MXGP

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce the signing of up-and-coming motocross racers Jed Beaton and Kay de Wolf, who will compete on Husqvarna machinery throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons. With 20-year-old Beaton entering the MX2 World Championship aboard the FC 250, 14-year-old de Wolf will make the switch to EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing competition on the TC 125. 

One of the revelations of the 2018 FIM MX2 World Championship, Jed Beaton will race with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Beaton took the international motocross community by surprise in 2017 by securing a podium result in the MX2 category at the season finale in France. 

Enjoying a stellar start to his first full season of international 250cc class competition in 2018, the young Australian secured a podium result at the GP of Portugal and was placed fifth in the provisional MX2 World Championship standings before injury at the GP of Great Britain in June. 

A welcome addition to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing squad, Beaton will join Thomas Kjer-Olsen in a strong two-rider MX2 team that will remain under the guidance of former FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion Jacky Martens. 

Runner-up in both the 2018 EMX85 European Championship and the 2018 Junior 85cc World Championship, Kay de Wolf is a highly promising young racer. Demonstrating his potential at the EMX85 and Junior World Championship finals, he was a force to be reckoned with at both events in the Czech Republic and Australia. Kay is also the reigning 2018 Dutch 85cc Champion. 

Making the switch to the 125cc class, the young rider from The Netherlands is set to enter the 2019 EMX125 European Championship aboard Husqvarna’s TC 125 machine. 

Jed Beaton – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing: “It’s a great honour for me to join the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna MX2 team. Growing up in Australia, it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to be able to race the Motocross World Championship. As a member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna MX2 team I believe I am in the best possible position to fight for the ultimate goal of becoming world champion. The team never cease to impress me with their professionalism and I am really looking forward to starting the new chapter of my career with them.” 

Kay de Wolf – Husqvarna Motorcycles’ EMX 125 rider: “I am excited to turn a new page in my career with Husqvarna Motorcycles’ official team. I have always looked up to their achievements and to be part of this team now feels like a dream has come true. I’ve had a great season in 2018, with two titles in The Netherlands and two second place results in the European and Junior World 85cc Championships and I am prepared to step it up now. This is an exciting time in my career as a motocross racer and I am extra motivated to continue getting better.” 

Diego Clement – Head of Motorsport at Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We are pleased to have Jed Beaton and Kay de Wolf join our team for the next two years. It is a major part of our philosophy to invest in up-and-coming talent and we strongly believe Jed and Kay have a lot to give to our team. Despite his young age Jed has proven he’s strong both physically and mentally and we believe this is a great asset going into the long and demanding 20-round-long MX2 World Championship. Alongside Thomas Kjer-Olsen, they will form a solid two-rider team that will represent Husqvarna Motorcycles in MX2 class competition. For Kay de Wolf, we’ve been following his progress for some time and we are excited to have him onboard. Our team will do their best so that both Jed and Kay will be able to demonstrate their true potential and grow, as racers, with us.” 

Jacky Martens- Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team manager: “I am confident that signing Jed Beaton and Kay de Wolf will help us continue our positive development in international motocross racing. As a team, we’re always setting the bar high and with Jed joining TKO in our Rockstar Energy Husqvarna MX2 team I believe we have two very strong riders who can battle for the 2019 MX2 World Championship. As for Kay, he is one of the most talented young riders and our job now is to take him to the next level. Our long-term agreement gives us the opportunity to prepare Kay for MX2 class competition in the future. Investing in young talents and allowing them to grow to championship contenders has always been our major objective. We are all excited to start working with Jed and Kay.”

Photo: From left ro Right: Jacky Martens, Jed Beaton & Diego Clement

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

World leaders in air filter technology, Twin Air have worked closely together with Honda to win motocross races and World Championships for over two decades, and are proud to announce the continuation of that relationship for another three years.

The Dutch company will continue to supply Team HRC’s factory Honda CRF machines in the FIM Motocross World Championship until the end of the 2021 season, providing their trademark air filters as well as filter cleaning products, airbox covers and exhaust plugs.

Boasting optimum balance of protection against particles and maximum airflow for greater power, Twin Air filters are the ideal complement to the Honda CRF250R and CRF450R, ensuring absolute holeshot power alongside race-winning durability and protection.

