EMX125

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 14 February 2022 – The FIM Motocross World Championship is just days away from the 2022 season opener taking place in Matterley Basin!

Take a look at the scheduled timetable and complete entry list for the MXGP, MX2, EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing EMX Open classes.

TIMETABLE

MXGP ENTRY LIST

MX2 ENTRY LIST

ADDITIONAL CLASSES:

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Entry List

EMXOpen Entry List

The 2021 season will no doubt be remembered for many reasons, of course the main one being the level of competition that we have witnessed across all the classes of the FIM World and European Championships.

The EMX categories are vital to the FIM Motocross World Championship, as these support classes help to nurture young and up and coming talents into the FIM Motocross World Championship at a professional level. Even the youngest EMX65 riders right through to the EMX250, all have a chance to show their skills on world level tracks, with professional treatment and opportunities.

So, as we gear up for another epic season in 2022, let’s meet the crème-de-la-crème of the 2021 EMX Championships! 

Read the full article in the latest issue of the MXGP Magazine HERE! 

You can find all this plus more in the 101^st issue of MXGP Mag, which you can download for FREE on the Apple Store or Google Play. Read it HERE!

Users who have already downloaded other issues on their iOS device can automatically download the new issue by opening the News Stand and clicking on the cover of the MXGP Mag. Whereas those readers using an Android device will be able to download the magazine for free thanks to this app: http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid.

The team led by Paolo Mencacci, this season which in a few weeks will start with the first stage at Matterly Basin in England, presents its two new drivers who will be lined up behind the starting gate.

In MX2 still riding the KTM 250 SX-F, the young Spanish rider Samuel Nilsson, born in 2002, fresh Spanish champion, will make his debut in the FIM Motocross World Championship on a permanent basis.

The KTM Racestore team in partnership with the Luciani Team will assist Simone Mancini in the 125 European Championship races, class 2007, Junior 85 champion. In addition to the European races, Simone will participate in the Italian Junior Championship.

Photo Copyright: KTM Racestore

To celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, MXGP would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year by sharing our annual Christmas video for 2021.

Immerse yourself into the sounds of MXGP with a festive twist!

Fantic Factory Team Maddii have announced the riders that will represent the team in 2022, with riders across all major World and European Championships.

The 2021 EMX250 Champion, Nicholas Lapucci will make the move up to MXGP, meanwhile the 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion Hakon Osterhagen will move up to the EMX250 category and race alongside new teammate Cornelius Tondel. While in the EMX125 class, the team will see Cas Valk and Alexis Fueri represent the Italian team and brand.

Sharing on their social media platforms, the team said “The work is already started and we will do our best to be ready for this new chapter and new challenges”.

Photo Copyright: Fantic Factory Team Maddii

Yamaha Motor Europe is delighted to announce that EMX250 bronze medalist Rick Elzinga will join fellow EMX250 title challengers Andrea Bonacorsi and Dave Kooiker at the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team for the 2022 EMX250 European Championship campaign. Meanwhile, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team has retained its current crop of young stars, Ivano van Erp, Karlis Reisulis and Ferruccio Zanchi, for the 2022 EMX125 season.

Spearheading the effort in the MX2 feeder class, EMX250, Elzinga makes his return to the Yamaha Family after a two-year hiatus. The Dutchman demonstrated his capabilities in the 2021 EMX250 Championship with an emphatic overall victory at his home round, the first of his career. The 19-year-old went on to score another three podiums, before securing the EMX250 bronze medal with a third-place finish at the final round in Mantova, Italy.

After winning the EMX125 Championship in 2020, Bonacorsi moved up to the highly competitive EMX250 class in 2021, joining the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team. Raising the bar for the next crop of up-and-coming talents, the 18-year-old Italian completed his first full term in the 250cc category in fourth overall after proving his true potential with a pair of back-to-back race wins at two of the three rounds in Pietramurata, Italy. The rookie sensation also raced his GYTR kitted YZ250F to the podium on three further occasions and will look to add to that tally to mount a title challenge next year. 

