MXGP

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 10^th January 2020 – Youthstream is excited to announce the official entry lists for the opening round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, taking place at Matterley Basin, Great Britain on the 29^th February and 1^st March.

The fast-flowing track based in the south of England has hosted more GP’s than any other British venue and in 2020 it will be the 10^th time that Matterley Basin makes an appearance on the MXGP race calendar and it will also be the first time, since 2012, that the British circuit will kick of the 2020 season in Europe!

Last year the MXGP of Great Britain hosted some epic race battles between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin and Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, with the 9-time World Champion taking the overall win that weekend. Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider, Thomas Kjer Olsen with the podium victory, Henry Jacobi, now riding for Yamaha SM Action MC-Migliori, in second and the rookie, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, starting the season strong in third. But with a competitive field of riders and new ones coming through the ranks, it will be interesting to see who will be present on the podium at the first Grand Prix of the season.

To see the list of MX2 and MXGP riders who will be lining up at Matterley Basin for the first round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, check out the list below:

Click HERE to download the MXGP and MX2 Entry List for the MXGP of Great Britain in PDF format.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Great Britain

THOMAS KJER OLSEN, JED BEATON AND KAY DE WOLF SET TO START THEIR 2020 CAMPAIGNS ABOARD FC 250 MACHINERY

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to release official imagery of the 2020 Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team, featuring team riders Thomas Kjer Olsen, Jed Beaton and EMX250 rider Kay de Wolf. 

With the opening round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship now only a little over seven weeks away, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team are currently based in Spain, at the Redsand MX Park facility, where all three riders are working on both their off-bike physical training and riding, aboard their FC 250 machines. 

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team will then ready themselves for the start of the 20-round FIM Motocross World Championship, which kicks off with the GP of Great Britain on March 1 at Matterley Basin. 

Rasmus Jorgensen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 Team Manager: “With the start of the season not too far away now, things have been going really well recently. All riders took some much-needed time off at the end of last year before starting their physical preparations in November and returning to riding in December, in Belgium. Since the New Year we’ve been in Spain at Redsand MX Park and the atmosphere among the three riders is really positive – it’s great to see so much energy and willingness to work hard. Ahead of us are many more weeks of training and testing, but all riders are already feeling really comfortable and enjoying both the on and off bike work we’re doing.”

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 10 January 2020 – The 77^th issue of the MXGP Magazine is now available to read online!

This month’s cover features JM Honda Racing Team, new team in the MXGP paddock managed by motocross legend Jacky Martens, and inside you can also find a special feature on the Final OAT (Officially Approved Teams) list for the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship! Besides you can download the 2020 OAT LIST in PDF format by clicking HERE.

The 77^th issue also features a selection of mechanic board images from the 2019 season and a discussion about why they are used. Additionally, you can read about Joel Smets and his 1995 Husaberg 600 in the vintage section, John Banks who is highlighted in our January Hall of Fame as well as a recap of the great achievements MXGP reached in digital platforms during the 2019 season.

Click here to read the 77th issue of MXGP Mag or download it for FREE on 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

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP MAG

Shaun Simpson of the SS24 KTM MXGP team will lead a short list of British riders into the opening round of the 2020 MXGP championship, set for Matterley Basin in the south of England on the first weekend of March.

While a bunch of seeded riders from the UK are expected to line-up alongside Simpson and Adam Sterry in the MXGP class, including recently retired (from Grand Prix) rider Tommy Searle, the MX2 class will also have a handful of local riders battling with the best in the World.

Simpson, who is now the longest standing Grand Prix rider from Great Britain, and has also seen a couple of era’s fall in his long career, is excited to be the top home rider, but Simpson is also a little nervous as he enters a GP for the first time as a team owner too.

“It will be incredible,” Simpson says. “But also, very overwhelming and possibly a bit stressful all at the same time. The goal is to go to Matterley Basin and get two solid results first up. We haven’t had a European GP opener for a few years and there is a lot going on with media and other things. We want a Simpson Army thing going on there and we need to manage that within my circle so I can just go racing. I also enjoy the fly-away races, and it was important for me to commit to the complete championship. Starting in Europe I hope we get a good crowd.”

Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2 rider Ben Watson, should be the leading British rider in the MX2 class and knows that the crowd will be on his side at Matterley Basin. While he wants a good result, he is also excited to head to places like Argentina, which is round three of the 2020 series.

