MXGP

2021 is already shaping up to be interesting as the FIM Motocross World Championship continues to grow with Beta making a comeback to motocross and joining the already highly competitive group of factory brands!

The new venture will see SDM Corse, a team who have been in the game for the last 6 years, joining the squad of elite factory teams to become Beta SDM Corse Racing Team for the upcoming season with their riders Jeremy Van Horebeek and Jimmy Clochet. 

In the latest issue of MXGP Magazine we take a look at the history of Beta, SDM Corse and their new venture into the FIM Motocross World Championship, along with exclusive interviews with Jeremy Van Horebeek and Jimmy Clochet ahead of their season debut on the all-new Beta MX450. Read the full feature HERE! 

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 21 April 2021 – Infront Moto Racing and UFO PLAST are proud to announce the renewal of their successful partnership for another 3 years.

UFO is an Italian based company that has been in the motocross world for many years, including the FIM Motocross World Championship. The brand manufactures helmets, boots, goggles, gear and accessories for the motocross, snow, and biking industries. The company has made its name by being committed to making sure its products, made in Italy, are of the highest quality, design, and innovation.

The extended agreement will see UFO present in the FIM Motocross World Championship, including trackside advertising at all of the events including the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Furthermore, with teams and riders in the paddock using their equipment, this will allow the brand to continue important product development with the fastest riders in the world!

There are exciting new launches to come from the Italian-based company, which will be showcased during the upcoming MXGP season!

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

UFO

Four-time world champion Tim Gajser will be aiming to make it five titles in the last seven years, when the 2021 MXGP season kicks off in June this year. The Team HRC rider has won the last two MXGP championships in a row and he’s confident that the Honda CRF450RW is once again the machine to propel him to glory, after signing a multi-year extension at the end of last year. Alongside Tim is Australian rider Mitch Evans, who made the step-up to MXGP in 2020 and proved he belongs there after a number of good performances in his rookie campaign.

Currently the season is scheduled to begin at the hilly Orlyonok track in Russia on June 12-13, giving the riders just under two months to get themselves back into race shape after what has been an elongated off-season. Like last year, there is a one-day format for the MXGP class, with all the action taking place on the Sunday, something which both riders took time to adapt to, however once they got into their rhythm, Tim especially was able to qualify with first gate pick eight times in 2020.

Following the successful launch of the new Honda CRF450RW last year, this season is all about improving and tweaking things for what is scheduled to be a tough year of racing. After the weekend off after Russia, there is a scheduled six races in six weekends on a multitude of terrains so Tim, Mitch and the bike have to be fully prepared to tackle whatever obstacles they face. Fortunately, Team HRC are well prepared after a stop-start 2020 season, proving they could come out on top and so 2021 should hold no fear in what they hope could be another record-breaking campaign.

Tim Gajser: “I can’t wait until we can go racing again and start the 2021 season. Even though we finished in November last year, we have still had a long break and I feel fit, healthy and ready for the first gate drop. I’ve had a good off-season, managed to recharge my batteries and I’m raring to go. After the big change with the new Honda CRF450RW last year, this year we have refined a few things and I’m excited to go even better, and show-off the work that everyone has put in behind the scenes. It will be hard to improve upon the last couple of seasons when I became world champion, but I always try to get better and turn my weaknesses into strengths. Before Russia, I will gradually step up my training so that I am ready for that race, but I am also aware that it will be a long season and I don’t want to peak too early. Really though, I just want to go racing and see all my fans again and thank them in person for all the support I have received. I miss all the signing-sessions and the selfies and I really hope that they will be able to cheer me on, along the fence this season”.

Mitch Evans: “After re-signing with Team HRC last year, I am really hoping I can showcase my abilities in 2021. I’ve had a difficult recovery from the wrist injury, but I know what I can achieve, and I think I showed glimpses of that in 2020, so now I am just trying to get myself into a position where I can do it consistently in the MXGP class in 2021. Of course, it won’t be easy as the class is filled with great riders, but I know what I am capable of and I know what it takes to achieve a title as I’m alongside the current world champ under the Team HRC awning. Russia is a couple of months away and I’ll be utilising that time as effectively as possible to come out swinging in round one”.

