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Fantasy MX Manager

Fantasy Insight: MXGP of Latvia

A handful of tips and tricks.

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Who is the favourite heading into the Grand Prix of Latvia? That is difficult to answer, as three riders have reason to believe that they possess that title. Shall we begin with Gautier Paulin? Paulin, the most-recent victor and man who was on just ninety-two Fox MX Manager teams prior to Valkenswaard, has enjoyed some success on the sandy Latvian soil. Who can forget the Motocross of Nations in 2014?

Will Paulin register a ride similar to that at round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship? It seems that all of the necessary ingredients are present. The biggest problem here is that if either Tim Gajser or Antonio Cairoli are on, they will be extremely difficult to beat. Gajser has had a pair of difficult rounds and recently admitted that he dislikes the sand, but this place has a hard base. It is not the type of sand that you would associate with The Netherlands or Belgium. Let’s not forget that ‘243’ defied all odds last year too, when he rebounded from a hard fall to stand atop the podium.

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Gautier Paulin must be considered a contender at each round.

Husqvarna Motorcycles

Some of the hype that surrounded Antonio Cairoli following the Grand Prix of Trentino diminished at Valkenswaard, because of that mediocre ninth in the first moto. Vision issues hurt him considerably in that stint, however, then he came out and was dominant in the moto that followed. Cairoli is ‘the guy’ at the moment, despite the fact that he has gained just six points in the last month. ‘222’ is priced at exactly the same amount as Gajser so, at this point, perhaps he is the best pick?

We ran some statistics following Valkenswaard, in order to generate the highest-scoring team possible. KTM, Red Bull KTM, Gautier Paulin, Filip Bengtsson, Hunter Lawrence and Lars Van Berkel were featured on that. This supports the fact that the game is won with some of the lesser riders. Filip Bengtsson (at €100,000) would be a great pick this weekend. It was just two and a half years ago that Bengtsson finished sixth in a moto at the Motocross of Nations at Kegums!

The seventh round of Fox MX Manager could be the most competitive, as Max Anstie and Jordi Tixier will return. Those two are still on three hundred and fifty of the active teams. All of those players will now become contenders again, so do not be surprised if it is much harder to win one of brilliant prizes. It is also worth noting that Bas Vaessen will be back on track in the MX2 division.

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Will Tony Cairoli continue his streak of impressive showings?

KTM Images

Rather than continue to go into a considerable amount of detail, here is a quick look at some riders who are great picks and those who are not.

Hot

Anton Gole: Whenever we look at successful Fox MX Manager teams, Anton Gole seems to be involved. Gole (€50,000) has garnered thirty-eight points this season. That may not seem like too many points, but that number is drastically changing the results each week. It would be wise to invest some money in the Swedish pilot, if you have some budget left over. I do have a concern, however, as he scored no points at Valkenswaard and just two at Neuquen. Does this mean that he is not as strong on a softer surface?

Arnaud Tonus: Arnaud Tonus is a risky pick, as he has been inconsistent thus far. A handful of crashes cost him dearly at Valkenswaard, for instance, and he could only salvage a fourteenth and a ninth in the two motos. The speed is prevalent though. The Wilvo Yamaha MXGP star is undoubtedly capable of standing on the podium each week, no matter the surface, but he just needs to escape this black cloud that seems to be following him.

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Arnaud Tonus has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks.

Yamaha Racing

Not

Vsevolod Brylyakov: Vsevolod Brylyakov should not be in this column, as his speed has been incredible each week. ‘18’ crashed hard at Valkenswaard, however, and is now questionable for the Grand Prix of Latvia. Some damage to his axillary nerve was sustained, so even if he rides it is unlikely that he’ll be at his best. It may be wise to avoid him this week, with that in mind, but you can expect him to be back up front at Teutschenthal. Perhaps you should just keep him on your team this week, instead of drastically changing your strategy? That is for you to decide.

Valentin Guillod: When will we see what Valentin Guillod is truly capable of? That remains to be seen, so you should remove him from your Fox MX Manager team. Thirty-five players currently use him and are giving up a considerable amount of points each week. Guillod (€350,000) is more expensive than Max Anstie, Tonus, Shaun Simpson and Jordi Tixier. All four of those riders are much better picks at this point and, hey, you could use the €50,000 that would be left over to sign Anton Gole in MX2!

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Honda Racing Corporation

Fantasy MX Manager

Hot Picks: MXGP of Russia

View fantasy tips and insight.

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The 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship begins in a little over 24 hours. Yes, it is now that close. The return of the Grand Prix series also means that MX Manager is back! The game features many changes this time around, all of which are detailed elsewhere on MX Vice, and those mean that the need for this weekly column is heightened. A helping hand is welcomed with the new pricing structure! A couple of picks of note are outlined here.

Remember that you cannot pick the same riders two rounds in a row on MX Manager this term, so it is very important to think ahead when making a selection for the current race. Save Ben Watson for round two in Great Britain, for instance, as it is highly likely that he will be better there than at Orlyonok. The budget for each team is ten million as well and the elite guys are less attractive, so it is important to peruse the guys further down the order like those below.

