Campionato mondiale MXGP

Pre-Race: GP of Europe

Insight ahead of round six.

Published

7 years ago

April 21, 2017

James Burfield

The Grand Prix contingent are poised to tackle the sixth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, which will be held on the sandy terrain of Valkenswaard, this weekend. The spectacle that was the MXGP of Trentino lives on in the minds of most, hence why excitement is particularly high entering the Dutch venue.

Valkenswaard has undergone a lot of changes recently, to the surprise of some. The start is actually the biggest difference. It does not bend around the pond, as it has done in recent years, and runs straight to the end of the pit lane. Aside from that some jumps have been removed, along with the waves that previously sat before the finish. The two turns after the first single that the riders hit has been removed too, hence why a lot of riders have pointed out how fast the track is going to be now. It is a lot harder than usual as well.

There has not been much rain in the region recently, so the base is much firmer than what you would probably expect. No rain is forecast over the two days either, which makes a change, so the circuit should end up with a lot more square-edged bumps than it has in the past. It will be cold, as it always is at this event, and overcast skies will shadow us. Do not expect to see any sun!

Site-Track-2-1 — The first corner is now much faster than it has been in the past.
ConwayMX

A few titbits from the paddock. Kiara Fontanesi, the winner in the WMX division just one week ago, will tackle MX2 from beneath the Ausio Racing Yamaha awning this weekend. This is the first time that she has embarked on a challenge such as this, but women have taken part in the premier classes before. Marianna Balbi, sister of professional rider Antonio Balbi, raced in MX1 at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2009 and finished twenty-fourth overall with a single point to her name.

Will Fontanesi be able to better that? This is far from the ideal scenario, of course, as the gates will be full of competitors vying for points. To put things into perspective a little, Fontanesi’s quickest lap time in qualifying last week would have put her thirty-fourth in the timed EMX250 session that took place on the Pietramurata circuit shortly after she completed her session.

Other news and notes include a high-profile replacement in MX2, as HRC have filled the seat that has been vacated by the injured Chihiro Notsuka. Lars Van Berkel, who has shown some impressive flashes of speed in the past, will sit alongside Michele Cervellin this week and in Latvia also. Van Berkel could actually impress, as his prowess in the sand is undeniable. It is no coincidence that his fill-in slot has conveniently fallen across two sandy events.

Site-Michele-Cervellin — Michele Cervellin will have a new teammate beneath the HRC tent.
ConwayMX

The Vamo Racing Honda team, who Van Berkel has ridden for thus far this year, have already hired a replacement of their own. Micha Boy de Waal will jump on the machine this weekend and have a stab at a respectable result, alongside Maykal Grisha Ivanov. The Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki team will run Steven Lenoir in the premier class also, whilst Maxime Desprey fulfils his duties on the Monster Energy KRT team.

There you have it, some information that will keep you going until the EMX125 riders roll onto the track at 8:00am tomorrow. We’ll be here all weekend, so if there are any pressing questions that you have then please do not hesitate to get in touch via our social media.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: ConwayMX

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Campionato mondiale MXGP

Insight into Cairoli’s decision to join Ducati from Lorenzo Resta

Listen now.

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2023

Edward Stratmann

Fascinating insight into Antonio Cairoli’s decision to join Ducati from the great Lorenzo Resta.

Lead Image: Antonio Cairoli / Ducati

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Campionato mondiale MXGP

JK Racing Yamaha signs Isak Gifting for the 2024 MXGP season

See here.

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2023

Edward Stratmann

JK Racing Yamaha will head into the 2024 season with a full line-up to compete in the MXGP World Championship as well as the EMX125 class with a combination of experienced riders and promising newcomers.

Words: Press Release | Lead Image: JK Racing

Isak Gifting will lead the way as he’ll compete the whole FIM Motocross World Championship making his debut in MXGP class, alongside Gifting will be Anton Nagy with YZ bLU cRU Masterclass winner Giorgio Orlando and Manuel Iacopi.

JK Racing Yamaha, managed by Riccardo and Giuliano Boschi, is committed to success for the 2024 season.

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Australian Motocross

Stat Attack: Top Threes of 2023

Read now.

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2023

Edward Stratmann

As we look towards the 2024 season, MX Vice and Paul Pearcy have joined forces again to deliver some quality statistics, as we’ll be running through the top 10 in each championship across 2023 (MXGP, MX2, 450, 250 – AMA Supercross, SMX and Outdoors and Australian Supercross). Here are all the riders that secured 3rd in their respective title races.