Remaining with the Hutten Metaal set-up for a third full-season, 16-year-old Kooiker hopes to line up fit and strong in 2022, eager to inch closer to the front runners.

In the EMX125 series, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team is thrilled to continue with its trio of proven title challengers, Van Erp, Reisulis and Zanchi.

All three MJC Yamaha riders celebrated podium silverware in 2021. Van Erp emerged as one of the major title contenders with three race and round wins at EMX125 events in Germany, Spain, and Italy. After starting the 2021 season with an injury, Reisulis bounced back with a vengeance. The 16-year-old Latvian rounded out his season with two overall podiums at the final two rounds in Italy, finishing second on both occasions. Zanchi was classified second overall at the first round in Matterley Basin, while the Italian’s first full season in the series also included an impressive race victory in France.

All three riders are confident and eager to continue racing the highly competitive GYTR kitted YZ125 inside the EMX125 Championship in 2022.

Wim Hutten, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 Team Owner: "I am happy and proud to run Yamaha's Official EMX250 Team for a third year in a row. For this upcoming season, we add Rick Elzinga to the team, which is exciting because we are a Dutch-based team and he is a Dutch rider, and is also close to the Hutten Metaal area. It is also nice to keep Andrea, after an excellent rookie season, and Dave who will continue with us for another year as well. We see a lot of potential in this line-up, and our team will do all we can to give them the best opportunity to show what they are able to achieve."

Loic LeFoll, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team Owner: “I am so happy to continue working with these young riders. All three riders are very talented, which is exciting for our team, and in addition to that, they are very hard working and have great attitudes on and off the bike. I really enjoy working with riders like this, and we are already looking forward to the new season. The team is motivated, the riders are motivated, the YZ125 is a fantastic bike and we are excited for the 2022 season."

Thorsten Lentink, Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator: “We are already looking forward to the 2022 European Motocross Championship after securing a strong 2022 line up for both of our Official EMX250 and EMX125 teams. In EMX250, after an incredible rookie season with Andrea Bonacorsi finishing fourth in the EMX250 Championship, we are excited to keep Andrea onboard for another season where we hope to regularly challenge the podium. In addition, we have also retained Dave Kooiker. He has just turned 16 and is a young talent on the rise, he started the year strong and solid but ended up facing some struggles later in the season, he has shown that he is a fighter and will keep pushing forward. And finally, we are super happy to re-sign Rick Elzinga. Rick is a rider who we started a relationship with inside the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team a few years ago, and despite a couple of challenging seasons that were spoiled by injury, he bounced back strong in 2021 and has proven that he is a title challenger in the EMX250 class. Rick is a true talent and a real asset to the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team, especially as he comes from the same area as the title sponsor, Hutten Metaal. We are really looking forward to working with these three riders and helping them reach their full potential. In the 125cc category, I am very happy that we can continue in 2022 with the exact same team. We have made a big step forward, and we have proven that we can fight for race and round wins. This year, we landed on the podium with all three of the MJC Yamaha riders, Ivano van Erp, Karlis Reisulis and Ferruccio Zanchi, and many times we had the fastest lap times. We are definitely podium contenders and very competitive, so I look forward to continuing in this direction with all three riders and the GYTR kitted YZ125.”

MANTOVA (Lombardia) 10 November 2021 – The annual MXGP Awards celebrated a historic season of the FIM Motocross World Championship, that saw the title clash in the premier MXGP class go down to the final chequered flag.

Once the final race of the day was finished at the final World Champion of 2021 was decided, it was time to begin the well-earnt celebrations of the entire paddock of what has been the most intense season of racing to date.

The MXGP Awards is a prize giving ceremony that is designed to celebrate all the amazing accomplishments from this season in the MXGP paddock. The awards were hosted by the MXGP-TV’s Commentator Paul Malin and MXGP-TV Presenter, Lisa Leyland from the Studio in Mantova. The entire event was live streamed worldwide on www.MXGP-TV.com, as well as MXGP’s YouTube channel.

The evening kicked-off with a special message from Infront Moto Racing’s CEO David Luongo and FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela who shared a few words about the incredible season that we all have witnessed in 2021.  