With the 2018 MXGP season having already drawn to a close, Team HRC’s 2019 pre-season development is already well underway with Twin Air at the heart of product development for the 2019 Honda CRF450RW and CRF250RW. A comprehensive test programme will lead up to the first round of next year at the end of February

Marcus de Freitas, Team HRC Manager

“The relationship we have with Twin Air has gone back many years and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success in the Motocross World Championship. Their experience is unrivalled and they work with many factory Honda racing teams across the world so are perfectly placed to continue to support us for the next three years with their world-leading products.”

Pieter Does, Twin Air General Manager

“We’ve been supporting Honda in motocross for many years, from the beginning since Eric Geboers, and we support factory Honda teams throughout the world, so we’re very proud to continue this winning relationship with Team HRC for another three years. One of the key benefits for us is that we’re able to develop our products on the race bikes, in the most extreme of off-road environments, even before the productions versions come out, so our distributors and dealers will already have our products ready in their shops for every new Honda CRF launched.”

Photo: From left to right: Marcus de Freitas, Team HRC Manager & Pieter Does, Twin Air General Manager

Copyright: Honda Racing

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce the signing of Arminas Jasikonis who will race for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team throughout the 2019 season. The 21-year-old racer from Lithuania will partner Pauls Jonass in a highly promising two-rider team that will compete in the MXGP class of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Entering the MXGP World Championship at the age of 19, the highlight of Arminas Jasikonis’ career to date was a podium result at the GP of Portugal in 2017, during his first full season of international 450cc competition. Set to enter his third full season of MXGP class racing with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, the tall Lithuanian will pilot Husqvarna’s FC 450 machine in the 20-round 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship.

At just 21 years of age, both Arminas Jasikonis and his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team partner Pauls Jonass have bright futures ahead of them. Together they form a highly-promising Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team, which will remain under the guidance of highly-experienced GP racer Antti Pyrhönen.

Arminas Jasikonis – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing: “I’m really looking forward to entering the 2019 series with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna MXGP team. I’ve been closely following their work and to finally be a member of this great team feels like a dream has come true. I admire their professionalism and I am willing to work harder than ever so I can give my best in each and every GP. This will be my third full season in the MXGP category and I am really motivated to make it the best one so far. Coming from a shoulder injury, I’ve worked really hard to be physically stronger and I’m now looking forward to start riding my new FC 450 machine. It’s a great bike and I believe I am capable of doing great things aboard this machine.”

Diego Clement – Head of Motorsport at Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We strongly believe in Arminas’ potential and we are excited to have him join our team for the coming season. Despite his young age, Arminas will be now entering his third complete season of MXGP class competition. Demonstrating good speed in the past, he is already a podium finisher in the class. Our immediate goal with Arminas is to help him turn this potential into consistently positive results. I have full confidence that our MXGP team can provide Arminas with what’s needed in orderto take his career to new level.”

Antti Pyrhönen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team manager: “We are looking forward to working with Arminas Jasikonis and I personally believe he will be a perfect fit to our team alongside Pauls Jonass. Battling through a challenging season, Arminas is extremely motivated to turn a new page in his career with our team. We want to provide him with all the right tools so that he can step up his game and become a contender for podium results and GP victories. Both Arminas and Pauls are extremely talented and we believe in their potential. I am really looking forward to seeing them battle it out in the MXGP class once the season begins.”

Copyright: Husqvarna Racing

The 26 Min season review of 2018 MXGP Championship is online now full of racing action showcasing the 20 stops of the FIM World Motocross calendar. Testing the best riders alongside the beauty of Patagonia-Argentina, snow of Valkenswaard, and the sands of Lommel to the great brand new rounds of Asia, Turkey, and several others the 2018 MXGP season was epic.

Watch as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings works to earn the prestigious FIM Motocross World Championship against the tough competition of the premier MXGP category such as 9-time World Champion teammate Antonio Cairoli, Belgian Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team rider Clement Desalle, and various other former World Champions such as Team HRC’s Tim Gajser or Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre.

Not to mention you can also get a behind the scenes look at the MX2 World Championship with the young Spanish sensation, and new champion, from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Jorge Prado along with Thomas Kjer Olsen and Thomas Covington from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory racing, Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen and many more.

The new 26 Min Season Review is ready and waiting check it out now HERE 

The last installment in the three-episode series “Science of Scrub with Tim Gajser” digs even deeper into the art of scrubbing – as well as its pros and cons when it comes to competitive motocross racing.

