MX2

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 11 November 2020 – With the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship done and dusted for another year, there was more than the championships to celebrate, as this year’s MXGP and MX2 title winners, Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle were also presented with another special prize, the Tag Heuer Best Lap Award.

Being partner of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MXGP and Tag Heuer continued to run the Best Lap competition during the 2020 season, which saw riders awarded for the fastest lap time of the day during the MXGP and MX2 races. One rider, per category, who sets the best lap time during each race weekend, received 1 point in the TAG Heuer competition.

The rider that has set the fastest lap at the most rounds throughout the season in MXGP and MX2 classes and has the most points were awarded with this year’s prize. And this time around, the award went to this year’s World Champions, Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle, who took home the luxurious Swiss Tag Heuer watches. 

Gajser finished the season with 7 points, ahead of Jeffrey Herlings who had 3 and Romain Febvre with 2. Meanwhile in MX2, Vialle led with 6 points over Jago Geerts who had 5 and Jed Beaton who finished the season with 2 points.

During the final Gran Prix of the 2020 motocross world championship campaign, it was Gajser and Vialle who set the Tag Heuer Best Laps during the MXGP and MX2 races. Gajser clocked a lap time of 1.44:098 on the 13^th lap of the opening race. While in MX2, Vialle set the fastest lap of the races in the opening heat, where he set a 1.44:447 on the fifth lap of the race.

Find the full Tag Heuer Best Lap standings below:

MOANCO (Principality of Monaco) 11 November 2020 – MXGP are excited to have continued the FOX Holeshot competition than ran throughout the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, together with MXGP partner Fox.

The way the competition works is; during both MXGP and MX2 races, the rider who crosses the white line painted on the ground at the exit of the first corner will be awarded 1 point. At the end of the season, the 2 riders, one per category, with the most FOX Holeshot points wins the mega prize!

This season starts were more crucial than ever before, as the level of competition in both categories was at its highest. For the riders, starts are key, as they search for that extra edge over the rest of the field, with the starts being the best way to get ahead early.

During the MXGP of Garda Trentino, final Grand Prix of the 2020 season, it was Ivo Monticelli of Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing Team who claimed his fourth Fox Holeshot of the season in the opening MXGP race, while in the second heat it was Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin who got the advantage into the first corner, on his last MXGP race of his career.

While in MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle continue to prove himself as the king of starts, as he secured his 21^st Fox Holeshot on his way to his 14^th race win of the 2020 campaign. In race two though, it was Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jago Geerts who crossed the white chalk line first, to very briefly lead the race.

With the 2020 season concluded, this also saw the finale of the Fox Holeshot Awards, with this year’s prize going to Jorge Prado of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, who despite missing the last few GP’s still ended the season with 16 points, 10 ahead of Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Ivo Monticelli who finished the year on 4 points. For Prado this was the third consecutive year that he has won the award, having previously been victorious in 2018 and 2019 while racing in the MX2 category.

This year’s Fox Holeshot Award in the MX2 class went to Tom Vialle, who was unmatched when it came to getting out of the gate, as he racked up 21 Fox Holeshots, while his closest rival in the standings, Jago Geerts finished with 8 and his teammate Ben Watson with 3 points.

Both Vialle and a representative from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, on behalf of Prado, received their FOX Holeshot cheques during the annual MXGP Awards which was streamed LIVE to audiences worldwide on MXGP’s Facebook page and MXGP-TV.com

Watch the FOX Holeshot Films from the MXGP of Garda Trentino below. 

MXGP FOX Holeshot Film

MX2 FOX Holeshot Film

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 11 November 2020 – Infront Moto Racing is delighted to share the provisional calendar for the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship season.

The 2021 season will begin later than usual; the plan is now to kick things off at the beginning of April, in order to give time for the pandemic to ease and for the teams and riders to carry out the testing and preparations that are needed for another intense season of racing. The aim is to keep the calendar with the usual format, though this will be adapted, if needed, to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 racing calendar will feature 20 GP races and will introduce four brand-new venues, for the MXGP of Oman at the Muscat circuit, along with the MXGP of the Netherlands in Oss, the MXGP of Finland in Itti-KymiRing, already presented to feature in the 2020 calendar but then postponed to 2021, and the MXGP of Igora Drive in Russia.

Additionally, the FIM Motocross World Championship will also be returning to some of the favourite venues, including Agueda, Teutschenthal, Orlyonok, Kegums, Jakarta, Semarang, Loket, Lommel, Uddevalla, Afyonkarahisar, St Jean d’Angely, into Xanadu-Arroyomolinos and Neuquen in Patagonia-Argentina.