David Luongo: “It has been a long journey again this year. Very challenging as when we started the year again many COVID-19 restrictions were in place. But the last couple of months have been very exciting. From the MXGP of Germany we have had public on site and increased the amount of spectators and the intensity of the championship until the final round today. As a promotor, we have been working hard with our team until today to have a full-house crowd and to have racing like this, to have the championship decided on the last day. I think all of the fans enjoyed this MXGP season a lot. For us it was important to deliver 18 races along with the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations which took place also here in Mantova. We are very confident that next year we will be back to normal, to start the season earlier and see new countries come back to the MXGP calendar. But this season was just epic, so I want to say a huge congratulations to all of the riders in MXGP and MX2, but the MXGP top three, Jeffrey, Romain and Tim they really went to another level. And also, a thought to Tony Cairoli who ended his Grand Prix career today. He is one of the biggest ambassadors of our MXGP’s history so it was a very intense season”.

Antonio Alia Portela: "It has been an exceptional season in every way. On one hand, the restrictions imposed in certain countries and the evolution of the pandemic in others have caused the calendar to be altered, moreover, the lack of public attendance at some of the events has put many organizers to the limit. The solution has come from Infront Motor Racing, as last year, offering also us double or triple headers. This situation has again tested all the elements that make GPs run effectively, as IMR, the FIM, the FMNs, the Teams, the Sponsors and the Organizers have shown their strength to offer the world one of the best seasons that have lately been lived in MXGP and as every GP has offered a variety of winners, the uncertainty among the MXGP Championship title has remained until the last race. On behalf of the FIM and the CMS I would like to personally thank all those who have made this a historic and unique year, from which rivers of ink will probably be written, to show that the motocross that runs through our veins is more alive than ever and that next year will continue to offer us unforgettable moments through the intense season that has just begun." 

The Awards ceremony then continued, as the winning teams and manufacturers were presented with their awards, followed by this year’s champions in the MXGP, MX2, WMX and EMX classes, who each received their prizes. EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Champion, Valerio Lata was the first to pick up his prize, followed by Nicholas Lapucci who secured the EMX250 title yesterday, along with the EMX2t Presented by FMF Racing, EMX Open and Women’s Motocross World Championship winners, Maximilian Spies, Davide De Bortoli and the three-time WMX Champion Courtney Duncan.

This year, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini was the recipient of the Jan de Groot Award that honours the most promising young talent. Guadagnini had an incredible rookie season in MX2 that saw him hold the red plate, mount the podium a total of six times, win three races and stand on the top step twice!

Additionally, Tom Vialle and Jorge Prado were presented with the Fox Holeshot Award, for their incredible starts this season, that saw Prado claim 18 Fox Holeshots and Vialle an impressive 22. For Prado, this was his fourth consecutive Fox Holeshot Award, while for Vialle it was his second.

And then it was time to find out which MXGP rider was the winner of the Best Rider of the Year Sponsored by Athena prize! The newly crowned MXGP World Champion Jeffrey Herlings was declared winner, having received the most fans’ votes in total throughout the 2021 season.

Before the final awards were handed to the MXGP and MX2 World Champions, it was time for a special moment of the evening as we paid tribute to the 9-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli who was awarded with the ‘222 Lifetime Number’ which means he will be the only one to ever have that number in MXGP.

Antonio Cairoli: “It’s amazing to reach something like this in this business. I am really happy about my career, I wouldn’t change anything. Winning one title is already something special but making such a journey is really fantastic and I am really happy even if today didn’t go as I wished”. 

The evening then concluded with the awards for the two FIM Motocross World Champions, Jeffrey Herlings and Maxime Renaux who each received their championship plates, along with their champions rings as part of their prizes for this season.

