MXGP

GERMAN STAR SET FOR SECOND TERM WITH ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
Currently third in the MXGP class of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship aboard his FC 450, in 2017 Nagl will compete in the MXGP championship for a third season on Husqvarna machinery. MXGP championship leader during the first nine rounds of the 2015 season, Max held a 30-point lead before injury at his home GP curtailed his championship aspirations. This year Max has secured no fewer than 14 top three moto finishes with race wins in Argentina, The Czech republic and Belgium.

Nagl currently sits third in the 2017 MXGP championship with four rounds remaining, just 14 points behind Italian Antonio Cairoli. 

Antti Pyrhönen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager: “Continuing to work with Max is something I’m extremely pleased about. Together we’ve experienced so much during the last 18 months, with Max showing enormous amounts of professionalism at all times. In recent GPs he has shown what he is really capable of. Everyone knows just how fast and talented a rider he is and I believe that next year he will again be a regular podium finisher, challenging for GP wins and the MXGP title.” 

Robert Jonas – Vice President Husqvarna Motorsport: “The contribution Max has made to make to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team effort over the last two years has been incredible. I speak for everyone involved when I say that it is a pleasure that we’re extending our working relationship with him. Not only does he have the speed to win GPs he also has a vast amount of experience and fantastic drive, which brings out the very best in everyone within the team. Like this year and last season, we believe Max will again be a real force to be reckoned with in the MXGP championship.” 

Max Nagl: “I’ve enjoyed some of the most successful times of my career as an MXGP rider with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team so to be staying with Husqvarna, Antti and the guys is something I’m really very pleased about. I think that we’ve showed what we’re capable of as a team and enjoyed lots of very positive GPs during both this year and in 2015. Although I’m now one of the most experienced riders in the MXGP class I truly believe that I can be every bit as competitive next year as I am right now. Continuing to be a part of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team is something I’m very excited about.”

One event that really stands out as something that could change the sport in Europe forever is the Monster Energy Supermotocross Riders Cup, set for Veltins Stadium in Germany on October 8. We walked the paddock and asked some team managers what they thought of the event and did they know yet what teams they might have involved.

Stefan Everts of the Suzuki Factory team committed very quickly to the SMX and believes Youthstream have their best intentions to make a really exciting event.

“We have committed to this race with Youthstream. I think it is important to support Youthstream in events like this and it’s actually the time we are all testing, but we can fit it in between and we have to support Youthstream in the best possible way and we do that at Suzuki also.”

Antti Pyrhonen of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory team is also looking forward to being involved. Their team selection is just weeks away and there could be some nice little surprises when it is announced.

“Definitely excited, we don’t know who we will have in the team at the moment, we will know soon, but for sure I am excited for that event. There will be some top American riders, like we all know it is always exciting and spicing up the field a bit and I think it will be a great event. All the top European riders are healthy and I have a feeling some of the top American riders like Jason Anderson are healthy soon, and I would like to get him, so we can battle for the win. We will confirm the team in the coming weeks.”

Dirk Greubel the Red Bull KTM MX2 Factory team manager knows that some of the leading MXGP riders are available, but needs to wait on the condition of his own MX2 riders are many are suffering from injuries.

“At the moment we don’t know the team, not at all, we will work out a good team, but with Jeffrey out injured, Pauls out injured, Davy Pootjes is struggling with his wrist. I think Cairoli is in at the moment, and Coldenhoff. Maybe we talk to our America team to see if we can get one of their riders over, but at the moment we can’t mention a team.

Roger Harvey from HRC does know who his team will be, as HRC and Youthstream held a press conference last weekend to explain how HRC will look at this event.

“There were a few things we needed to get organized, because it is an extra event on our calendar. We are fully committed and the team will be Tim Gajser, Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryhev. We are looking forward to it, hopefully it will be a special event and it looks like it is going to go that way.”

One thing is sure, with all the leading Grand Prix teams sending their best riders and names from the American series also being included, you can be sure the Monster Energy Supermotocross Riders Cup is going to more than just a little bit special.

