MXGP

NEUQUEN (Patagonia - Argentina), 07 April 2016 – Nestled in the greenery of the Correntoso and Nahuel Huapi lakeshores, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Andes mountains, the venue in Villa la Angostura where the fourth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place this weekend is one of the most scenic and amazing stops on the calendar.

As if the breath-taking location wasn’t enough, the icing on the cake is the fact that the track is a motocross riders’ paradise. Made out of a unique black pumice-like soil, which looks grippier than it actually is, the layout of the track is mega flowing, one of the widest of the season, and has a huge variety of jumps and obstacles. The riders rave over how awesome it is, and how the options and places to pass are endless. This makes for epic racing which we witnessed last year when the FIM Motocross World Championship returned to Argentina for the first time since 1995, where Max Nagl clinched the grand prix win over Clement Desalle in MXGP, while all craziness broke loose in MX2 when Jeffrey Herlings crashed out of race one which allowed Dylan Ferrandis to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time in his career.

In less than eighteen months Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre has gone from an overlooked rookie to the granddaddy of MXGP, despite the fact he is only twenty-four years old. Just when you think you have seen all the fiery Frenchman has to offer, he turns it up a notch and wows you once again just like he did two weeks ago in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, when he pulled the pin on his grenade and launched it at the enemies, passing teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek on the penultimate lap and Antonio Cairoli on the final lap for one of the most hard fought victories of his career.

Febvre only finished seventh at the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina last year, so a podium finish here at this awesome location is sure to be his mission. Meanwhile the new rookie on the block, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser has quickly shaken his underdog status with three race wins from the last six motos. TG243 has landed on the box at every round so far this year and will be out to keep the wind in his sails this weekend.

As for last years MXGP of Patagonia Argentina winner, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl has not had the best start to his 2016 campaign but he came out firing on all cylinders at the MXGP of Europe where he won the qualifier and finished the weekend on the second step of the podium. During the press conference in Valkenswaard, Nagl mentioned how excited he was to return to Argentina and how much he enjoys the track here. That positive frame of mind is sure to bring some good karma to the German.

And then there are the veterans; Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos who are both extremely familiar with the technique of popping corks, yet neither have done so in a while. The saying goes ‘Musicians don’t quit when the music stops. Musicians quit when there is no music left inside them’ and both of these riders wouldn’t hesitate in telling you there is plenty of music left inside them.

Tony Cairoli, especially, was super quick here last year. He went pole and was in good shape for the podium before chucking it away when he clipped his peg while scrubbing during a battle for the lead with Clement Desalle. Speaking of Desalle, the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team rider tied with Nagl for the win here at the circuit of Villa la Angostura last year. He is an animal at this track and if his arm is nearing 100% he could be a threat to the top step.

On a lesser note, Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Ben Townley will not be lining up this weekend due to sickness.

2015 MXGP of Patagonia Argentina MXGP Top 3

1. Max Nagl

2. Clement Desalle

3. Antonio Cairoli

MXGP Championship Top 10: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 137 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 124 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 107 p.; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 104 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 100 p.; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 84 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 80 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 79 p.; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 63 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 55 p.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has one of the most epic win rates in the paddock. He has racked up wins in loads of different countries, yet Argentina is not one of them. Last year ‘The Bullet’ went pole by a country mile and was fastest man on track, but his hopes of winning the grand prix went up in smoke in race one when his bike was left mangled after getting hit mid-air which saw him crash spectacularly.

So far so good, The Bullet appears to be on it, as they say in Britain, this year; he is yet to be beaten and keeps getting better and better. As always, it’s hard to bet against him for the win, but as we saw last year, anything can happen.

As for the rest of the rippers in MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass was mega quick here last year where he finished up on the second step of the podium while Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer landed on the box for the first time in his career in third. Both are more than capable of uncorking a bottle of bubbles this weekend, the question is, in what order?

Meanwhile Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington is known to perform better at the fly-aways. He was fourth here last year although this weekend could be a bit tougher as he withdrew from the MXGP of Europe a couple of weeks ago with a foot injury.

Unfortunately Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Brent Van Doninck is also injured and will not be racing after dislocating his hip during a national race last weekend, but his teammate Benoit Paturel will also be one to watch as he continues to pick up the pace.

