MXGP

MATTERLEY BASIN (Great Britain), 18 June 2016 – It’s all about finding the flow, which is apparently relatively easy around a track as awesome as Matterley Basin, the venue that has set the wheels in motion for the eleventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain.

The racing was once again riveting as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie lit the candles for his first qualifying race win of the year here on home soil in MX2, while Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser was flawless in his performance, which has put him on pole in the premier class for the sixth time this season.

Meanwhile, GL12 Yamaha Racing’s Brad Anderson is looking good for a podium here at round four of the European Championship EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing after winning Race 1, while the fifth round of the European Championship EMX125 presented by FMF Racing Sahkar Racing KTM's Jago Geerts saw take his fourth race win of the season.

The cream of MXGP had their work cut out right from gate drop when the red plate holder, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser, snuck up the inside of the holeshotters, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and Marchetti Racing Team KTM’s Jose Butron, for the lead at turn two. From there, there was no looking back for the rookie who controlled the race from start to finish for his sixth Qualifying Race win of the season. “I really like the track,” Tim said, “the guys always do an amazing job with the track, it’s really tacky, grippy, it’s really enjoyable to ride.”

Meanwhile in the early stages of the race it was Butron who appeared to be feeling it as he knocked Nagl back to third and even managed to inch away on the first two laps. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli was also in the mix but got too hard on the gas on the second lap and slid out.

Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev quite happily inherited fourth, hit turbo and caught Nagl who had reeled in Butron. Nagl felt the pressure and passed Butron with ease, which threw Butron off as he screwed up heading into the quad and could only triple it. Bobryshev launched the quad and took over third before making light work of Nagl for second.

As Butron dropped back, Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Valentin Guillod chimed in and briefly challenged Nagl and Bobryshev.

Meanwhile, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek was happy chilling in fifth while the real carnage was occuring in the battle for sixth where the former British grand prix winners, Antonio Cairoli and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, bashed bars with Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Ben Townley, Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre was also weaving through that group before he crashed out. Nagl then pulled the pin on his grenade and passed Bobryshev back, forcing Bobby to settle for third ahead of Guillod and Van Horebeek. Cairoli put in an epic ride to get back to sixth after passing Desalle with a few laps to go while the local Tommy Searle finished eighth.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s guest rider Chad Reed finished fifteenth but he was still smiling, “it was a lot of fun out there,” he said. As for Romain Febvre; he suffered from a concussion and was taken to hospital for further examination.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 25:49.192; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:06.439; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:08.488; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:12.935; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:17.878; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:21.487; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:23.770; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:29.229; 9. Ben Townley (NZL, Suzuki), +0:31.686; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:31.927.

Great Britain’s own Max Anstie launched out of the gate on his Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna for a near holeshot but was pushed wide by Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis who started on the inside and drove him wide. Less than half of a lap in, the kid who was fastest in Timed Practice, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer, was around sixth before dumping it after going into a 180 degree turn too hot and colliding with TM Racing Factory Team’s Samuele Bernardini.

Anstie had the crowd going mental as he pushed Ferrandis for the lead while Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha’s Aleksandr Tonkov sat back in a distant third before being caught and passed by Seewer who had made a quick recovery from his spill on lap one.

At the half way mark, Anstie got on the gas and set the fastest lap time three laps in a row before making a pass on Ferrandis. The Frenchman tried to respond but couldn’t quite match the pace of the hometown hero, who managed to take his first qualifying race win of the season with an impressive 6 second margin.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings took a while to find his flow after a pretty cruddy first lap. The Bullet came around for lap one well outside of the top ten but eventually carved his way through the pack for fifth. Behind him, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov, Kemea Yamaha MX Official Team’s Benoit Paturel and the remainder of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders, Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse, had a gnarly battle for sixth. It was tight at the end; in fact Paturel and Petrov were bar-to-bar over the finish line with Paturel being awarded sixth by the narrowest of margins. Credit also has to be given to the rookie Conrad Mewse who managed to steal eighth from his teammate Covington.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 25:55.733; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.778; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:11.697; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:21.954; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:27.465; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.298; 7. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:28.341; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:36.225; 9. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:41.005; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:41.487

Click here to obtain the complete result

All the photos of the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain will be available HERE

