MXGP World Championship
JT’s Insight: MXGP of Russia
Jason Thomas on round one.
Round one is done and dusted! After months of delays, hype, and more delays, the MXGP of Russia blasted off from Orlyonok’s seaside location (ok, lakeside). With so much time to analyse and predict, I have heard just about every theory possible on who would win in 2021 and why. The class is deeper than ever, giving pundits every opportunity to make a case for their favorites. Not only deep, the class is the healthiest it’s been in years, too. With Gajser, Herlings, Cairoli, and Febvre all returning MXGP champions (not to mention the long list of previous MX2 champions), who’s to say what a good or bad prediction is? In a court of law, I could build a case for any of these protagonists to leave their mark on this year’s campaign. Once the gate drops, though, the riding does the talking.
Tim Gajser’s voice was awfully loud today. The defending champ, his strength is on hard-pack tracks like Orlyonok. While he has improved in the sand (winning Lommel in 2019), there is simply no denying that he thrives when traction is at a premium. This strength is important this season as the first three rounds are on fairly hard surfaces. Orlyonok, Matterley Basin and Maggiora all present opportunity for Gajser to build up a points lead from which he can manage a series. His 1-1 today was not only a huge step towards that plan but the fashion in which he did it was impressive. He carved through the aforementioned field of champions like a hot knife through butter, never really looking to be under duress. The only two riders that seemed to even cause a pause were Herlings and Cairoli, and one could argue that was merely out of respect for their status. Once around, they offered zero response, overwhelmed by Gajser’s pace. It was truly a master class by the Slovenian.
As for Herlings, even though his performance was not what he would have schemed, I was impressed by his mental poise. He had to be fuming inside as Gajser systematically vanished in front of him. Not many humans are capable of simply riding away from Herlings, yet Gajser did it with seeming relative ease. Herlings ability to stomach that and minimize the damage was a big step forward. A younger Herlings would have turned up the intensity to an 11, refusing to accept anything but victory. That risk would have likely put him on the ground, making a tough situation worse. That inability to accept the points available has ruined more than one championship run for Herlings. Maybe he has finally matured into the rider who many have always expected him to be. As they say, championships are won on your toughest days. Allowing yourself a podium finish when things aren’t coming easy is exactly how you end up on top come December. Make no mistake, Herlings will need to win on the tracks he’s expected to win on, but minimizing the points loss on Gajser’s best tracks is just as important.
An underrated ride on the day came from Frenchman Romain Febvre. He had a tipover in the first moto and nearly a catastrophic incident in the second moto but showed the form that made him a champion. Many were high on Febvre’s chances this season and after today, I can see why. He looks to have gelled with the Kawasaki, willing to push to the limits like formerly did his Yamaha. Still, he will need to remove the moments he experienced today if he wants to beat the likes of Herlings, Gajser, or even Cairoli. They aren’t going to leave any room for error. Their goal will be to suck the life out of the field with relentless excellence. Any mistakes will be exploited, much like today. Febvre will need to win several motos if he wants a chance at the title, especially if he’s going to give points away via crashing.
Jorge Prado’s day was uncharacteristic in ways and yet also typical in others. First, his starts are simply unmatched. His technique, reaction time, and determination to round the first corner first is not common. He puts himself into a good position 90% of the time, if not more. His problem today, however, was that he couldn’t make good on it. His races are usually calm, cool, and collected. Even if he doesn’t win, there is rarely any drama involved. Today, there was way too much noise in his routine. Crashes, contact, and chaos reigned for Prado. I expect Prado to bounce back at Matterley but that was a tough day at the office for #61. He is a master of managing a race from the front, not overcoming adversity.
Finally, Tony Cairoli. What could have been! He was simply flying in that second moto. While I don’t think winning was on the cards, I do believe he had a second place in race two. That would have given a great boost of confidence to the nine-time champ and firmly placed him in championship contention. After the crash and subsequent DNF, though, he sits a gaggle (technical term) of points behind Gajser and the rest of the elite. There will be many ebbs and flows over the course of this marathon season but it had to be a bitter pill to throw away such a strong opener. Full disclosure, I am a ‘222’ fan and hurled several curse words when the cameras panned to a scattered Cairoli and KTM. Thankfully, he looked uninjured and ready for battle in two weeks’ time. Forza Tony, the sport is better when you are at your best.
Words: Jason Thomas | Lead Image: Ray Archer
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
Join Jeffrey Herlings during his pre-season testing after his streak of injuries. Will he get back to his old form?
Lead Image: Ray Archer/KTM
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MXGP World Championship
Stark Speaks! Stark believes MXGP should reconsider electric bike inclusion.
Following numerous questions, comments, and opinions, Stark Future would like to offer its take on the recent Press Conference held at VILLA LA ANGOSTURA (Argentina) on 8th March 2024, during the first MXGP event of the season.
Stark Future, a prominent innovator in motocross, firmly opposes MXGP/ Infront’s proposal to introduce a separate Electric Support Class alongside MXGP events. While recognizing the goal of driving technological advancements, Stark Future believes that segregation is not the solution. Instead, seeing integration as an opportunity for all sides to thrive. By embracing new technologies at the highest level of racing, Stark Future envisions making racing more captivating for fans while fostering the strongest technological improvements across the board.
With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of motocross performance and innovation, Stark Future firmly believes in true competition and integration, where the fastest machines go head-to-head, driving innovation and pushing the sport to new heights. The vision of Stark Future is to build the fastest motocross bike in the world and demonstrate that Electric is not a compromise but a formidable contender.
“As CEO and Founder of Stark Future, I firmly believe that segregating electric bikes into a separate class undermines the essence of true competition in motocross. Our mission is to break barriers and showcase the potential of electric technology on equal footing with internal combustion engines, Motocross thrives on innovation and pushing boundaries, and segregation only hinders our collective progress towards a more inclusive and dynamic sport. World Trials have done a great job on including Electric with combustion and have shown that when the platform is competitive it has it´s place amongst combustion counterparts”
Stark Future understands The creation of a separate class for electric bikes, as proposed by MXGP, compromises the essence of competition and risks stifling progress. Instead of fostering innovation, this approach fragments the championship and dilutes the level of competition. Stark Future advocates for the integration of electric bikes into the existing MXGP grid framework, which would promote innovation and benefit the broader motocross community while offering better viewing figures for MXGP programs.
Stark Future recognizes the importance of innovation in the future of motocross. Integrating electric bikes into MXGP would revitalize innovation within the sport and address challenges such as noise pollution, maintenance costs, and accessibility.
In conclusion, Stark Future urges MXGP/ Infront to reconsider the proposal for a separate Electric Support Class and explore avenues to seamlessly integrate Electric bikes into MXGP and MX2 grids. Stark Future is ready to embrace this challenge, and invites industry stakeholders to join in promoting innovation and ensuring that motocross continues to thrive for generations to come.
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