Marcus Pareira de Freitas – HRC General Manager: “Last year was obviously a great year for Team HRC as Tim won his fourth world title and his second in succession. It certainly wasn’t an easy year, with the big break and the new one-day format and triple-headers, but the whole team worked hard to make it happen and that is what I’m hoping we can repeat in 2021. Our team is extremely professional and both Tim and Mitch proved they can adapt to everything last year, so we are confident that 2021 will be another good year for Honda”.

Photo Copyright: Bavo Swijgers

It’s almost go time for the 2021 season of the FIM Motocross World Championship, as we begin our countdown to the season opener. This also means that there’s just a couple of months left for the teams and riders to add the final touches to their highly coordinated off-season prep to ensure they’re ready to go!

Every year, as the winter months roll in, riders and teams migrate south to warmer climates in order to get their off-season prep underway. Popular destinations tend to be Spain or Italy, not only for the good weather but also for some of the awesome tracks around the area.

The teams usually base themselves in one of the two countries for a month or more, to get as much riding and testing time in as possible and some will take part in various pre-season races, most notably the Italian Championship.

We caught up with some of the teams and riders during their time in Sardinia, to learn more about their off-season preparation as well as their thoughts heading into the new season of MXGP. Read the full feature in the latest issue of MXGP Magazine. Check it out HERE!

Steve Dixon has always invested into the sport of motocross, be it with his team, or the events he has run over the years. With a positive attitude and friendly nature, it isn’t difficult to like the mind set of the British team owner and British GP promoter. After not being on the schedule at the beginning of 2021, we have found Matterley Basin back on the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar and as the second round on June 27.

Fortunately, England is well advanced in the dispatching of Covid 19 vaccine, which has meant we are seeing the sport already getting on its feet. British Championship races will be run in May and June, and large spectator numbers are also allowed, meaning the British GP will be a sell-out success. Dixon has already had his team racing and gave us a rundown on what is possible leading into the GP at the end of June.

“From the 29th of March we were allowed to go riding again,” Dixon said. “We can also do outdoor sports. We even did a small race locally on April 2, run by my local club. From May 17 you can have up to 10,000 spectators outdoors and 4000 or 25% of the capacity at a normal indoor event.”

Dixon continued on his healthy relationship with Infront Moto Racing, a business partnership that has seen the British GP run at many different stages of the season, and in all types of weather conditions. Without such a loyal relationship, the sport just can’t move forward.

“Obviously, I always have contact with Infront Moto Racing, and we knew that there was a good chance there would be a British GP in 2021, even when we were not on the original calendar. We always talk, and we are always there to help each other. I would run a GP in any circumstance and whenever there are some empty dates we would fit in wherever, it doesn’t really matter to me. The council are up for it and it doesn’t take long to organize a GP now and the track is ready to rock and roll.”

Always ready to organize the Grand Prix, Dixon is happy that he still has a couple of months to make it a Grand Prix not to be missed. With little motocross run in the UK in 2020, motocross fans will be desperate to get to Matterley Basin and cheer on their local riders. The job of bringing the event alive is a piece of cake now for Dixon, as a dozen events have been run at his beloved Matterley Basin over the last 15 or so years.

“To organize a Grand Prix, to have it physically up and running, it takes about a week. It doesn’t take long at all and we have the same people, and they all know their job. Now we have a lot of time to organize this year’s GP and I think with the crowds being allowed; it will be a big success.”

So, get prepared for another edition of the British Grand Prix, and again, at one of the most beautiful circuits in the world!

Glenn Coldenhoff is like fine wine; he just gets better with age. His back-to-back class wins at the last two Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations events and 3^rd overall in the highly competitive MXGP class in 2019 cement those facts, and after switching from KTM to GasGas for 2020, the motocross fraternity expected big things from ‘The Hoff’.

