EMX125

FRAUENFELD-GACHNANG (Switzerland), 07 August 2016 - That’s a wrap! The final rounds of the European Championships EMX125 presented by FMF Racing and EMX250 were wrapped up today in Frauenfeld-Gachnang, Switzerland, where our future stars were faced with a rutty and rugged man-made track, that had a good vibe about it which could be attributed to the noise and support coming from the nearly sold out grand stands that surround venue.

The newly crowned EMX125 presented by FMF Racing champion, Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts, rounded out the season the best way he knows how, with two race wins while Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei also did the double for his second overall win of the season.

The track here in Frauenfeld-Gachnang wasn’t the most intimidating track on the calendar, although for the riders that aren’t fans of ruts and square edge bumps, it would have been pretty daunting. As a man-made track, built in a flat field with some big jumps, it looked as though it would suit Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei, and it did. The American star got off to a mega start and led every lap for his fifth race win of the season ahead of KTM Factory Juniors Josiah Natzke and the Czech wildcard Filip Neugebauer.

In Race 2 today, the defending champion, Nick Kouwenberg had his J-Tech Honda absolutely singing out of the gate and led the way around turn one before being passed by F&H Racing Team’s young talented Spaniard Ruben Fernandez, who had the race one winner, Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei in his wake.

Sanayei was reveling in the fact no one was at an advantage on this track since it was brand spanking new one day ago. The American put the squeeze on Fernandez on lap two and checked out for his sixth race win of the season. Fernandez kept the power down in second; as Vaessen kept the fans on their toes with his flamboyant, yet loose at times, style.

As per usual, Vaessen had a yard sale and dropped back to sixth, which allowed Kouwenberg to inherit third. Running inside the top three ended up being short lived for Kouwenberg, as yesterday’s runner-up Josiah Natzke was on a hard charge and passed him like he was standing still.

Natzke, on a clear mission, went after Fernandez for second, and took the spot in no time at all. Vaessen was on the bounce back, and took third away from the Spaniard before passing Natzke on one wheel for second place. Natzke took a chill pill and sat back in third while Fernandez mimicked that approach in fourth. Filip Neugenbauer on the other hand, was pushing to the max. He got inside the top five, then crashed and had to do it all again. Nevertheless, he got the job done and finished fifth.

Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei rounded out the season with a double moto victory. It has been a long season for the rookie, KTM Factory Junior’s Josiah Natzke who landed on the podium for the first time this season ahead of the kid who won the last two rounds of the EMX250 championship, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Bas Vaessen.

Bodo Schmidt Motorsports’ Thomas Kjer Olsen was crowned European Champion last weekend at Lommel, therefore he didn’t race in the EMX250 class this weekend, instead he took the next naturel step in his career and made his FIM Motocross World Championship MX2 debut. Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei took home the silver medal, while Team Suzuki World MX2’s Bas Vaessen was awarded the bronze.

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), 30:41.409; 2. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +0:23.278; 3. Filip Neugebauer (CZE, Kawasaki), +0:31.119; 4. Anton Gole (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:32.480; 5. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), +0:36.636; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:47.008; 7. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:51.618; 8. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:54.070; 9. Killian Auberson (SUI, KTM), +0:59.070; 10. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), +1:01.316.

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), 28:54.522; 2. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), +0:20.446; 3. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +0:33.801; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:36.924; 5. Filip Neugebauer (CZE, Kawasaki), +0:43.132; 6. Anton Lundgren (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:46.622; 7. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Honda), +0:49.254; 8. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:50.489; 9. Mike Stender (GER, Suzuki), +0:58.607; 10. Anton Gole (SWE, Husqvarna), +1:03.420.

EMX250 Overall Top Ten: 1. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 50 points; 2. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, SUZ), 38 p.; 4. Filip Neugebauer (CZE, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 33 p.; 6. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 29 p.; 7. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Anton Lundgren (SWE, HUS), 23 p.; 9. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Killian Auberson (SUI, KTM), 16 p.

EMX250 Championship Top Ten: 1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 404 points; 2. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 373 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, SUZ), 324 p.; 4. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 265 p.; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 244 p.; 6. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 223 p.; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 210 p.; 8. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KTM), 207 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, KAW), 167 p.; 10. Mike Stender (GER, SUZ), 145 p.

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Husqvarna, 454 points; 2. Kawasaki, 409 p.; 3. KTM, 382 p.; 4. Suzuki, 350 p.; 5. Yamaha, 243 p.; 6. Honda, 195 p.

In race one yesterday, Sahkar KTM's Jago Geerts wasted no time in taking the lead and checked out for his seventh race win of the season. Meanwhile Sander Agard-Michelsen put in a mind blowing ride for second after he passed the mistake prone Pierre Goupillon late in the race.

