MXGP

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 7 December 2022 – Infront Moto Racing is very pleased to launch the VIP Gold Skybox online sales for selected 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship events.

MXGP fans can now secure themselves an adrenaline-fuelled weekend with the most exclusive VIP Gold Skybox pass and experience an unforgettable MXGP weekend at the heart of the action.

Make your MXGP event a unique experience with the VIP Gold Skybox pass that allows you to have access to the most exclusive areas:

• The MXGP Venue
• The MXGP Paddock where it all starts and where you can feel and be part of the amazing atmosphere surrounded by riders, teams, stores and many other activities that you won’t want to miss!
• The VIP Gold Skybox Restaurant located near the track, where you will enjoy gourmet food and drink without missing on the races.
• The exclusive Skybox Terrace which can be found behind the starting gate, giving you stunning views of the waiting zone and front-row look of the starting grid and podium!
• It also includes the VIP Gold SkyBox Car Parking Pass.

You can upgrade your experience with the VIP Gold Camping pass, which provides you the spot to park your camper/motorhome at a privileged location near the paddock at selected MXGP races.

Besides a complete revamped page for online ticketing is launched and will welcome MXGP fans who are purchasing MXGP Tickets providing an optimised experience: https://tickets-mxgp.com/en/ while as usual the VIP Gold Skybox ticketing direct link is included in the calendar section on MXGP.com homepage. 

Don’s miss out on the opportunity to experience the FIM Motocross World Championship like never before and get even closer to the action. Get ahead and click HERE to get your exclusive VIP Gold Skybox pass on the MXGP online ticket shop!

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VIP Gold Skybox

RIMINI (Italy), 7 December 2022 - Over the weekend, the Annual MXGP Organisers Meeting took place at the Litoraneo Hotel in Rimini, where organisers of the upcoming 2023 MXGP season gathered to get prepared to offer a fantastic season.

Infront Moto Racing’s Marketing Director Marionna Leiva opened the event by introducing officials that included Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, Infront Moto Racing COO Daniele Rizzi and Infront Moto Racing Director Nikos Gounaris, as well as every Infront Moto Racing Departments’ Managers present at the meeting together with FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela, MXGP Race Director Ingo Partsch, FIM Technical Director Andrew Summers and FIM Medical Director David McManus among others.

Many organisers of the 2023 MXGP events were present to the meeting to get prepared for another successful season ahead.

Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo welcomed all officials and organisers to the event and shared his gratitude for all the work carried out by everyone over the 2022 MXGP season: “It is becoming a tradition now to have the Organisers meeting during the FIM Gala and take this opportunity to spend time together at the end of the season to talk about the next one. The world of motocross is a big family and made by passionate people, we are happy to gather together with the FIM and all the organisers to prepare the next season. The 2022 season saw for the first time since the pandemic the return to a sense of normalcy with the comeback of the public and the overseas races, in fact we went back to Argentina and Indonesia which were amazing events. We also had of course, a fantastic return of the Monster Energy FIM MXoN in the US where we saw the American team coming back to winning ways. It announces an exciting Monster Energy FIM MXoN next year in Ernée which can only be great news for our sport in general. We witnessed a great season in MXGP, MX2, WMX and the European Championships full of close battles and exciting actions. I want to thank you 2023 Organizers also on behalf of Giuseppe Luongo, because you, organisers, are the base of our sport, unfortunately the 2 years without public have been very difficult and impacted every one of you but through hard work we managed together to re-start the 2022 season without losing 20 years of development of our sport. Every year MXGP is improving, in terms of infrastructures, audience and spectators’ experience onsite, in fact we can expect some exciting novelties for the 2023 season. Finally we also want to thank the FIM for their excellent work, amazing support and partnership during these times. We are very excited about the 2023 season as we are going to introduce some novelties. We can now fully focus on the development of our sport and expect an even stronger season”

FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela also thanked everyone for a fantastic season by saying: “This is always a pleasure to share this important moment with you. We’ve been through difficult times and those 2 years have been really tough for the organisers, for Infront Moto Racing and for the sport in general. We want you to make events as strong as possible, we’re going to be there with you, supporting you in all aspects. Then we come back next year, share our experiences again in order to make sure we will keep building better seasons year after year. I will thank you all again for all your efforts and wish you all the best for next year. As the calendar present itself it looks like it’s going be a very fantastic 2023 season. Thank you very much.”