FRAUENFELD-GACHNANG (Switzerland), 03 August 2016 - The last two rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, rounds thirteen and fourteen, took place at two very iconic tracks, both known for their strong heritage and rich history. While it’s always nice to return to those venues that have provided a massive amount of riders with moments they’ll never forget, it’s also nice to switch things up every now and again with a new track and location that no one knows. This weekend we’ll enter the land of the unknown with the fifteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship set to take place at Frauenfeld-Gachnang, in Switzerland.

The first ever motocross grand prix in Switzerland was held in Geneva back in 1957, while the last Swiss grand prix, for the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc, took place in 2001 at Roggenburg. James Dobb, Claudio Federici and Marnicq Bevoerts were the victors in their respective classes on that day.

Almost sixteen years on and the FIM Motocross World Championship will return to Switzerland, a country that seems to have a thriving moto-demographic right now as a result of the success of MXGP’s Swiss sensation, Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Valentin Guillod, and the kid closest to Jeffrey Herlings in MX2, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer. This will add to the atmosphere in and around the paddock.

The MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will also host the sixth round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, as well as the final rounds of the European Championships EMX125 and EMX250 and the penultimate round of the Honda European EMX150 Championship.

Just when you thought it was out with the old and in with the new, three of the most seasoned and accomplished riders go and top the box. Last weekend Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos floored everybody when he topped the box at his home grand prix, the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium. Don’t take anything away from Kevin, he is easily one of the best riders in the world, it’s just that he hadn’t won a grand prix in 9 years. And then… at the age of thirty-years-old, he goes and does it. So, with that said, who is game enough to put money on a pick for the podium for this weekend?

If you are, there is a good chance Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl will be one of your picks. The German has just moved up to third in the championship standings and has looked better than ever at the last two rounds of MXGP. Last weekend an uncharacteristic crash in race two cost him the overall, but he still made the second step of the podium, which was impressive given the contrast of terrain in Loket, where he won with a double moto victory over Gajser, and in Lommel.

Despite not making the podium last weekend, for the first time this year, chances are Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser is at the top of your list for the win. The track this weekend is man-made, and has never been raced on before. It’s about as new-school as you can get, which is likely to suit the new school riding style of our championship leader.

Another rider with a super flamboyant new-school style is Switzerland’s own Valentin Guillod. Guillod loves his fans too, so there is no doubt that the number 92 onboard the Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team will be absolutely buzzing around the track.

Meanwhile, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli is still in the process of channeling frustration and turning it into race wins, as is Team HRC’s duo of Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev. Paulin in particular since he was completely off the ball last weekend. He’ll want to prove he’s still got the goods take a chunk of that HRC bonus money that seems to be funneling into Gajser’s bank.

Fifteenth overall at the last round of the series, in Belgium, doesn’t even come close to reflecting Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre’s speed. The defending champ was actually on the cable all weekend, in fact, he set the fastest lap of the day and was awarded 1 point in the Tag Heuer Fastest Lap competition. This weekend his main goal will be to keep the bike rubber side down.

Last but not least, keep an eye on the Belgian’s Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek. Both are more than capable of landing on the box when things go their way.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 607 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 504 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 490 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 464 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 445 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 417 p.; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 292 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 277 p.; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 273 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 264 p.

There is a possibility Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings is back this weekend, but don’t hold your breath, The Bullet will be back when he’s 100%, fit and ready to win. If he’s not lining up once again, there is bound to be another influx of riders with itchy trigger fingers.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis are the three most likely candidates for the win. Ferrandis was the first rider to break Herlings thirteen round win streak, but missed the box completely at the last round.

Anstie will be surfing a wave of confidence after topping the box for the first time this year last weekend, but has a habit of tipping over at the wrong time. With that said, it could be the Swiss native, Seewer, who is next in line for a round win?

It is hard to choose a winner. All we know is that Ferrandis and Anstie are two throttle happy riders who tend to get a little happier when the number 84 doesn’t come to the waiting zone. And in saying that, it is worth a mention that Jeff is not the only Red Bull KTM Factory rider capable of lighting the candles. Pauls Jonass could also be back this weekend and ready to put some serious points on the board.

