Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Stars Set for Exciting Homecoming as MXGP Arrives in Latvia for Round Eight
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are primed to showcase their potential as the FIM Motocross World Championship heads to the hard-sand circuit of Kegums, Latvia, for round eight. This weekend marks the final stop of a gruelling triple-header before a much-needed break precedes another intense three-week stretch of racing.
The Latvian Grand Prix carries special significance for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 riders Karlis and Janis Reisulis. Hailing from Gulbene, 165km north-east of Kegums, the brothers rank among the nation’s brightest young talents and are set to compete in front of a passionate home crowd. The iconic “Zelta Zirgs” circuit, known for its unique hard-sand surface that becomes brutally rough and technical, will serve as the ultimate stage for the Latvian duo to showcase their skills.
Janis arrives in Kegums with massive momentum. After finishing a mere point shy of the overall podium in Germany last weekend, the young ‘772’ has proven he has the raw speed to run at the front of the MX2 field. With his confidence at an all-time high, Janis is determined to go one step further this weekend and put the Latvian flag on the podium in front of his local fans.
Joining him is his older brother, Karlis, who approaches his home GP with quiet determination and a focus on consistency. Having shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, the 20-year-old aims to harness the energy of the home crowd to secure a career-best result. For Karlis, the goal is clear: find his flow early on the demanding Kegums terrain and deliver a performance that reflects his true potential.
In the MXGP class, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team continues its hunt for podium glory. Tim Gajser, having shown incredible grit by racing through injury in Germany, heads to Latvia looking to capitalize on a track where he has historically excelled. Alongside him, Maxime Renaux remains focused on refining his starts and finding the rhythm that will land him on the box.
Adding to the weekend’s intensity, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team arrives in Kegums for round six of the EMX125 championship. Sleny Goyer and Levi Townley are both looking to carry momentum from the MXGP of France; Goyer is fresh off an emotional third-place overall finish at his home GP, while Townley made a stellar return to action by securing fifth overall. Goyer currently sits third in the EMX125 standings, just 19 points behind Ricardo Bauer, while Townley has already rocketed to 20th in the points despite having only one round under his belt.
Rounding out Yamaha’s contingent this weekend is VHR Yamaha Official EMX250’s Jarne Bervoets, who lines up for the sixth round of the EMX250 series. Having grown up in Belgium, Bervoets is a natural in the sand and will be one to watch as the technical sand of Kegums starts to roughen up.
Tim Gajser
4th MXGP Championship Standings, 256-points
“This week, my primary focus has been on treatment and recovery. I’ve been sticking to gym work between physio sessions to ensure I heal as quickly as possible. It has been a difficult couple of weeks, but we are staying positive and moving forward. I really enjoy Kegums; I’ve had a lot of success there with many race and GP wins, so I have plenty of great memories to draw from. I missed the Latvian GP last year, so I’m looking forward to seeing the track and giving my all as always. Despite the injuries, I’m going to give everything I have, just as I did in Germany.”
Maxime Renaux
5th MXGP Championship Standings, 251-points
“This week, I spent a day in the sand to warm up for the weekend. I’m really looking forward to racing in the sand again; it’s going to be interesting. We’ve been testing to make some small improvements to the bike based on the data we gathered in Spain, which I feel is a similar type of sand to Kegums. This weekend will be the real test to see if those efforts have paid off, but I feel like we’ve made a step in the right direction. I enjoy Kegums and have had great results there in the past, including a GP win in the MX2 class back in 2021. My goal is to stay consistent and secure good points for the championship—and after missing the podium by just a single point at the last two GPs, I hope to be on the box.”
Janis Reisulis
7th MX2 Championship Standings, 252-points
“The plan for the week is to get through my final school exams while continuing to work on the bike. It’s always nice to be riding in the sand, especially at home; I think I will always enjoy these kinds of sand tracks that aren’t too deep. In my eyes, this is one of the best tracks on the calendar—I love the flow and just everything else about it. The goal is to enjoy this weekend as much as possible since it’s my home GP and only happens once a year. Other than that, scoring some valuable points would be great.”
Karlis Reisulis
9th MX2 Championship Standings, 188-points
“The plan is to keep training hard. I really enjoy riding in the sand, especially the hard-sand surface we have here in Latvia. Kegums will always have a special place in my heart as my home GP—I just love the track. My main goal for the weekend is to have maximum fun out there.”
