MXGP

Way back in April this year a young Italian rider was ripping up a practice track near his home, he’d recently moved from his regular 250cc machine up to the MXGP class with his CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Team and was busy getting comfortable on the bike. With a decent debut under his belt from the weekend before at the Grand Prix in Arco Di Trento he was looking forward to turning his season around on the MXGP bike after a difficult start in the MX2 class, but then with no warning his season was over. A broken ACL and collateral ligament in his knee after a self-confessed silly mistake meant immediate surgery and a long rehab was the only viable option for the 22 year old if he was to be able to continue his career.

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As 2015 slowly bloomed and fireworks were going off around the world, and people celebrated a new year arriving, two men were working hard on their craft, preparing for what might be their toughest challenge. Two careers defined by huge success, money and living standards many of us can only dream of.

Italian Antonio Cairoli and American Ryan Villopoto are two rivals who have hardly even locked handlebars in competition, two competitors with the same drive to win, and capture what they both feel is theirs. When the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship bursts into action on February 28 the eyes of the motocross world will be set on a road racing facility just outside Doha, Qatar.

Along with names like Clement Desalle, Gautier Paulin, Jeremy Van Horebeek and many others the 2015 MXGP title will be the most competitive and adored championship in the sports history.

While the harsh winter of Europe has sent several GP riders to America to train, eight times FIM motocross world champion Antonio Cairoli though remains in his beloved Italy. His pattern for success won’t change just because of the arrival of the best American rider from the last decade. The Sicilian, who prides himself on being prepared better than anyone else will continue to work away with the people close to him, his two Red Bull KTM Factory team-mates Ken De Dycker and Tommy Searle. His season begins in a few weeks at the Riola Sardo circuit in Sardinia. A million miles away from the plush training facilities were Villopoto will be preparing in California, America.

Ryan Villopoto a nine time AMA champion and the only rider in America who seemingly has a serious chance of beating Cairoli for a world title is also very particular about how he trains. His career has been defined on moments of error or dazzling speed and success. If Villopoto doesn’t end the season with a broken bone, then he is going to be crowned champion, and he’s even ended seasons with injury and still been crowned champion. Along with riders like Ricky Carmichael, Bob Hannah, Ricky Johnson, Broc Glover he is the man of his era, a level above everybody else and his place among the AMA legends is secure no matter what happens in 2015.

Due to their massive success both riders are admitted to an exclusive club, not just champions, but legends, men who’s histories were written on the back of destruction of their competition.

On what will be a warm night at the Losail circuit on the outskirts of Doha, the first chapter of the 2015 season will be written. Nobody can know who’s name will be added to those of Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin, the GP of Qatar winners in 2013 and 2014, but what is known is that victor will take a serious advantage into the second and third rounds in Thailand and Argentina.

 Bring it on!!!!

We’re already a week into 2015 which means all those fun festivities are well and truly behind us, and you know what else that means? The moment we are all waiting for, the commencement of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship is a little over a month and a half from being upon us.

While most of us MXGP fans are back to the daily grind, the riders of the MXGP series are out burning laps, doing their utmost to get everything setup and dialed in ready for round one in Qatar.

So who has been where and doing what? I’ve scoured the Internet to bring to you at home a feature with all the coolest posts on social media from some of the fastest motocross riders in the world. 

After a brief trip to Europe at the end of 2014 where he was spotted tearing up the clay in Spain, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team's Ryan Villopoto has been back on home soil in the United States recently, and who would blame him? The temperatures have been on the nippy side in central Europe so it makes sense. Recently he posted this image of himself shredding laps at Milestone in California.

The eight time FIM Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli.

The 2008 FIM MX2 World Championship runner-up Tommy Searle.

Above, two of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MXGP squad were riding together in Italy. The same shot but two very different riding styles. Both looking fast and aggressive. Tommy in particular.

While there is a lot of hype surrounding the long awaited ‘TC222’ vs ‘RV2’ battle, I don’t think anybody should be counting out this guy, Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin, who absolutely killed it at the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations and is already looking at home on the red machine.

Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos have also crossed the Atlantic, clearly chasing the sun and groomed tracks and are both looking happy, comfortable and ready for action.

Click HERE to watch Clement Desalle getting sideways at Cahuilla MX Park in California.

Click HERE to watch a video of Strijbos and fellow Suzuki hotshot Glenn Coldenhoff throwing some whips at the Comp Edge circuit in California.

Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl very recently became a Dad to a baby boy, so congratulations to him and his partner. Whereas Todd Waters has just left the gorgeous sun and sand of Australia to start testing in a gloomy and cold Belgium, yet there are no pictures as of yet.

Meanwhile Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Ferris is back on the bike after being sidelined for four months with a broken femur, which he broke in Trindade, Brazil, round sixteen of the 2014 FIM MXGP Championship. The Australian was given the all clear early in the week by the world renown Dr. Claes and immediately geared up to go for a spin. When I asked how it was, he responded "tip top!", so he's clearly stoked.

And as for the Yamaha Factory Racing duo, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Romain Febvre have both been very quiet, so no news there.

For instant access to all news, gossip and information on the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship 'like', 'follow' or 'subscribe' to any or all four of MXGP's social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. (Each link is click-able)

Main image: Ryan Villopoto (photo courtesy of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team)

One of the fastest Austrians to swing a leg over a motorcycle, the 2012 FIM Motocross MX3 World Champion Matthias Walkner, has shaken up the off-road world with his recent stage win in the world famous Dakar rally.