Tim Gajser, who has delighted crowds and fans around the world with this move – performed on his factory-spec Honda CRF450RW – wraps up this interesting talk with HRC World Motocross Adviser Roger Harvey and Honda Motor Europe Off-Road Manager Gordon Crockard.

Watch the video below 

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 30 October 2018 - Youthstream is proud to announce that the sixty-third issue of MXGP Mag is now online. The newest issue of MXGP Mag features the now 6-time Monster Energy Motocross of Nations Champions team France on the cover and gets you caught up on the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at RedBud from the off track atmosphere to Fox Holeshots and more. Also included is a recap of the special Women’s edition of the MXGP Academy held in Assen, Netherlands and then we check out the 1990 Suzuki 250cc of Alex Puzar plus we feature motocross hall of fame athlete Grant Langston!

Click here to read the sixty-third issue of MXGP Mag or download it for FREE on Apple Store or Google Play.

Those 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

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American legend, Ricky Johnson has ridden his heart out for Team USA at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Scoring race wins, individual wins and team wins he shared some thoughts after the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Redbud a few weeks ago.

Ricky Johnson: “They didn’t adapt to the track, or the riding styles, it’s a track, its dirt and it’s a competition and you have to adapt to what the conditions are, and the American riders didn’t at this edition of the Monster Energy FIM MXoN in RedBud. I felt there was too much pressure on the American team, to me they rode stressed out. Plessinger to me was screaming the bike, he should have shifted. I know he is a big guy for a 250, but still he was screaming it really hard. All three were really hard on the berms, they were just hitting them really hard. “

Johnson won’t hear all the excuses though, he knows that unless the Team USA rider look harder at their performances and try and change some things, then it is going to be difficult to be competitive in Assen in 2019, when the Monster Energy FIM MXoN is run in the deep white sand.

“The bottom line is, we got beat and for a lot of reasons, and not excuses, just it is what it is, we need to change some stuff, because the MXGP riders are unbelievably fast. I stood with Roger (De Coster) during some of the races, watching the rider’s styles of Herlings and Cairoli, and he was telling our guys (Team USA) the same thing he used to tell me (to change their styles to suit the circuit), and our guys back in the 80s.”

Johnson was impressed with the Saturday performances of Jeffrey Herlings, when he came from a long way back, and while he only went 3-1-2 for the weekend, he really showed how much better he is than everyone else in that Saturday charge.

“It was phenomenal, and I like Herlings, he reminds me and he wants to win all the time, and that can bite you. You have to be smart and right now, he has the World intimidated with his speed. I was also impressed with Antonio Cairoli. Had he not gone down in that first turn and he got hit hard, but he bounced back. It would have been great to see him and Herlings up front fighting, but it didn’t happen. Bottom line, very impressed with Jeffrey Herlings.”

Of course, 2019 is another year, and while Team France are the dominant team in the Monster Energy FIM MXoN, you can never count out the Dutch, Italian, and also Team USA among the others. 

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 25 October 2018 - Youthstream has had several successful days at the 29th edition of the prestigious Sportel convention on sports marketing and media leaders at the famous Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The annual event, which this year welcomed more than 3,000 delegates from 968 companies representing 78 countries, has now wrapped up but gave Youthstream the opportunity of meeting with top media providers expanding MXGP and Motocross in general to new doors around the world.

Several productive meetings took place at this year’s event between Youthstream representatives and key media such as Italy’s Rai Sport who have agreed to broadcast the entire 2019 season LIVE or delayed with the goal of programming as many LIVE programs as possible. The agreement is aided by the massive Italian following of the 9-time Champion Antonio Cairoli who took second in the 2018 Championship.

In addition a renewed agreement with FOX Sports Latin America will guarantee 3 more years of MXGP coverage from 2019 to 2021 after having successful viewership of the previous seasons.

With the success of 2018 Champions of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado the Netherlands’ NOS will have identical LIVE coverage as in 2018 and Spain’s Movistar will broadcast the 26 Min Magazine following each event of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship season along with the 2019 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations.

Youthstream also had the chance to meet with traditional partners such as Eurosport, who will continue with the same coverage as 2018, TELENET and RTBF in Belgium, Sport TV Portugal, FOX Sports Asia, Sport TV Slovenia, Band Sports Brazil, La Chaine L’Equipe France, RTL Netherlands and MTV Finland, all of which were glad to share their positive feedback of the racing and its coverage.

