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MXGP World Championship

Viewpoint: Bailey Malkiewicz

Chatting with Bailey Malkiewicz.

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Honda 114 Motorsports’ Bailey Malkiewicz was unknown when the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship  begun, but has now proven that he has a future on the world stage. A slow start raised some question marks, but it has now come to light that he tore his ACL days before the Grand Prix of Great Britain in February. That is not the only piece of information that came to light in this exclusive MX Vice interview, as it turns out that he has not yet received an offer for next year that will allow him to actually make a living. Malkiewicz tells all in this chat from the Grand Prix of Pietramurata.

MX Vice: I feel like today was the first time that you have had a chance to run in the top three and prove that you have the raw speed to do it. Hanging in there for as many laps you did proved a point. Overall, you must be stoked. I feel like this speed has been there for quite a while now and this was your moment to prove it.

Bailey Malkiewicz: Yeah. The speed has definitely been there, but it has just been the fitness. I’ve had a couple good starts this season, but then thrown them away pretty early on. Super pumped about being able to be top three for over half a moto and it was definitely a confidence booster. I definitely want to be doing that a lot more.

Has it been frustrating? It was a slow start to the season and Eric Sorby [rider trainer at Honda 114] told everyone why. The speed has been good lately though. Have you been banging your head against a wall a little bit?

No, not really. I think that I have been doing pretty good, for my first year over here, and I’m pretty happy with my results lately. I have just been getting better and better. When we first came over here, we were not fully in the right head space and we came back after the break as a new person. I am happy with how the second half of the season has gone. Very happy with my results, actually.

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Ray Archer

I cannot remember what Eric said, but it was something like you didn’t realise the work that it would take to contend in MX2. It was something along those lines. I’d imagine that, coming from thousands of miles away, it’d have been hard to fully focus on getting ready for this thing. There would have obviously been distractions, huh?

Yeah. Like I said, I was not in the right head space when we first came over to Europe. There were just so many things to figure out and learn with moving overseas at a young age, learning the culture and how it all is over here. I definitely could have been more professional with the way that I did things, but I’m happy with how I came back over and did it. I definitely was not making anything easy for myself for the first half.

What is it you have struggled with most since you have been here? The tracks, food or languages? All of the above?

I don’t know. I think the tracks a bit, but I’ve ridden them a couple of times when I did the Junior World stuff. I knew coming over here was going to be tough. I should have put my head down a bit harder and done the work a bit better, but unfortunately I tore my ACL in a pre-season race at the start of the year. I’ve been racing this whole year with a torn ACL. I’m set back for half a lap or more as soon as I knock it in a corner. It’s been a struggle all year, but not many people know that I do not have an ACL in my right leg. I’ve just been putting my head down, fighting through the pain and trying to get my results in to get a ride for next year.

Now I’m happy we are doing this interview, because I had no idea about the ACL. I guess it happened like two weeks before the opener, but has it been getting stronger every month? Is that how this works? I’m guessing it’s better now than it was at Matterley, but still not great?

Yeah. With Matterley, we were trying to figure out if we wanted to race or not a couple days beforehand. I really wanted to race this year and luckily we did, because of that break. My knee was nowhere near in good enough shape to be able to ride two motos at a good pace. It’s getting better, but it’s not going to get any better without surgery. I don’t have full movement. Like I said, as soon as I knock it or twist it I could be out for a week. A couple  of weeks ago I had a practice crash and could not move my leg for like a week. It’s not good, but we are doing the best we can with it. Hopefully we can get it fixed once we finish the season and get ready for the next one.

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Ray Archer

The season ends on Sunday, so do you have to get it fixed immediately? Is there a chance that you could race with a torn ACL again in 2021? Some riders go through their entire career without an ACL. 

The plan is to try to get it done as soon as possible. We do not know where or when. If we cannot get it done, then we will definitely race without getting it done. You can still do a good race without it, like you said, but it just makes it all a lot harder. We would have to do a lot of work on it and make it stronger. Surgery would be the way to go, but if not then we are fine with having to race with it for one more year.

Going into 2021, you do not have a deal sorted. I wasn’t sure if your results were good enough to get a deal at the start of the season, truthfully, but now that I know about your ACL I feel bad. You have shown that you have the potential to do it here and all of that stuff though. You deserve a deal, so where is that situation at?