Walkner won stage three yesterday 40 seconds clear of the reigning Dakar champion Marc Coma, “I already had a good feeling when I got to the finish because I knew I had a good day,” Walkner said in a KTM release. “But at the end, I was a bit tired and wasn’t concentrating so well and I made some small mistakes. It is an amazing feeling to win the stage and for sure, I didn’t expect this.”

Walkner is now sitting third in the overall standings, which is very impressive for a rookie on his Dakar debut. 

One of the greatest magazines in our sport, renowned for its artistic flare and unique look at motocross, The Art of Motocross has just released a special edition magazine which covers the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations which took place at the glorious circuit of Kegums in Latvia.

The magazine, titled The Art of The Nations, offers an exclusive insight to the worlds favorite motocross event, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, and features the most inspiring and captivating images and articles in the industry. It is sure to be quality reading and will make a great addition to any coffee table.

To check it out or purchase, visit www.taomxboutique.com 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. And in a sport as epic and as captivating as ours, there are plenty of those moments. Moments that make your hair stand on end, that make you smile and think “heck yeah! This is why I love motocross, that is SWEET”.

In the video below, the team at MXGP reflects on the amazing evolution of the FIM Motocross World Championship, from the golden era right through to the out-right speed and extraordinariness of today. Check it out! You’ll love it.

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 05 January 2014 - Youthstream presents the sixteenth issue of MXGP Mag which includes a feature on the officially announced teams set to contest the entire 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship, it also touches base on the ‘political’ side of the sport as we familiarize ourselves with the newly re-elected FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington. Issue sixteen also features an in depth interview with popular Italian rider Alessandro Lupino, blasts back to the past and reflects on the success of American star Ricky Johnson, and offers an inside look at MXGP’s ultimate VIP Skybox Gold experience.

Click here to read the sixteenth 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 sixteenth 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

After the first successful years of activity, the MXGP Academy renews itself and in the first week of 2015 is starting with a training camp in Spain. Motocross riders of at least 6 Countries are taking part to the training session in the South of Spain.

During the MXGP of Lommel (Belgium), Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo announced that as of 2015 this project will be managed by FIM Europe, with the on-going

support from Youthstream.

The team of the MXGP Academy relies on the support of famous trainers: two-time FIM Motocross World Champion John Van Den Berk and Jan Postema, for additional training

sessions, while the responsible for the coordination is Martin van Genderen, well known in Motocross as well as in Road Racing.

The team has at its disposal for the Academy six KTM: 65 cc, 85 cc and 125 cc. Of course riders can also use their own motocross bikes.

«In many meetings the team has developed this new style of the Academy», says Martin de Graaff, responsible of MXGP Academy on behalf of FIM Europe, where he is President of the Sporting Council. «I am pleased with the results and all aspects of training possibilities for young riders and trainers in their plans. «The future structure, laid down in a long term vision with the name ‘Motivation by Encouraging’, is comparable with many other sport programs of Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines».

The activities for these training sessions are: motor training, education for riders (rules and behaviour), aspects of physical training, program for parents about communication, food for sportsmen and women.

Copyright: Photo: FIM Europe

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 1 January 2015 - MXGP’s legend, eight-time FIM Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli has been voted as the Sportsman of the Year in a competition run by popular Italian broadcasting network ‘Sportmediaset’.

With 40% of votes Tony triumphed the likes of Football hero Cristiano Ronaldo, F1 star Lewis Hamilton, Tour De France winner Vincenzo Nibali and that’s just to name a few, to be titled Sportmediaset’s Sportsman of the Year.

In a similar competition Tony was chosen by the readers of well-known Italian newspaper ‘La Stampa’ as the 2014 Italian Sportsman of the Year. Tony led this competition also from start to finish with thousands upon thousands of La Stampa readers voting for him. The Italian fan favorite, who was up against other popular Italian athletes such as the Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali again, MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and NBA star Marco Belinelli just to name a few, won with a percentage of 36% of votes and a commanding lead over Vincenzo Nibali.

What better occasion to live again TC222’s 2014 best moments. 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Sportmediaset

LaStampa

With Social Media playing an important role in building a solid, enthusiastic and loyal fan base, MXGP has introduced the MXGP Social Media Awards to commend riders and teams on their efforts in the social media world. The way the winners were selected was via you, the fans and followers, by filling out a form on MXGP’s Facebook page or tweeting with the hashtag #MXGPSMA.

With the competition closing yesterday, December 31^st, here are your MXGP Social Media Award winners:

1. Social Media’s Most Valued Rider: Antonio Cairoli

2. Social Media’s Most Valued Team: Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing

3. Social Media’s Rookie of the Year Award: Pauls Jonass

4. Best Tweet Award: Jeffrey Herlings 

@jherlings84: “Pain is temporary. Glory is forever.”

Follow him: @jherlings84. Click HERE to view the tweet.

5. #MXGPSelfie Award: Jake Nicholls

Follow him on Instagram: @jgn45. Click HERE to view the selfie & if you like to take selfies, YOU can always #MXGPSelfie. Try it!

6. Best Insta-Video: Gautier Paulin

Follow him on Instagram: @gautierpaulin. Click HERE to view the video.

7. Hilarious Award: Thomas Covington

Follow him on Instagram: @thomsc64. Click HERE to see the picture.

Congratulations to all of the award winners and a big thanks to everyone who voted.

Welcome to 2015! On behalf of MXGP we hope you had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and we look forward to entertaining you and keeping you up to date with all of MXGP’s best moments and hottest gossip all season long. Follow us on our social media channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube for up to the minute news and content.