MXGP

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce the signing of Gautier Paulin to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team where he will compete on Husqvarna’s FC 450 machine throughout the 2017 and 2018 season. The former MXGP series runner-up will enter the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship alongside teammates Max Nagl and Max Anstie. 

One of the fastest talents in MXGP today, the 26-year-old Frenchman has a total of eight MX1 and MXGP overall class victories to his credit, with the highlight of his illustrious career coming in 2015 when he placed as runner-up in the MXGP World Championship. Helping Team France secure victory at the 2016 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations at Maggiora, Gautier has been a part of France’s winning MXoN team during the past three years. 

No stranger to top-level motocross competition Paulin made his FIM Motocross World Championship debut in 2007, before going on to commit to a full GP schedule two years later. Wrapping up his career in MX2 with three GP victories and a strong third overall in the 2009 championship, he then moved up to the premier class for his first full season in 2012. 

As a welcome addition to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing squad, Gautier Paulin will join highly experienced MXGP campaigner Max Nagl and 450cc rookie Max Anstie in a hugely promising MXGP team that will continue to be managed by former GP racer Antti Pyrhönen. 

Gautier Paulin – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing: “I’m really excited to be part of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna. In our sport there are no limits to improvement and I believe I’ve got everything I need now to take my riding a step further. I’m in a very professional team that’s proven they have the potential to win championships. We have a very good base in terms of equipment and the best support to battle for the top. Obviously, I need time to adapt to my new bike but my goal is to get the best feeling I ever had on a bike. With 20 rounds announced for next year’s MXGP series, it’s going to be more important than ever to remain consistent and stay away from injuries. My plan is to work harder than ever to get familiar with the bike and prepare myself for every different kind of track.” 

Robert Jonas – Vice President Husqvarna Motorsport: “Gautier Paulin has been one of the best riders in MXGP for quite some time and we are excited to have him on board. We strongly believe he has the speed to win GPs and a vast amount of experience to remain in the battle for championship honours during the next two seasons. For us the MXGP series is the pinnacle of international motocross competition and we’re happy to be further strengthening our presence with three top-level riders for 2017. It’s going to be an exciting season and everyone involved within the Husqvarna Motorsport team can’t wait to see our riders battle for the top once the new season begins.”

Antti Pyrhönen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team manager:“We’re really looking forward to working with Gautier Paulin. Gautier is a true professional motocross racer and I believe he will be a perfect fit to our team alongside Nagl and Anstie. He is extremely motivated to succeed and he has already shown his huge potential in the past. His speed and riding technique are simply unquestionable. We’re very happy that he joins our team for the next two years. Our goal is to provide him with all the necessary tools in order to battle for podium results and GP victories as soon as the new season starts.”

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

One hundred and forty-second issue of this bi-weekly motorcycle sport magazine, tackling the latest races and issues in MotoGP, MXGP, AMA Motocross/Supercross and World Superbike as well as general motorcycling and accessories with the best blogs and photographs. In OTOR 142: Dovi’s Rain Dance; Blogs of insight and opinion from Sepang, Malaysia as well as CormacGP’s finest photography in the wet of MotoGP’s penultimate outing of the year. Future shaper; the shape of what we ride; Kiska’s Craig Dent is mostly responsible for the look, feel and function of KTM’s frenetic motorcycle output. We asked the Brit how and why. Rea’s Reign Dance; WorldSBK ended in Qatar with a second title, a sixth consecutive race win by Chaz Davies and a surprising moment of sportsmanship. Blog and imagery from Losail. Perfect Package; exclusive feature interview with the MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser on the makings and moments of a historic first campaign at the highest level of the sport.

Read it HERE

The HSF Logistics Motorsport team and Davy Pootjes have signed an agreement for the 2017 motocross season. Pootjes is a talented young rider who has demonstrated some great potential in the MX2 world championships. His stand-out performance thus far was a third place in the first heat of the Latvian GP in 2015.

For 2017, Pootjes will team up with Calvin Vlaanderen and Brian Bogers for the full MX2 world championship - and Dutch Masters series. Pootjes showed the potential for great results this year, but missed a couple of races due to injury.  He is currently recovering from an arm operation which took place last week. Davy will be able to resume training in five weeks' time. In the meantime he will work on his fitness.

"Thanks to the initiative of KTM Austria we could incorporate Davy into our team, and we have formed the base for some great results in the coming seasons. We are a Dutch team, and it is therefore pleasing to tackle the 2017 MX2 world championships with three Dutch riders.  Davy had suffered his share of setbacks this year and we will do everything in our power to guide him towards his best potential," Team Manager Martin van Genderen said.

