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Interview: Red Bull GasGas sensation Simon Langenfelder

German speaks ahead of a huge 2023.

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Feeling confident and happy ahead of the new season, Red Bull GasGas MX2 star Simon Langenfelder, who was fresh off winning the Italian International at the weekend, spoke insightfully on a range of topics in our exclusive interview.


Words: Edward Stratmann | Lead Image: GasGas


Edward Stratmann: Congratulations on winning at the weekend at Ponte a Egola. You rode brilliantly to secure the victory in the Italian opener to go 1-3 for the win. Really pretty perfect start to 2023. I know you said you had a bit of arm pump and then you got a rock to the face in the second moto, but how was the weekend for you personally? You certainly looked brilliant on the track.

Simon Langenfelder: Yeah, for me, it started quite well. In the morning we had very little time on the track. We had seven minutes I think for free practice and then it went over into the time qualifying directly after that without any break. So yeah, we didn’t have too much time to figure out the track, but luckily I was already training there one time before.

In the morning it was actually really cold. We had minus five degrees in the night so all the track was frozen. The track was on a little bit of a hillside so in the morning it was all shadows and no sun arrived at the track. It was a bit like going through rock fields after they ripped the track because all the small pieces of dirt were like stones. Yeah, even in the morning I didn’t feel too bad on the track so we went into the first race actually feeling really good.

I think I’ve never raced such a long start straight before so at one time I made a wheelie and I saw the guys from the left coming so went around the outside so I was sitting third. But I could make some good passes and then go for the lead. But from the moment I was in the lead, I tried to go a little bit easy because I was also pushing to overtake and then I got some arm pump, but it wasn’t so bad. It’s the first race I think for most of the riders so the same happened. Then in the second race, actually I didn’t have arm pump, but the track was brutal. It was so bumpy and the first two guys were really fast in that second moto, but I went a little bit easier to take third for the overall win.

ES: How’s the face after the rock hit you? It was a bit of a bloody mess all over your gear and your mouth so is that feeling fine and no damage for you?

SL: Yeah, I’m okay. The white gear is my favorite set (laughs) so it was a shame, but now actually most of the blood has come out. I think in the fifth lap I got the rock on the face just before the finish line jump. And it just landed on the bottom of the goggles where it sits on the nose. So I felt directly that it was a big hit. I was lucky because it didn’t hurt, it was just bleeding all the time. It was going all over me, but yeah it wasn’t really painful. After the race I looked like I was in a fight (laughs).

ES: Did it cause you any discomfort with the blood rushing down your mouth or you just got on with it?

SL: It was a little bit strange because the wind all made it go in my mouth and when I was breathing it all went in. It was a bit strange, as that was the first time for me this happened.

ES: How’s the preseason been so far getting ready for the new campaign and are you happy with the bike and everything?

SL: Yeah, all is going well. So last year we had a really short winter. And this winter, we have almost two more months. It’s all going a little bit easier. We’re still putting in the work, but it’s different I would say. But overall, I’m happy. We went to Sardinia, we have the new bike, the new chassis, the new plastics and there has been a lot of testing going on. But overall now we have a really, really good bike. We made some good steps forward. I’m quite happy with how everything is going. We still have just under a month till we’re behind the gate in Argentina, but I’m really looking forward to it.

ES: Sounds great mate. How much do you enjoy training with Mattia Guadagnini? He’s a great character, who loves to have a laugh and a joke.

SL: Yeah, he’s a good mate of mine. I like him. We’re always training together so it’s nice to have a training buddy and to compete with for the fastest times. Sometimes he’s faster, sometimes I try to get him. It’s really nice. Also off the track, he’s a really good person. Open and everything and when the camera comes out, he’s always sideways (laughs).

ES: It sounds like it’s a really good environment there in the De Carli GasGas team and they do everything in their power to help you. So have you found just the whole setup is a perfect working environment for you?

SL: Yeah, it’s been great since I joined the team in 2022. It’s a team, but it’s a family. Always when you’re training together, it doesn’t seem like work. It’s fun. And you’re in one big family together, which I personally like a lot. For me, it’s a really nice thing to have and I feel really comfortable in the team. I’m really happy. To do the winter preparation, the races and everything like this, it’s way less stressful than it would be if I was alone.

ES: Yeah, absolutely. And how many more preseason races do you plan on doing after the next Italian one next week?

SL: We plan to do Arco next weekend. We have no more preseason races after Arco planned so I think we will keep on improving some small things before Argentina. It’s perfect to do the preseason races. It’s a really good starting field with a lot of GP riders. I think it’s perfect to take it as training and see what we can still improve for the GPs.

ES: Yeah, it’s good to get those starts in as well and race at that intensity, which obviously is hard to replicate in training. Obviously heading into the new season you’re one of the title favorites. So what are your aims for the new season and how are you approaching it from your end?

SL: Yeah, I think I just take it from race to race to go into the season. I think everyone wants to win GPs and to win the world championship. It’s not easy, only one guy can win. I will take it from race to race.

This year, I also need to say there’s many, many good riders, who have really good pace. In training, also in Sardinia, everyone was there so you also see them, the lap times and everything. It seems like there are a lot of really good guys in the field for this year, I think there will be some tight racing.

ES: I’d imagine you’d be pretty confident heading in because last year was a really good year for you. Obviously, you had a dream start going 1-1 at Matterley and then you had a pretty consistent season. What are your thoughts on last year and how it should hold you in good stead for 2023?

SL: Yeah, last year I went to a new team, I changed pretty much everything. I went from Germany to Italy. So last year, things changed a lot for me. I think it’s not too easy to change so much and to feel comfortable. But the team and everyone behind me did everything to make me feel comfortable as fast as possible.

I think not many people saw that coming at Matterley. The eyes were more on some other riders, but it started really good last year. And then I had some ups and downs. After Matterley, I had some races where I had some pain because of some crashes. But yeah, things went a little bit down for a bit. But after I got better and I stayed consistent, I scored points in every race. I think scoring in every race is also a big part of achieving a good end result in the season.

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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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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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