FULLBACK MXGP OF GREAT BRITAIN – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1640m

Type of ground: Hard pack

Temperature: 18°C

Weather conditions: cloudy

TIMETABLE

Sunday: EMX300 Race 2 08:30; EMX250 Race 1 09:30; MX2 Warm up 10:10; MXGP Warm up 10:30; EMX150 Race 2 11:10; EMX125 Race 2 12:05; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; EMX250 Race 2 15:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain

Adrian Mahoney was a local British motocross rider who suffered a bad spinal injury back in 1988.  Initially he was in a wheelchair but due to subsequent complications he has for many years now been confined to his bed 24/7.

However despite his difficult situation, Adrian is still hugely positive and optimistic and is a real inspiration regardless of his adversity.

Adrian is also still one of the world's greatest motocross fans. He has an enormous collection of motocross memorabilia from many of the great riders past and present and he spends most of his time watching motocross videos and following the MXGP world Championship.

Adrian also likes to go to the British MXGP each year, which is a massive logistical undertaking given his circumstances.  

One of Adrian's friends has a 7 year old daughter named Jasmine, and Jasmine suggested to her father "Wouldn't it be cool if we could get Tim Gajser (one of Adrian's favourite riders) to carry a sticker with Adrian's name and number on his bike at the GP?" His friends thought this was a great idea.  However they also thought that maybe they could do a little bit better than just Tim Gajser. Why couldn't they get every rider to carry the 'Mahoney 73' sticker in honour of their disabled friend?

So, in the weeks leading up to the GP they one-by-one contacted all of the MXGP teams and asked them if they would take part in this gesture and carry Adrian's sticker on their front plates.  

Whilst they were initially doubtful that many teams would agree, they were blown away to find out that without exception, every team came back and said 'Sure!  What a great idea!'  And so, at the British MXGP, all the riders, from the privateers and EMX150 riders, right through to the mighty factory stars like Tim Gajser, Romain Febvre and the guesting Chad Reed, proudly displayed the 'Mahoney 73' sticker on their front plates.

Both Steve Dixon, Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki and Steve Turner, Wilvo Virus KTM offered to source the stickers and so their mutual graphics sponsor Spiral GFX very kindly provided all the stickers free of charge.

In addition Youthstream also offered to take part in this project and Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo arranged free passes for Adrian and his carers as well as a prime VIP parking spot, where Adrian could be set up in his bed and tent to watch the weekend's racing from a great vantage point. Youthstream also briefed the TV crews and announcers to show and give a little explanation behind the 'Mahoney 73' stickers that were present on every bike in the race.

And that is why every rider in the MXGP carried the sticker for one of their injured motocross brothers. It's a testament to the generosity, kindness and solidarity of the MXGP paddock that all of the teams - including the big-time factory squads - all agreed to do this in honour of Adrian this weekend, and to bring both a great surprise, and happiness, to somebody who is not as fortunate as ourselves.

Watch all the highlights from the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain, round eleven of the FIM Motocross World Championship

MXGP Qualifying Race Highlights

MX2 Qualifying Race Highlights 

Watch the first GoPro lap of Matterley Basin with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Max Anstie

Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. presented the new 2017 off-road YZ range on Friday June 17th at the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain, Matterley Basin. Yamaha MX stars Romain Febvre, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Chad Reed unveiled the YZ250F and YZ450F models, along with further selected 2017 off-road machines.

Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Manager, Alberto Barozzi introduced the 2017 models and outlined the YZ engineering at the heart of Yamaha's off-road range. "We are happy and very proud with what Yamaha can offer through the YZs for the 2017 collection," announced Barozzi.

"For the 2017 model year the YZ250F benefits from a range of important technical changes, such as an all-new reverse cylinder head aimed at increased performance and enhanced rideability. Major enhancements to intake and exhaust efficiency mean that the 2017 specification engine delivers a significant increase in race-winning performance," he added.

"The YZ250F chassis and suspension have also been upgraded for 2017. Newly balanced frame rigidity, a lower centre of gravity, and a new, stiffer front-fork outer tube design lets us fine tune the frame to get the full benefit of the increased engine performance."

