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Interview: Mattia Guadagnini Part 1

Italian star shares his thoughts.

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Refreshingly honest, engaging, knowledgeable and charismatic, our interview with MXGP hotshot Mattia Guadagnini is packed full of insight.


Words: Edward Stratmann | Lead Image: GasGas


Part one of our discussion with the Red Bull GasGas star shines the spotlight on topics such as how life is going since swapping MX2 for MXGP, his preseason training, what the key differences are between the classes and his thoughts on last season as a whole.

Edward Stratmann: How is the preseason going so far and how are you feeling ahead of what looms as an exciting 2023?

Mattia Guadagnini: We had almost one month off after the season, we totally stopped really. We only had a few tests after the season. We came back from the States and we did some testing. We had to test the new bike because we had some changes from last year. Some new things for me, Jorge Prado and Simon Langenfelder. We did the tests to understand the bike a bit more and to fix some things so we’re ready for this season.

Then for the break I went home for a little bit and I needed that as the season was so long. It was good to stop and then we can start from zero again. We came back here to Rome in the first days of December to start again the preparation for the new season.

Everything is going really well at the moment. I’m feeling good and I had more time on the 450 because of course last year I jumped on the new bike during the season so I didn’t have too much time to test and to train with the 450. Also, coming from the winter before 2022, I was riding the 250 and physically training for the 250 so it was good, but obviously not perfect for the 450.

Of course, the bike is stronger, the level of racing in MXGP is really high so we are putting everything together and doing our best to be ready for a full 450 season. I’m really happy about how things are going. I’m feeling really good on the bike and I really like the changes we’ve made from last year.

We’ve done around one-and-a-half months of training so I’m obviously still not 100 percent ready, but now we’re going to Sardegna for some sand training and a few more tests. Then we have the preseason and we’ll do two Italian Championship races in February. We obviously do these races just to help us get ready for the start of MXGP. It’s great to work on the starts and be in the race situations.

At the moment I’m already feeling really motivated and looking forward to the new season.

Ray Archer

ES: What are your thoughts on the last two seasons, which has seen you racing both MX2 and MXGP? You obviously decided to move up to the 450 after a tough start in MX2 during last year. This must have been a great learning experience getting those 10 rounds in and hold you in good stead to have a full assault on MXGP in 2023?

MG: On the 450 races, I’m happy. I couldn’t ask for more. It was obviously only a half season and, like I said, I didn’t have the time on the bike to be properly ready. I only jumped on the bike between Maggiora, my last race on the 250, and Sardegna. I went training on Wednesday and Thursday on the 450 and went to Sardegna to race MXGP so I only had two days on the bike and went racing.

It was a little bit surprising for me (how well I did). I felt really good on the bike from the first training I did and in the first few races. I didn’t have too many problems adapting to the bike. The second half of the season was especially good.

Of course, I was coming from 2021, where I had a good season – two race wins, many times on the podium and I was fighting for the top three in the championship. I ended up fourth, but it was still good. It was much better than what I expected coming from the European Championship. I had a really good season in 2021.

The goal for 2022 was to fight for the title and it didn’t work out like that. The first few races didn’t go the best. Mentally it was also tough because I was 100 percent sure I was able to fight for the championship. I was well prepared and I was more experienced with it being my second season. I was feeling good in training, but I couldn’t find the same speed in the races, which was frustrating, as I never had this problem before. I was always stronger in the races than in training and for the first time it was the opposite. I was struggling to put it all together in the races. I was fast, I was fit and then I didn’t get the results I was hoping for.

It was tough for me but I didn’t want to lose the chance to fight for the title. On the third race in Argentina, I almost got on the podium so I was coming back and level on points with third. I was feeling better, I was feeling good and like I had the motivation to be there out front. Then from this good step, it went backwards. In Portugal, I had a big crash at the start. Also there I was feeling good, I thought I could fight for the win, but I had a really bad race.

I had to then start from zero again and I did better and got fifth in Italy. Then I had a big crash in Latvia so I was always taking a forward step then bang, down again.