Photos: 2023 Organizers Meeting 

Following the welcome speeches, the presentation of the key departments of MXGP included the key points to focus on for next season. Each department highlighted the novelties and important aspects which included paddock requirements, infrastructures for the medical centre, circuit preparation, tv and media numbers, marketing and also the implementation of brand new promotional activities that will bring the fans closer to the riders and teams. The presentation was followed by the introduction of the FIM Motocross World Championship new venues for 2023 as well as the venue which will host the Junior Motocross World Championship and the Snowcross World Championship plus the very much awaited comeback of the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Ernèe.

Then the FIM Race Director Ingo Partsch, the FIM MX Technical Director Andy Summers and the FIM Medical Director David McManus overviewed some important points on the work carried out by the FIM onsite at each event. They thanked the organisers for their collaboration over the years and also reiterated the high standards of the preparation that is expected and gave some guidelines to make sure every event can be run at the highest level. The meeting ended with an official presentation from MXGP official ticketing partner Platinum Group.

Copyright Photo: @Good Shot

The weekend finished off with the 2022 FIM Awards where our champions received their medals on stage by the FIM President Jorge Viegas. Among those present were the 2022 MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser, MX2 World Champions Tom Vialle. Also celebrated was the Women’s Motocross World Champion Nancy Van De Ven as well as 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion Ivano Van Erp and 85cc World Champion Gyan Doensen amongst other champions in motorcycle sport.

Overall, the meeting was a great success with incredible feedback from the organisers and many essential details discussed in order to be completely prepared for the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship season.

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While the period of time between October and February is considered the ‘off season’ by the MXGP industry, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser has still been busy travelling around the world, attending events that honour his now five world championship successes.

First up was the EICMA show in Milan, Italy where there a lot public came to meet their hero and get autographs and selfies with the 2022 MXGP champion. “It is a busy event” said the #243, “but it is a chance to say thank you to all the fans in a more relaxed environment, and also to meet and thank all the team sponsors who help us out throughout the year. At the races we are usually in a rush, but here we got to have some nice conversations and it’s always good to meet the people behind the brands that we use at Team HRC.”

From Milan, it was back to his home country, where Gajser was presented with the Golden Order of Merit from the president of Slovenia, in an extremely impressive ceremony. This is an award that is only given to the very top level of people in their chosen field, and it is the first time a motocross rider has been recognised with such an honour. “I was amazed when I found I would be receiving such an award. Slovenia is filled with a lot of top people who are very deserving, even sports people where we have a lot of athletes who are the very best in the world, so to receive this award was very special. The whole day was amazing and I’m very thankful to the people who helped me get to this position.”

A couple of weeks later and the motocross champion was flying halfway round the world to Motegi, Japan, in order to meet up with fellow Honda riders and drivers at the special Honda Thanks Day. This is an event where Tim was joined by many athletes who use Honda machinery including Max Verstappen (F1), Toni Bou (Trials GP), Marc Marquez (MotoGP), Ricky Brabec (Dakar), to join together and say thank you to the people who work so tirelessly behind the scenes in Japan in their various roles. Over the course of the weekend there are a number of events that take place, with the highlight being the pairs go-karting race which always brings out the competitive nature. “Of course I go out to win” joked Gajser, “we all want to win, because we are all racers! But the whole event is a lot of fun and it’s nice to meet these guys and chat and hangout at this event. It’s such a unique event and I’m glad I was able to come back. Everyone in Japan is so hospitable and welcoming and we all have a great time, and it’s a small thing for us, but means a lot for everyone who works at Honda. It makes me very proud to be part of such a global family.” In the end, Gajser and teammate Sergio Perez came second behind Marc Marquez and Max Verstappen, in a closely contested battle. (See Youtube video, here)

After the Thanks Day celebration, Gajser was then given a special tour of the Kumamoto Factory of Honda, where they build the Honda CRF which he has now won five-world championships on-board. He met the people who create all the parts, and saw the processes of how his machine comes together. “It is cool to just see how things are done in the factory. Normally, I just see the finished product when I ride, but I got to see how they make things and also got to thank the people who are involved. Sometimes we forget about all the people involved in the process, and maybe just think it is all machines that do everything, but now I know that when I’m out on the track, there are people here who are cheering me on because they were directly involved in the bike that I ride. It is humbling to realise that, and I’m really glad I got this opportunity to come here.”

Finally, after returning from Japan, it was back across the border to Rimini in Italy for the FIM Awards ceremony this past weekend, where every champion under the FIM umbrella is celebrated. This was the fifth time Gajser has been invited and he’ll be hoping that he gets the same opportunity next year, as he tries to make it title number six in 2023. “Obviously it will be tough, but I know what I am capable of and I know that everyone in Team HRC is working towards that goal alongside me. I am feeling fit, healthy and I know that we have already made some improvements to the bike since the end of the season, so I’m excited for the first gate-drop of 2023.”