“The home GP is nice,” Watson says. “It could be wet, or it could be dry like this year. Obviously for the British riders it is special, that home GP excitement and adrenaline. It is nice to get a few races under your belt before heading to Argentina. Flying to Argentina for the first one is a bit long, but for the racing this season is better, two before we have to fly to Argentina.”

Of course, other British riders like Adam Sterry and Conrad Mewse are also expected to be in contention for major points at the season opener, giving the expected large crowd something extra to cheer about.

Yamaha Motor Europe wishes to invite riders that are eligible to join the 2020 YZ125, YZ85 and YZ65 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup programs to register now.

Since 2015, the YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup has been the best opportunity for young motocross riders to find their feet in the world of professional racing, an opportunity that successfully extended to YZ85 and YZ65 riders in 2019.

The program is open to riders that ride either a YZ125, YZ85 or YZ65 in one of the approved national championships. Throughout the season, riders will accumulate bLU cRU points, and the best 40 in each class will be invited to race the bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale which will take place in Ernée, France at the prestigious Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

The top three riders from each class competing at the SuperFinale will be joined by two wild card riders from each class at the bLU cRU Masterclass, which will take place at the end of the season.

The bLU cRU Masterclass is an event specifically designed to give young riders, from road and off-road backgrounds, a taste of what the racing world can throw at them as well as being a place to receive expert tuition from Yamaha Racing’s bLU cRU ambassadors. They'll compete, learn, grow and develop over three days of intense training and competition. At the end of the three days, one YZ125 rider will be chosen to join Yamaha’s Official EMX125 Team where he or she will contest the EMX125 Championship, and the 65 and 85 riders will win technical support by GYTR for the next season.

For riders that want their best shot at taking their riding to the next level, now is the time to enter. Please follow the instructions at the following link and sign up as soon as possible. Entries will close 28 February 2020.

Romain Febvre, the newest member of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, will open a new chapter of his already highly-successful career this year when he mounts the #3 plate on his KX450-SR.

Back on a bike for just four weeks after a three-month pause due to injury, the Frenchman has hardly had a day off his Kawasaki since his return and, after a few days back home to celebrate Christmas, he’s now back on Sardinia where he has regularly spent several weeks each winter preparing in the best conditions for the new season. “Some riders like going to Spain but I prefer Sardinia; I enjoy the island and know all the practice tracks where we can ride. The weather is usually pretty good and you don’t need to spend hours on the road to go from one location to another,” he explained. Romain was already in Sardinia in December to start working with his new crew and ride his Kawasaki following a brief session in Belgium after he was given the green light from his doctor to resume riding. “I just did a few laps on a production bike in Belgium to check if everything was OK with my leg and then I joined the mechanics who were already on Sardinia. It was a real pleasure to ride again, even though I had some slight discomfort in my leg for a couple of days. I already enjoyed the production bike but of course the feeling was even better with the factory bike and as soon as I jumped on it I felt very comfortable. The engine characteristics suit my riding style perfectly and it’s so good to have this feeling even before we start testing different options and settings. Until now the main goal was to find my marks after such a long break and we’ll start testing mid-January to prepare for my racing comeback. It’s too early to say when and where I will have my first race on the Kawasaki but I am already looking forward to it with enthusiasm,” he added.

For this new stage of his career, changing team and bike for the 2020 season, Romain will have the #3 plate on his Monster Energy Kawasaki; incidentally this is the same number which Monster Energy Kawasaki US leader Eli Tomac races in the States. “It’s just a coincidence that we will have the same number,” explained Romain. “When I was in hospital I didn’t have so many things to do, and one day I had the idea to change my racing number. I wanted a short number and this one was available for MXGP. I have always raced with #461 during my professional motocross career but the number was not really significant for me. I had #61 when I was a kid but when I moved from supermoto to motocross that number was not available for the French series; the only possibility to keep 61 was to add a 4 so that’s how the 461 came about. So for this new decade I have changed team, bike and also number, and I really appreciate working with different people; I had a great relationship with my previous team but it’s also great to have a fresh feeling around me in my new environment,” he concluded.

