Social Spot: Sneak Peek

Before social media, fans had to wait until the pre-season internationals to see the Grand Prix riders in their new colours. Those days are long gone now though. A handful of riders have already shared images of how they will look when the next term of the FIM Motocross World Championship fires into life, for instance, and those posts are below. This will become a regular feature on MX Vice through the off-season, so stay tuned for more.

The new term of the FIM Motocross World Championship will be a poignant one for Henry Jacobi, as it will be his first run as a professional rider who is focussed solely on racing. What kind of difference will that make? Time will tell. Jacobi is clearly excited about his new environment though, as he said that he is “fire with this bike.” Adam Sterry will be his teammate in MX2.

It is quite surprising that Maxime Desprey, who has been impressive at points, will not have a deal in the FIM Motocross World Championship next year. Desprey will focus on the domestic scene in France instead and spend his time beneath the SR Honda tent. Desprey is already racing in his new colours. There are going to be changes from head to toe too, as that photo below shows.

Jeremy Seewer raced for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing for the first time this past weekend, as he contested round one of the All-Japan Motocross Championship at the former Grand Prix circuit of Sugo. Seewer acquired a brace of seconds, behind Tim Gajser, and will now test for three days in Japan and then take the rest of the month off. Testing will resume in December.

A lot will change for Shaun Simpson next season, it seems, as he will return to a British-based outfit and KTM machinery. The reborn RFX KTM squad team will house him and ensure that he makes it to all twenty rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship. It seems that Simpson will return to Fly Racing kit too, although the specific details have not been confirmed yet.

Ruben Fernandez showcased some blistering speed at the beginning of the season, but things soon unravelled as he sustained an injury in June and then later split from F&H Racing Kawasaki. Fernandez has sadly failed to land another deal in MX2 and will return to the EMX scene with Yamaha next year. Testing has begun with his teammates, Gianluca Facchetti and Rick Elzinga.

The deal that Dylan Walsh has signed with REVO Husqvarna was only announced at the beginning of the month, yet he has already raced in his new colours. Walsh contested the final round of the Maxxis British Championship and won a moto, then immediately begun his preparation for the new season. He’ll contest the MX2 class in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Hunter Lawrence is no longer a Grand Prix rider, much to the dismay of those in Europe, and has already begun to test with GEICO Honda in Southern California. It is likely that he will race on the east coast next year, as long as injuries do not turn things upside down, so he has a lot of time to prepare on a supercross track. It has been four years since he last dabbled in the discipline.

Thomas Covington is also now a full-time racer in the USA, much like Hunter Lawrence, but will still ride for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing outfit. There will still be a lot of change though. Covington will now wear Fly Racing gear, an Airoh helmet and run one hundred and twelve on his steed. A lot of eyes are going to be set on the former Grand Prix winner next year.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Husqvarna/J.P Acevedo