Here is the complete list of winners, below:

MXGP Manufacturer World Champion: KTM

MXGP Winning Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

MX2 Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

MX2 Winning Team: Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2

WMX Manufacturer World Champion: Kawasaki

WMX Winning Team: Bike it MTX Kawasaki

“Jan De Groot” Award (cheque €5.000): Mattia Guadagnini

EMX 125 Presented by FMF Racing European Champion: Valerio Lata

EMX 250 European Champion: Nicholas Lapucci

EMX 2T Presented by FMF Racing European Champion: Maximilian Spies

EMX Open European Champion: Davide de Bortoli

MXGP Best Cooperation: Organizer of Trentino

MXGP Best Cooperation: Organizer of Mantova

Women’s World Champion: Courtney Duncan

Best Rider of the Year, Sponsored by Athena: Jeffrey Herlings

Fox Holeshot Award MXGP and MX2: Jorge Prado & Tom Vialle

MXGP Best Organizer: MXGP of Spain

MX2 World Champion: Maxime Renaux

MXGP World Champion: Jeffrey Herlings

Missed the 2021 MXGP Awards? You can watch a replay by clicking HERE

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Città di Mantova

MANTOVA (Lombardia) 9 November 2021 – It was a big day for Italian riders Nicholas Lapucci of Fantic Factory Team Maddi and Valerio Lata of MRT Racing Team KTM, as the pair secured the crown in the EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Championships.

The newly crowned champions were able to revel in their success at the chequered flag of their first races, as Lapucci had enough of an advantage over his closest rival Kevin Horgmo of SM Action Racing Team YUASA Battery, despite the Norwegian winning the first EMX250 race, while Lata’s closest rival Bobby Bruce of ASA United GasGas Racing was forced out of the running due to a broken chain.

The crowning of the two champions today wrapped up the European Championships for the 2021 season, as two days ago we witnessed Fantic Factory Team Maddii's Maximilian Spies also become the EMX2t Presented by FMF Racing Champion.

There were more than just the champions to celebrate as Riley Yamaha Racing’s Hakon Fredriksen secured his second overall victory of the season in EMX250, while in the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing category 9MM Energy Drink Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Lucas Coenen did the same, going 1-1 for the second time in 2021.

In the first EMX250 race, it was Lapucci with the holeshot ahead of Yago Martinez, Jeremy Sydow of Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Maxime Grau and Horgmo.

Horgmo was quick to make some passes and get himself into third, as Martinez was looking to stay close to Lapucci by setting the fastest lap of the race. At that point the Spaniard was almost a second faster than the leader.

Martinez then went out of second as he dropped down to fifth, which meant that Horgmo moved up into his position. Rick Elzinga of TBS Conversions KTM was just behind the Norwegian looking to get around him.

Elzinga pushed Horgmo onto the rear wheel of Lapucci as the trio were separated by just three seconds. There was some close racing between them as Elzinga got around Horgmo, who immediately responded. It then took Elzinga a couple of more corners before he was able to make the pass stick.

Horgmo then had Fredriksen knocking on his door as he started to close in. And while the pair battled for third, Elzinga was able to get by Lapucci for the lead. Fredriksen was next to pass the Italian as Horgmo followed and did the same. Lapucci dropped to fourth.

Fredriksen then made a mistake which allowed Horgmo through. Meanwhile further down the order Grau crashed out of 10^th.

In the closing stages of the race we saw a three-way battle for the win as Elzinga, Horgmo and Fredriksen went at it. Horgmo was first to make a move as he took over the lead, while Fredriksen also dived down the inside of Elzinga to push him down to third in a matter of moments.

The last three laps Fredriksen pushed Horgmo, but the GasGas rider was able to hold on and claim his third race win of the season. Fredriksen was second with Elzinga third and Lapucci fourth.

Despite winning the race, it was not enough for Horgmo to take the title fight down to the final race, as Lapucci crossed the finish line as the 2021 EMX250 Champion!

In race two, Lapucci secured yet another holeshot ahead of WZ Racing Team’s Mike Gwerder, Sydow, Grau and Fredriksen. Horgmo started the race down in eighth.

As Horgmo made his way up the order, he caught onto the back of Grau and while trying to find an opportunity to pass the Frenchman got taken down when his front wheel collided with the back wheel of Grau. He dropped down to 18^th.

By that point Lapucci was already 4.885 seconds ahead of Gwerder who was fending off a hard-charging Fredriksen. While trying to stay ahead of the Norwegian, the Swiss crashed and eventually finished the race in 13^th.