However, his season was bookended by injuries and his rise towards the top step was temporarily halted. Needless to say, his move to the highly coveted Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team during the recent off-season will no doubt provide bucket loads of enthusiasm for the amiable Holland native and as he prepares to line up on the mesh, MXGP Magazine caught up with the ‘259’ to see how he is getting to grips with his new surroundings.

Check out the full interview in the latest issue of MXGP Magazine. Read it HERE!

Photo Copyright: Bavo Swijgers / Yamaha Racing

Dear MXGP Friends,

We are now sixty days from the time the starting gates will drop for the 2021 MXGP season.

Taking into consideration the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, we published an updated calendar for the 2021 MXGP season last week.

The first Grand Prix will now take place on the beautiful location of Orlyonok in Russia on the 13^th of June. As I mentioned in my precedent editorials, it is vital for Motocross and MXGP to be able to host public during the events. For this reason, we are pushing the beginning of the season one month later. With the vaccination campaigns that are accelerating in many countries, we are very confident that we may have this possibility very soon. 

We are very glad to confirm the comeback of the Grand Prix of Great Britain, in Matterley Basin and Maggiora for Italy, two of the most appreciated tracks in the world. The overseas Grand Prix’s have been put at the end of the championship because we strongly believe the long-haul travels will also be easier when we arrive to autumn/winter time. On top of that the weather conditions will be good in Indonesia and Argentina at this time of the year.

We also announced some changes concerning the timetable of the GP weekend. Like last year, we will concentrate the European Championships on Saturday and the MX2 and MXGP program will take place on Sunday. Those changes are made in priority to give more comfort to the riders, mechanics and teams. We will have to manage the exceptional repetition of Grand Prix for this season.

Finally, on a very positive note, Infront Moto Racing just launched last week the official MXGP’s merchandising online store. By visiting www.mxgp-store.com you will find big variety of clothes, goodies, souvenirs and full of ideas for presents to be ready for the new season!

David Luongo

CEO of Infront Moto Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13 April 2021 - Infront Moto Racing is thrilled to announce a 5-year cooperation with MYLAPS Sports Timing, helping to promote the most diverse MX series in the world. A new year presents a new opportunity to bring MXGP to a next level. From the 2021 season the world’s best motocross riders will benefit from the latest innovations in timekeeping and race control.

Next to the most reliable and accurate timing system in the industry, MYLAPS will provide the series with 2-way communication and live tracking. This new technology, called X2 Link, will be rolled out soon, allowing race officials to send the flag status (like yellow flags) to the riders on their bikes or to signalling devices alongside the track in order to improve safety. Also, it will additionally give the opportunity to capture live data during the race and in the future, it will add the possibility for the teams, officials and for broadcasters to get more information, allowing the fans to have an unprecedented experience of the race.

Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: ‘We are glad to partner with the worldwide expert and leader of timing and race control solution. The system will allow all the MXGP stakeholders to get more detailed information about the racing but also for us, as promotor of the sport, we will be able to develop more tools to bring new data to the fans during the event. We are very excited to start this new collaboration with MYLAPS and hope for a bright future together in MXGP.’

MYLAPS CEO Camiel Slaats: ‘We look forward to work together with MXGP and participate in the development of the sport. Infront is a reputed promotor in motorsports and we feel honoured to be their technical supplier. Our X2 platform offers enhanced race control, timekeeping, and telemetry features in one solution and we can’t wait to see it integrated in the MXGP operations.’

About MYLAPS Sports Timing

At MYLAPS we support racers, athletes, and events in creating their ultimate sports experience. Every year we capture the performance of over 20 million people all over the world. We develop accurate, reliable and easy-to-use technology to turn data into insights, progress, and fun. Founded in 1982, we have revolutionized the world of sports timing and race control with groundbreaking innovations and set the standard ever since. Our products and platforms are used at professional events like the Olympics and INDYCAR to countless local events around the corner.