2015 MXGP of Patagonia Argentina MX2 Top 3

1. Dylan Ferrandis

2. Pauls Jonass

3. Jeremy Seweer

MX2 Championship Top 10: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 150 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 112 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 112 p.; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 91 p.; 5. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 78 p.; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 76 p.; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 75 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 60 p.; 9. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 60 p.; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 59 p

All the photos of the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: MX2 Free Practice 10:45; MXGP Free Practice 11:15; MX2 Time Practice 13:00; MXGP Time Practice 13:35; MX2 Qualifying Race 15:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 16:00.

Sunday: MX2 Warm up 10:20; MXGP Warm up 10:40; MX2 Race 1 12:15; MXGP Race 1 13:15; MX2 Race 2 15:10; MXGP Race 2 16:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Patagonia Argentina

Last weekend at the MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard we ran a competition where you could WIN a complete set of brakes, a copy of MXGP2, The Official MXGP Videogame and an all 2016 season pass to www.mxgp-tv.com.

All you had to do was name 1 rider who use Moto-Master products for each manufacturer: KTM, Husqvarna, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

The WINNER of that competition is Jim Theuws from The Netherlands who named Shaun Simpson, Max Anstie, Aleksandr Tonkov and Dylan Ferrandis.

Congratulations Jim! 

Last week the MXGP of The Netherlands, which will take place on Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th of August at the world renowned TT Circuit of Assen which is located in the province of Drenthe, was presented at the RTL 7 Studios in Hilversum, The Netherlands.

Well known in Dutch football circles as the ‘Voetbal Inside’ Studio Host, Allard Kalff welcomed everybody before announcing that RTL will be broadcasting the MXGP of The Netherlands as well as the next 16 rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, starting April 7^th, thanks to the support of the MXGP of The Netherlands organizers, Youthstream, Marketing Drenthe, HSF Logistics and Wilvo. Mr. Kalff then went on to present the motocross grand prix that is set to take place in Assen for the second consecutive year.

Both reigning world champions Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser were present, as were the Dutch stars Jeffrey Herlings, Davy Pootjes, Glenn Coldenhoff and Brian Bogers. Nancy Van de Ven was also there as the most recent winner of WMX, as was Russia’s Aleksandr Tonkov.

During the presentation Mr. Henk Jumelet, Deputy of the Region of Drenthe and Mr. Marco Out, Major of the city of Assen, explained the importance of another motocross grand prix at the famous Dutch TT venue. Mr. Jos Vaessen, President of the Board of control of ‘Stichting (foundation) MXGP Assen’, evaluated on last year’s event and announced several improvements which includes moving the finish line towards the main grand stand and lengthening the lap in order to facilitate more fans in the grand stands.

Last year the MXGP of The Netherlands in Assen was a huge success, with a great crowd and awesome racing. This year you can expect the same, tickets for the MXGP of The Netherlands are available by clicking HERE.

Besides for more details and to purchase your VIP package click HERE 

For the third year on the bounce the FIM Motocross World Championship burst into life with the first two rounds taking place at the unique and culturally rich locations of Qatar and Thailand. Qatar was, as always, a showstopper, where MXGP’s newest rookie sensation Tim Gajser shone brighter than the four hundred and twenty light bulbs that lit up the circuit with his 1 – 1 performance on his MXGP class debut. In MX2, it was business as usual for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, who after two seasons plagued with untimely and serious injuries is back and already proving to be in a league of his own. As the lights went down on the powerful season opener, flight cases were packed up and shipped off to Suphan Buri, Thailand, an unfamiliar location where the second round of the MXGP championship would take place for the first time in history, only five days later. 

As we head for Argentina, round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship, catch up on the last two rounds by CLICKING HERE.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 01 April 2016 - Youthstream is proud to announce the thirty-first issue of MXGP Mag is now online. In this issue you can catch up on what happened at the MXGP rounds of Thailand and Europe, an insight to MX2’s young team HSF Logistics Motorsport KTM, a look at the all new, better than ever MXGP2 The Official Videogame, as well as a more in depth look at the new certificate system that the MXGP Academy has introduced. This issue also includes an exclusive look at one of the biggest names of all time, Jeremy McGrath, as well as a revved up look at who took the Fox Holeshots at the last two rounds.

Click here to read the thirty-first issue of MXGP Mag or download it for FREE on Apple Store or Google Play. The iOs and Android versions contain exclusive videos and several photo galleries, and once the MXGP Mag has been downloaded, the reader does not need to be connected on the Internet to go through the content.