Fredriksen then set his fastest lap of the race as he looked to take time out of Lapucci, but it was not enough as the Italian was more than six seconds ahead and went on to extend his lead even further as Fredriksen settled into his position, while Elzinga was also having a lonely ride in third.

Bonacorsi made his way into fifth but had Sydow applying the pressure. Despite that he was able to keep moving forward and pass Martinez for fourth and that’s where he would finish the race as Sydow was able to move into fifth with a few laps to go. Martinez finished sixth.

Lapucci went on to win the race 6.493 seconds ahead of Fredriksen and Elzinga who was a further 9 seconds behind.

Two consistent second place finishes were enough to put Fredriksen on the top step of the podium for the second time this season. Lapucci was second overall, as Elzinga celebrated his third podium of the year with third overall.

Lapucci ends the season as EMX250 Champion with seven podiums which include four overall victories and 12 race wins. Horgmo was second in the championship with six podiums and two overall wins, with Elzinga collecting the bronze medal with three podiums and one overall win.

Nicholas Lapucci: “It was a strong one but also a long one. The first race I was like “please, why so long?”. I need some rest days after this, from the feelings, because now I am speechless. I don’t have many words to say. I brought it home finally. I can say that I am the European Champion. I also wanted to end it on a good note in the second race and I think it was a perfect day. I wanted the overall for the Italian people, but it is what it is. Sometimes you have to think big and be cautious, especially when a title is on the line. So, I am happy with that. The plan for next season is to stay with Maddii and move up to the 450 class. But let’s see what the future brings. I am excited to go racing with the big boys. I have a lot to learn, but I am ready”.

Kevin Horgmo: “I was really happy about the consistency. Unfortunately, I had some bad races here and there, but that’s part of a championship. I was hoping to be better on Saturday to be closer in the championship race and fight hard today. But Saturday wasn’t the best for me. I struggled here on the track a little bit and I was on the back foot. I am happy about finishing second and all the congrats to Lapucci. He’s been really strong this season”.

Rick Elzinga: “To end the season on the podium is always nice. The season was long, I had some ups and some downs. The ups are the ones I will remember all my life. Moments like in Oss, to win for my first time, in front of my own crowd, is just amazing. Then to finish off the season in third place is a big achievement for me. I love battling with these guys and I hope I can keep it going next year”.

Hakon Fredriksen: “It was a good day for sure. I had a good feeling and good speed in time practice. I could fight my way through both starts. I could go to top 5. I had a good fight with Kevin in the first race. Second race, Lapucci was already gone when I passed to second place, but I was happy to finish on top of the podium”.

Main Photos: 1. EMX Champions Nicholas Lapucci and Valerio Lata; 

2. FIM Europe Motocross Commission Chief Eddie Herd, Valerio Lata, Maximilian Spies, Nicholas Lapucci, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo

Bottom Photos: 1. Hakon Fredriksen; 2. Nicholas Lapucci

EMX250 - Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, GASGAS), 30:55.778; 2. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, Yamaha), +0:00.809; 3. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), +0:16.403; 4. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, Fantic), +0:24.731; 5. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:26.934; 6. Yago Martinez (ESP, KTM), +0:31.725; 7. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Yamaha), +0:32.683; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Husqvarna), +0:33.151; 9. Jeremy Sydow (GER, Yamaha), +0:37.209; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:49.425;

EMX250 - Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, Fantic), 31:00.068; 2. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, Yamaha), +0:06.493; 3. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), +0:15.235; 4. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:19.607; 5. Jeremy Sydow (GER, Yamaha), +0:28.067; 6. Yago Martinez (ESP, KTM), +0:32.065; 7. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:32.759; 8. Maximilian Spies (GER, Fantic), +0:35.674; 9. Emil Weckman (FIN, Honda), +0:37.520; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, GASGAS), +0:38.422;

EMX250 - Overall Top 10 Classification: 1. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, YAM), 44 points; 2. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, FAN), 43 p.; 3. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, GAS), 35 p.; 5. Yago Martinez (ESP, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 29 p.; 8. Jeremy Sydow (GER, YAM), 28 p.; 9. Maximilian Spies (GER, FAN), 21 p.; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, GAS), 21 p.;