About MXGP

MXGP is the official FIM Motocross World Championship promoted by Infront Motor Racing. Being the biggest international motocross events’ series, it features the world’s best MX riders, who all gather to compete across the most spectacular circuits around the globe in the hope of becoming FIM World Champion.

About Infront Moto Racing

Infront Moto Racing is the company that manages the exclusive television, marketing and promotional worldwide rights of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FIM Motocross of Nations, the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, the FIM Veteran's Motocross World Cup, the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, the FIM Snowcross World Championship, the Motocross European Championship and the Motocross of European Nations.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MYLAPS Sports Timing

As we count down the days to the start of our second season of bar-banging FIM Motocross World Championship action, we’re excited that we’ll soon get to see our four super-talented racers fly the GASGAS flag. Handling business in the MXGP class, and looking for a little redemption, will be Pauls Jonass alongside our second 450-class newcomer Brian Bogers. In MX2, things will be taken care of by the hard-charging Isak Gifting and our young German hot-shot Simon Langenfelder.

Representing GASGAS Motorcycles in the MXGP division, the Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing team has enlisted an all-new rider line-up for 2021. Former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass is joined by Dutchman Brian Bogers, and we’re confident this formidable pairing is capable of strong results throughout the upcoming season.

Despite missing much of the 2020 season due to injury, Pauls has made a quick transition to our MC 450F and has spent the winter busting out the laps in Spain in readiness for the 2021 MXGP World Championship. Feeling confident in both himself and with his new bike, the Latvian looks to return to his 2019 speed, which saw him climb onto the overall MXGP podium three times en route to finishing sixth in the final series standings.

The highly capable Brian Bogers put together an impressive 2020 MXGP World Championship season, which didn’t go unnoticed. Now, with the Dutchman armed with a full factory GASGAS MC 450F, we’re confident of supporting Brian reach the next level and believe he’ll be knocking on the door of the top five throughout the 2021 series.

In the MX2 class, Isak Gifting returns to the DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing team for his first full season of world championship competition. He’ll be joined by Simon Langenfelder, another super-talented racer who frustratingly had his 2020 campaign cut short due to injury.

Since joining the DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing team as a fill-in rider last year, Isak Gifting has certainly impressed on the MC 250F. The super-Swede claimed a couple of MX2 moto podiums, ending the season with a strong run of results. Carrying that momentum into the winter months, the 20-year-old has enjoyed his first off-season as part of an official team and has fully embraced the opportunity to better himself ahead of the 2021 season. With the modest goal of achieving consistent top-10 results, Isak has the speed to challenge for the podium on a weekly basis.

Simon Langenfelder returns for his second season of racing in the MX2 World Championship aboard GASGAS machinery. The young German showed huge potential in 2020 with his season highlighted by a fifth-place moto finish at round two, before placing ninth overall at the MXGP of Riga just two rounds later. Spending much of the off-season focused on his riding technique and improving his overall speed, Simon is now poised to break into the top 10 on a regular basis in 2021.

Scheduled to start on June 13 in Russia, the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship consists of 19 rounds across the globe. Our racers will face the harshest of conditions, tough competitors, and experience bar-to-bar racing at each event with the champions crowned in Indonesia on December 5.

Pauls Jonass: “A new team for me this year and I’m really excited to be racing on a GASGAS! The Standing Construct team have had a lot of success in the past and they’re really professional, so I’m aiming to achieve strong results with them this season. Everything has been great so far and I feel like I fit in the team really well. I returned to riding in November and since then I’ve just been building and building and I’m in a really good place now with the bike and my fitness. If we can continue like this then my top-five speed will return, and I believe that I can push for the podium again. It’s not going to be easy but with how I’m feeling and with the progress we have made, it’s an achievable goal. We have a little bit of time until round one so until then we will keep working and learning. The goal for the year is to remain injury-free and be in the battle consistently every weekend. If we can do that then it will put us in a good place at the end of the season.”