Honestly, my manager and I have had a fair few teams actually message me to get in contact. We have looked at everything and messaged people. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to keep me over here to be able to live. I am thankful to the people for reaching out and noticing me, but with COVID and everything I do not think they have enough stuff for me to be able to live for the year. I can do the racing stuff fine, but I don’t have enough money to stay here.

Have you been comfortable living this year then? Has the deal this year been fine or have you already sacrificed a lot and just cannot do it again in 2021?

At the start of the year it was slow-going with getting everything sorted, but everything was fine once we got back over here. I’m fine now. This deal’s sweet and I’m loving it. Definitely, like I said, those deals are with great teams but the offers that I got were not good enough for me to be able to live here and race.

You cannot come back to this team then, I guess? Is this one of the places where the offer just doesn’t make sense?

I have not got anything from this team yet, unfortunately. I don’t know. With what you were saying before, I wasn’t in the best shape with my ACL at the start of the year. We saw that I could hardly last ten minutes when we came back in Latvia, so to get to where we are now… I would say we are a lot fitter. We have not been able to do gym work the last couple of weeks, because we have been traveling so much. I am just doing as much as I can to stay where I am. My fitness is not the best. I could still last all moto, but it’s tough out there when you are in the top three and pushing every single edge of the track.

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Ray Archer

The latest results have been really good, I think. Definitely enough to be able to make some people realise that I can be up there every weekend. It would definitely get better and better too. My manager and I have a three-year plan. The plan was to get consistent top fifteens this year, which we have been doing lately and that is very good. The goal next year would be to get in the top ten and top five at every round. The goal for the third year was to chase a championship. We don’t know what could happen next year. We don’t know. Our goal is definitely to chase the championship in 2022 though.

Let’s make one thing clear to everyone listening. When you say the teams aren’t offering you enough to live, you are not looking for a mansion and all of that… You are just saying that you need the bare essentials, like food and a roof. 

Yeah, exactly. Living over here is not the cheapest, especially when you are coming over with your family. My Dad is staying with me at the moment. I’m not asking for a big house or so much money. I’m just asking for enough to get me through the year and not have to spend all my money just so I can stay here.

Let’s end on this note then. 2021 is up in the air. You want to be here though. There’s no doubt in your mind that you want to be in this series. Going back to Australia would be a disaster in your mind, huh?

Yeah, exactly. I really want to be here. That’s why we are over here. It’s been the dream since I was a kid. I still am a kid, but since I was younger. Going back home would really suck, with the racing side of things, but going back home to see family and friends is awesome. I also have family and friends over here. Going back would really suck and it is not really what I want to do with my career though. The racing over here is a whole different level. It’s definitely where everyone wants to be. Definitely really want to be here.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Ray Archer

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MXGP World Championship

2024 Spain Intu Xanad̼ РArroyomolinos РMXGP Results

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We will post the 2024 MXGP results of Spain Intu Xanad̼ РArroyomolinos GP all weekend. Get the latest updates to your phone through MX Vice.

MXGP Championship

MXGP Overall

MXGP Race Two

MXGP Race One

MXGP Qualification Race

MXGP Timed Practice

MX2 Championship

MX2 Overall

MX2 – Race Two

MX2 – Race One

MX2 – Qualification Race

MX2 Timed Practice

WMX Race Two

WMX Race One

EMX 250 Overall

EMX 250 – Race 2

EMX 250 – Race 1

EMX 250 – Timed Practice

EMX 250 Practice

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MXGP World Championship

//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos

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Once again, our resident stats guru, Paul Pearcy, provides a breakdown of the MX2 class going into Intu Xanadu. Famed more for its access to a shopping mall and McDonald’s than actual passing, the MX2 contenders will be looking to make their mark. Last year, Simon Laengenfelder reigned supreme and was unstoppable on Sunday, with no rider able to match his pace. If you were a betting man, who would be your winner?

MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Preview

MX2

Kay de Wolf

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finish: 4th
  • Qualifying Points: 7
  • Race First Lap Position: 6th
  • Race Finishes: 5th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 8th
  • Race Points: 54

Total Points: 61

Simon Laengenfelder

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podiums: 4; 22’, 23’
  • Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in 23’
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Overall win: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 34; all in 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3rd
  • Qualifying Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.167
  • Race Finishes: 4.333 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 4.333
  • Race Points: 113

Total Points: 121

Thibault Benistant

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 1, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 5.5
  • Qualifying Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.667
  • Race Finishes: 5.667 in Race 1, 6.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 6.333
  • Race Points: 92

Total Points: 97

Mikkel Haarup

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 9th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 12.333 in Race 1, 9.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.667
  • Race Points: 60