Henry Jacobi (2M)

Henry Jacobi is stronger than most are giving him credit for. Heck, he started the season inside of the top ten a year ago! Hard-pack soil is where he shines as well, so there are a lot of positives to pull when trying to make a case for putting him onto an MX Manager squad. Here is a sneaky combination: Jorge Prado and Henry Jacobi would make a pretty strong team, especially if the former can hit the maximum. It is something to think about.

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Bavo Swijgers

Stacking up a lot of cheaper riders is a strong move and the safest way to go, but a small team could prosper. Jacobi is a solid bet for a top-fifteen finish in Russia though, so he is a good choice no matter which strategy is in play. The same could be said for Kevin Strijbos, actually, who sits at the same price tag and really shocked the world at the Crisolles event in France a couple of weeks ago. Calvin Vlaanderen is another good pick at the same cost.

Alessandro Lupino (3M)

Alessandro Lupino was quite close to retirement at the conclusion of the previous series but ending up inking a deal with MRT KTM and securing another term at the highest level. Amazingly, despite all of that, it feels as though Lupino has reached another level. There is no denying the fact that his speed in the United States was impressive, and that momentum should pay dividends seeing as those who he typically battles with are coming in cold in comparison.

It would not surprise me in the slightest if Russia is the best race that Lupino has all year. I certainly do not anticipate him doing better at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, especially seeing as a few guys will return for that race, so it is worth striking now whilst his price is low. How well could he actually do in Russia? It would not surprise me to see him in tenth or eleventh, which would be incredible value with that price tag. Lupino has to be considered!

Kay de Wolf (4M)

Kay de Wolf is very underrated going into the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, despite being tipped as a rising star for years now. Additionally, he is in a very solid spot at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 and has been strong at the pre-season races in Sweden and France. Why is it that his moto wins against factory guys like Rene Hofer and Isak Gifting are being dismissed? The point is that he could surprise this term and maybe even this weekend.

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Bavo Swijgers

The problem is that he is going to occupy just under half of your budget at his current price, so he needs to perform. Simple. Is it worth waiting a week or two to see how he handles the pressure of racing at the very highest level? Maybe. The counterpoint to that would be that not many people will select him for the Grand Prix of Russia, so if he scores well then it would be a massive win for your team. Winners take risks! Dropping a bit more money for Gifting could be a wise move too. 

Stephen Rubini (3.2M)

Stephen Rubini should be an automatic pick at this price, but there has to be some uncertainty about his conditioning in the two gruelling 30-minute races. Rubini broke a vertebra and did a bit of damage to the nerves in his right shoulder in the middle of March, then jumped back onto the bike a month ago. That is not much time to recover from those significant injuries, let alone the fact that he could not do much in the two months he was off.

The fact remains that Rubini can slot in between fifth and tenth easily when healthy, especially on a surface similar to that of Orlyonok. How can you decide whether to pull the pin and sign him? Watch timed qualifying to see how his speed is, of course, but also take a look at how many laps he completes in succession. That will tell the story. If he does just as many laps as his competitors, he is clearly not concerned about his situation. If he does the bare minimum, however, then limping through the day is obviously a priority.

My Team

It is early, and this is subject to change, but I have five riders signed up for the first round. I have Jan Pancar as my lone ranger in MX2, because of his prowess on hard-pack soil. Kevin Strijbos, Henry Jacobi, Vsevolod Brylyakov and Alessandro Lupino will then represent my squad (Lewis Phillips is the super original name of my team) in the premier division. I am going to spread my money across multiple guys for Orlyonok and hope something sticks. Game on!

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Bavo Swijgers

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Fantasy MX Manager

Editor Note: MX Manager

2021 MX Manager launches!

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MX Manager has returned! Following much debate and analysis following the previous season, it was quite clear that changes had to be made ahead of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. Four significant changes have been made prior to the new season that should increase the need for strategies, prompt a lot of different rider picks and ensure that this is the most competitive season ever. Let’s go!

The biggest change is that players cannot choose the same guy at two successive rounds, which means that it is important to plan ahead. Imagine picking Nathan Watson at Loket and then not having him as an option for Lommel? That would be disastrous – it is possible to control that. Mechanical issues and crashes will be magnified now as well, because that will cause a price to plummet for the next round and everyone else is going to take advantage. Motocross can be cruel but keep at it and the pendulum will swing across the 20 rounds.

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Bavo Swijgers

Speaking of costs, the budget for each round has been increased from 1,200,000 to 10,000,000. Rider prices are raised to work with that and that also allows for bigger changes from one guy to the next. There is a lot more wiggle room now! The best riders, like Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings, cost a lot more now too, which means that they are not really viable options. It is likely that they will bank solid points, but not enough to win one of the prizes. Perhaps playing the long game is the way to go though? Prices will change each week based on form too, much like last year.

Teams and manufacturers have been taken out of the options now – they were not used enough to warrant being included nor did they create variety. That is gone. Bonus points are gone too, as Jorge Prado and Tom Vialle take so many holeshots. Where is the fun in that? It is meant to be unpredictable. The fact that a guy cannot be selected two rounds in a row will add variety though and fill the void. It is important to note that this makes those top riders even less of an automatic pick now. Look further down the list and grab bargains to win!