EMX250 - Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, FAN), 438 points; 2. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, GAS), 385 p.; 3. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 325 p.; 4. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 287 p.; 5. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, YAM), 252 p.; 6. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, YAM), 245 p.; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 227 p.; 8. Yago Martinez (ESP, KTM), 227 p.; 9. Emil Weckman (FIN, HON), 154 p.; 10. Mike Gwerder (SUI, KTM), 141 p.;

EMX250 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. Fantic, 441 points; 2. Yamaha, 394 p.; 3. KTM, 387 p.; 4. GASGAS, 386 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 244 p.; 6. Honda, 154 p.; 7. Kawasaki, 110 p.; 8. TM, 17 p.;

As the gate dropped for EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing heat one, it was Coenen with the holeshot as he led Ferruccio Zanchi of Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC, Scott Smulders from No Fear / BT Jumbo Racing and Bruce. Meanwhile Lata started down in 10^th position.

Bruce then got around the outside of Smulders to move into third as Coenen gapped Zanchi by 3.333 seconds by the end of the first lap. The Belgian followed up with a couple of fastest laps of the race as he checked out, while Zanchi was left battling with Bruce for second.

Lata was making his way up the order, as he got around a few riders including Andrea Viano for seventh place. He then had a clear track as Karlis Alberts Reisulis of Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC was further ahead.

Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC rider's Ivano Van Erp took a turn for the worse as he crashed out of 10^th place, after fighting back from a mid-field start. The Dutchman then crashed again and eventually finished the race in 15^th position.

Zanchi then crashed out of second which meant that Bruce and Valk moved into second and third. By that point, Coenen was already 11.318 seconds ahead.

Zanchi got going in sixth as Lata looked to go after the Yamaha rider. While further up the order, bad luck struck Bruce who was hoping to take the title fight into race two. The British rider was forced to DNF after a broken chain left him unable to carry on with the rest of the race.

Coenen went on to win the race 14.486 seconds ahead of Valk and Reisulis who was third. With Bruce out of the race, Lata was unchallenged for the title and could wrap it up a race early as he crossed the line in sixth place.

In race two, Coenen led from the beginning once again with Bruce, Lata, Smulders and Van Erp just behind him into the first corner.

Van Erp was not wasting any time as he got by both Lata and Smulders to move into third, as the newly crowned champion came under more pressure from Reisulis who was making his way up the field.

Meanwhile Bruce was not going to let Coenen get away so easily as he clocked the fastest lap of the race and was just 0.947 seconds behind the leader. Coenen then responded with his own fast lap.

Kay Karssemakers of Husqvarna SKS Racing NL then dived down the inside of Smulders for fifth, but the battle between them remained tight. The pair pushed their way onto the rear wheel of Lata who was fourth.

Bruce set another fastest lap of the race, as Reisulis started to close in on Karssemakers and Smulders. The Latvian passed Smulders for sixth not long after.

Coenen then started to pull away as he was 3.455 seconds ahead of Bruce, who was coming under attack from Van Erp. The Dutchman took a chunk of time out of the Brit as he caught onto his rear wheel. Bruce tried to defend but Van Erp was able to find a way through.

With two laps to go Coenen was already 5.334 seconds ahead and went on to win the race while Van Erp was second with Bruce third.

A 1-1 result put Lucas Coenen on the top step for the second time this season, with Reisulis celebrating his second ever EMX podium finish on the second step of the podium, while Valk celebrated his first top three finish.

And that concluded the final round of the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing series with Valerio Lata securing the title while Bruce finished second. Two race wins today helped Coenen to third in the championship as he finished his season just ten appoints adrift of Bruce.

Valerio Lata: “Today was a good day. First race I had a bad start. I crashed with three laps to go and finished in seventh position. Second race I had a good start but not a good feeling on the track. I finished in the fifth position. But I am very happy of winning the championship. Thank you to my team, family and fans for this super day. See you next year!”.