Those users who have already downloaded the other issues on their iOs device can automatically download the thirty-first 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 new app: http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP MAG

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 1 April 2016 - After the visit to the Indonesian Republic’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Youthstream Vice President Luigi Zompetti visited Pangal Pinang where the MXGP of Indonesia will take place in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Together with Mr. Luigi Zompetti, the Mayor of Pangkal Pinang Mr. Muhammad Irwansyah, Iakatan Motor Indonesia Chairman Mr. Alfonsus Judiarto and their financial advisor Mr. Mueya Said were present at the first onsite inspection.   

Pangal Pinang which is the largest town on the Indonesian island of Bangka, is located on Bangka's eastern coast.

3 possible venues have been visited and examined: Pasir Padi Ketapang, Mendara Park, and Forest City Tuatunu. Pasir Padi Ketapang will be the most suitable for the event as it is a 300,000 square meter area in front of a uncontaminated beach where the lucky spectators of the event can take advantage of this natural area to spend some relaxing holiday.

Pasir Padi Ketapang is located 10 mins from the best and most modern hotels of the area and from the international airport, which has already many direct flights from Singapore and Jakarta, many other routes are also easily accessible. Besides by the end of 2016 the modern DIPATI AMIR AIRPORT will also be finished.

In the afternoon Mr. Luigi Zompetti had the chance to meet the Governor of BANGKA Belitung archipelago Mr Rustam Effendi in the Governor Residence.

Mr. Rustam Effendi expressed his satisfaction to host an event like the FIM Motocross World Championship in Indonesia and especially in Pangal Pinang. He is confident that MXGP’s worldwide recognition and TV Coverage will benefit to Indonesia.

Cover Photo, from left: Alfonsus Judiarto, Rustam Effendi, Luigi Zompetti

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

The Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team rider Jordi Tixier attended the Grand Prix of Europe last weekend, and spent time with the staff of his new team after being forced to postpone his MXGP debut. It was the first public appearance of Jordi for a long time, and he also spent time with the fans and members of the media who sought updated news. But Jordi, who has been wearing a wrist plaster since his most recent surgery, still had to wait a few more days to learn his immediate future.

On Wednesday he visited Professor Christophe Mathoulin, a leading European hand surgeon who undertook the second surgery in February, and got the ‘green light’ to start his recuperation. According to Professor Mathoulin the ligament has now knitted together again and Jordi can restart his normal physical training as a prelude to getting back on the bike mid-April. Then, depending on the feeling he has on his Kawasaki, he will plan his racing comeback together with the team in the near future.

Jordi Tixier: “I didn’t really know what to expect when I visited my doctor on Wednesday, and I was very surprised when he told me that I could start sporting activity immediately and be back on a bike in two weeks time ! I was not expecting such good news after eight months of double surgery and recovery with a plaster on my wrist. It has been difficult to accept even if we know how tough our sport can be, but of course I have now a very strong motivation. The medical examination revealed that the ligament is repaired, and the bones are now in place; I just took of the plaster this week so now I need to work on my wrist mobility. Physically I never stopped working in a sport centre so I am fit, it’s just a question of strength in my wrist. The plan is to start riding on soft tracks mid-April, and depending of the feeling and the pain then we’ll decide with the team when I will be back racing. It was good to be in Valkenswaard last weekend; for sure it’s never nice to have to watch the races but I was happy to meet the team members and spend some time with them, our sponsors, the fans and the press. I haven’t riden my bike for several weeks so it’s difficult to know what to expect from my first races, especially in a new class, but I’m confident.”

The MXGP and MX2 Entry Lists for the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina which will take place in Neuquen the next 10^th April are online and can be found here below.

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry List

The gates dropped for round eight of the FIM Motocross World Championship at the MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands.  Honda Gariboldi's Tim Gajser  set the fastest lap time for the weekend in MXGP while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Jeffrey Herlings set the fastest time in MX2.

Both riders have added one point to their TAG Heuer fastest lap score sheets.

If you don’t know about this competition, the way it works is; he who sets the fastest lap time in each MXGP or MX2 over the weekend at each round of MXGP this year will be awarded 1 point towards the TAG Heuer sponsored ‘fastest lap’ competition. At the end of the season, the rider who has the most points will be awarded an elegant gift of prestige, a TAG Heuer watch.

If you scroll down on the main page at MXGP.com you will see the TAG HEUER Fastest Lap results grid which is situated directly underneath the FOX Holeshot results grid