It was so frustrating after a few GPs. I couldn’t find a good rhythm to be always at the top. I couldn’t understand what was going on and what the problem was. I was also struggling on the starts with the 250 as I’m 80 kg and some other riders are 60 kg so you feel the difference. That was not on my side, but it wasn’t the biggest problem.

Mentally, for me to keep trying and not doing good was tough. So after Maggiora the title was almost gone, as I was like seventh or eighth in the standings.

We talked as a team and thought the championship is gone and, we were already thinking about moving up to the 450 in 2023, so they said “if you want KTM, GasGas, De Carli and the team can give you the chance to decide if you want to go up” so I could enjoy racing again and not have to focus on the championship. They said I could do what I want, but they were happy for me to start getting experience on the 450 so I could have time on the bike for next season and get 10 rounds done.

This gave me the chance so I could build ahead of the 2023 season and possibly get better results, which is better than starting from scratch on the 450 in October. We decided to go 450 and we made the change the next day. From the first test, I was feeling really good.

I had no expectations for the second part of the season, as I didn’t know how I would be on the bike in the races in the MXGP class. I obviously wasn’t familiar with racing against these guys and their level and rhythm in the races. It was really good to do half of the season and now I’m feeling ready and I have the experience so I don’t have to start the season from zero.

I did some good races, and I didn’t expect this, as the MXGP is such a high level and I was racing against some of my heroes. It was a little bit strange now racing these guys, but I didn’t think I’d do as well as I did so early. In my second race in Spain I was sixth, which was a surprise. Then I had some ups and downs, which depended on the tracks we were at.

It was not always easy to be up the top and then I had two big crashes – one in training and one in France. In the end, I was happy to end up in Turkiye with fifth overall.

Then the Nations was really good so I think I understood more how to ride the bike in MXGP. To finish the season with some good results gave me extra motivation for the winter training and to be ready for next season, as I know I can be near the top places.

ES: What were some of the key challenges you faced moving from MX2 to MXGP? Was it the intensity, the speed or anything that stood out especially that you noticed?

MG: I think all the top 10, top 15 are super fast. It’s not like MX2, where the first few are fast and the rest are a step lower. In MX2, even if you start not so well, you can come back and still get a good result. But in MXGP, the level is so high and all the guys are riding almost the same speed, you can’t make many passes. If you start say 10, you can maybe get to eighth, not much more, as everyone is so good. The start is even more important.

The rhythm of the whole race is always so high too so you need to start well to be in it. If you make just one mistake on a lap, you can easily lose two or three places. These are some of the biggest differences, it’s just so intense for the entire race.

Stay tuned for Part 2, which will be released soon.

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Get to know Mattia Guadagnini further with these articles:

The Red Bull deal – https://mxvice.com/new-deal-mattia-guadagnini/
Chatterbox – September 2021 Interview – https://mxvice.com/chatter-box-mattia-guadagnini/

Features

Stat Attack: Indianapolis Supercross Review

See now.

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With the tenth round of AMA Supercross in the books, statistics maestro Paul Pearcy has provided MX Vice with some brilliant numbers to tuck into from what was a great night of action. Enjoy

250 Class

Qualifying

  • Top 3
  1. Max Anstie: 49.492
  2. Tom Vialle: 49.492; (Max got top spot because his time came in the first session, while Tom’s time came in the second session)
  3. Pierce Brown: 49.719

LCQ

  • Top 3
  1. Jeremy Martin
  2. Ryder Floyd
  3. Hardy Munoz
  • Laps Led
  1. Jeremy Martin: 5
  2. Hardy Munoz: 2
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jeremy Martin: 52.413
  2. Preston Boespflug: 53.150
  3. Gage Linville: 53.549
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jeremy Martin: 53.655
  2. Preston Boespflug: 54.259
  3. Ryder Floyd: 54.373

Race 1

  • Top 3
  1. Cameron Mcadoo
  2. Haiden Deegan
  3. Seth Hammaker
  • Laps Led
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 12
  2. Daxton Bennick: 1
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 49.561
  2. Tom Vialle: 49.660
  3. Cameron Mcadoo: 49.854
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 50.830
  2. Haiden Deegan: 51.086
  3. Seth Hammaker: 51.907
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Preston Boespflug: 2.970
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 3.184
  3. Jalek Swoll: 3.287