Race two got underway with an orange tsunami as four KTM riders made up the top five coming out of turn one. Pierre Goupillon had the early lead with Andrea Zanotti, Gianluca Facchetti and Jago Geerts hot on him.

On lap two, hanging right off the back of his Sahkar KTM, Geerts passed Fachetti with such a rad move where he practically wheelied his way all the way through the wave section and kept a low line over the two doubles that followed to take third place. On that same lap, the newly crowned champ set the fastest lap time, which was 2 seconds faster than the next fastest rider, Goupillon.

It wasn’t long before Geerts took the lead and rode off into the sunset for his tenth race win of the season.  Meanwhile, Goupillon was on a mission to minimize errors, but still ended up throwing away second when he ghost rode his bike over a jump.

Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kim Savaste didn’t get off to the best of starts but he knows how to twist a throttle and by lap four he was all over Fachetti for third. The duo banged bars for a lap before Savaste finally made a pass stick.

With five minutes to go, Facchetti decided he wasn’t quite done and made a move on Savaste to take back second place. Savaste had a wee chuckle, responded immediately, and declared a game of cat and mouse that saw the duo swap the spot several times.

At the checkers, Geerts was the clear-cut winner while Savaste managed to have the final say in the battle for second. Facchetti was forced to settle for third, while Zanotti managed to hold off DP19 Yamaha’s hard charging Roan Van de Moosdijk for fourth.

Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts went 1 – 1 for the overall ahead of Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kim Savaste who went 4 – 2 for second. Sander Agard-Michelsen made his first podium appearance with a 2 – 7 result landing him on the box in third.

Since this round was the final round of the European Championship EMX125 presented by FMF Racing, the final two medals were awarded after Sahkar KTM’s Jago Geerts took home the gold last weekend in Lommel. KTM Silver Action’s Stephen Rubini won four rounds of the championship, but had to sit out the final two rounds due to injury. Nonetheless, he finished the season as the vice champion with Pierre Goupillon finishing third.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 30:08.752; 2. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), +0:15.854; 3. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), +0:26.612; 4. Kim Savaste (FIN, Kawasaki), +0:36.816; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Yamaha), +0:43.972; 6. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), +0:52.354; 7. Jakub Teresak (CZE, KTM), +0:53.565; 8. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), +0:59.615; 9. Andrea Zanotti (SMR, KTM), +1:00.464; 10. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +1:06.340.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 30:33.054; 2. Kim Savaste (FIN, Kawasaki), +0:09.869; 3. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), +0:15.376; 4. Andrea Zanotti (SMR, KTM), +0:16.178; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Yamaha), +0:17.648; 6. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), +0:20.528; 7. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), +0:23.310; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, KTM), +0:33.913; 9. Zachary Pichon (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.286; 10. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:44.975.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Overall Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 50 points; 2. Kim Savaste (FIN, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), 36 p.; 4. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), 35 p.; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 32 p.; 7. Andrea Zanotti (SMR, KTM), 30 p.; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Zachary Pichon (FRA, YAM), 19 p.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Championship Top Ten: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 357 points; 2. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), 248 p.; 3. Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KTM), 242 p.; 4. Gianluca Facchetti (ITA, KTM), 221 p.; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 215 p.; 6. Kim Savaste (FIN, KAW), 184 p.; 7. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, HUS), 175 p.; 8. Zachary Pichon (FRA, YAM), 168 p.; 9. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 155 p.; 10. Andrea Zanotti (SMR, KTM), 143 p.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 400 points; 2. Yamaha, 273 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 237 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 202 p.; 5. TM, 155 p.

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos of the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS will be available HERE

MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1560m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 26°C

Weather conditions: Sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 45,000

MXGP was available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

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MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS

FRAUENFELD GACHNANG (Switzerland), 05 August 2016 – FMF Racing, world leader in aftermarket power exhaust systems for dirt bikes and ATV’s, burst on the scene of MXGP at the start of this year as a series sponsor of the FIM Motocross World Championship and the presenting sponsor of the 2016 European Championships EMX125 and EMX300 classes.

The final round of the European Championship EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing took place in conjunction with the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium, last weekend, where the top three finishers in the championship were awarded with an exclusive FMF trophy that was specifically designed and hand-made by FMF Racing in California. Dutchman Mike Kras was crowned champion ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Yentel Martens and GL12 Yamaha Racing’s Brad Anderson.

This weekend, at Frauenfeld-Gachnang, Switzerland, the final round of the European Championship EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing will take place where the top three young guns that know how to rip on 125cc two-strokes will also take home an FMF Racing influenced masterpiece, which will be awarded to them by Mr. Donny Emmler Jnr, the Marketing Director of FMF Racing.