Total Points: 60

Andrea Adamo

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 11th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 6
  • Race First Lap Position: 11.667
  • Race Finishes: 9.333 in Race 1, 12.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.333
  • Race Points: 70

Total Points: 76

Lucas Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 17.5
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 26th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14th
  • Race Points: 15

Total Points: 24

Sacha Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 19th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 24th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 17th
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 9th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 9th
  • Race Points: 22

Total Points: 22

Rick Elzinga

Venue Visits: 22’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 10th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 21.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.25
  • Race Finishes:13th in Race 1, 10th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.5
  • Race Points: 27

Total Points: 27

Jack Chambers

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 22nd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 15th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15th
  • Race First Lap Position: 24.5
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th
  • Race Points: 9

Total Points: 9

Oriol Oliver

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 16th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17.5
  • Race Points: 19

Total Points: 19

David Braceras

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 16th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:14.5 in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 16.5
  • Race Points: 23

Total Points: 23

Emil Weckman

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 10th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 19th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 18th
  • Race Points: 8

Total Points: 8

Bobby Bruce

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 20th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 26th
  • Race First Lap Position: 23rd
  • Race Finishes: 27th in Race 1, 21st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th

MXGP

Jorge Prado

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podiums: 6
  • Race Wins: 2
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
  • Overall Win: 1; 20’ (1-1 in 20’)
  • Race Laps Led: 56

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 1.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 10
  • Race First Lap Position: 2.125
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 160

Total Points: 170

Romain Febvre

Venue Visits: 20’, 21’, 23’

  • Race Podiums: 3
  • Race Win: 1; 21’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 20’
  • Race Laps Led: 11

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 5.667
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 1.5 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3.5
  • Race Points: 81

Total Points: 81

Tim Gajser

Venue Visits: 20’-22’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 20’
  • Race Podiums: 4
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 3.5
  • Race Finishes: 3rd in Race 1, 3.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 119

Total Points: 119

Pauls Jonass

Venue Visits: 21’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 8.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 9th
  • Race First Lap Position: 7.25
  • Race Finishes: 7.5 in Race 1, 7th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7.5
  • Race Points: 55

Total Points: 55

Maxime Renaux

Venue Visit: 22’, 23’

  • Race Wins: 2; 22’ (1-1 in 22’)
  • Overall Win: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 31

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Race Finishes: 1st in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 50

Total Points: 50

Jeremy Seewer

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 5

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.375
  • Race Finishes: 8.5 in Race 1, 5.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7th
  • Race Points: 115

Total Points: 123

Jeffery Herlings

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 2; 21’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 1; 23’
  • Race Podiums: 4;(Jeffrey has podiumed 100% of the races he has competed in)
  • Race Wins: 3; (Herlings has won 75% of the victories he has vied for)
  • Overall Wins: 2; (100% win rate)
  • Race Laps Led: 27

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1st
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.75
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 95

Total Points: 104

Glenn Coldenhoff

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podium: 1; 22’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 7.25
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.125
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 6.5 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 5th
  • Race Points: 123

Total Points: 128

Calvin Vlaanderen

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 2
  • Race First Lap Position: 15.625
  • Race Finishes: 11.5 in Race 1, 12.75 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 12.25
  • Race Points: 71

Total Points: 73

Valentin Guillod

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 18th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 19.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 1
  • Race First Lap Position: 14.75
  • Race Finishes: 12th in Race 1, 15.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.25
  • Race Points: 62

Total Points: 63

Ben Watson

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 14.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.5
  • Race Finishes: 19th in Race 1
  • Overall Finishes: 22nd
  • Race Points: 2

Total Points: 2

Ivo Monticelli

Venue Visits: 20’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24th
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.75
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 13th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 13th
  • Race Points: 28

Total Points: 28

Kevin Brumann

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 20th
  • Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Race Finishes: 14th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 15th
  • Race Points: 11

Total Points: 11

Photo: KTM Group

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MX Vice Podcasts

Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview

Listen now.

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The Between The Races podcast returns with Adam Sterry, Ed Stratmann and Brad Wheeler, as they review the 2024 MXGP season opener and look ahead to Spain.

The Between The Races podcast is always available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks to Fly Racing, Monster Energy, Fox Racing, Parts Europe, Scott, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, AS3 Performance, Kawasaki UK, KTM UK, O’Neal and Even Strokes for supporting the show. If you would like to become a part of the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Lead Image: Triumph Racing/Ray Archer

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

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