There are also a few underdogs worthy of a mention: Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Benoit Paturel has been chipping away and is now only 10 points shy of Jonass in third, while HSF Logistics Motorsports Brian Bogers has started pulling some killer laps out of the bag. He set the fastest lap time of the day, in MX2, last weekend, which proves he’s got some magic hidden away.

And to wrap up our preview, keep an eye on Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov. The Bulgarian is after another bottle of bubbles. One bottle a year is not enough for the big kid who is determined to prove he can ride hard-pack as well.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 597 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 510 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 393 p.; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 366 p.; 7. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 319 p.; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 294 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 280 p.

All the photos of the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will be available HERE

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed Practice 07:30; WMX Free Practice 08:05; EMX125 Free/Timed Practice 08:30; EMX25 Free/Timed Practice 09:05; WMX Time Practice 09:40; MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; EMX150 Race 1 12:20; EMX125 Race 1 13:10; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; WMX Race 1 15:20; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; EMX250 Race 1 17:45.

Sunday: WMX Warm-up 08:15; EMX150 Race 2 08:50; WMX Race 2 09:35; MX2 Warm up 10:10; MXGP Warm up 10:30; EMX125 Race 2 11:10; EMX250 Race 2 12:10; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS

The French Motorcycle Federation is pleased to announce the 2016 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) Team to represent France in Maggiora, Italy on September 25th.

The team will consist of :

Romain FEBVRE - MXGP -  YAMAHA 

Dylan FERRANDIS - MX2 - KAWASAKI

Gautier PAULIN -  OPEN - HONDA

Replacement rider (MXGP/MX2/OPEN) : 

Benoit PATUREL - YAMAHA

 Team France will be aiming to win a third straight MXoN victory in Maggiora.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 02 August 2016 – During the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium which took place at one of Belgium’s most famous tracks, Lommel, last weekend, the President of the FMB-BMB, Mr. Oliver Rougraff, and the General Secretary of the FMB-BMB, Mr. Stijn Rentmeesters, had a meeting on behalf of the Belgian Motorcycle Federation, FMB-BMB, with Youthstream President, Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, FIM Europe President, Dr. Wolfgang Srb, and FIM Board Member, Mr. Jos Driessen concerning the development and future of Motocross, especially focusing on youth activities that will assist and nurture young talent. They also discussed the calendars of the FIM Motocross World Championship and their national championship, and how they will be coordinated in 2017.

As a result of the meeting, all parties are feeling positive and excited about the productivity of their cooperation. 

 LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

Photo: From left to right: General Secretary FMB-BMB S.Rentmeesters, FIM Europe President W.Srb, President of FMB-BMB Olivier Rougraff, Youthstream President G.Luongo, FIM Board Member J.Driessen

The Entry lists for the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS which will take place in Frauenfeld-Gachnang the upcoming weekend are online.

Together with the MXGP and MX2 classes, the European Championships EMX250, EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, the Honda EMX150 Championship and the Women’s Motocross World Championship will be taking place.

Please find here below the Official Entry Lists.

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

WMX Entry list

EMX250 Entry List

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Entry List

Honda EMX150 Entry List

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 FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium which was held in Lommel on July the 31^stHitachi Construction Husqvarna’s Jake Nicholls and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl took the FOX holeshots in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively.

Meanwhile in MX2 Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis took the FOX Holeshot in race 1 while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Conrad Mewse took the FOX holeshot in race 2 for the first time in his MX2 career.

Watch the FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium ‘Fox Holeshot’ films here below.    

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium FOX Holeshot MXGP Film

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium FOX Holeshot MX2 Film

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 01 August 2016 – Following the release of the provisional calendar for the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship, which did not include the European Championship EMX300 as a support class, it was bought to Youthstream’s attention that a large number of manufacturers, teams, riders, partners and fans would like to see the EMX300 championship continue.

Due to its increase in popularity over the last few years, Youthstream have agreed to add the European Championship EMX300 class to the 2017 MXGP calendar.

FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb said, "I am very happy about this solution. The EMX300 class has developed very well and it is good for all of the parties involved that this European class remains within the FIM Motocross World Championship."

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe