MXGP

GoPro lap of Lommel with Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev and the MXGP Qualifying heat winner Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson:

The fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will get underway today. Yesterday Paul Malin and Adam Wheeler hosted the MXGP of Belgium Studio Show where they spoke exclusively with Ryan Villopoto and Tommy Searle. Watch here:

LOMMEL (Belgium), 01 August 2015 – During the press conference here at the MXGP of Belgium, Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb, FIM/CMS Director Mr. Tony Skillington, the president of the Russian Motorcycling Federation Mr. Alexander Dzheus and the Russian organizer Mr. Evgeny Parshin came together to sign the contract for Russia to host the 2016 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Orlyonok.

Before the signing of the contract Mr. Giuseppe Luongo said, “The Junior World Championship is something special for all of us, we have a lot of young riders that come from all parts of the world to race this great race and it is a good step towards eventually returning there for a round of MXGP.”

Mr. Alexander Dzheus shared his thanks, “For five years we have hosted a European Championship and now we are able to host the Junior World Championship. We want everyone to come and enjoy it. We are trying to do our best in organizing the event; we have good support from the ministry of sport and the area in which the track is located. We are also thankful to Youthstream for helping us organizing the logistics to assist riders in getting to the event.”

Dr. Wolfgang Srb said, “Many stars of today have taken part in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, I think it is an important step in their careers. The Russian Federation is showing a good willingness to grow and we believe that Russia has a lot to offer motocross.”

Mr. Tony Skillington wrapped up the speeches before the official signing in saying, “I would like to wish them luck and a successful event.”

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

LOMMEL (Belgium), 01 August 2015 – Following the press conference here at the MXGP of Belgium, Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb, FIM/CMS Director Mr. Tony Skillington and Mr. Willy Laderach and Mrs Andrea Laderach put pen to paper for MXGP’s return to Switzerland which is scheduled to take place on the weekend of August 7^th in Frauenfeld/Gahnang.

“I am happy to announce there will be an MXGP in Switzerland, it has been a very long time since we have been there,”Mr. Giuseppe Luongo said, “the Swiss Federation are very professional and they have been able to put together a package which is fantastic to host the MXGP of Switzerland. It is good to show our sport is growing, new venues are showing interest and old ones are coming back.”

Mr. Willy Laderach followed on, “we are excited to sign the contract here in Lommel for the MXGP of Switzerland. We have found a lot of good partners and sponsors to help organize a very good motocross grand prix. We hope that all of you see next year how good our GP will be.”

Dr. Wolfgang Srb said: “we are very happy to return to Switzerland and to work in this great place with such a great organizer.”

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

LOMMEL (Belgium), 01 August 2015 – The godfather of sand races and the fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship got underway today in the grueling sand of Lommel where the Brits, Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson and Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie took the qualifying heat thrones.

KTM Factory Junior’s Jorge Prado took the first race victory and his third of the season here at the seventh round of the European Championship EMX125, while GL12 Yamaha Racing’s wildcard Brad Anderson signed up and won the first race of the sixth and final round of the European Championship EMX300.

Speaking of the European Championship EMX300, last year’s runner-up Marco Maddii kept a cool head for eighth in the race which was enough for him to be crowned the 2015 European Championship EMX300 champion.

With exceptional weather and a sand track that had shaped up gnarlier than ever, the gates dropped for the qualifier and the rookie sand sensation, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff edged out The Kid Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos for the holeshot.

Strijbos was quick to get around Coldenhoff but it didn’t matter, both Suzuki riders’ claim to fame was short lived as Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson lofted the quad on his way to the front. Speaking of the quad, it is hard to explain just how epic that jump is. The only indicator is that in a field filled with the fastest and most talented dirt bike riders in the world, Simpson was the only rider in any class to do it and whether he won the qualifier or not he was already a legend in the eyes of everyone watching.

Luckily for Simpson, he is more than just an epic jump launcher, and he pulled it all together for his first qualifying heat victory of his career, “I hit a milestone today, I’ve been racing GP’s for eleven years and finally I took my first ever qualifying heat race win” the Scot reminded us, “it’s quite hard to believe. I felt comfortable out there, I had a few good lines, a few bad lines, but that’s the beauty of a sand track, you can make up quite a lot of time and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, after randomly whipping out a fast lap in the last second of Timed Practice, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre tried to challenge Simpson for the lead but eventually let him have it and sat back for an easy second.

Back in third, Strijbos and Coldenhoff made for a fast moving blur of yellow as they tossed the position about. In the end, it was the seasoned Belgian, Strijbos who managed to take third. Coldenhoff put in yet another solid performance for fourth while Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Jeremy Van Horebeek rounded out the top five.

While two Belgians made up the top five, unfortunately Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle will not be racing this weekend after his shoulder popped out in Timed Practice.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 25:04.611; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.856; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:19.997; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:21.832; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:25.097; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:32.939; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:36.356; 8. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:37.554; 9. Nathan Watson (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:38.729; 10. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:41.277

Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie pulled the holeshot and initially looked to be taking his time in finding good lines. Sure enough he found some that worked for him and let that number 99 ‘dance’ as he would say, for his third consecutive qualifying heat victory of the season. “I haven’t ridden here since I won last year but once you know how to ride around Lommel it kind of stays,” he said “I have a great memory from here, because of last year, but two races tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes.”