Photo copyrights: Honda Racing Corporation

It’s December and MXGP is excited to start the countdown to Christmas with the 2022 MXGP Advent Race Calendar!

To celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, MXGP is here to continue the tradition and share over the next 24 days the most thrilling and epic races of the 2022 season of the FIM Motocross World Championship! 

Every day until Christmas, we will unlock a brand-new race which will be available to watch on MXGP’s YouTube channel, and good news, it’s starting today!

We kick things off with the MX2 Race two during the MXGP of Great Britain that witnessed an epic battle between Simon Langenfelder and Tom Vialle and many unexpected events! Stay tuned as it’ll be out shortly!

Be the first to know when a new race is unlocked from our 2022 Advent Race Calendar and subscribe to the MXGP YouTube channel! Click HERE to subscribe

Exciting news for the Spanish MXGP Fans. Recently a new circuit was inaugurated in Galicia whose name is dedicated to Jorge Prado.  

Prado was also able to test the brand-new Jorge Prado Circuit in front of the Mayor, members of the local government, Spanish Media and many spectators that were in attendance.

The Spanish rider is very proud of such initiative and shared how important this opening was for Motocross awarness in Spain and as a whole.

KTM’s fresh factory racing talent scheme structure for MXGP solidified even further for 2023 as promising youngsters Marc-Antoine Rossi and Ferruccio Zanchi were confirmed as part of the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team.

The French crew will enter a seventh year of collaboration with KTM, and the alliance will be closer and more productive than ever thanks to VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team’s new position as the talent ‘conduit’ for the company in the international motocross pyramid.

Based near Nantes and led by Mickaël Vrignon, with former motocross and Enduro star ‘Pela’ Renet at the head of management staff, the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team will work in European Championship competition and specifically the EMX250 category with KTM 250 SX-F machinery; the division is seen as the ‘final step’ before MX2 Grand Prix.

Marc-Antoine Rossi finished 8th in both the 2021 and 2022 EMX125 championships, both times riding the KTM 125 SX. The French 16-year-old grabbed his first moto victory and podium finish at his home round, LaCapelle Marival, in the summer of 2021 and appeared on the box again in 2022.

Like Rossi, Ferruccio Zanchi will make his debut in 2023 in EMX250 and with the KTM 250 SX-F. The Italian, also 16 years of age, has won three motos in EMX125 and registered another four top-three moto results in 2022 on the way to 7th in the standings.

As well as 2023 EMX250, Rossi and and Zanchi will be looking to gain even more experience and mileage in various domestic meetings and series in Europe, beginning already this winter and in the run-up to the new season.

Pela Renet, Team Manager: "The goal was to find young riders for the European EMX250 Championship and we worked with KTM to sign two youngsters and we are really happy with Ferruccio, a young Italian and Marc Antoine, a young Frenchman. They showed a great potential in EMX125 this season and although the transition from the 125 to the 250 is a big one they are working hard and they have a huge possibilities. For sure, the goal is to fight in front and to have the best results possible."

Mickael Vrignon, Team Owner: “Since the creation of the team in 2016, it has not stop growing and every year I try to find new solutions to keep improving. Last year, Pela started to work as trainer and this year we became the official factory junior team, and we were looking for riders with the ability to stand under our structure. Ferruccio and Marc-Antoine are two very promising riders and we can fight for good results with them. The objective has always been to form young riders to the highest level of competition and I am happy to try to reach this with KTM."

Marc-Antoine Rossi: “I am very happy to start this new adventure with the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team in EMX250. I can’t wait to start working with all the team to prepare the season and to make the move from 125 to 250 as smooth as possible.”

Ferruccio Zanchi: “I am very happy to finally have this great opportunity to ride for KTM VRT Team in the EMX250 for the 2023 season. It was not an easy choice but I strongly believe this is the right one for my personal and professional growth. I feel really good on the KTM 250 SX-F and I really look forward to start collaborating with KTM and the VRT Team for the upcoming year. So now let's enjoy!"

Robert Jonas, KTM Head of Motorsports Offroad: “We’re really pleased with how the junior program is looking now and thanks to our work with Mickael, Pela and the whole VRT team. Marc-Antoine and Ferruccio are two riders that are on the way to professional level and have stood out for their technique and their speed in the last couple of seasons in EMX125. We believe in their capabilities, and we want to give them a chance to attempt EMX250 for 2023 and continue their progression. We think there is some real potential there and we wish the guys the best of luck through the year.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 25 November 2022 – Infront Moto Racing is excited to share that the 2023 FIM Snowcross World Championship will head to Turkiye for the very first time!