The season will begin on the 3^rd of April 2021 with the MXGP of Oman, before heading back to Europe for the MXGP of Italy, then followed by the MXGP of Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Russia and Latvia. Then the series will head to Asia for two rounds in Indonesia, before returning to Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden and Finland. Then towards the end of August, MXGP will return to Russia for the MXGP of Igora Drive, followed by Turkey, China, France, Spain and ending at the beautiful Patagonia Argentina.

And of course, after a year break, 2021 will also see the awaited return of the worldwide best off road event, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, which will head to Imola, Italy on the 26^th of September.

Take a look at the full provisional 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar including the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship as well as the European Motocross Championships stops below:

Click HERE to download the 2021 MXGP Calendar in PDF Format.

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FIM Europe

Husqvarna Motorcycles and the Nestaan-MX managed Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team would like to thank Thomas Kjer Olsen for his dedication and many successes throughout the past four seasons in the FIM Motocross World Championship. Remaining with the brand that has taken him to 29 overall podiums and 5 GP wins, for the next two seasons TKO progresses to the MXGP division with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

Since beginning his MX2 World Championship career with Husqvarna Motorcycles in 2017, Thomas has been a regular title contender thanks to his outright speed and consistency. Placing third overall in his 2017 and 2018 campaigns, the 2019 season saw the FC 250 rider carry the series-leader red plate through four rounds, before ultimately going on to claim a runner-up finish in the championship standings.

Two injuries early in the 2020 season frustratingly ruled TKO out of contention for a world title. Racing himself back into shape, he ended the season strongly, with two GP wins and six overall podium results. Returning to his race-winning speed, a new chapter now awaits the Dane with a switch to the MXGP class on the FC 450 machinery of the IceOne Racing managed team.

Robert Jonas – Vice President Motorsports Offroad: “Thomas is a special talent and a hard worker. With Rasmus by his side, TKO developed to be a top rider in MX2 and his results speak for themselves. He’s dedicated to his racing and his move to MXGP is exciting for him and for us. I even believe that the FC 450 will suit his riding style even better and in the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP division he has everything he needs to continue his successful career. “

Rasmus Jorgensen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 Team Manager: “With TKO moving up to the MXGP class it marks the end the professional partnership between us. We have a great personal friendship and great memories with many accomplishments. Thomas was 2016 EMX250 Champion, then third in the MX2 World Championship in his first season in 2017. He was third again in 2018 and runner-up in 2019. This season was difficult with two injuries, but he’s never given up and ended the season strong in sixth place. I’m extremely proud to have had Thomas as a rider in my first year as the official Team Manager for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 Team in 2020. To get to this point together truly is amazing and I will forever look back on the memories with great joy. I want to thank Thomas for his trust, dedication, and commitment over recent years and wish him the best of luck on his journey into the premier class. I’m really looking forward to following from the side lines as he takes on this new chapter in his career. I truly believe he will suit the FC 450 really well and will surprise people next year. I know he will be in great hands within the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP Team. Thank you, Thomas!”

PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 8 November 2020 – With the final Grand Prix of this incredible 2020 season of the FIM Motocross World Championship settled, it was time to celebrate the amazing achievements of the paddock with the annual MXGP Awards.

The MXGP Awards is a prize giving ceremony, designed to celebrate the accomplishments from this season in the MXGP paddock. The awards were hosted by the voice of MXGP-TV Commentator Paul Malin and MXGP-TV Presenter, Lisa Leyland from the studio in Pietramurata and it was live streamed worldwide on www.MXGP-TV.com and on MXGP’s official Facebook page.

The awards ceremony was a little different this year, in respect with the COVID-19 rules, though that did not stop the fun, as we celebrated one of the hardest, yet most exciting seasons of the FIM Motocross World Championship, to date.  

The evening kicked-off with a special message from Infront Moto Racing’s CEO David Luongo and FIM President Jorge Viegas who shared a few words about the incredible season of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

David Luongo, Infront Moto Racing CEO: “Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a good evening. It was crazy for everybody.  Starting from March when the Covid-19 pandemic exploded to the world and we had to stop the season and then it has been a sprint to restart the season and be coordinated to be able to make it happen. After many efforts, we re-started in Latvia. We were in new format with triple header races and now, we are here in Trentino, we had a fantastic World Championship with Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle that really deserved the title and we had also the Championship that finished in European and the Women classes, so I think the works has been done and I’m really proud of all, the MXGP family, the media, the riders, all staff. Motocross represent more that 2000 jobs world-wide during the season. So, it is very important to maintain those jobs and this was our main mission this year. We can be proud that we achieved together, and I also want to thanks the FIM President Mr Jorge Viegas because during all these months, we were keep on making the Championship happen together. It is done. We will have a nice wintertime and we already start thinking about racing next year. I also had special feeling for some riders this year Gautier Paulin, Clement Desalle, Tanel Leok who were also with us for many years, they had fantastic achievements career and also we have new younger riders coming. I cannot wait for the next year. So, thank you very much. I hope you will enjoy this evening”.

