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Team HRC rider Max Nagl produced a brilliant weekend at the MXGP of Qatar. The German veteran scored second overall and came within a couple of points of winning the MXGP. Here is what Nagl thought of his Qatar experience.

Q: Max, you got a moto victory and a MXGP podium. That must make you really happy?

Nagl: It was a long time ago for myself and for Honda that we win a moto, and that makes me happy about the first race, and I was nervous after the second heat, because I didn’t want to make it worse. But I had a good start and I was really happy actually all weekend with my riding, the bike is working perfect and every time we went out we made improvement with the bike and that is the best way to work.

Q: It seemed like hard work out there, many riders going fast.

Nagl: At this level everyone is fast, nearly all at the same speed almost, and you need to hope somebody makes a mistake, or you have a section where you do something really special. The start is so important and my second heat my gate was ok, but I wasn’t fast enough to get the holeshot, but I was happy with the second heat and it’s important to start the season like this.

Q: What is your preparation for Thailand?

Nagl: I will fly back to Germany tomorrow, I will not go straight to Thailand because I want to ride the bike more and I want to be safe (not get sick like in 2013) and I will eat the right food and feel safe at home. The heat won’t be a problem, because everyone needs more than a week to get used to the warmer temperatures, not just a few days. I don’t know the track, but I will look at some videos and it will be ok.

Q: Both yourself and Ken Roczen are getting a lot of press. Does this make you happy?

Nagl: I think it is great that Ken gets a lot of attention. In the winter all the focus is on him, and it’s cool for him and I just try and do my best in Europe and we are both on a high level and that is good for the sport in Europe, but mainly in Germany. So I am happy about this situation.

Q: How is the feeling of having HRC taking the FIM World Motocross Championship so seriously?

Nagl: Of course it feels great, it is cool every time you come back we have five Japanese technicians and they are all on their computers and they give you a lot of information about the bike, even the smallest piece of information. I can learn so much from them already just in these two days, and for sure it has pushed the team to the next level, I am really happy, I really like it.

TM Ricci Racing rider Tanel Leok hasn’t had the best of starts to the season. With a knee injury he picked up in the off-season the Estonian rider will have to work hard to stay competitive for the opening few rounds of the MXGP Championship.

Leok is 13^th in the MXGP points standings after the opening round in Qatar and will want to improve on that when the riders are finished with the three overseas rounds in Qatar, Thailand and Brazil.

Q: Tanel, I heard you have a problem with your knee?

Leok: Yes, I have a knee injury. It happened before Christmas at a track in Estonia. I was riding and just twisted it. I went to the doctor and they made pictures, but you couldn’t see anything. Then I went to Sardinia to ride for a week with the team, and it didn’t feel good, in fact it felt really bad, and I went to Belgium and had another look by another doctor and they found that I had it dislocated and it didn’t go back in the right place and the ligament was torn and I had an operation and they cleaned it all up. That was four weeks ago, but I haven’t had much time on the bike, just riding two weeks. I am struggling a little bit, not enough time on the bike.

Leok: It is hard to know how good it is at the moment, but we taped it, but I lose feeling in my toes, and it is not 100%, because I can’t bend it and it gives pain, and if I twist it again it will also be very painful. I will take a few weeks before it feels okay, but that is the life of a Motocross rider.

Q: Obviously lacking time on the bike makes it difficult to get your testing done. How is the new bike?

Leok: The bike is good, engine is good and the suspension is good, but we are behind. I need to get through the first two rounds and try and get as many points as possible. Just make some little changes to the bike to make it easier to ride for my style.

Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing team’s MXGP rider Tyla Rattray will not participate in this weekend’s MXGP of Thailand or the upcoming MXGP of Brazil following surgery today on his injured right hand little finger.

Unable to compete at the FIM Motocross World Championship’s opening MXGP of Qatar due to severe pain from his broken finger, sustained at round three of the Internazionali d’Italia championship at Montevarchi, Italy, Tyla has successfully gone under the surgeons knife in Belgium having two pins inserted to stabilise the fracture.

Tyla will need to rest for three weeks before he can start any physiotherapy on his finger. Then, if all goes well, Tyla will be able to return to riding soon after as he begins his preparations for a return to the Motocross World Championship, most like round four in Trentino, Italy.

Tyla Rattray: “This is seriously disappointing for everyone, but now I have to focus on getting my finger ready to return to racing. We knew my finger was broken after the race in Montevarchi when a rock hit my hand, but I was told by my doctor that I would be ok to race in Qatar. I guess that just wasn’t the case. The heavy landings in Losail were hard on my finger. Now I have two pins in the break, so it’s just a matter of time now before I can return to racing. I’ve been told that I can't do anything for three weeks, and then I can start my rehab and after that get back on a bike. When I’m ready I’ll then return to racing, hopefully for the first European MXGP at Arco di Trento.”