The prizes are changing slightly this year as well, because of uncertainty with the pandemic. Companies are dealing with a massive backlog on many products at the moment, because there is so much demand, hence why it has been difficult to nail down some confirmed prizes. To sidestep that this season, vouchers will be awarded to the top-ten finishers at each round and to the top twenty in the final points. A rundown of the prizes from Even Strokes can be found below.

Note: What can you buy with your MX Manager vouchers? Find out now by searching around on this link.

Note: To be eligible to win prizes, you must go premium for £12 a season. That can be done on this link.

Round-By-Round Prizes

1

£100

2

£75

3

£50

4

£40

5

£35

6

£30

7

£25

8

£20

9

£15

10

£10

Championship Prizes

1

£1000

2

£750

3

£500

4

£400

5

£350

6

£300

7

£250

8

£200

9

£150

10

£100

11

£75

12

£75

13

£75

14

£75

15

£75

16

£75

17

£75

18

£75

19

£75

20

£75

50

£50

100

£50

150

£50

200

£50

 Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: J.P. Acevedo

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Fantasy MX Manager

Pinpoint: Manager Tips

Try to win €275 at the MXGP of Latvia.

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A deal of the week on 24MX!

Play Fantasy MX Manager!

There is an intriguing dilemma that one faces as the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship rolls on and approaches the halfway point. Is it possible to maintain some level of consistency on Fantasy MX Manager, the only fantasy game that is based around the Grand Prix campaign, yet also charge forwards and take risks that will pay dividends in the long run? The layout of prices for the ninth round in Latvia makes that a possibility.

Going down the middle of the road and running with four mid-pack riders, who cost around €300,000, is a proven strategy and one that most attempt to follow. Could straying from that really pay off in Latvia? There is a catalyst for this discussion, that being Jeffrey Herlings. Herlings is a sand master and therefore achieving a hell of a lot this weekend is a possibility. The comeback trail is still being blazed by the reigning champ and therefore sweeping both motos may not be realistic at this point, but a brace of thirds is on the cards. That would be quite the return on investment, considering he only costs €450,000.

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Ray Archer

It is important to remember the fact that Jeffrey Herlings could be in line to rack up some bonus points to go along with that. Setting the fastest lap in the premier division is quite realistic, for instance, as is taking a holeshot. This all adds up and would make him a promising pick, let alone the fact that he is rather reliable. How badly could it really go? There is a rider who would support Herlings quite well on a Fantasy MX Manager team as well: Erki Kahro. Kahro, an Estonian who has faced an international tour of sorts thus far this term, costs just €50,000 and is especially strong in the sand of Kegums.

There is a lot of potential with the pairing and an opportunity to follow a strategy that others may not even consider. The best part about choosing Jeffrey Herlings and Erki Kahro is that there would still be €700,000 left to play around with, meaning that one would not be forced to skimp on MX2 signings. Take Ben Watson and Alvin Ostlund, two very capable sand riders, and then have the room to select a team and manufacturer for the weekend. Cover every base possible and maximise the chances of success. Selecting Watson should not be too much of an internal debate, especially with the conditions, but a second MX2 rider is tricky.

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Ray Archer

Alvin Ostlund is a great pick for the Grand Prix of Latvia on paper. Ostlund shines in the sand, has done well there in the past, is closer to home and is currently at one hundred percent. However, despite the fact that everything appears to be trending in the right direction for him, it just has not been coming together at an international level. What is the reason for that? It seems that heads are being scratched at Revo Husqvarna, but the fact that there is not a clear explanation is positive in this case. There is no reason why it cannot be turned around this weekend! It is a risk, yes, but one worth taking, especially if there are three safe bets to support him.

There is actually another rider who costs €150,000 and is intriguing. Tommy Searle has had a horrid season, which has consisted of issue after issue, and therefore his price has been slashed. Searle has also been amazing at Kegums in the past though. The raw speed that was on show aboard his Red Bull KTM in 2015 is discussed to this day. Signing him is not much of a risk, in short, but investing in BOS would strike fear into the hearts of most players. It has to take a positive turn at same point though and there is a massive haul of points to be had when that happens.

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Ray Archer

Another pick that is tempting, but costly, is Henry Jacobi at €350,000. The cost of the F&H Racing rider has not changed since the last race and he could obviously do amazing things, but it just has not come together in recent weeks. Claiming two sixths at that price would not be catastrophic, not at all, and one would think that would definitely happen, barring a disaster. One would think that most players have to pick either Ben Watson or Henry Jacobi, solely based on potential. A trip to the podium could be on the cards for either rider on Sunday afternoon.

There is a final point to consider when contemplating picks for the Grand Prix of Latvia, the ninth round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship, and that is the start. It does favour the inside and therefore qualifying results are going to be more intriguing than before. What if an elite rider fails to finish the heat on Saturday though? Is it safe to assume that, after being hindered by an outside gate pick, the guy in question would be the favourite to clinch the hard-charger points that are offered as a bonus? Now that is what every player should be striving to achieve. Consider every element!

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Ray Archer

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