The team will soon start with preparations for the 2017 season. There is a whacking 20 GP's on the calendar, of which two will be in the Netherlands, namely at Valkenswaard and Assen. The championship kicks off in Qatar on the 25th of February and the finale will be ridden at Villars Sous Ecout in France on the 17th of September.  It will be a busy season, but the HSF Logistics Team is fully equipped to put its best foot forward for the entire season.

Take a look at the latest issue of Motocross Illustrated. Stories with Arnaud Tonus, Romain Febvre, Alex Martin and Jorge Prado. Brilliant images from Ray Archer. Check it out right here.

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce the extension of their partnership with Twin Air – the world’s leading air filter and performance accessories manufacturer. The agreement will see the majority of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teams benefit from the solid support of the world-known firm throughout the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. 

Twin Air has been at the very heart of off-road racing for almost half a century, developing ground breaking air filters and performance-enhancing products for all motocross and enduro motorcycles.

Beginning as a start-up in 1972, Twin Air was the first company to introduce the washable and reusable dual-foam laminated air filter. Continuously evolving along with motorcycle design and technology, Twin Air has remained at the forefront of filter technology in terms of innovation and quality. 

The extension of their technical partnership with Husqvarna Motorcycles will see the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teams in the US and Worldwide motocross, enduro and rally racing – with the exception of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team - use the Dutch firm’s products to further enhance the performance of their racing machines.

Robert Jonas – Vice President Husqvarna Motorsport: “We are very proud to strengthen our partnership with Twin Air for the next three years. Carrying an incredible history of innovation, quality and reputation Twin Air is among the most important names on the off-road scene. All of us at Husqvarna Motorcycles share with them the same vision for relentless improvement and growth. We have already formed a strong bond with Twin Air in motocross racing, and we’re pleased to announce they will supply the majority of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teams with their high-quality products through to the 2019 season.”

Pieter Does – General Manager Twin Air B.V: “Twin Air is very proud to align itself with the legendary Husqvarna Motorcycles brand. Our new three year agreement to supply the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teams worldwide with Twin Air products shows our commitment to expand our current working relationship with the Husqvarna OEM product line. We’re looking forward to many successful years ahead.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 27 October 2016 – Earlier this week Youthstream representatives attended the 27^th edition of Sportel Monaco, the most prestigious convention in the world for sports marketing and media leaders, where the key figures for the sports-rights and other media outlets are openly discussed. Youthstream had a booth representing MXGP, the FIM Motocross World Championship, where television broadcasters could express their interest in screening MXGP on their channels.

Following the convention that is recognized by key industry people worldwide, it is evident that MXGP has an elevated rate of interest for 2017, particularly from Sport TV, which is a Slovenian Broadcaster who has signed a five-year agreement.

Other major broadcasters such as BeIn Sports, Eurosport, Mediaset, MTV3 Finland, and RTBF expressed interest in airing the 2017 MXGP series, while the Dutch networks, RTL and NOS, wish to improve their broadcasting package. Belgian television network, Telenet, has renewed their contract for a further three years, as has Brazil’s Grupo Bandeirantes, who will broadcast the championship on Bandsports. Spanish television networks have also taken an interest in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Fox Asia were more than satisfied with the figures they received, in terms of coverage and audience response, whilst broadcasting the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship and have confirmed their willingness to extend their agreement. Chinese network, Sina Sports, started airing MXGP in China during the 2016 season and after the success, they wish to extend their partnership with Youthstream for a further three years. Sina Sports are also enthusiastic about improving MXGP’s exposure by introducing it to ‘Weibo’, which is one of the most popular Social Media outlets in Asia.      

As a result of the time spent at Sportel, Youthstream is proud of what MXGP has achieved in 2016 and is honored to extend their collaboration with a lot of top sports broadcasters in 2017.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Photo: Didier Henriod, Youthstream CEO and Stefaan Kestens, Telenet Product & Acquisition Manager Sport

Copyright: Photo: Sportel/Youthstream

Youthstream presents the official logo for the 2017 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations that will take place at one of the most popular motocross tracks in the world, for riders and fans alike, Matterley Basin, Winchester, England.

As per usual, the official Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations logo incorporates the flag’s colors of the hosting nation; therefore the 2017 MXoN logo includes the Union Jack, which is the official flag of the United Kingdom, a sovereign state of Northern Europe which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The story of Tim Gajser is one of the most remarkable stories in motocross. It’s a story of tragedy and struggle that has seen a family sacrifice absolutely everything for a dream, a dream that eventually came true. Watch the first episode of “The Rookie: Road to Glory”, a documentary, made by Fox Racing, about the twenty-year-old two-time FIM Motocross World Champion and his heart tugging journey to the top.