MX2

3) Simon Laengenfelder

1st in Timed Practice: 5; Trentino, Agueda, Lommel, Uddevalla, Afyonkarahisar
Qualifying Race Wins: 5; Trentino, Vantaa, Afyonkarahisar, Maggiora, Matterley Basin (2nd most wins in class)
Qualifying Race Podiums: 13; out of 16 attempts (81% podium rate in qualifying races, best percentage in class)
Qualifying Race Laps Led: 57; (2nd best in class)
Race Podiums: 18; 3rd most in class
Race Wins: 8; 2nd most in class
GP Podiums: 9; 3rd most in class
GP Wins: 2; 1-1 at Intu Xanadu, Uddevalla
Race Laps Led: 141; (21% of total laps, 2nd most in class)

Averages

Timed Practice: 3.187; Best in class
Qualifying Race Finishes: 2.875; Best in Class
Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3.562; Best in Class
Qualifying Race Points: 131; Most in Class
Race Finishes: 3.375 in Race 1(Best in Class), 3.875 in Race 2(3rd best in class)
GP Overalls: 3.5; 2nd best in class
Race First Lap Position: 4.968; 3rd best in class
Race Points: 321 from Race 1(2nd most in class), 303 from Race 2(4th best in class), Total of 624

Series Points: 755

MXGP

3) Jeremy Seewer

1st in Timed Practice: 1; Frauenfeld
Qualifying Race Podiums: 6; Intu Xanadu, Villars Sous Ecot, Teutschenthal, Sumbawa, Loket, Uddevalla
Qualifying Race Laps Led: 2
Race Podiums: 15
Race Wins: 2; Race 1 at Villars Sous Ecot, Race 2 at Uddevalla
GP Podiums: 7
GP Wins: 3; Villars Sous Ecot, Uddevalla, Maggiora
Race Laps Led: 62; (9% of total laps)

Averages

Timed Practice: 4.421; 4th best in class
Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.778
Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5.222; 4th best in class
Qualifying Race Points: 105; 4th best in class
Race Finishes: 6.157 in Race 1, 4.157 in Race 2(3rd best in class)
GP Overalls: 4.684; 3rd best in class
Race First Lap Position: 6.842
Race Points: 310 from Race 1, 344 from Race 2, Total of 654 (3rd most in class)

Series Points: 759

250 West Coast Supercross

3) Levi Kitchen

Heat Race Podiums: 4
Heat Race Wins: 3; Seattle, Denver, Salt lake City
Heat Race Laps Led: 26
Main Event Podiums: 4; Anaheim 2, Glendale, Denver, Salt Lake City
Main Event Win: 1; Anaheim 2
Main Event Laps Led: 20; (11% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 5th
Heat Race Finishes: 2.857; 3rd best in class
Heat Race First Lap Position: 5th
Main Event Finishes: 6.556
Main Event First Lap Position: 7.253

Series Points: 156

250 East Supercross

3) Max Anstie

1st in Qualifying: 1; Houston
Heat Race Podiums: 3; Houston, Indy, Nashville
Heat Race Laps Led: 3
Main Event Podiums: 4; Houston, Tampa, Daytona, East Rutherford
Main Event Win: 1; East Rutherford
Main Event Laps Led: 14; (8% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 4.7
Heat Race Finishes: 4.667
Heat Race First Lap Position: 5.333
Main Event Finishes: 5.7; 4th best in class
Main Event First Lap Position: 4.741; 2nd best in class

Series Points: 182

450 Supercross

3) Cooper Webb

Heat Race Podiums: 7
Heat Race Wins: 2; Seattle, Atlanta
Heat Race Laps Led: 19
Main Event Podiums: 9
Main Event Wins: 2; Tampa, Arlington
Main Event Laps Led: 17; (3% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 6.133
Heat Race Finishes: 4.5
Heat Race First Lap Position: 4.181
Main Event Finishes: 2.785; 2nd best in class
Main Event First Lap Position: 4.307; 3rd best in class

Series Points: 304

250 American Outdoors

3) Jo Shimoda

Moto Podiums: 10
Moto Wins: 3; Moto 2 at Southwick, 1-1 at Ironman
Overall Podiums: 4; Southwick, Millville, Budds Creek, Ironman
Overall Wins: 1; Ironman
Moto Laps Led: 53

Averages

Qualifying: 6.363
Moto Finishes: 4.636 in Moto 1, 4.545 in Moto 2(2nd best in class)
Overall Finishes: 4.454 (3rd best in class)
Moto First Lap Position: 6.545

Series Points: 393

450 American Outdoors

3) Aaron Plessinger

Moto Podiums: 5; Moto 1 at Hangtown, Moto 2 at Thunder Valley, Moto 2 at Washougal, Moto 2 at Budds Creek, Moto 2 at Ironman
Overall Podiums: 3; Thunder Valley, Budds Creek, Ironman
Moto Laps Led: 7; 3rd most in class

Averages