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MXGP World Championship

Chatter Box: Rasmus Jorgensen

Rasmus Jorgensen on the season so far.

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Rasmus Jorgensen’s rise within the Grand Prix paddock has been quite rapid – he went from working with Thomas Olsen in the EMX250 category to leading Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s MX2 effort within just a matter of years. Jorgensen got that far by bringing many important qualities to the table and, bearing that in mind, it is no surprise that all three of his guys have impressed through the first two rounds of 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship. Jorgensen breaks down the results and his new role in this exclusive MX Vice interview.

MX Vice: Becoming a team manager of a factory team is obviously huge, but this must have been an easy way to do it. You already knew everyone and how they worked, so the respect was there. Did it feel like a big thing or was the whole process pretty seamless?

Rasmus Jorgensen: Yeah, it depends how you look at it. The whole project was a long time coming and it was a big one from the very beginning. It had to be done on the sidelines alongside the racing last year. It probably looked like it all happened quite quickly, as everything was ready straight after the Motocross of Nations. A lot of work went into it though. Our set-up was ready as soon as the building was ready, so then it was quite a smooth transition for me.

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Ray Archer

It was quite a smooth transition for me at that point. I knew all of the mechanics and the riders stayed the same, but it has been extremely interesting. It has been a challenge in many ways too – I would be lying if I said that it hasn’t been a challenge. It’s a big role to play in a team. It has been very, very enjoyable though. Well, up until this coronavirus!

When you knew that you were going to become a team manager, was there one thing that you knew that you wanted to do differently to make your mark? Did you already know how you wanted to do things before you got there?

Yeah, I would say so. I think that with me probably being the youngest [team manager] in the paddock, I wanted to work in a different way. It’s important to have a good relationship with the riders and know them well, so the stuff that I did with training the last few years I wanted to try to keep. I wanted to keep going on long bicycle rides with the riders and following them closely, like going to the gym with them.

I wanted to play the fact that I am that young as a bit of an advantage – I understand this generation. It has worked out great. There has been a lot more office time and computer work, but I have still taken time to train with the guys and go with them to the track. That was a big priority for me.

I was going to ask what the hardest thing about becoming a team manager is, but I guess it is that admin side and the office work that you have to go through?

Yes, I didn’t really know what to expect there and how much stuff there would be. I’m also really fortunate to have very good people around me. I have a woman in the office with me who takes care of all the bookkeeping, then I have a technical manager who takes care of ordering parts and the mechanics. If I have to point out something that has come as a surprise, it is all the politics involved. This has been a bit of a surprise for me. It is what it is – I think it is in everything. Where there is money involved, there are politics. You just have to get on with it.

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Ray Archer

Right, we are two rounds down and I feel like you cannot be much happier. You would expect Thomas [Olsen] to have better results, but you cannot ask for more given the situation, and Jed [Beaton] had two fourths that could have easily been two podiums.

Yes, I 100% agree. It was a weird situation for me to be in after Valkenswaard. I had tried to picture two guys on the podium and a good start to the season, but I was so extremely happy with how the first two rounds went. Being close to Jed last year, no one knew how difficult that year was for him both mentally and physically. To be a part of turning that around and coming out healthy, with him looking so happy in the team, was great. If it was not for a few hiccups, then he would have been on the podium at both rounds. I’m over the moon that he is third in the championship.

TKO didn’t have the results that we were looking for, but two weeks before England we weren’t even sure if he could race. He is seventh in the championship and has scored very, very important points. He has had another surgery on his hand now and this break has probably given him a bit of a second chance. He needed that operation, otherwise it would have been a very long year and I would almost go as far as to say it wouldn’t have happened. He was in extreme pain at Matterley and Valkenswaard. It was just damage control, which he did very well.

I say it to a lot of people, but I genuinely think that Jed is the most underrated rider in MX2. I think people do not realise how good he is and how also how good he can be. I feel like there is more to come – this is not his peak.

Oh, I agree. Is he underrated? Sure, right now and after the year that he had last year. I think that people forget really quickly in this sport. We also have to remember though that he was very, very attractive on the market when we signed him in 2018. I think that pretty much every MX2 team wanted him, because he had one podium and was fifth in the championship. We pushed hard to get him, so we signed him and then his bike broke in England.

That was one of the worst crashes I have ever seen, and he injured his legs very badly. He had a difficult year last year, but he managed to turn that around and so far I am very proud of what he has done. There is more to come, like you said, and this is only the beginning. He looks so good on the bike and calm, so I think the puzzle was just starting to fit together.

That is what’s funny. It would have been great if the season had continued and Jed could have built on that momentum, but this is such a blessing for Thomas. You literally have a split within the team. 

I know! I was so bummed for Jed, but so happy for Thomas. It was a really strange situation. I now have a chance to come back with two guys who are ready to rock and roll, which is obviously preferred. Let’s just hope that we do have some races coming.

