MXGP

Xavier Boog joins Tyla Rattray in the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team at the MXGP of Great Britain, as the Frenchman deputises for Ryan Villopoto who is still suffering from his back injury.

Boog, leader of the French Elite series and ninth at the recent MXGP of Spain on the Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki, has ridden the majority of his career on green bikes and claimed his best results with KRT, finishing seventh in the FIM MX1 World Motocross Championship from 2010 to 2012. Following injuries in the last two seasons, the likeable Frenchman has conducted mainly a national programme with Bud Racing this year, but he also took the opportunity to race a couple of GPs before the start of the French Supercross season later in the summer.
 
Team Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki and the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team reached an agreement this week, and Xavier will contest the GP of Great Britain this weekend and the French round of the FIM MXGP World Championship next week on the KX450F-SR Kawasaki.
 
Xavier Boog: “It’s great to be back with Monster KRT for a couple of GPs, even if I still need to ride the factory Kawasaki to get used to it. We had two days of testing this week, working mainly on the suspension settings, but we have many practice sessions on Saturday to be ready for the GP. It’s great to start this collaboration here in Matterley Basin, one of the best tracks of the season, and of course I hope to be even more acquainted with the bike for the next round at Villars as it’s like a home GP for me ! For sure I will have some pressure racing on a factory bike, but that’s not a problem. I’d like to thank the Bud Racing staff as they understood that it was a great chance for me and let me move for these two events to KRT.”
 
Thierry Chizat Suzzoni, Team owner: “It was important for us and all our partners to line up two riders for the next GPs, and when Ryan informed us that he could not race the GP of Great Britain we spoke with Bud Racing and Xavier to find a solution for this GP and the next one in France. Of course we know Xavier very well as he spent three seasons with us, and we’re happy to welcome him back. He spent two days with the team this week and he knows the Kawasaki as he raced the French series with Kawasaki; he had yet to experience the new suspension and engine but we’re sure that he will adapt easily to our bike. We are happy to see once again that there is a good cooperation between Bud and KRT; both teams want to give their best for Kawasaki.”
 
Steve Guttridge, Racing Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe: “I'm very happy to welcome Xavier back to KRTE. We thank Monster Energy Bud Racing for the great job they are making already with him this season. He's a class rider !’’

On the heels of MXGP of Great Britain in Winchester, the city closest to the magnificent circuit of Matterley Basin, FOX launched their all-new FLEXAIR race wear line. Here to reveal the new ground breaking and innovative product, FOX Europe CEO Mr. Matthieu Bazil introduced the line while Mr. Paul Harrington explained the thought process and development of the gear.

Some of MXGP’s fastest riders, Team HRC’s duo of Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev played a big part in the development, which they explained during the launch yesterday evening. Other FOX riders also onsite were Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff, Honda Gariboldi’s Jorge Zaragoza and Team One One Four’s Livia Lancelot, among others. Both Paulin and Bobryshev will be wearing the new kit today in Matterley Basin.

Welcome to Matterley Basin, England where round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MXGP of Great Britain will take place.

Congratulations to our MXGP of Spain Athena GET Photo competition winner Ruben Policarpo from Portugal.

This was the winning photo that received the most ‘Likes’ on Facebook:

Ruben has received an OGIO Backpack and will go in the draw to win the grand prize!

You can WIN an OGIO backpack and go in the draw to win the grand prize of:

·       Two VIP passes to any 2016 MXGP round of your choice

·       Go Pro prize pack

·       Ogio Prize

What you have to do:

1.     Find any ATHENA or GET Logo

2.     Take a photo of it

3.     Upload it to the Athena Photo Competition app on MXGP’s Facebook page, CLICK HERE.

And don’t forget to follow ATHENA on Facebook and Twitter and hashtag #MXGP & #AthenaLive

Francois Lemariey the young team manager of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team has been involved in the sport for some time now and slowly he is learning, and becoming more experienced in his job. It wasn’t that long ago that he was just a face in the crowd at the Grand Prix races.