Race 2

  • Top 3
  1. Haiden Deegan
  2. Cameron Mcadoo
  3. Tom Vialle
  • Laps Led
  1. Haiden Deegan: 12
  2. Jalek Swoll: 1
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 49.493
  2. Tom Vialle: 50.690
  3. Pierce Brown: 50.868
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 51.522
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 52.214
  3. Tom Vialle: 52.580
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Jeremy Hand: 2.040
  2. Coty Schock: 2.315
  3. Max Anstie: 2.634

Race 3

  • Top 3
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Pierce Brown
  3. Cameron Mcadoo
  • Laps Led
  1. Tom Vialle: 13
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Tom Vialle: 49.844
  2. Chance Hymas: 50.020
  3. Cameron Mcadoo: 50.175
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Tom Vialle: 51.493
  2. Pierce Brown: 51.563
  3. Haiden Deegan: 51.892
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Marshal Weltin: 1.984
  2. Seth Hammaker: 1.997
  3. Nick Romano: 2.233

Overall

  • Top 3
  1. Cameron Mcadoo; (1st win of the season, 80% podium rate this year)
  2. Tom Vialle; (80% podium rate this year)
  3. Haiden Deegan; (40% podium rate this season)
  • Laps Led
  1. Tom Vialle: 13; (Tom is now tied with Austin Forkner for most laps led this season at 37.  34% of total laps raced)
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 12
  3. Haiden Deegan: 12
  4. Jalek Swoll: 1
  5. Daxton Bennick: 1
  • Best First Lap Position Average
  1. Tom Vialle: 3rd 
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 3.333
  3. Jalek Swoll: 4th 

Points

  • Top 10
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 98
  2. Tom Vialle: 96
  3. Pierce Brown: 87
  4. Haiden Deegan: 82
  5. Coty Schock: 79
  6. Seth Hammaker: 72
  7. Daxton Bennick: 71
  8. Max Anstie: 62
  9. Chance Hymas: 60
  10. Jalek Swoll: 58

450 Class

Qualifying

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence: 48.523
  2. Eli Tomac: 48.554
  3. Cooper Webb: 48.568; (The difference between 1st and 3rd was .045 seconds.)

LCQ

  • Top 3
  1. Kyle Chisholm
  2. Justin Starling
  3. Devin Simonson
  • Laps Led
  1. Kyle Chisholm: 7
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Ty Masterpool: 52.415
  2. Kyle Chisholm: 52.810
  3. Freddie Noren: 53.248
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Kyle Chisholm: 54.223
  2. Ryan Breece: 54.271
  3. Freddie Noren: 54.390

Race 1

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Chase Sexton
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 10
  2. Ken Roczen: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 48.639
  2. Ken Roczen: 49.225
  3. Cooper Webb: 49.581
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 51.023
  2. Cooper Webb: 51.383
  3. Ken Roczen: 51.402
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Aaron Plessinger: 2.774
  2. Eli Tomac: 3.095
  3. Chase Sexton: 3.785

Race 2

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Chase Sexton
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 10
  2. Ken Roczen: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 49.499
  2. Ken Roczen: 49.713
  3. Chase Sexton: 49.849
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 50.735
  2. Chase Sexton: 50.884
  3. Ken Roczen: 50.908 (That’s a difference of .173 in average lap times over 16 laps)
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Ken Roczen: 2.537
  2. Malcolm Stewart: 2.641
  3. Chase Sexton: 2.676

Race 3

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Chase Sexton 
  3. Ken Roczen
  • Laps Led
  1. Ken Roczen: 10
  2. Jett Lawrence: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Ken Roczen: 49.131
  2. Chase Sexton: 49.284
  3. Jett Lawrence: 49.314
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 50.477
  2. Chase Sexton: 50.483
  3. Cooper Webb: 50.594; (That’s a difference of .117 in average lap times over 16 laps)
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Chase Sexton: 2.528
  2. Cooper Webb: 2.885
  3. Jason Anderson: 3.079