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Ray Archer

Exactly. No one wants to speculate on what we are going to get, but I guess you just want to see a series? No matter if that is 12 rounds, 15 rounds or 20 rounds. What we need is to just get racing in. 

Sure. I want to go racing and that’s what we all want. Let’s try to save the sport, save the teams and go racing. Let’s try to get this whole world up and running again. There’s not much that we as individuals can do, so we just have to sit back and wait a little bit. It’s frustrating on one end for me, but at the same time you have absolutely no influence on what’s happening. That is quite calming, because no matter what you do you aren’t going to be able to influence everything. You can try to get as much work done as possible and prepare as well as you can for when we do go racing again. The only other thing to do is just wait.

Everyone I talk to seems to have a different opinion. Some people want Infront to push for all 20 rounds, because we need the full calendar. Other people that 12 or even 15 rounds would be fine, because that was normal seven years ago. Where do you sit on that?

I want to see a championship. I think the best thing to do is try to be realistic. The entire economy has taken a big hit, which will affect our sport and any sport where passion is involved. Our sport is built purely on passion. We have a lot of great sponsors, but as soon as they are affected by this then the first thing they cut down on is sponsorship. We have to take the fact that there will be a crisis after this into consideration – that could even be next year. The word that has to be used is that we all have to be realistic.

I think Infront need to be realistic on what the teams are able to do, in terms of overseas and many things. We would all love to do everything, but at the end of the day we have to see how bad we are coming out of this. Let’s try to save a championship this year, whether it is eight to fifteen rounds, and then I don’t think we should go later than the end of November, because of people changing teams or having to move to the 450F class. People need a break too. This sport is so tough, so the riders need a break to recover before starting up again. It’s tough.

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Ray Archer

Speaking of changing teams, we have your first big move as a team manager at the end of this year. Thomas is moving out of MX2 and Kay de Wolf is on his way up, but you need to decide who is going next to Jed. That is a bit of a tricky situation, because Kay will be there one day. It is just deciding whether 2021 is the right time or not. 

Yes, you are absolutely right. Had we had a normal season, we would have been able to see Kay develop. We only spoke about the two MX2 riders, but Kay definitely deserves a mention after his performance at Valkenswaard. It didn’t look the greatest on paper, but he absolutely dominated that second race before making a huge mistake on the last lap. He is young and will not do that again [laughs]! The way he was riding there he would be ready for GPs straight away, but you cannot make such a big decision based on one sand race at his home. He needs to go out there and get experience on a 250F.

It’s a very, very tricky situation. Going back to the financial point, will there even be the resources to hire a rider to take over at the level that Thomas is at? It is very difficult to say what is going to happen at the moment, but we are just going to keep optimistic. I can see that our future is very bright with Kay in the team, and Jed having another year. This is still going to be a long year and if we can get ten races in then we will know a lot more.

I guess that is another reason why we need more races. You need that along with every other team manager to make decisions for the future, otherwise you will be shooting in the dark.

Yeah, that is clear. I think many riders are out of contracts and this is a bad situation to be in for a lot of guys, even for a guy like Thomas who needs to move to the 450F class. It’s really tough. Nobody knows! I don’t think any manufacturer can sign a rider at the moment. We just have to wait and see. It is what it is. We all have to give and take a bit here to come out of this alive, then we can start building the whole thing back up again. I think that has to be the main goal.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Ray Archer

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MXGP World Championship

2024 Spain Intu Xanad̼ РArroyomolinos РMXGP Results

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We will post the 2024 MXGP results of Spain Intu Xanad̼ РArroyomolinos GP all weekend. Get the latest updates to your phone through MX Vice.

MXGP Championship

MXGP Overall

MXGP Race Two

MXGP Race One

MXGP Qualification Race

MXGP Timed Practice

MX2 Championship

MX2 Overall

MX2 – Race Two

MX2 – Race One

MX2 – Qualification Race

MX2 Timed Practice

WMX Race Two

WMX Race One

EMX 250 Overall

EMX 250 – Race 2

EMX 250 – Race 1

EMX 250 – Timed Practice

EMX 250 Practice

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MXGP World Championship

//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos

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Once again, our resident stats guru, Paul Pearcy, provides a breakdown of the MX2 class going into Intu Xanadu. Famed more for its access to a shopping mall and McDonald’s than actual passing, the MX2 contenders will be looking to make their mark. Last year, Simon Laengenfelder reigned supreme and was unstoppable on Sunday, with no rider able to match his pace. If you were a betting man, who would be your winner?

MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Preview

MX2

Kay de Wolf

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finish: 4th
  • Qualifying Points: 7
  • Race First Lap Position: 6th
  • Race Finishes: 5th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 8th
  • Race Points: 54

Total Points: 61

Simon Laengenfelder

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podiums: 4; 22’, 23’
  • Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in 23’
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Overall win: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 34; all in 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3rd
  • Qualifying Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.167
  • Race Finishes: 4.333 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 4.333
  • Race Points: 113

Total Points: 121

Thibault Benistant

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 1, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 5.5
  • Qualifying Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.667
  • Race Finishes: 5.667 in Race 1, 6.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 6.333
  • Race Points: 92

Total Points: 97

Mikkel Haarup

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 9th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 12.333 in Race 1, 9.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.667
  • Race Points: 60

Total Points: 60

Andrea Adamo

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 11th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 6
  • Race First Lap Position: 11.667
  • Race Finishes: 9.333 in Race 1, 12.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.333
  • Race Points: 70

Total Points: 76

Lucas Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 17.5
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 26th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14th
  • Race Points: 15

Total Points: 24

Sacha Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 19th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 24th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 17th
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 9th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 9th
  • Race Points: 22

Total Points: 22

Rick Elzinga

Venue Visits: 22’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 10th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 21.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.25
  • Race Finishes:13th in Race 1, 10th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.5
  • Race Points: 27

Total Points: 27

Jack Chambers

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 22nd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 15th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15th
  • Race First Lap Position: 24.5
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th
  • Race Points: 9

Total Points: 9

Oriol Oliver

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 16th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17.5
  • Race Points: 19

Total Points: 19

David Braceras

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 16th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:14.5 in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 16.5
  • Race Points: 23

Total Points: 23

Emil Weckman

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 10th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 19th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 18th
  • Race Points: 8

Total Points: 8

Bobby Bruce

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 20th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 26th
  • Race First Lap Position: 23rd
  • Race Finishes: 27th in Race 1, 21st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th

MXGP

Jorge Prado

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podiums: 6
  • Race Wins: 2
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
  • Overall Win: 1; 20’ (1-1 in 20’)
  • Race Laps Led: 56

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 1.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 10
  • Race First Lap Position: 2.125
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 160

Total Points: 170

Romain Febvre

Venue Visits: 20’, 21’, 23’

  • Race Podiums: 3
  • Race Win: 1; 21’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 20’
  • Race Laps Led: 11

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 5.667
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 1.5 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3.5
  • Race Points: 81

Total Points: 81

Tim Gajser

Venue Visits: 20’-22’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 20’
  • Race Podiums: 4
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 3.5
  • Race Finishes: 3rd in Race 1, 3.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 119

Total Points: 119

Pauls Jonass

Venue Visits: 21’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 8.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 9th
  • Race First Lap Position: 7.25
  • Race Finishes: 7.5 in Race 1, 7th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7.5
  • Race Points: 55

Total Points: 55

Maxime Renaux

Venue Visit: 22’, 23’

  • Race Wins: 2; 22’ (1-1 in 22’)
  • Overall Win: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 31

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Race Finishes: 1st in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 50

Total Points: 50

Jeremy Seewer

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 5

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.375
  • Race Finishes: 8.5 in Race 1, 5.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7th
  • Race Points: 115

Total Points: 123

Jeffery Herlings

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 2; 21’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 1; 23’
  • Race Podiums: 4;(Jeffrey has podiumed 100% of the races he has competed in)
  • Race Wins: 3; (Herlings has won 75% of the victories he has vied for)
  • Overall Wins: 2; (100% win rate)
  • Race Laps Led: 27

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1st
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.75
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 95

Total Points: 104

Glenn Coldenhoff

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podium: 1; 22’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 7.25
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.125
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 6.5 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 5th
  • Race Points: 123

Total Points: 128

Calvin Vlaanderen

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 2
  • Race First Lap Position: 15.625
  • Race Finishes: 11.5 in Race 1, 12.75 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 12.25
  • Race Points: 71

Total Points: 73

Valentin Guillod

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 18th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 19.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 1
  • Race First Lap Position: 14.75
  • Race Finishes: 12th in Race 1, 15.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.25
  • Race Points: 62

Total Points: 63

Ben Watson

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 14.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.5
  • Race Finishes: 19th in Race 1
  • Overall Finishes: 22nd
  • Race Points: 2

Total Points: 2

Ivo Monticelli

Venue Visits: 20’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24th
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.75
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 13th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 13th
  • Race Points: 28

Total Points: 28

Kevin Brumann

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 20th
  • Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Race Finishes: 14th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 15th
  • Race Points: 11

Total Points: 11

Photo: KTM Group

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MX Vice Podcasts

Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview

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The Between The Races podcast returns with Adam Sterry, Ed Stratmann and Brad Wheeler, as they review the 2024 MXGP season opener and look ahead to Spain.

The Between The Races podcast is always available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks to Fly Racing, Monster Energy, Fox Racing, Parts Europe, Scott, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, AS3 Performance, Kawasaki UK, KTM UK, O’Neal and Even Strokes for supporting the show. If you would like to become a part of the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Lead Image: Triumph Racing/Ray Archer

Love what we do? Please read this article as we try to raise £30,000.

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