Second went to Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov who was so fast all day. He literally lives less than five minutes from the circuit here in Lommel, so for those that know him and have seen him ride in the sand would have known that he was capable of such a performance. Petrov rode amazing for second while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass withstood the pressure of a charging Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Brent Van Doninck for third.

The head turner in this race was definitely the local kid Brent Van Doninck, who put in a lap time a full second faster than anyone else. Van Doninck came from a mediocre start, outside the top ten, for an outstanding fourth ahead of Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer who rode smart for fifth.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 25:32.320; 2. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:04.866; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:07.716; 4. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:15.586; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:26.879; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:36.102; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:36.979; 8. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), +0:45.358; 9. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:46.830; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +0:48.460

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Belgium will be available HERE

MXGP BELGIUM - QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1675 m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 27°C

Weather conditions: sunny

TIMETABLE

Sunday: EMX150 Warm-up 07:45; EMX300 Warm-up 08:00; EMX250 Warm-up 08:15; EMX125 Warm-up 08:30; EMX150 Race 2 09:05; EMX300 Race 2 09:45; EMX250 Race 2 10:35; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX125 Race 2 12:10; 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

MXGP of Belgium

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 1 August 2015 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 will be aired on CBS Sports Network in the United States and Canada.

For 2015 the "Olympics of motocross", taking place on September 27 at the Circuit Raymond Demy in Ernée, France, will count on a same-day coverage of the entire main event program, totaling up to 3 hours of prime-time sports television coverage.

For the 2016 and the 2017 editions the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will gain in USA and Canada an unprecedented Live coverage of the entire three main-event races.

The 2016 running of the most important professional motocross race of the world will take place in September 25, at Maggiora Park in Maggiora, Italy to then return to the USA on September 24, in 2017, at the Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California.

“This new agreement with CBS Sports Network, allows us to execute our plan to bring the most important event of the year in motocross racing live on television in USA and in Canada”, said Mario Marini, Youthstream Director of Corporate Relations. “With the escalating growth of the FIM MXGPs in North America and the tremendous following the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations receives in this area of the world, we are glad to give to Team USA and Team Canada and to their fans such a comprehensive Television coverage for the years to come”.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

CBS Sports Network

It has long been considered the toughest circuit in the motocross world, and when the MXGP and MX2 classes head to Lommel, Belgium this coming weekend you can be sure that riders will suffer around the deep sand track.

For decades Lommel has been a place that riders have to dig deep, and control their fear of the roughest and toughest circuit in the world. No more so than in 1981 and 2012 for the prestigious Motocross of Nations.

Former World Motocross Champion Danny Laporte remembers Lommel well. Back in 1981 LaPorte was part of Team USA, which won the MXoN for America, for the first time ever. Laporte knew when the team arrived at the circuit that it would be hard work, but also felt confident.

“We were training for Lommel,” Laporte said. “Roger (De Coster) said we need somebody to go 45 minutes flat out in this deep Lommel sand. So I said I will do it, and I rode hard, just pinned it and two laps before the 45 minutes I ran out of gas. So we put the gas tanks from the 500cc bikes on our bikes so we had enough gas to finish. Now had we not tried that we wouldn’t have even finished the moto’s in Lommel? That was one really tough circuit and the American riders enjoyed it that year.”

Of course it wasn’t just the 1981 MXoN that saw the circuit enjoy this huge event. Back in 2012 the MXoN returned, and it was the battle between Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings, clearly the two best sand riders in the world, that attracted all the attention.

While Cairoli went 1-1 for the individual overall, the performance of Herlings was stunning as he first won his opening moto with ease and then came back from last to nearly win his second moto.

“I was really disappointed not to win both moto’s,” Herlings said at the time. “But to fight back and nearly pass Antonio to win the second moto was a good performance. I felt that was in some ways a victory and showed who is the quickest in the sand. I love Lommel and to race the MXoN there was a high point in my career. Going to that circuit is often a big challenge, but it is one a rider from The Netherlands usually enjoys.”

Now it comes down to this coming weekend, with the MX2 class starting to really fire up the excitement level will be huge. While Jeffrey Herlings won’t be in Lommel due to his most recent injury, the significance of him not being there is important to who wins the 2015 MX2 championship.

With Tim Gajser and Valentin Guillod equal second place behind Herlings in the points race, one of the two will more than likely leave Lommel with the red-plate, and start favorite going to Mantova, Italy in a couple of week’s time.

As for the MXGP class, can Frenchman Romain Febvre continue his great form in the deep sand of Lommel? Or will it be Clement Desalle or Gautier Paulin who come up trumps? Don’t be surprised if recent GP winner Glen Coldenhoff get a victory, as like Herlings he loves the sand of Lommel.