Several meetings also laid the groundwork for future projects with media outlets such Motorsport.tv Russia, TV Play Sports in the Baltic countries, and China’s important digital platforms Sina and Weibo as MXGP prepares for the rounds of Shangai, China and Hong Kong in 2019.

In addition to working on increasing the coverage of MXGP, Youthstream also worked to add to the quality of existing coverage by meeting with some of Sportel’s numerous attendees and representatives researching the newest technologies in digital media and social platforms.

Main Photo: from left to right: Youthstream Director Didier Henriod & Rai Representative Rodolfo David Funaro

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Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to welcome Pauls Jonass to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team, where the 21-year-old Latvian will compete on Husqvarna’s FC 450 machine throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons. 

Crowned MX2 World Champion in 2017, Pauls Jonass has been one of the most successful 250cc class riders in recent history. With the 2017 season being the highlight of his career to date, that season Pauls reached the podium in 15 out of the 19 rounds. Involved in a thrilling battle to defend his title throughout 2018, Pauls ended his campaign as the 2018 FIM MX2 World Championship runner-up. 

Despite his young age, Pauls Jonass already has more than a decade of motocross racing experience under his belt. Gradually advancing through the ranks of the junior categories, Pauls was crowned the 2011 85cc Junior World Champion, winning the 125cc Junior Motocross World Championship two years later. 

At just 21 years of age, Jonass is one of the most promising young riders of his era. Known for his strong work ethic and determination to succeed, the rider from Aizpute, Latvia is a perfect fit for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. 

With Pauls Jonass joining the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP squad with immediate effect, further details on the team’s complete line-up will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Pauls Jonass – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing: “I’m really excited to be part of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team. The switch to the MXGP category is a big move for me but I can’t wait to get started. Joining such an acclaimed team gives me a huge amount of motivation to continue working hard in order to achieve my goals. I’m looking ahead to a great future with the team. I’ve known Antti Pyrhönen and the rest of the team members for some years already and it feels good to start working with them. Following my knee surgery last month, my goal right now is to start riding my Husqvarna at the earliest possible time. I want to maximise my time on the bike, so I can be fully-fit and ready to enter this exciting new season in the MXGP category.” 

Diego Clement – Head of Motorsport at Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We are extremely happy to have former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass join our team. We truly believe Pauls has the potential to become a frontrunner in the extremely competitive MXGP category. Pauls is one of the most experienced motocross racers of his generation and already a three-time World Champion. His speed is never in doubt, and he has impressed us, as he has the wider motocross community, with his ability to perform on varying track conditions. It’s going to be an exciting new season and we are all looking forward to seeing Pauls do battle against the MXGP class elite aboard our FC 450 machine.” 

Kimi Räikkönen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (IceOne) team owner: “With Pauls joining our team the goal is to continue our success. The Motocross World Championship is the most competitive global motocross series and we’re pleased to be strengthening our team with a former World Champion. I am confident all members of our team will give their best to help Pauls achieve his goals in the MXGP class.” 

Antti Pyrhönen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team manager: “We are all looking forward to working with Pauls Jonass as he starts an exciting new chapter in his professional motocross career. Everyone knows Pauls is an extremely hard working rider, which we know will help him fit in perfectly with our team. Already being a world champion speaks volumes about his capabilities. He is both physically and mentally strong and has demonstrated time and again that he is able to excel even under the toughest conditions. We all can’t wait to start working with this young and extremely talented rider.”

Copyright: Photo: Bavo Swijgers

The off season is underway and KTM Marchetti Racing Team has announced their line up for the upcoming 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship. The Team, managed by Elio Marchetti, has already started to work for the new season and with their 2019 KTM bikes.

Confirmed to take on 2019 with the Marchetti KTM’s is Iker Larranaga and Andrea Zanotti. The two riders have joined the Marchetti Team to compete in the MX2 Motocross World Championship for the new year.

Larranaga is a 22-year old from Spain, the Spanish MX2 National Champion, and he finished out the 2018 MX2 World Championship 18th overall, while Zanotti is an 18-year old rider from San Marino and a multi time Italian champion in various classes including 85 and 125cc.

The pair's experience and youth will be an interesting combination and strong addition to the 2019 MX2 Motocross World Championship.

Copyright: Photo: Marchetti Racing

From left to right: Team Manager Elio Marchetti, MX2 Rider Iker Larranaga