Connect with us
       

British Championship

Interview: Ivo Monticelli Part 2

Engaging Ivo shares his views.

Published

on

Part Two of our interview with the likeable Italian covers topics such as the MX2 age rule, the great list of teammates he’s joined forces with, his MXoN experiences, what the future holds, how he adapted to the sand, the Herlings incident and how long he intends to keep racing.

Read Part 1 here.


Words: Edward Stratmann | Lead Image: ASA United GasGas


Edward Stratmann: Who were your favourite teammates or ones you got along with best, as you’ve had many great ones like Febvre, Anstie, Coldenhoff, Butron and Jacobi?

Ivo Monticelli: I can’t tell (who’s my favourite) as I had so much fun with everyone, as I’m a funny guy and I enjoy being with all of these people. I think the most similar guys like me are Butron and Jacobi. They have my same mentality. But I learned a lot from Febvre, Coldenhoff and Anstie. I’ve had really good teammates who are fast. But not only fast, they were good people. They taught me a lot, with training, inside and outside the bike, so often. It’s been good to have many good teammates. I don’t want to choose one.

Also Bobby, John and I have some fun.

ES: It’s good you bring some charisma and personality to the sport, which is very refreshing. Does this come from your family?

IM: I’m always like this with my friends. And I’m like this with my teammates. Maybe I’m born in the best place in the World. Italy is a bit different to other places sometimes (laughs).

ES: How were your Motocross of Nations experiences, you must have been so proud to represent your country?

IM: I like MXoN, I really love it, as you get to race with some riders you never race. You don’t usually get to race the US guys, Australian guys and even the people from Japan. I think it’s nice and there’s such a big crowd around, who are going crazy compared to the MXGP. You know, you represent your country, so it’s always nice.

ES: Looking back, what are some of your best racing memories?

IM: This is a bit strange, but I really enjoyed when I finished third in the qualifying race at Imola, which was on my home track. I was feeling so good and in such a good mood. I think Turkey was my best result, I got fourth in a moto and fifth overall.

Also Italy at Arco di Trento, but I think I don’t have the crazy moments. My aim was to always be on the podium, but I’ve never done it. I still have some years of motocross so I will try again. I want to be really competitive next year also in the GPs I race. It’s still my dream to arrive.

ES: How did you find riding in the sand and the process of getting comfortable? Obviously you’ve lived in Belgium for many years of your career, but it must have been difficult at the beginning?

IM: It’s okay now, I feel good. But when I was younger for an Italian guy like me who only had hardpack around his house, like rocky tracks, it was very hard.

I remember the first race I went to Lommel was the 85 European and that race I finished 25th and my dad said “it’s better if you watch the second moto” so he didn’t let me race. I said why? He said: “believe me like this, you don’t understand or learn anything – just watch the other riders, the good ones, and you learn more.”

It’s hard, but you know in time we worked a lot at Lommel, as it’s like the hardest track ever because after 10 minutes you’re already dead, but you still have 25 minutes to go. It’s mental.

The last four years when I was with Standing until last year with Jacky Martens, I was living in Belgium so now I’m good at it like hardpack.

ES: When did you realise you had a special talent for motocross and could be a professional?

IM: When I was with Marchetti I was a bit young. But we started motocross really early and I think already when I was 17 or 18 I was working a bit like a professional. My Dad obviously used to help lots, but now he just comes to watch the races sometimes.

I think I was really professional already because I started early in the GPs, as at that time the European was not together with the world championship, so many riders like me, Julien Lieber and many others had to jump straight to the GPs.

ES: What do you think of the MX2 age rule after being through what you said?

IM: For me, it’s bulls**t. Like in MotoGP and other sports, they have different classes when riders are given more opportunity to be good and improve. It can be one rider is better with a 250 because he’s smaller and the bigger guy needs the 450. It’s just stupid. I mean I understand in the European because they are young and they cannot battle a guy who is 25. But I think it’s bulls**t.

It’ s crazy, I prefer to be open, as I remember Butron, who was really fast with the 250 and he finished third. Then the year after he went to the 450 and he said: “I feel s**t. It’s not for me the 450.”

I think some riders can be better with the 250 and you give much more opportunity to grow the sport. Because now, to be realistic, the MX2, many people from the outside just watched the last GP when Vialle and Geerts were battling. But everyone watches the 450 MXGP because you have 15-20 professional riders where the guy who finishes 20th can also finish fifth. They’ve broken the motocross system.

For me, like Anstie, he got the opportunity to go back to the 250 and he’s shown he can win and feels good straight away. It just gives more opportunities for people, it’s better.

ES: Who’s your pick for the MXGP title in 2023?

IM: I hope for Febvre, but I think the hardest to beat contender will be Gajser. Herlings is always tough, as he’s the fastest rider in the World. He’s shown he can beat everybody, but sometimes he loses everything.

ES: How was the Herlings crash at Oss from your perspective?

IM: Of course, it was a crazy accident. Crazy, because when you are in the air to see someone under your bike, you think ”I’m going to kill him, my feeling was like why did I jump?” You have no brake after the jump. It was dangerous but unlucky. Luckily we did nothing too serious and that was the best thing.

ES: Lastly, how many more years do you plan on racing motocross for?

IM: Until I can I want to race motocross (laughs). For sure, in two or three years I will stop it to go work for my Dad’s company. I will work with him for sure, I’m really lucky of course.

ES: Thank you for your time and all the best for the new season.

British Championship

Bickers to supply UK market with Alpinestars

Published

on

This is great news for UK motocross dealers, who can now order Alpinestars Boots and Protection for the motocross and enduro community.

Full PR:
Bickers are pleased to announce a new partnership with Alpinestars, from 2024 Bickers will be a
newly appointed distributor of Alpinestars Off-Road range of MX, Enduro and Trials footwear and
protections.