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Watch the first GoPro lap of Lommel with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Yentel Martens: 

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LOMMEL (Belgium), 27 July 2016 – Last weekend it was the contrast of riding styles between Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser that set the tone at the MXGP of Czech Republic, which took place at the heavily elevated, rocky, clay-based track of Loket. Staying in tune with the theme of contrast, this weekend the fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the Fiat Professional MXGP of Belgium will take place in Lommel, a facility that has no hills but is made out of bottomless sand.

Ask anyone; ‘out of the eighteen tracks that make up the MXGP series, which one is the gnarliest?’ There is a 90 % chance that their response will be ‘Lommel’ and you’ll see why this weekend especially with the addition of the European Championship where titles can be won in the EMX250, EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and the EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing. The Honda European 150 Championship will also line up for the third round of their series.

Last weekend Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl ‘s performance was epic to see, especially with Tim Gajser being at the top of his game right now. The German, who was a member of Team Germany, the team that won the 2012 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations that took place right here in the brutal pits of Lommel, will be a threat for the podium once again this weekend.

The super flamboyant cat we call ‘Tiga’, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser, is bound to be a hard beast to tame this weekend. Flashback to his epic performance in the sand of Valkenswaard, another famed sand track that is only 30km away from here, earlier this season where he won the opening race. Tim has been laying the smack down on everyone in MXGP over the last thirteen rounds. He’s yet to finish off the podium and currently leads the championship by 109 points over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli.

In case you missed it Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli switched back to the KTM350SX-F last weekend in Loket and while he didn’t make quite the splash he was hoping for, there’s a good chance he is 100% sure he’s made the right choice for this weekend, even though it’s not his home grand prix, it’s the next closest thing for the Italian who resides in Lommel during the season.

It will be an actual home grand prix for three more podium threats, Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle. All three riders don’t ride Lommel as often as you think, but it is a track that is hard to forget, so they’ll be quick. 

Meanwhile another rider you will need to keep an eye on is Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson, last years MXGP of Belgium winner. Simpson has been struggling with bike set-up and injuries this season, but will be feeling home this weekend since he lives only a few minutes up the road.

As for the defending champion Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre, he will be feeling a bit better this weekend with another week of training and testing under his belt.

2015 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel MXGP Top 3

1. Shaun Simpson
2. Gautier Paulin
3. Romain Febvre

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 576 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 467 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 451 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 448 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 419 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 385 p.; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 286 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 248 p.; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 244 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 225 p.

It’s been said about one hundred million times before; Jeffrey Herlings biggest problem is…Jeffrey Herlings. There is no confirmation just yet, but all fingers and toes are crossed that The Bullet will line up on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine in Lommel this weekend. If he doesn’t line up then the main candidates for the win in MX2 will be Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie, Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass, if he was going to ride.

Anstie is a ‘coulda-shoulda-woulda’ type of rider. He’s got the skills, as we’ve seen before since he is a two-time grand prix winner here in the sands of Lommel. He has won it for the last two years and is likely to do the same again if Jeffrey is not on the line, although in saying that Ferrandis knows a thing or two about riding sand as well and since he is coming off his first grand prix win of the season, last weekend, he could be a good bet.

While you may not have normally picked Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer as a potential winner in the sand, it will be interesting to see his progression since training under the wing of the ten-time FIM Motocross World Champion Stefan Everts.

As for the super-spoilers… Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Petar Petrov is another “local”, even though he is originally Bulgarian, he has been living in Lommel for what seems like forever. Last year the ‘152’ landed on the podium here for the first time in his career. He’ll be expecting the same or better this weekend.

HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers is a killer sand rider as well, as is Kemea Yamaha’s Brent Van Doninck who is rumored to be back this weekend.

2015 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel MX2 Top 3

1. Max Anstie
2. Pauls Jonass
3. Petar Petrov

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 597 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 470 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 359 p.; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 358 p.; 6. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 316 p.; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 282 p.; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 279 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 246 p.

All the photos of the FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium will be available HERE

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX300 Free/Timed Practice 07:55; EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed Practice 08:30; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed Practice 09:05; EMX150 Free/Timed Practice 09:40; MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; EMX125 Last chance Qualifying Race 11:30; EMX250 Group 1 Free/Timed Practice 12:00; EMX250 Group 2 Free/Timed Practice 12:35; EMX300 Race 1 13:20; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; EMX150 Race 1 15:25; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; EMX125 Race 1 17:45; EMX250 Last chance Qualifying Race 18:355.

Sunday: EMX300 Race 2 08:30; EMX250 Race 1 09:30; MX2 Warm up 10:10; MXGP Warm up 10:30; EMX150 Race 2 11:10; EMX125 Race 2 12:05; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; EMX250 Race 2 15:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIAT Professional MXGP of Belgium