Copyright: Photo: Kawasaki Racing

Christmas is one of the best moments of the year and MXGP would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic 2020 season with our Video

Those at JWR Racing are ecstatic to announce that they will pilot Honda machinery in the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship and work with the very potent CRF450R. JWR will also continue to receive support from 24MX.

Further details on sponsors and the rest of the JWR programme are expected to be released on January 10, according to team owner Johan Westermark. The current plan is for two MXGP riders to use the CRF450R and an EMX250 rider to head into competition on the CRF250R. A second MXGP rider has not been signed yet, but more news on that will be released in the coming weeks. Anton Gole has already been confirmed as the first MXGP rider on JWR Honda Racing.

Anton Gole (MXGP Rider): "I have to say I really missed racing a Honda. My feeling with the CRF450R is great and I am really looking forward to start working with the JWR Honda Racing team. I know I will be working with very passionate people. The previous season in MXGP taught me lot, so now my challenge is to build on that and show what I can do against the best riders in the world. I cannot wait to get going!"

Johan Westermark (JWR Honda Racing Team Owner): "When you talk to Anton about riding the Honda it is difficult not to become enthusiastic. He is talented, works hard and gives it his best every single time that he is out on track. That is something that demands respect. He is also great with fans and media, hence why we are eager to give him everything that he needs in order for him to reach his goals."

Tonny Govers (JWR Honda Racing Team Manager): "Finally, it is a done deal for the team! Now we can start planning for the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship and get going. If some MXGP riders are interested in the last spot on the team then they can contact me on info@jwr.se."

Patrik Erlandsson (Marketing Coordinator): "I am happy to be a part of the only Swedish team in MXGP and, now that we are going to be a part of the Honda family, we are all very motivated. We will make a lot of social-media presence next year and also start up the Honda Academy again to build up the brand name."

Youthstream is pleased to announce that the tickets for the MXGP of Finland are now available online!

The 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship heads to the happiest place in the world as the brand-new circuit of KymiRing is set to host the MXGP of Finland on the 22^nd  23^rd of August.

Located in the eastern town of Lahti Region, Iitti, KymiRing Motor Circuit is already famous and has hosted its very first event which happens to be the 2019 MotoGP testing and, in the summer of 2020, it will host a very special edition of MXGP.

The weekend will be set-up as a camp where fans can feel, hear, touch, smell and see all the best of the motocross spirit. The MXGP of Finland will allow international fans to experience all the best elements of Finland including motorsports, friendly locals, safe environment and the beautiful nature surrounded by lakes and forests.

Join us for the unique ‘bonfire’ weekend as MX fans from all over the world, come together to celebrate all the best that this sport has to offer in the wonderful scenery of the Finnish countryside.

Make the most of our early bird offer now and get your tickets today!

Click HERE to get your tickets for the MXGP of Finland.

Find out more about our VIP GOLD SKYBOX pass HERE.

Livia Lancelot team manager of the 114 Motorsport Honda team is excited for the 2020 season as she heads into the MX2 championship with two Australian riders. Lancelot as a former Women’s World Motocross champion has dealt with Australian riders before and knows that their hard-working ethic and easy-going nature works well on the tough World motocross scene.

Working with 21-year-old Nathan Crawford and 18-year-old Bailey Malkiewicz the leader of the 114 Motorsport Honda team feels comfortable so far as her riders prepare for 2020.

“Obviously since we started this team with Giacomo (Gariboldi), we had Hunter and then Mitch, and I really like the spirit they have. They are working really hard and focusing on the right things. I also fell in love with their spirit of racing, and Americans are also like this. In Australia we found some good kids with a good spirit. It is a bit of a game for these guys, because we don’t know if they will make a  podium next year, I believe they can, and we have given them the chance to do it.”

What does surprise Lancelot is how close her two riders are in speed, which is a good thing as they are pushing each other hard in training.

“They are both doing really good. Sometimes Bailey is faster and sometime Nathan is faster, they are pushing each other on practice, and they will improve from that. They are riding with a full standard 250cc 2020. They have different styles and I really like watching them ride. If they keep working the way they are since they arrived, then I believe we can be on the podium in 2020.”

With more training and testing over the next few months, and of course some pre-season races Lancelot feels her riders can make podiums in 2020 and continue the connection with Australian riders on the Grand Prix podium.

Copyright: Photo: Honda