“I spent three years with CLS Kawasaki team, then I started working for Clement Desalle at the LS Honda Team in 2010. Working for Clement was my first real test and gave me a good experience. It got me noticed in the paddock, and at the end of the season I got a call from Thierry Chizat Suzzoni from the Kawasaki Factory team and he offered me the job of manager of his team.”

The young team manager had a big job when the season started in Qatar a month or two ago. The Frenchman wanted that the arrival of American Ryan Villopoto would go as easy as possible, but he also knew that having Villopoto in the MXGP series would attract a lot of attention to the team and the series.

“He is a big name in motocross, so it’s nice to have such a big name in the MXGP series. For normal people it’s a dream that came true, but we are professional in motocross and we focus on our job and the job was to have a good bike for him. We worked hard in the winter to get the best material. Unfortunately his injury in Italy was a disappointment, because he was making good progress.”

As for the pressure of leading a team with a rider of the ability of Villopoto, Lemariey was excited about the plans for 2015, but he also knew the team had to put their heads down and work hard, with or without pressure everybody under the Kawasaki team tent knew they needed to work at their best to give the American what he needed to be competitive in the series.

“I would say we felt the pressure, but we are professional in our job and we organized a lot with Monster and our other sponsors to keep the riders happy and we keep doing our job. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it as we improved, along with Ryan.”

As for 2016, at this point nobody knows if Villopoto will return to the MXGP series next year or not. With a lot of work put into this season and big improvements in his results Lemariey feels it would be a good move for RV to return for another shot at the bigger motocross championship in the world.

“It is a question you need to ask him, it would be interesting. He learnt a lot in the overseas races and of course Italy was not what we hoped for, but again he looked good before the crash. He learnt a lot about the track and I think it would be interesting for the future if he came back in 2016.”

MATTERLEY BASIN (Great Britain), 21 May 2015 – The seventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place this weekend at Matterley Basin, Winchester, England.

Don’t miss it! Built inside the basin of two hills, the entire track at Matterley Basin can be viewed from almost every spectating standpoint, which means television coverage will be just as spectacular.

As always, MXGP will be LIVE for local viewers as well as most of Europe on MotorsTV. US and Canadian fans can watch the MXGP of Great Britain slightly delayed on CBS Sports Network, while the rest of the world can watch LIVE and OnDemand on www.MXGP-TV.com.

Sign up to www.MXGP-TV.com today to take advantage of our summer OFFER where you can SAVE 30% on our season package, which includes the entire FIM Motocross World Championship and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations LIVE and On Demand. It also gives you access to unique footage such as our 26mn Magazine ‘Behind the Gate’, which is a filmed production that covers all the action, both on and off the track, with highlights from racing in MXGP and MX2, a GoPro on-board lap of the track, as well as the inside scoop from the pits at each round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The 26mn Magazine covering MXGP of Great Britain will be screened on Wednesday May 27^th at 00:30 (CET) on Eurosport International.

Check the guides below to find out how you can watch MXGP of Great Britain:

EUROPE 

EUROSPORT INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday 27 May- 00:30 CET - 26mn magazine «Behind the gate » 

MOTORS TV – LIVE 

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 15:00 CET – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – 18:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

BULGARIA

BNT - LIVE 

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

ITALY 

ITALIA 2 – DELAYED

From 17:55 until 21:00 CET

Sunday 24 May – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – MXGP Race 2 

PORTUGAL

Sport TV- LIVE  

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 15:00 CET – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 16:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

SLOVENIA 

Sport TV- LIVE 

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 15:00 CET – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – 18:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

THAILAND 

TRUE VISION – LIVE 

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 15:00 CET – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – 18:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

USA

CBS Sports Network - DELAYED

Sunday 24 May: MXGP Race 2 – 09.00 pm EST (06.00 am PST)

Sunday 24 May: MX2 Race 2 - 10.00 pm EST (07.00 pm PST)

MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA  

BeIn SPORTS - LIVE 

Sunday 24 May – 14:00 CET – MX2 Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 15:00 CET – MXGP Race 1 

Sunday 24 May – 17:00 CET – MX2 Race 2 

Sunday 24 May – 18:00 CET – MXGP Race 2 

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

All the photos of the MXGP of Great Britain will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed practice 07:45; WMX Free practice 08:20; EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 08:45; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 09:20; WMX Time practice 09:55; MX2 Free Practice 10:30; MXGP Free Practice 10:55; EMX125 Last Chance Qualifying Race 11:30; EMX250 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 12:00; EMX250 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 12:35; EMX150 Race 1 13:30; 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; EMX125 Race 1 17:40; EMX250 Last Chance Qualifying Race 18:25.

Sunday: EMX150 Warm-up 07:45; WMX Warm-up 08:00; EMX125 Warm-up 08:15; EMX250 Warm-up 08:30; EMX150 Race 2 09:10; WMX Race 2 09:50; EMX125 Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX250 Race 1 12:00; 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 Great Britain

The latest issue of Motocross Illustrated is out and once again we have some stories on both the FIM and AMA events. The MXGP is falling nicely into place with some exciting rounds already held and many more to come. We look at the new KTM machines for 2016, ask the question about Eli Tomac and have a bunch of really cool images from the best MX photographers in the world. Check the latest issue out right here.

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 21 May 2015 - The event originally scheduled on 16^thAugust has not been confirmed. As a replacement, the fifteenth round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship will now take place in Mantova, Italy on the 22^nd and 23^rd of August with the title of the event being MXGP of Lombardia.

Please find here below the updated calendar.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

There is no better place to be at this time of year than at the home grand prix of Motocross. Yes, back in the early part of the last century motocross was born, just 20 miles from the site this years British GP will be held.

The sport has developed a lot since that first race, and the fortunes of riders from Great Britain has been a little of a rollercoaster.

It has been a long time between drinks for British motocross fans. While their riders have been picking up the odd GP victory, the last time they had a world motocross champion was back in 2001 when James Dobb grabbed his chance with both hands and pulled the title from the hands of second placed man Steve Ramon.

The Brit really had dominated the early part of the season winning seven of the first 10 GP’s, but a crash in round seventh round in Sweden nearly stopped him in his tracks. Despite a broken shoulder Dobb continued to ride, and wrapped up the title in Gaildorf, Germany with three rounds remaining.

“It wasn’t easy,” Dobb told at the time. “I had a lot of pain, but I wasn’t going to let the chance slip away. I had ridden all my life to be world champion and to be so close I couldn’t just let the championship go. To be the last rider to win a world title for England is pretty special.”

Since that day in Germany the British riders haven’t had much success. A GP win here and there, some really solid rides from riders like Gordon Crockard, Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson, Max Anstie and Jake Nicholls have given the British fans something to cheer about, but that motocross world championship has eluded them for nearly 15 years.

The 2015 season has also been a tough one of the Brits, with early injuries to Searle and Anstie in Qatar and Thailand, and less than stellar form from Simpson until now. Add to their problems Jake Nicholls was injured the week before the GP season began.

Heading to Matterley Basin though Simpson and Anstie are coming into better form, with Anstie looking the most likely to bring something special to their home GP.

Simpson is in fact undefeated in the British Motocross Championship this year, so he has massive pressure to continue that form in the MXGP class. With an overall victory last weekend at a Belgian International race the Scotsman must be feeling pretty happy with his current form.

“I won there (Wuurstwezel) for the first time which was pretty cool,” Simpson said earlier this week. “But I’m a bit fed-up to be honest. It didn’t even seem that sandy, which is unusual for here and was a bit sketchy. My results were okay, but they should have been better and I just didn’t really enjoy it. Anyway, we shouldn’t grumble too much and I’m really looking forward to Matterley Basin now.”

So the British riders head back home to England this week, confidence building and who knows, with a little luck we might see a Brit on the podium. It would take a huge surprise for one of them to win the GP, but bigger surprises have occurred this season.