MXGP

(MONACO) Principality of Monaco, 25 September 2017 - One of the most recognized riders in women’s motocross, Kiara Fontanesi, is now the most successful in the history of FIM Women’s Motocross, now having 5 FIM WMX titles to her name Kiara is an idol to many.

Kiara Fontanesi was born and raised in Parma, Italy, where she started riding at a very young age. Kiara took after her brother who ripped around on a mini-bike. The young gymnast one ride later was hooked and ready to race.

In 2009 Kiara, at the age of 15, decided it was time to take on the world as she entered the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. While she didn’t see success early, a season of training and determination worked in her favor as she came out swinging at the final round of the 2009 WMX championship in Lierop, The Netherlands, winning the race!

One year later, in 2010, Kiara asserted herself as a permanent force to be reckoned with as she pulled off second over all at the season opener in Bulgaria and then backed up the result up with a series of podium finishes and a couple of race wins finishing fourth in the overall championship standings.

In 2011, Kiara continued to improve which resulted in several strong races and finishes in the 2011 WMX World Championship. After the season of bar to bar racing and impressive results, Kiara settled for second behind the WMX champion Stephanie Laier.

2012 was a coming of age for Kiara, after coming so close to the title in 2011, the eighteen year-old was on a mission to accomplish her life long dream of becoming World Champion. Not only did she do just that, she blew away the competition and wrapped up the championship one round early in Matterley Basin, Great Britain.

World domination had been achieved, but at nineteen years old one world title wasn’t enough and Kiara went on to claim her second consecutive WMX world title in similar style. After two years of dominance in women’s motocross, Kiara was finally challenged. Although the competition was very stiff in 2014, Kiara still managed to rise above and claimed her third FIM WMX title.

In 2015 the battle for WMX supremacy was a battle between Kiara and  2008 WMX world champion Livia Lancelot, if it wasn’t Livia winning the round it was Kiara and vice versa.  Both riders took five race wins each, but it was Kiara who took the most overall wins, three to Livia’s two.

Heading into the sixth and final round at the circuit of Loket in the Czech Republic only two points separated the protagonists in what was set to be a tense match up for the 2015 WMX crown. Livia ended up seizing her engine on the sighting lap of the final race, which meant Kiara was able to wrap up the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, for the fourth time in row.

In 2016 the competition continued to strengthen and Kiara made it difficult to contend for the championship as she had three scoreless second races during the season. Kiara finished 4th in the championship 88 points behind the champion Livia Lancelot.

2017 was a testing year for the women as they faced varied conditions through out the 6 race season and coming into the final round at Pays de Montbéliard, France, only 5 points separated the top 4 women. Anything was possible as Kiara came into the race 4th in the championship standings. While the other riders struggled to have 2 strong race results Kiara scored a first and a 3rd giving her one more point to claim her 5th World title over runner up Livia Lancelot.

Congratulations Kiara for your fifth WMX title!

Watch Kiara Fontanesi WMX World Champion HERE

Watch the WMX News Highlights from the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard HERE

Kiara Fontanesi career

First round raced: Sevlievo, Bulgaria, 2009

World Titles: 5

First World Title: WMX, 2012    

Round wins - 17

First Round win: Vantaa, Finland 2011

Last Round win: 2017, MXGP of Pays de Montbeliard, Villars sous Ecot

2017 position in the Championship 1, WMX

Other Results

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

(MONACO) Principality of Monaco, 22 September 2017 - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass has raced motocross for most of his life. Born in Kalvene, Latvia January 13th 1997, Jonass started riding back at a young age in his home country of Latvia and soon after began racing in the surrounding countries.

It didn’t take Jonass long to see success in the Baltic region reaching podiums and taking wins. However Jonass’ first real international success was in 2011 at the age of 14 when he won the 2011 FIM 85cc Junior World Championship title in Italy. In 2012, Jonass moved into the bigger 125cc class where he quickly learned the ropes taking second in EMX125cc at Uddevalla, Sweden, circuit along with a third later in the year at the FIM Junior MX World Championship in Bulgaria.

In 2013, Jonass became not only the EMX125 Champion but also the 2013 FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion aboard a KTM machine. The following year Jonass entered the MX2 World Championship with Marchetti Racing Team and in 2015 it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing that signed him on a 5 year contract from 2015 to the end of the 2019 season. Jonass raced 7 of the 2014 MX2 World Championship stops scoring points at 6 of the 7.

