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Hot Topic: MXGP Qualifying Race Points – Rider Insight

Heavy hitters speak.

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Infront’s decision to introduce points for the qualifying races in MXGP and MX2 has divided opinions, with many riders not completely in favour of the format due to the elevated risk they’ll be facing. It must be said, however, that many are on board with the idea due to the extra track time and the enhanced spectacle the fans will enjoy.


Words: Edward Stratmann | Lead Image: Ray Archer


With this in mind, we’ve asked the opinions of some of the heavy hitters in the paddock, such as Jeffrey Herlings, Mattia Guadagnini, Simon Langenfelder and Andrea Adamo, who were kind enough to offer their assessments during exclusive recent interviews.

The statement from David Luongo, CEO of Infront Moto Racing, explaining the reasoning behind why they’ve implemented this idea can also be found below.

Jeffrey Herlings

If you want my honest opinion, I think it’s too much. Formula 1 is different, like how rarely do you see people getting badly injured, you know. But for motocross, there are so many injuries and this sport is so dangerous.

I’ve never seen a series that has 60 races or anything like that. It’s just too much. So if you get injured and you miss three races, the championship is done. You can’t even have a small problem or you’re done. I wouldn’t have done it, but in my opinion, we should just have a timed practice in the morning like in the U.S then have two motos and go home. But I’m not an organiser, I’m just a rider and we have to take it like it is. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but in my personal opinion, I would have done it differently.

Mattia Guadagnini

So now the weekend will be three races for us really. And at the end of the season, this means we will have done around sixty races for real. I didn’t really like the one day format from two years ago, because it wasn’t enough time to get a feeling of the track. It was just a few minutes for the free practice then it was already qualifying. And then, with that, your race is almost decided because if you get a bad time, then you’re going to have a bad start normally (due to your poor gate pick).

I didn’t like it so much because normally I need more time to get used to the track to understand it better so I still prefer the two days. We already have free practice and qualifying so for the gate pick we don’t need the qualifying race. It’s one race and more risk.

So I’m good with the two days, but I just don’t think we need the qualifying race. But of course it’s now here. They make it like this for the fans, it’s more interesting for them. But for the riders, it’s like really 60 races so it’s quite a lot I think. Of course, this is more dangerous for us riders, because it’s one extra start. It’s another complete race so the risks are even more than normal.

Simon Langenfelder

Yeah, for me, that’s a little bit different to go in now and do three races for points. So for sure you need to race hard always to be near the top as 10 points is a lot.

When you look through the season, we have almost 20 races so with the 10 points you can make a difference of 200 points almost. You can make a huge difference with that. And yeah, when you look at the qualifying races, they’re shorter, they will be for sure more intense. But I think that’s also a good thing, because last year was my first year with the qualifying races, and, for me, I actually like the qualifying race, because when I do the lap times, also in the training when I do the lap times, and then I do the moto, my times are almost the same. I like to do motos a little bit more. I think that suits me.

Definitely, you need a good start most of the time. I’m a good starter I would say, but to be racing another 20 minutes is for sure taking more risk. But I think they’re doing something good.

Also with the rule changes, I would say, one thing which minimises the risk a little bit is that you have more time on the track. You have one training session and one qualifying session so you know exactly how the track is. When you look at the one day format, you have the training and qualifying session together, and then you go racing already for the first and second moto really close together. When you look at it maybe the risk is different, but riding motocross always comes with risk. It’s dangerous. Everyone knows that.

Andrea Adamo

Honestly, I’m one of the riders that likes both formats. I like the one day format because you have 48 hours of pressure in one weekend. But in one day, you have just one day of pressure. So it’s a bit different. But also, on the two day format, you enjoy the weekend more because you have more time on the track and on the bike. And it’s not always easy in one day to get everything good. Sometimes you go on the track and the bike is perfect and you don’t have to touch anything. But sometimes you go on the track and the bike is not working how you want, you know, or maybe you don’t feel good. So if you have just one session with free practice and time practice together, and then motos, if you don’t feel good or if you don’t have the bike setup good then it’s a problem. But if you have more time, then you also can fix it. But in one day you have less risk than in two days. Honestly, I feel good with both formats.

David Luongo – CEO of Infront Moto Racing

January was also a month of innovation and changes for us, in particular on the regulations. Together with the FIM and the Manufacturers Association, we decided to implement a new points system for the very popular Qualification Race of Saturday for the MX2 and the MXGP categories.

Some years ago, we were the first motorsport promoter to introduce this Saturday Race with the target to give a bigger interest to the Saturday program on the Grand Prix Weekend and to enlarge the actions for the fans. From Argentina, the top 10 will score points during this Sprint race starting from 10 points for the winner, 9 points for the second and so on …

After the MXGP Sprint race we will organise a Paddock show on a bright new structure to talk with the winners and some special guests with the public. The result of the Sprint race will continue to give the starting grid of Sunday Grand Prix races. Another big novelty for 2023 will be the qualifications for the MXGP class in case more than 40 riders are entering the GP. This change will allow any wild card rider to participate in the MXGP category and try to be qualified for the GP program.

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Features

AMA Supercross St. Louis – The Track

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We are already at round twelve of the AMA Supercross Championship and this weekend we are racing at St. Louis.  Below you can get an idea of the track for this Saturday!

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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

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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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