 10. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 42 Pts;

Main Photo: 2023 MX2 Start Sardegna

Bottom Photos: 1. Kay de Wolf; 2. Andrea Bonacorsi

2023 MXGP of Sardegna MX2 Top 3:

1. Jago Geerts
2. Kay de Wolf
3. Thibault Benistant

Don’t miss your chance to watch the best riders in Sardegna this weekend. Get your tickets HERE!

All the photos from the MXGP of Sardegna will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

TIMETABLE (CEST)
 

SATURDAY:  08:20 WMX Free Practice, 08:50 EMX125 Group 1 Free Practice, 09:20 EMX125 Group 2 Free Practice, 09:50 WMX Qualifying Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, , 12:30 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 13:05 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 WMX Race 1, 15:45 EMX125 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.

SUNDAY: 09:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX125 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

Riola Sardo

MONACO (Principailty of Monaco) 1 April 2024 – The 3rd round of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship goes to Riola Sardo for the MXGP of Sardegna.

Checkout the Timetable and Entry Lists for the MXGP of Sardegna below:

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

WMX ENTRY LIST

EMX125 ENTRY LIST

Due to Brent van Doninck's leg injury sustained at the MXGP in Argentina, he will be out of contention for the time being. As a result, the JM Racing Honda team will use a replacement in the MXGP class.

Tim Edberg will take the place of Van Doninck in the team for the time being. Edberg is no stranger in the MXGP paddock as he has been on the podium in the EMX250 Championship in the past and in the following years he scored many points in the MX2 World Championship.

Within the JM Racing Honda team he will compete in the MXGP class. Edberg's first Grand Prix will be in Sardinia next weekend, but before that he will enter to a race in Netherlands next Monday. This is a good preparation for Edberg to gain some rhythm on the Honda CR-F450.

Photo Credit : JM Racing Honda

Fantic Factory Racing MXGP is pleased to welcome Brian Bogers alongside Glenn Coldenhoff for the remainder of the 2024 season. Bogers will debut on the Fantic XXF 450 at the MXGP of Sardegna in Riola Sardo (6^th and 7^th April).

Brian Bogers scored his first GP podiums in the MX2 class in 2016 and 2017 and made an early switch to the premier class in 2018 at only 21 years of age. After successfully overcoming a string of injuries, it was in 2022 when the Dutchman enjoyed his best season so far. Bogers placed sixth in the MXGP World Championship as one of the top-ranked riders and made his childhood dream come true with a superb GP win in the deep, punishing sand of Lommel, home of Motocross. The 27-year-old from Eindhoven will be looking to achieve more success in Fantic Factory colours.

Brian Bogers:

“I am a very lucky guy at the moment because I never thought that I would still get the chance to race in MXGP this season. Therefore, you can imagine that I don’t only take this opportunity with both hands but with both hands and feet! Thank you to Fantic Factory Racing MXGP for this amazing opportunity, I am very motivated and focused to let this work.”

Louis Vosters, Team Owner:

“Brian Bogers needs no introduction, winning a MXGP overall in Lommel on arguably the most demanding track on the calendar speaks for itself. Together with Fantic and our proven MXGP team, we are sure he can be a regular frontrunner at the top of our sport. The first training sessions have been going well, he is adapting well to the bike and we are looking forward to seeing Brian line up on the Fantic XXF 450 very soon.”

Mariano Roman, CEO Fantic Motor SpA:

“We are thrilled that a stand-out rider like Brian Bogers joins our Fantic family. We have followed his strong performance on track over the last years and we are sure he will make us proud. Alongside his fellow Dutchman Glenn Coldenhoff, we are confident to pull off a great season on our return to the highly competitive MXGP class.”

Photo Credit: Fantic Factory Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 28 March 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is thrilled to announce the official extension of the MXGP of The Netherlands in Arnhem for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

This decision marks a significant milestone in the evolution of motocross in the region, solidifying Arnhem as a key Dutch destination for the sport. All parties have the ambitions of making Arnhem a permanent stop in the MXGP Calendar in the future.

Arnhem is ready to grow and demonstrate its commitment to excellence, investing in both the track and its facilities to enhance the experience for riders, teams, and spectators alike. The forward-looking mentality of the organizers is paving the way for an even brighter future for all Dutch fans.

In addition to the excitement of the MXGP event itself, The Netherlands boasts a rich history of producing top-tier motocross talent. Dutch riders have consistently showcased their skills on the international stage, with names like five-time Motocross World Champion Jeffrey Herlings, current MX2 red plate holder Kay De Wolf, the experienced multi-GP winner Glenn Coldenhoff, Calvin Vlaanderen and Roan Van De Moosdijk leading the charge. Rising stars such as EMX250 rider Cas Valk, and WMX rider Lotte Van Drunen are young prospects ready to keep the excellent Dutch legacy.

In the meantime, the 2024 MXGP of The Netherlands in Arnhem on the 17th-18th of August promises to be another exciting Grand Prix with a thrilling atmosphere! 

Main Photo: (From left to right) Infront Moto Racing COO Daniele Rizzi, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, MXGP of The Netherlands Organizers Dik van Wikselaar and Maarten Roos

Bottom Photos: 1. Jeffrey Herlings; 2. Kay de Wolf

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

Arnhem
 

The latest episode of Inside MXGP: Just Send It! Delves into the journey of WMX prodigy Lotte van Drunen and the emergence of Yamaha's new force in the EMX250 ranks. The episode name “Just Send It” comes from Lotte herself when asked about what inspired her to jump the biggest triple in motocross, “I watched the MX2 riders do it,” she smiled, “at first I was kind of scared, but they showed that it was possible, so I thought, oh well, you can do it, JUST SEND IT!”.
 

Lotte’s rise in motocross has been nothing short of spectacular. From fearlessly competing against boys in the 65cc and 85cc classes to securing podium finishes in the World and European Championships, Lotte has established herself as the shining star of a new generation of female riders. After a stellar rookie season in 2023, where she defied all expectations with four race wins and three podium finishes, securing an impressive third-place finish in the world rankings, Lotte's move to blue has marked an exciting new chapter in her illustrious career.

Seamlessly adapting to her new bike, Lotte has wasted no time establishing herself as a WMX title threat in 2024. “I feel really good on the Yamaha,” she said, “I really feel much better than I did on my old bike; it suits me. I feel like I’ve made some big steps recently, especially on the hard pack, so I’m feeling good, confident and ready for this season!”

Her incredible second-place finish at the opening round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship in Madrid, Spain, on a hard-pack track, a terrain she openly says she does not favour, has set the stage for an exhilarating title chase. “Hard tracks are not my favourite,” she confirmed, “obviously, I prefer the sand, but I feel like I’ve improved on the hard, and I’m really happy to finish second with the same speed as Daniela (Guillen). She won here, but I feel like I won some fans being the only girl to jump the triple, so that was cool to hear them all cheering; everywhere else on the track, I knew where Daniela was because I could hear her home fans cheering for her. It was crazy! But it was such a good race; second place was all I had this weekend, and I am happy. Up to Riola!”

The latest episode of Inside MXGP follows the journey of Lotte and VRT Yamaha Official EMX250's Ivano van Erp as they race to podium glory at the MXGP of Spain. It also includes fun chats, good laughs and banter with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 riders Maxime Renaux, Rick Elzinga, and Andrea Bonacorsi.

Photo Credit : Monster Energy

BEHIND THE GATE | 2024 EPISODE 0 | TIME FOR REDEMPTION

2024 SEASON has started and the exclusive Behind the Gate series that brings you behind the scenes of the most talented MXGP and MX2 rider is HERE.

More interviews, more in-depth analysis, more great moments, more passion...basically more of the best you want to see in Motocross!

BEHIND THE GATE | 2024 EPISODE 0 | TIME FOR REDEMPTION