The first Snowcross World Championship in Turkiye will take place on 11-12 of March 2023 under the auspices of the Presidency. As part of the Sports Tourism Development program, various international events are held in Turkiye and, for the first time, Kayseri - Erciyes will host the Snowcross World Championship in 2023.

The event, organized by the Turkish Motorcycling Federation and widely supported by the Kayseri Governor and Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, will bring the world's best riders together at Mount Erciyes with Kayseri Snowcross Center being the most important winter sports center in Turkiye.

In addition to the championships, the biggest Winter Festival in Turkiye will take place in Kayseri Erciyes. The festival to be held on 11-12 of March 2023 will bring extreme sports fans and thrill seekers together at Mount Erciyes.

Recently MXGP representatives visited the venue which will host the 2023 Snowcross World Championship for an onsite inspection together with the local organizer. The inspection was very successful as the venue fulfills the high standards required to host a SNX event.

Kayseri is a large, industrialized city in Central Anatolia and is located around 350km from the capital city, Ankara.

Mount Erciyes (3.917 mt) is the symbol of Kayseri and one of the most important winter tourism centers in Turkiye. One of the few venues with that high quality of snow, Erciyes Snowcross Center enjoys the intensive attention of ski fans while being notably close to the city center.

Last time that the SNX World Championship took place it was in 2021 in Rovaniemi, Finland where Peter Nårsa and Hilda Arnesson were crowned as the FIM Snowcross World Championship and the FIM Women’s Snowcross World Cup winners while Gustav Sahlsten who was victorious in the FIM Europe Snowcross Championship!

Infront Moto Racing is looking forward to an exciting return of the championship in 2023!

A detailed brochure to inform the participants of the special services available to them (freight, hotel, transport) will circulate amongst the National Motorcycling Federations. Any interested racer or team can contact series Manager Ms. Maskarova directly in case they intend to participate or seek for more information at patmaskarova@mxgp.com.

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Snowcross Turkiye 2023

It is with sadness that Infront Moto Racing has learnt of the recent passing of André Malherbe, the former three-time FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion, at the age of sixty-six. Born in Huy, Belgium André first made his mark on the international off-road scene by winning the FIM 125cc Motocross European Championship in both 1973 and 1974.

Born the son of a motorcycle dealer, young Malherbe started racing at just seven years, then took his first World title in 1980 and was successful in defending his 500c crown the following year after having missed out on winning the 250cc series in 1977 when he finished third overall.

The Belgian warrior secured his third and final 500cc championship in 1984 before retiring from motocross with forty-one victories to his name. Soft spoken, polite but with a strong character and will to succeed, André Malherbe inspired respect, a true gentleman on and off the track. He was one of the Motocross greats of the eighties. His battles with Hakan Carlqvst and Dave Thorpe are legendary.

Sadly, Malherbe crashed heavily during the 1988 Paris Dakar Rally and sustained serious injuries that left him paralysed.

On behalf of Infront Moto Racing, the FIM and the whole Motocross collective we would like to extend our sincere condolences to André's family and friends for this difficult time.

It’s that time of the year!

Get ready for Black Friday at MXGP-Store.com and enjoy 20% off ALL products between the 21^st and 27^th of November! 

This is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on all the official FIM Motocross World Championship merchandise.  

It’s also a great occasion to prepare for Christmas and gift that special MXGP merch to a friend or family member. The MXGP collection features T-Shirts, hoodies, jackets, womenswear and kids clothing as well as many accessories such as socks, backpacks, sunglasses, beanies, umbrellas and much more.

Fast worldwide shipping is also available on all products.

Don’t miss out and shop online HERE. 

SDMCORSE - AVIOMETAL MX TEAM  is pleased to announce his new projects for the 2023 season that, thanks to the cooperation of Husqvarna Motorcycle, will see the team taking part to the MXGP World Championship and the Prestige Italian Championship.

This is a  great challenge for our team which reconfirms his presence in the top category of the Motocross World Championship.

To represent Team’s colors on the World Championship tracks riding the Husqvarna FC450 will be Nicholas Lapucci that will take part in his second MXGP season.

Daniele Marchese, Team Manager: “We are very happy of this new adventure, after two demanding seasons, that taught us a lot and gave us a lot of satisfaction; we are back racing with Husqvarna Motorcycles, the bike with which we made our debut in the World Championship a few seasons ago. We are also extremely happy for the agreement with Nicholas Lapucci, with whom we won our and his first EMX250 race back in 2018 and we are pretty sure that with commitment and work, we will be able to collect many satisfactions together also in the MXGP class” 

Photo copyrigths: SDMCORSE - Aviometal MX Team