Overall

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence; (The only other person to have a perfect sweep at a triple crown was Ken Roczen in 2020 also on a Honda.  Jett has now won 50% of the races this season, with a 60% podium rate)
  2. Ken Roczen; (Ken has a 50% podium rate this year)
  3. Chase Sexton; (Chase has a 50% podium rate this year)
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 26; (Jett now has 130 laps led, 50.7% of total laps)
  2. Ken Roczen: 22; (Ken has the second most laps led at 49, Just 19% of total laps)
  • Best First Lap Position Average
  1. Ken Roczen: 1st 
  2. Jett Lawrence: 2nd 
  3. Jason Anderson: 4th 

Points

  • Top 10
  1. Jett Lawrence: 210
  2. Cooper Webb: 189
  3. Chase Sexton: 185
  4. Ken Roczen: 175
  5. Eli Tomac: 174
  6. Jason Anderson: 165
  7. Aaron Plessinger: 162
  8. Justin Cooper: 120
  9. Justin Barcia: 109
  10. Dylan Ferrandis: 107

Lead Image: HRC

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

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British MX Nationals

Thank you. It’s been a hell of a ride.

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Since buying back MX Vice in November 2019, it has been challenging. One of those crystal balls would have been handy for navigating some problematic situations. Who would have thought COVID-19 would be a thing?

Those who follow MX Vice know we started from nothing but an idea. A fan who loved the sport created a Facebook page, website, and social media presence that would become disruptive. It has made numerous talented media people who were allowed to run with it for over thirteen years. Being in the UK/Europe has always been difficult; I’ve always believed that if we were a US media company, we would have been embraced and appreciated for our work ethic and the content we produce. We always cast one eye over the US in Europe, and you can’t blame the top European riders for doing the same.

MX Vice has always tried to give people a voice, especially the riders who are not in the limelight and the teams that put so much into the sport. We love people’s passion and sacrifice to improve and challenge themselves. That, for me, was the natural pull, not the money but the passion and sacrifice. We all know we would not be in motocross if it were about the money. I always considered MX Vice the media version of Steve Dixon’s team in MXGP (which I have a huge amount of respect for), where we have always tried to challenge without the factory budgets.

We knew it would be tough this year with so many businesses and brands cutting marketing budgets and reducing costs; this was never going to be good for us. We have just had two incredible months of stats, with January and February bringing in over 1 million people to the website, which is quite bittersweet. As much as the funds are low, so is my energy and health. COVID impacted me more than I could ever envisaged. My health has deteriorated ever since I caught COVID; my immune system is not in a great place, and when I try and work to the standard I set myself, my body breaks on me, and it takes me days to recover. Ed Stratmann has been a revelation since he took the editorial reigns and has pushed MX Vice to new heights, which is incredible given the lack of resources he has had to work with and support from myself. I have been missing from the podcast show to reduce my time, as I am now self-employed and working for two companies to pay the bills.

Every journey ends, and that’s not what we want. Over the past 13 years, we have given it everything, leaving no stone unturned. We’re proud of how we have disrupted, challenged decisions, held organisations accountable, and illuminated incredible stories.

We will have an auction for signed shirts donated by riders, podcast equipment, and memorabilia to pay off the invoices of some contributors. If, however, you want to see MX Vice continue, you can donate here: https://ko-fi.com/mxvice or purchase a shirt or memorabilia. If we meet our target of £25,000, which is currently outstanding to run this year, then Ed and I will continue. However, we fully expect this won’t happen due to the large sum required.

It’s hard out there at the moment. Take care of your health and family, and never lose your passion for the most fantastic sport in the world.

Burf.

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Features

Lit Kit Gallery: MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina

The best from round 1.

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Check out some of the freshest fits, helmets and more from the MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina. Lead Image: Nestaan Husqvarna – Full Spectrum.

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM – Ray Archer / Nestaan Husqvarna – Full Spectrum / Yamaha MXGP – Full Spectrum + Eva Szabadfi / JM Honda / Kawasaki MXGP / Fantic MXGP / Yamaha MX2 – Full Spectrum / HRC MXGP / GasGas – Juan Pablo Acevedo


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