Yamaha Motor Europe are proud to confirm an extension to the official line-up in the premier division of the FIM Motocross World Championship  MXGP with the Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP team stepping into the fray with YZ450Fs and riders Shaun Simpson and Arnaud Tonus slated for the next two years.

The Dutch set-up transfers out of the MX2 class after two successful seasons in which they toasted Grand Prix victory with Valentin Guillod, enjoyed podium prominence thanks to the efforts of Julien Lieber and Aleksandr Tonkov (the Russian with two trophies in 2016) and nurture the career path of Sweden’s Alvin Östlund. After a management reshuffle and under the keen eye and willingness of Louis Vosters, the team will start development on their YZ450F racebikes and with the expertise of 28 year old Simpson (three times British Champion, the top rider from the UK in MXGP in the last five years and three times MXGP winner) and 25 year old Tonus (former MX2 GP victor and back from two years competing in AMA SX & MX250) central to their renewed challenge at the peak of motocross racing.

"I'm really looking forward to us moving up to the MXGP class and I'm very happy with our line-up with Shaun and Arnaud," said Vosters. "They both have great potential and I hope they will surprise us next year. Regarding Yamaha their strategy and way to work is very professional and positive so it's nice to be part of the family. Arnaud should be on the bike for the first time at the end of next week and we're already looking ahead to the Geneva SX and then the opening pre-season races."

Simpson’s first Grand Prix triumph came with a tuned production YZ450F at Lierop for the final round of the 2013 FIM World Championship for what is still regarded as one of the unlikeliest wins in recent memory and the last time a ‘privateer’ stood atop an MXGP podium. The Scot has ‘previous history’ with Arnaud Tonus as the friendly duo were part of a British Monster Energy backed Yamaha team in 2012, with Simpson on the YZ450F and Tonus on the YZ250F in MX2. The Swiss was vying for the 2014 MX2 World Championship until suffering a shoulder injury and then chased his American dream before a timely return to the FIM series.

Shaun Simpson: "The last time I rode a Yamaha was pretty memorable for me and I still think it was one of the best bikes I’ve ridden in terms of feeling and comfort," says Simpson, claimer of two MXGPs in the past two seasons and who finished fourth in the world in 2015. "I can only look at the next two years with optimism: I'm happy. Louis has built a good team and support structure and knows the importance of the rider in the whole set-up. Arnaud is a great guy and we’ve worked together before: I’m sure the atmosphere of the team and the way to work will be on-point. Yamaha have more than proved their competitiveness in the last couple of years and it has been impressive to see how they have grown and invested back into MXGP; it feels like a good time to be 'Blue' again."

Arnaud Tonus: "It's a different class for me and even a different championship now with twenty GPs," said Tonus. "I'm happy to be back and of course I have my base over here so things are easier from that side. It will be a long season with a lot of competition on the 450 and so a big challenge but I'm really pleased to be with Yamaha again and Louis was very motivated to make this deal happen. I hope we can have good preparation and a decent winter of work. I'll be based between Belgium and Switzerland where I have a nice facility for practice. We're talking at the moment but I think the Geneva Supercross will be my first race on the Yamaha so we've got that to look forward to and I hope to get on the bike in the next two weeks."

Erik Eggens, Yamaha Motor Europe Motocross Racing Manager "We're really pleased to have the Wilvo team boosting our ranks in the MXGP category and it fills another important part of Yamaha Motor Europe's structure through top level motocross racing and for development of the entire YZ range," commented Yamaha Motor Europe MX Manager Erik Eggens. "The team will bring their usual passion and professionalism to the premier class and the combination of Shaun's experience and excellent sand skills plus Arnaud's talent and positive name in the sport means we have two really great additions to the Yamaha athlete roster. It might be the off-season now but we're excited to start working together already in the coming weeks and months for 2017 and beyond."

Copyright: Photos: Yamaha Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 20 October 2016 – Youthstream and the FFM, the French Motorcycle Federation, wish to announce a new date for the final round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship. The MXGP of Pays de Montbeliard, which will take place at the exact same venue that saw the former MXGP World Champion, Romain Febvre, win his first ever MXGP round over all, Villars sous Ecot, will now take place on the weekend of September 17^th. This is one week earlier than the date that was originally prevised.

See here below the updated calendar.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe