The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are ready for the second stop of another triple-header, arriving in the Czech Republic for Round 13 of the FIM Motocross World Championship. After a mixed but encouraging outing at Foxhills in Great Britain, the teams now turn their attention to the familiar, old-school circuit of Loket, nestled in the picturesque Karlovy Vary region.
Loket is defined by its blue-groove clay, steep climbs, and daunting downhills. It rewards precision, momentum, and smooth technique—qualities that play directly into the hands of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s duo, Tim Gajser and Maxime Renaux.
Gajser returns to Loket with momentum after a welcome return to the podium at Foxhills in Great Britain. Now he wants more. The Slovenian won the Czech Grand Prix in Loket in 2024, and his smooth, aggressive style is perfectly suited to the track’s technical layout. He arrives with growing confidence in both his form and his YZ450FM.
Renaux, meanwhile, is managing ongoing health issues but remains determined to compete at the highest level. Having won a race at this venue in his rookie season on the 450 back in 2022, the Frenchman knows the hard-pack surface suits his riding. He is focused on delivering a strong result despite the physical challenges.
In MX2, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Janis Reisulis looks forward to riding Loket for the first time. With two podium finishes already this season, he has proven his pace and potential and hopes to add another strong result to his tally. At the same time, his older brother, Karlis, continues his search for a podium finish. He knows he has the speed to challenge for one, and Loket represents an opportunity to finally show what he is capable of.
Tim Gajser
4th MXGP World Championship Standings, 452-points
“Loket is always a good GP. It’s a bit like Arco, where I have a lot of Slovenian fans traveling to support me, so I always look forward to racing there. It’s not my favourite track for some reason, but I’ve been on the podium quite a few times, and winning there in 2024 is definitely my best memory.
I had good speed at the British GP in Foxhills, but some small things held me back—like tear-offs getting stuck in my eye, a crash in qualifying, and another in Race 2. These are the types of things we need to avoid. Once we iron out those mistakes, I know I have all the tools I need to fight at the front. That’s the goal: to have fun, ride like I know how, get good starts, and fight for the win.”
Maxime Renaux
5th MXGP World Championship Standings, 392-points
“I’m still dealing with some ongoing health issues at the moment, so I’m doing everything I can to recover between races. Right now, that means I can’t train or ride during the week – I just need to rest. I really like Loket. It’s a cool track that I enjoy riding a lot, and I always have fun there. I’ve had some good memories in the past – podium in 250, podium in 450, and I’ve won some races. I really hope I get that same good feeling this weekend and that my body will allow me to perform at my highest level. Given the circumstances, I just need to take each weekend as it comes. I can’t really put any expectation on myself right now. I just know I’ll give my best, like I do every weekend, and we’ll see what comes.”
Janis Reisulis
6th MX2 World Championship Standings, 434-points
“It has been a long time since I last raced in Loket. It was back in 2018 when I was on a 65cc. From what I remember, the track was pretty cool, so I hope they prepare it well again this weekend. I think Loket is one of those tracks where I could feel good on the bike – I like hard pack tracks with a little less traction. I believe if I can get a good start and be in race intensity immediately, then I could comfortably fight at the front.”
Karlis Reisulis
8th MX2 World Championship Standings, 336-points
“I really like the Loket track – it has nice elevation changes with some technical parts. This week in preparation for the GP, I’ve been doing some motos on the bike as well as keeping my fitness level good off the bike. I’ve had some nice moments there when I was a junior, but the best was racing there in 2024. The goal for this weekend is to put down the hammer and ride the bike smoothly.”