Bobby Bruce: “To finish second is a dream for us. The whole team worked so hard. What happened with the chain in the first race was unfortunate, but it was out of everyone’s hands. There was nothing we could do. The second race was good; it was a good battle until the end. It was a good season all in all. Well done to Valerio, we had some good battles."

Lucas Coenen: “Today was a good day for me. Two overall wins, two holeshots. I don’t think I could have done any better, but second race was tough because they were also riding fast. I managed to get 1-1 and good starts. It’s good for me. Third in championship is really good for me because I got two DNFs in Italy. I have been riding really good since Teutschental. I’m looking forward to next season. I don’t know whether I will ride in 125 or 250. We will see”.

Karlis Alberts Reisulis: “This is a nice way to end the season. Of course, the second race wasn’t so well. Scott was pushing me to the limit. But overall, it was two good stable races and that was one of the keys that got me to second overall”.

Cas Valk: “The first race was just a perfect race. I had two good starts and the riding was good. I finished second because Bobby’s chain broke. 2nd race I definitely had to work hard for it. I was locked up in the start. But to come from way back to 8th was very good. I am really happy to finally be on the podium after a difficult season for me. Injury and sickness in the beginning of the season, which means I couldn’t ride all the races. So, I am happy to take the podium here. I couldn’t have done it without my team and I want to thank them”.

Main Photo: FIM Europe Motocross Commission Chief Eddie Herd, Valerio Lata, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo

Bottom Photos: 1. Lucas Coenen 2. Bobby Bruce

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing - Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Kawasaki/BUD), 29:35.413; 2. Cas Valk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:14.486; 3. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:18.449; 4. Scott Smulders (NED, Husqvarna), +0:26.546; 5. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:35.360; 6. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), +0:44.233; 7. Raul Sanchez (ESP, GASGAS), +0:47.775; 8. Alexis Fueri (FRA, Fantic), +0:48.024; 9. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, KTM), +0:50.282; 10. Andrea Viano (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:58.796;

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing - Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Kawasaki/BUD), 29:22.848; 2. Ivano Van Erp (NED, Yamaha), +0:03.234; 3. Bobby Bruce (GBR, GASGAS), +0:13.743; 4. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Husqvarna), +0:33.049; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), +0:36.504; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:37.511; 7. Scott Smulders (NED, Husqvarna), +0:38.146; 8. Cas Valk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:56.156; 9. Bradley Mesters (NED, Kawasaki/KTM), +1:01.154; 10. Raul Sanchez (ESP, GASGAS), +1:01.968;

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing - Overall Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KAW), 50 points; 2. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 35 p.; 3. Cas Valk (NED, HUS), 35 p.; 4. Scott Smulders (NED, HUS), 32 p.; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 28 p.; 7. Kay Karssemakers (NED, HUS), 25 p.; 8. Raul Sanchez (ESP, GAS), 25 p.; 9. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, YAM), 25 p.; 10. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, KTM), 22 p.;

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing - Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), 330 points; 2. Bobby Bruce (GBR, GAS), 297 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KAW), 287 p.; 4. Kay Karssemakers (NED, HUS), 266 p.; 5. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 249 p.; 6. Scott Smulders (NED, HUS), 226 p.; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 205 p.; 8. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, KTM), 184 p.; 9. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, YAM), 166 p.; 10. Alexis Fueri (FRA, FAN), 139 p.;

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 359 points; 2. Yamaha, 349 p.; 3. GASGAS, 341 p.; 4. Kawasaki/BUD, 338 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 294 p.; 6. Fantic, 234 p.; 7. Kawasaki/KTM, 17 p.;

All the photos from the MXGP of Città di Mantova will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF CITTÀ DI MANTOVA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1670m

Type of ground: Hard Sand

Temperature: 14° C

Weather conditions: Mostly Cloudy

TIMETABLE

WEDNESDAY: 08:15 MX2 Free/Time Practice, 09:15 MXGP Free/Time Practice, 11:15 MX2 Race 1, 12:15 MXGP Race 1, 14:10 MX2 Race 2, 15:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM Europe

MXGP of Città di Mantova