"The lightweight handling and instant hit of power in the YZ250 and YZ125 two-strokes underline Yamaha's total commitment to all dirt bike riders," he added. "Two-stroke fans love these models for their ease of maintenance and unique character, and the many of today's champions started their careers on the YZ85."

"With its MXGP World Championship winning performance, the Yamaha YZ450F is recognised as a leading 450cc off-road competition bike. Yamaha's technologically advanced reverse cylinder head design gives every rider factory bike performance," Barozzi concluded.

Yamaha's MX Racing Manager then introduced 2015 FIM Motocross World Champion Romain Febvre, who described his success on the YZ450FM.

"The YZ450FM built under me is a champion off-road machine, and YZ engineering gives the team maximum flexibility to adapt the mapping and power over a season of racing and testing," Febvre said. "For a factory rider the adaptations to the showroom model are all about winning the start and holding speed until the finish. The YZ450F comes out of the factory at the highest possible level and with the maximum flexibility in race engineering to be ready for the gate drop in MXGP," Febvre commented.

American AMA Supercross superstar Reed was present alongside Febvre to share his thoughts on the YZ250F.

"I used the production YZ250F in 2001 and was winning races on it," Reed said. "Much has changed since then, but in 2017 the key improvements are better acceleration, increased pulling power in the mid to high rpm range, a smoother clutch feeling and refined suspension and handling to enhance stability and control."

Today Scott Sports teamed up with Monster Energy to introduce their new ‘Genius’ line of bicycles, which were demonstrated by Scott and Monster Energy athletes Clement Desalle, Jordi Tixier, Petar Petrov and Shaun Simpson. Also, the Media representatives that are covering the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain here at Matterley Basin, Winchester, this weekend, were invited out to the event to snap shots of the riders on the rad new bikes and to test the new kit themselves.

The Scott ‘Genius’ bike was introduced to the market earlier this year. It has gnarly oversize wheels, which provides 21% more contact with the earth than the normal size tyres, resulting in an insane amount of grip. In addition to providing more traction, especially up hills and on loose terrain, their tubeless tyres have less chance of getting a snakebite. It also has 140mm of travel on the front fork and 130mm of travel on the rear suspension.

The ‘Genius’ includes Scott’s patented twin-lock lever which simultaneously locks out the front and rear suspension to make climbing a breeze by stiffening the front fork and adding a platform to the rear shock, locking the travel to 90mm. This gives the bike better geometry for climbing by offering more traction. The twin-lock lever also allows the rider to lock the suspension completely to make the bike rigid for riding on the road.

Scott Genius bikes can easily be converted from the standard 27” size wheels to the 29” ones. It weighs 13.2 kilo and has a full carbon front end with an aluminum back end.

Mountain Biking and cycling is one of the most popular forms of cross training for top motocross riders, Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson said, “My training schedule at the moment is 70 – 80 % mountain bike riding, I think mountain biking is the most similar form of training for motocross, only the jumps aren’t as big but you do have to keep your concentration levels up.”

“Scott bikes are second to none when it comes to riding them and it’s great to see so much new technology, and it’s also a lot of fun.”

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov agreed, “like Shaun said, mountain biking is one of the closest things you can get to motocross, riding in the woods. We don’t jump as high or go as fast but it’s good for the turns and can help with balance and physical condition.”

“I have the new mountain bike from Scott, from last year,” Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle said, “I really like it, I enjoy riding it and going out with my friends and going out in the nature on my bike.” His teammate Jordi Tixier said, “Yes, like Clement said, Scott mountain bikes are really good, I do a lot of mountain biking with friends, like him and it’s really fun.”

Following the introduction, the riders, photographers and journalists geared up and took the bikes for a spin through the woods here at Matterley Basin which left them all beaming and ready for round eleven of the FIM Motocross World Championship which will kick off tomorrow.

Kemea Yamaha's Valentin Guillod was the talking point of last years British grand prix after he beat Red Bull KTM's phenomenon Jeffrey Herlings fair and square. Guillod had to make the jump to the MXGP class this year where he is starting to pick up the pace. Lisa Leyland caught up with him earlier today. Watch the conversation here: 

Welcome to Matterley Basin, Winchester for the eleventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FULLBACK MXGP of Great Britain.