Brian Bogers: “It’s been an easy transition for me going into the Standing Construct team. They are really organized, very professional and great people to work with. They already had a very good base setting for the bike, so I’ve not needed to do a lot of testing because the bike is already amazing. We did make some small changes for comfort mostly, so it’s been great to just ride and focus on my training both on and off the bike. With the calendar changes we have made a different training schedule in the lead up to round one but either way, I’ll be ready for the opening round. I have a really good team behind me, and they have given me the confidence to reach the next level so I will be pushing for stronger results in 2021.”

Isak Gifting: “I’m really excited for this year having spent a full off-season with the team, preparing for the season ahead. It was something new for me and I know that all the work that we have done will really help me when we start racing. We’ve spent a lot of time testing suspension settings and the bike is a really big improvement on last year. It was good last year but now, after spending all winter refining the bike, I feel the best I ever have on it. There is a little bit of pressure on me this season as the team and myself know that I can be on the podium, but I’m keeping my feet on the ground. The goals for this year are to be regularly inside the top 10, podium more often, and be more consistent. I think that on sand tracks I can push for wins. I’m realistic and know that it won’t be easy but with the progress that I’ve made with my preparation over the winter, and the improvements to the bike, I believe that I can achieve my goals this season.”

Simon Langenfelder: “It’s been a really productive winter for me. I recovered from my injury and then began testing with the team in December. We have some new parts on the bike for this season, so we spent some time finding the best set-up and we made some really good progress. The bike is improved a lot compared to last year. We’ve also ridden in a lot of different countries on many different surfaces, to test the bike in different conditions and it’s been really positive. On a personal level, I’ve worked on my technique as well. I’m using the clutch a lot less now, so this has helped with my momentum in corners. I’ve also focused on improving my fitness as well. I scored a couple of top-10 results in 2020 so my focus is on being a consistent top-10 rider in each and every race this year, and I feel like I can push for top fives as well. I’m excited to start the season. I feel really good on the bike and my fitness has never been better. I’m looking forward to a great season of racing.”

Robert Jonas – VP Motorsports Offroad: “Starting our second season of MXGP racing is a really exciting time for GASGAS. Last year, we achieved a lot of success including a GP win. This year, we believe that our riders can challenge for more wins and be at the front of the field in both classes. We have an all-new rider line-up in the MXGP class for 2021, and led by former world champion Pauls Jonass we're really looking forward to seeing what they can do on the MC 450F. Alongside Pauls, Brian Bogers showed incredible consistency and scored some really good results in 2020 – we feel that we can help guide Brian to even better things in 2021. In MX2, we have two very exciting riders, Isak Gifting and Simon Langenfelder. Isak was a revelation after he filled in for the team last season after Simon got injured, and he scored our first podium results in MX2. His all-action riding style fits the GASGAS brand perfectly and I can’t wait to see him race this year. Simon returns to the team for his second season in MX2. He showed a lot of potential last year with many outstanding results before his injury, so he’ll be one to watch. Overall, GASGAS are in a very good place to challenge for more success in 2021. We believe in the riders and believe that they can take GASGAS to the very top in MXGP.”

Photo Copyright: GASGAS Factory Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 12 April 2021 – Infront Moto Racing is thrilled to share the 92^nd issue of the MXGP Magazine, which you can read online now!

The April issue features Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s newest addition, Glenn Coldenhoff, as we dive deeper to find out how the Dutchman is preparing for his season debut with Yamaha, along with our monthly Racing Catch-Up that also takes a look at what the rest of the paddock have been up during the off-season.

The 92^nd edition of the magazine also includes a special feature taking a look at the all-new Beta SDM Corse Racing Team as Betamotor prepares to take the step into the FIM Motocross World Championship with Jeremy Van Horebeek and Jimmy Clochet.

While this month’s Hall of Fame will look at the racing career of Paul Malin, while our Vintage Bike section will showcase Pedro Tragter’s 1993 Suzuki 125.

You can find all this plus more in the 92^nd issue of MXGP Mag, which you can download for FREE on the Apple Store or Google Play.

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