2015 was the first full MX2 season for Jonass and one which excelled in finishing on the podium several times to finish 2nd overall in the championship behind Tim Gajser. 2016 was an important learning season for Jonass as mistakes often hampered his potential. While running third in the Championship Jonass had a bad crash at the MXGP of Czech Republic not only ending his weekend but his 2016 season.

In 2017 we saw a new Jonass, one who had learned from his mistakes and now knew that consistency was paramount. Jonass showed this as he reached the podium 15 of the 19 rounds in vastly different conditions around the globe. Jonass rode like a veteran rebounding well and is now the 2017 MX2 FIM Motocross World Champion title with 7 Pole Positions, 14 heat wins and 6 GP wins this season as the first one was at first round of the season, in Losail, Qatar and the last came at the MXGP of Czech Republic where his season ended the year prior.

Congratulations Pauls and to your whole team at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing on your first FIM Motocross World Championship gold plate!

Watch 2017 Pauls Jonass Best Moments’ Video HERE

Pauls Jonass career

First GP Raced           2014, MXGP of Trentino

World Titles               3 (1 MX2, 1 Junior 85cc - 1 Junior 125cc)

First World Title         2011 85cc class

GP wins                    6 MX2                              

First GP win              2017, MXGP of Qatar, Losail, MX2                 

Last GP win              2017, MXGP of Czech Republic, Loket, MXGP

2017 position in the Championship        1, MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Other results

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

After the Qualifying Press Conference at the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard the Sport Director of the Supercross de Paris, Mr. Xavier Audouard had the pleasure to present the rider line up for the “2017 Supercross de Paris” which be held on November 18th and 19th in a brand new Stadium, the U Arena, at la Defence, Paris, which still is under construction and will be inaugurated very shortly. 

The line up includes some of the best Supercross and Motocross riders in the World, including the French superstar Marvin Musquin, Zach Osborne, Dean Wilson, Maxime Desprey just to name a few. The event also includes additional activities like freestyle to provide a diverse type of show.

Follow the event website HERE fore more information and tickets. 

Here we are! One of the most awaited moments of the week: MXGP in collaboration with Monster Energy has the pleasure to interview a Monster Girl at every GP. The feature will go up the week after the event.

At the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard we had the chance to catch up with the French Monster Girl, Analisa. Here what we asked:

What’s your favorite place in the entire world? France of course! Anywhere with a beach and good company I am happy – I love to travel. South of France is beautiful!

What kinds of things really make you laugh? People genuinely having fun and also animal videos on Youtube! I can watch one video then an hour later I have watched them all!

What was your favorite Monster Energy event this year? Catalunya Moto GP, always! It is in beautiful Barcelona and the sun is always shining! The atmosphere is amazing and the people are so much fun.

To get to know more about your favorite Monster Girl, check out our Monster Girls section on http://www.mxgp.com or click HERE, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.

There is no event like it in the world, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Presented by Fiat Professional. As far back as 1947 when a British team won the event at the Wassenaar circuit in The Netherlands this race has grown into a massive celebration of the best riders in the World.

Back in the 1950’s and 60s it was Sweden and Great Britain who dominated this event, before the Belgians started their amazing run of victories. Winning their first in 1948 and their last in 2013 the Belgian team have won 15 times.

Of course, after the Belgium era of domination came the might of Team USA, as the American took the event by storm in 1981 and in the last 31 years have won 22 times.

Riders like Ricky Johnson, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Johnny O’Mara, Mike Kiedrowski, Jeff Emig, Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Stanton and many more made this event their own. Then came the era of Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart and Ryan Dungey, it was an unstoppable force that was not often broken.

It had been the American team that has really brought glamour to this event, as they came in their numbers, huge budgets and total professionalism. The rest of the world had to look on with respect, take their beating and then hope for some luck the following year.

Of course, in recent years the tide has turned a little, with Team USA not winning in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

After losing four years in a row Ricky Carmichael rounds up his troops and won in 2005. The win by Team USA at the Ernee circuit in 2005 also saw the event move to another level. The brilliance of RC, plus a solid performance by New Zealander Ben Townley brought added interest to the event and each year bigger crowds, larger facilities and more media attention has seen this race grow at an alarming rate.

Since that 2005 victory America have had mixed results, but it’s been more about the improvement in the Grand Prix riders’ performances, that has seen the changing of the guard somewhat.

In 2012, it was Germany who won, then Belgium in 2013, before Team France took control of the event, winning in 2014, 2015 and 2016. France will try and become only the third team in history to win it four years on the trot, with Team USA having their 13-year winning streak and seven-year winning streak, and Team Great Britain winning it five years running in 1963, 64, 65, 66 and 67.

