The talk of the paddock: RV2

You can feel the tension already. The 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship is just around the corner and three maybe four riders are in serious contention to battle for this year’s MXGP championship. Another five or six are possible GP winner and moto winners. I can’t remember a season with my excitement in my 22 years in Europe and 43 years of going to motocross races, being this much.

Can the legendary Antonio Cairoli tame the moto-beast of Ryan Villopoto? Will Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle be consistent enough to remain with the Italian and American as the season gets to the serious end of the championship? Will riders like Tommy Searle, Max Nagl, Kevin Strijbos, Tyla Rattray, or the two Aussies, Dean Ferris and Todd Waters shock the top four?

HRC factory rider Gautier Paulin who is clearly a heavy favorite in this year’s title knows that bringing a rider of the class of Villopoto to race the GPs can only make for an exciting 2015. The Frenchman is excited for the Grand Prix of Qatar in two week’s time.

“For me, that Ryan is coming is good for the championship,” Paulin told. “We will have so much more media at the MXGP and this is great. For me as a racer and I am working to race, a person like Ryan coming is good and in the championship we will have more contenders, and I love that. Being on the start gate in Qatar, once we put our ass on the bike, it means everything to me. I am ready for fighting and ready for racing.”

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Tommy Searle has battled for a championship and come up just short. He is now possibly better prepared than ever and can’t wait for the 2015 season to get underway.

“I think Villopoto brings a lot,” Searle said. “He is one of the best in the world, and has won a lot of supercross and outdoor titles, he is one of the strongest riders around and with him coming to MXGP takes the series to another level. Also a lot more interest for the American fans, it’s a big plus for the Grand Prix.”

Veteran paddock personality and team manager Harry Nolte isn’t so sure Villopoto will have it all his own way. The American dominance of the 1990s and Ricky Carmichael era are over and it’s the GP guys who now hold the torch for world motocross.

“I think at the Motocross of Nations we really saw how it is the last few years,” Nolte said. “I think most American people know that, not all of them, but most of them. When the tracks get really rough, then the GP guys, or the European guys have a big advantage, but in saying that Tomac is also good on those tracks. Dungey, we have to not forget he battled for the title and he wasn’t on the pace in Latvia. I think Tomac is really fast at the moment and Villopoto is probably faster than both of them. We will see what happens, and I know everyone involved can’t wait.”