Antti Pyrhönen (team manager): “Of course everyone in the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing team is frustrated that Tyla was unable to compete in Qatar and will now be out of action for at least three weeks, but accidents and injury are a part of motocross. Tyla was in great shape before he injured his finger. He was riding well, really enjoying the FC 350, and generally very well prepared for the start of the MXGP season. Tyla is one of the world’s most experienced riders, and has a fantastic team of people around him. We can’t wait to get him back in action, but this won't be until he is fully fit and ready to return at his best.”

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 03 March 2014 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that ATHENA SPA has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with the MXGP (FIM Motocross World Championship) and the MXoN (Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations) that will see ATHENA SPA becoming the Motorcycling Equipment Partner.

ATHENA SPA is an International group with three divisions and ten branches both in Italy and around the world. Athena Industries: manufactures mechanical components for Industrial applications and endothermic engines. Athena Parts: manufactures and distributes mechanical spare parts (gaskets, cylinder kits, pistons) and electronics (under the brand GET) for the off-road, motorbike, scooter, maxi scooter and automotive sector. Athena Evolution: distributes within Italy emerging brands such as GoPro, Red Bull Racing Eyewear, Ogio, Recon, VR46 and the new line of electric bike GET CYCLING.

Erardo Ratzenbeck, General Manager of ATHENA SPA, said: “ Athena has had a good working relationship with Youthstream’s team for many years, so we are delighted to extend this to a new level of collaboration. We are excited to continue our growing business partnership with MXGP as Technical Equipment partner. We look forward to strengthening our existing relationship and being strongly committed to promote this amazing sport!”

MXGP and ATHENA GET Partnership has stared with the first race, the MXGP of Qatar, on March the 1^st, at Losail.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

ATHENA

LOSAIL (Qatar), 1 March 2014 – The official guide of the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship is now available in printable PDF formats. The guide contains all the essential information about MXGP and MX2 series, including entry lists, track details, rider and team profiles, statistics, TV broadcasters and MXGP rules and regulations.

The official guide also offers a brief summary of the FIM Motocross World Championship and FIM Motocross of Nations history, as well as a personal achievements profile for all of last year’s European champions.

Click here below to download the Guide in PDF format:

High Definition (87MB) 

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-high_definition.pdf

Medium Definition (31,5 MB)

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-medium_definition.pdf

Low Definition (20,7 MB)  

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-low_definition.pdf

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 01 March 2014 – Youthstream is pleased to announce its partnership with Alpinestars, a world leader in performance and protective footwear and apparel for all forms of motorcycle racing and motorsport.

From the start of this year’s MXGP season in Qatar, Alpinestars iconic logo will be visible on trackside banners, while the company’s racing service technicians will continue their support for its world-class athletes, as they have done for the past five decades.

Alpinestars has been at the very heart of motocross for over 50 years, giving riders protection and performance in one of the most demanding forms of motorsport.

From the time it introduced its first purpose-built MX boot in the early 1960s, Alpinestars has formed technical partnership with a roll call of illustrious world MX champions in which improved performance and development of technical footwear, protection and apparel have been the ultimate goal.

No one personified this endeavor better than "The Man" Roger de Coster, a rider synonymous with Alpinestars, who dominated five 500cc FIM World Championships between 1971 and 1976. Now young superstars like Jeffrey Herlings are following in the tracks of de Coster and winning in Alpinestars.

“Motocross has always been at the very core of Alpinestars and we hold the sport very close to our heart.  It is always great to cooperate with Youthstream and its passionate group of people to support the growth of the FIM Motocross World Championship.  Our relationship with Youthstream goes back decades and we greatly respect the way they have promoted motocross expansion and visibility to an ever-growing audience worldwide”, said Alpinestars’ President Mr. Gabriele Mazzarolo.

Through the agreement with Youthstream, Alpinestars will have greater visibility throughout the MXGP season, with track branding and paddock activations, while continuing to focus on its core activity of giving motocross racers more speed, control, comfort and protection.

“We are stunned to have onboard such a prestigious partner and industry icon”, said Mario Marini, Youthstream’s Director of Corporate Relations. “Alpinestars is in the genes of our sport and from the very beginning it has been a trend setter in quality, technology and design of protective equipment for motorcyclists. Alpinestars presence as one of the main partners of the series brings along further stature and a unique touch of style”.

About Alpinestars:

Established in 1963, Alpinestars is the world-leading manufacturer of high-performance motorsports apparel, clothing and safety gear. Alpinestars’ goal has always been to give racers the competitive edge by continuously innovating and developing new technologies and materials to improve performance because, in the fast and competitive arena of motorsport, even the smallest improvement can translate into significant gain.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Alpinestars