Alpinestars has been redefining protection for motorcyclists ever since the company was established
in 1963. Commitment to innovation has led Alpinestars to become the world-leading manufacturer
of professional motorsport racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance
apparel, technical footwear, and helmets. Alpinestars understands that the best design and research
is achieved under extreme conditions. Their involvement in Formula 1, NASCAR, MotoGP, World
SBK, AMA Supercross and Motocross, MXGP, Dakar and more has led to the creation of the most
advanced technical equipment for the racing world’s top athletes.

Bickers and Alpinestars will be working together in the UK and Ireland (via Bickers Dornan) to create
an industry leading integrated sales program, reaching the Bickers dealer network; carrying stock in
2 strategic locations in the UK and Ireland to ensure next day delivery on all items.
Stock is in the UK and available now, to see the range visit alpinestars.com or bickers-online.co.uk.

Chris Hillard (Alpinestars Communications Manager)

Alpinestars are pleased to welcome Bickers as a distributor of our MX/Off-Road range in the UK and
Ireland. With their proven record in offering next day service to dealers; we see Bickers as a logical
partner to add to our already strong network of Dealers and Distributors in the region. With focus on
offering keystone hard goods from our range; namely Footwear and Protection. Central to our plan,
inside July/August 2024 Bickers will also become an Official Alpinestars repair and service center for
MX Goods, with the aim of increasing efficiency for our UK/Ireland based racers and customers
moving ahead, and we look forward to developing this partnership.

Derek McMartin (Bickers)
“Bickers are extremely excited to be able to service and sell Alpinestars Range of Off-Road Footwear
and Protection and cannot wait to start offering these great products to our dealers”
To see what Bickers offer, please go to bickers-online.co.uk
You can visit the Full Range at Alpinestars direct alpinestars.com.

Picture – KTM Group

Continue Reading

Breaking News

NPC 2024 IS ON! All eyes are on Oakhanger.

Published

on

Oakhanger will host the first round of the NPC series this weekend. Gulf Racing Fuels, which will support the series for the next three years, will be in attendance. The line looks impressive, while entry lists are still being worked on. Starting a series from scratch is always hard, but trying to do that in a recession and with industry budgets at an all-time low is even more challenging. The guys behind the NPC have been working around the clock to make this happen.

MX1 and MX2 classes will provide some exciting racing with this at the weekend. MX1 will see Tristan Purdon, Brad Todd, Jamie Carpenter, Carlton Husband, Tom Grimshaw, John Adamson, Dan Thornhill, Chalie Putnam, and Aaron Patstone lining up. MX2 will offer some great racing with Charlie Cole, Charlie Heyman, Ollie Colmer, Ben Mustoe, Glen McCormick, Callum Mitchell, Syd Putnam, Ben Franklin, Harvey Cashmore and Liam Bennet all looking to get some hours in the bank racing.

Justin Barclay and Alfie Smith have produced a stunning track for riders to compete on. As I’m typing this update, more British riders are signing up, and they will be confirmed every day leading up to what will be a historical event. I say historical because I believe this series will go from strength to strength and offer one of the best championships in the UK and, hopefully, Europe.

The Acerbis is cancelled this weekend, so places at the NPC are filling up fast. There are four groups, and wildcards are still available in each group.

Entries for the event can be accessed here: https://nora92.com/event/nora-pro-championship-round-1/#tribe-tickets

Continue Reading

British Championship

Andrew Short confirmed for the 2024 VMXdN at Foxhill

No Short measures for Team USA

Published

on

The promoters for the annual VMXdN Foxhill have announced that former factory HRC, KTM Factory Racing and Monster Energy Yamaha rider Andrew Short will be racing at the legendary Wiltshire Grand Prix circuit over August bank holiday weekend (August 22nd-26th) as part of the American squad.


Words: Press Release | Lead Image: Supplied


Short has had a stellar sixteen-year pro career, during that time, he earned over 50 podium finishes and nine wins, he is also one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. One of his personal highlights was being part of the American Team that won the 2010 Motocross of Nations held in his home state of Colorado. 

After he retired from professional motocross at the end of 2016, Short then worked as a team advisor and brand ambassador for Factory Honda HRC before making a big transition to compete in rally racing and take on the ultimate rally race – the Dakar.

After a steep learning curve, he was able to become competitive in rally and even took his first win at the 2019 Rallye du Maroc, a leadup to the 2020 Dakar. He raced for the Rockstar Husqvarna team as well as the Monster Energy Factory Yamaha rally teams.

After a nasty injury while riding at home, he is now back to full fitness and bang up for the challenge that is Foxhill, the greatest 2-stroke event in the world. Short will race a 2002 YZ 250 built and maintained by the crew at DocWob. Team USA won the inaugural event in 2022 and finished 3rd behind Team GB and Team Northern Ireland in 2023. 

The race is already creating a huge buzz with new and returning legends being announced weekly, it really is a whos’ who of the sport through the golden heydays of the 90’s and 00’s era.

Labelled by RacerX magazine as “the Woodstock of two strokes” the event simply goes from strength to strength.

With ticket sales up year on year, the promoters have been blown away at the response to the event and are urging spectators to purchase tickets asap. Could this be the first outdoor motocross event in the UK to be ticket only? Camping passes will be capped at last year’s numbers as simply putting it – it was full!

Ensure your place at the most anticipated event on the British MX calendar by booking early.

Saturday, Sunday, Weekend and Camping passes are available at https://vmxdnfoxhill2024.eventbrite.co.uk

Keep up to date with all the VMXdN Foxhill news

www.vmxdnfoxhill.com 

www.facebook.com/vmxdnfoxhills 

https://www.instagram.com/vmxdnfoxhill/

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

Continue Reading

Latest