Team France rider Gautier Paulin will also be going for something special, trying and become only the third rider in the events history to win the event four years in a row. It had been done in the past by Team USA rider David Bailey, who won five times in a row in 1982, 83, 84, 85, and 86, and another American legend, Jeff Ward who won it four times in a row in 1987, 88, 89 and 90.

Copyright: Photo: MXLarge

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Presented by Fiat Professional is only 10 days away and everybody is pumped to witness who will win the coveted Chamberlain Trophy this year.

Lately the national federations released some updates on the riders representing their countries on October, the 1st in Matterley Basin.

Here below the updated Countries’ Line Up

TIMETABLE of the event is avilable HERE

The Fox Holeshot award runs across the entire MXGP season. The way it works is 1 point is awarded for each race holeshot. He, who has the most points in MXGP at the end of the season will win the grand prize of €10,000 while he with the most points in MX2 will win the grand prize of €5,000.

At the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard which took place in Villars sous Ecot, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings took the FOX Holeshot in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively.

While in MX2 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass took the FOX Holeshot in Race 1 and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington took it in race 2.

Watch the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard ‘Fox Holeshot’ films here below.    

MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard FOX Holeshot MXGP Film

MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard FOX Holeshot MX2 Film

From the last 20 years, here are two men that stand tall in the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations history books. Ricky Carmichael from Team USA and Stefan Everts from Team Belgium. These two men had their share of victories, Carmichael winning the team event in 2000, 2005 and 2007 and Everts in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004.

Now as we come closer to this year’s event, both Carmichael and Everts will be standing in the crowd, watching as fans. Both respected in the sport and both happy with their achievements, but just as happy to be sitting in the middle of a group of fellow motocross fans enjoying the action.

Everts ended his career at the Matterley Basin circuit, helping Team Belgium onto the podium after scoring 1-1 results and beating James Stewart from Team USA. American might have won the event, but Everts walked away the hero.

“When I rode there in 2006,” Everts said. “It was the biggest crowd I had ever ridden in front of in Europe and the Nations, so a good moment, even great moment. It is always nice going back to Matterley. It is one of the nicest tracks on the season, along with Argentina, and Matterley is equal. You can see 100% of the track, which is awesome for the crowd and also the teams. It’s a cool track and the layout is nice. It will be interesting to see how it is this time around. We will have completely different riders on the start line compared to my last one, and we will see how the crowd will be, will it be the same big crowd, I hope so.”

Carmichael will attend his first Motocross of Nations in a decade as he too returns to Matterley Basin, the circuit where he watched Everts do his magic in 2006. Carmichael was meant to race that event in 06, but picked up an injury, and was replaced by Ivan Tedesco in Team USA. He can’t wait to get back and visit this beautiful circuit one more time.

“I’m really excited to go back. I haven’t been to the Motocross of Nations since 2007—my last race! That was the last Motocross of Nations I’ve been to. I’m really excited about going there and especially to be going to the UK. I love going to that country. It’s always a great time. I’m really excited to see all the fans and to spend face time with them and maybe do some hot laps with (Stefan) Everts for all the fans. That should be pretty fun. I’m ecstatic about that.”

So for those who might be attending this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Presented by Fiat Professional. Don’t be surprised if you are walking through the thousands of spectators, and this American and this Belgian are standing together, chatting over old times, and taking in the races, just like all of us will.

Copyright: Photo: Geoff Meyer

TAG Heuer has been the official timekeeper of the FIM Motocross World Championship since 2014 and together with MXGP are running a fastest lap competition across the season, with the #DontCrackUnderpressure spirit.

The way it works is: at each and every round of the MXGP season, the rider that sets the best lap time in each class, MXGP and MX2, will receive 1 point in the TAG Heuer competition. The rider that has set the fastest lap at the most rounds throughout the season in MXGP and MX2 classes, and has the most points, will be awarded.

At the final round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship held in Villars sous Ecot, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s duo of Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass set the Tag Heuer fastest laps in MXGP and MX2 Class.

Please find here below the details for both riders:

Jeffrey Herlings:  1.50:875 at Race 2 Lap 6

Pauls Jonass:  1.57:487 at Race 2 Lap 15

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer are the winner of the TAG HEUER fastest lap competition for the 2017 season getting 9 and 6 points respectively.

Check out MXGP.com home page for the Top 3 TAG Heuer Best Lap competition’s ranking.