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “Thank you for this opportunity. I’m very proud of Infront Moto Racing, my colleagues in the FIM, and above all, I am proud of all the volunteers, the clubs, the national federations that made this amazing FIM Motocross World Championship possible. We thought, we could not do it and then we started, as David said, we had a lot of help from people all over Europe and we could finalize this amazing World Championship Calendar. This is part of the popular discipline we still have, at this moment, we are still running the Enduro and the MotoGP and only this weekend we had 4 World Championship races from different disciplines, so we are showing to the world that sport can be done with all the care and all the rules that we have introduced, to prevent the virus. But we had the guts to go ahead. We motorcyclist, we are strong because we are united, and we are good family. Thank you again”.

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, Andrea Bonacorsi, was the first to take to the studio, followed by a special video message from this year’s EMX250 Champion, Thibault Benistant and then of course the EMX2t Presented by FMF Racing, EMX Open and Women’s Motocross World Championship winners, Brad Anderson, Karel Kutsar and Courtney Duncan, who also celebrated their championship wins this season.

This year, Maxime Renaux was the recipient of the Jan de Groot Award that honours the most promising young talent, for his impressive achievements this season, as he placed third overall in the MX2 World Championship.

Additionally, World Champions, Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle were both presented as the winners of the Tag Heuer Fastest Lap competition in 2020, receiving a fine-looking Tag Heuer watch as the prize for the most ‘best laps’ set during this year’s races.

Then Tom Vialle and Jorge Prado were presented with the Fox Holeshot Award, for their incredible starts this season, that saw Prado claim 16 Fox Holeshots and Vialle an impressive 21. For Prado, this was his third consecutive Fox Holeshot Award, while for Vialle it was his first.

The evening then concluded with the awards for the two FIM Motocross World Champions, Tim Gajser and Tom Vialle, who each received their championship plaques, along with two fine Tag Heuer watches, as part of their prizes for this season.

Here is the complete list of winners, below:

MXGP Manufacturer World Champion: KTM 

MXGP Winning Team: Team HRC

MX2 Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

MX2 Winning Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

WMX Manufacturer World Champion: Yamaha

WMX Winning Team: DRT Kawasaki

“Jan De Groot” Award (cheque €5.000): Maxime Renaux

EMX 125 European Champion: Andrea Bonacorsi

EMX 250 European Champion: Thibault Benistant

EMX 2T European Champion: Brad Anderson

EMX Open European Champion: Karel Kutsar

MXGP Best Cooperation: Spain

Women’s World Champion: Courtney Duncan

TAG HEUER Best Lap Challenge - MXGP & MX2: Tim Gajser & Tom Vialle

FOX HOLESHOT Award MXGP and MX2: Jorge Prado & Tom Vialle

MXGP Best Organizer: Latvia  

MX2 World Champion:  Tom Vialle

MXGP World Champion: Tim Gajser

Watch the MXGP Awards from the last stop of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship HERE

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MXGP of Garda Trentino

PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 8 November 2020 – The races of the MXGP of Garda Trentino finished for the day; this has also concluded this intense season of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship.

With the Champions being decided a round early, when Team HRC’s Tim Gajser claimed his 4^th World Title in MXGP and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle secured his very first Championship in MX2, this shifted the focus onto who would finish the season off with a medal alongside the two victors.

Following today’s races, the top three finishers, in each category, were celebrated on the podium, followed by the championship top three medal giving ceremony and last but not least, the special moment that Tim Gajser was awarded the incredible MXGP Trophy.

The newly introduced trophy signifies a brand-new tradition in the world championship, paying homage to all the past, present and future world champions of the premier MXGP class. The MXGP trophy is wrapped with plagues which are engraved with all the world champions’ names from 1957 until now in the main class, and this season Gajser added his name for the third time!

The MXGP races today saw some very nice battles, especially between Gajser and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing’s Romain Febvre, who challenged the 4-time world Champions in both of the heats, one of which he won.

Gajser finished the 2020 season with his 5^th Grand Prix victory at the MXGP of Garda Trentino, with a 2-1 result. The race win in the second heat, his 15^th race win of the season, gave him the advantage over Febvre, for the top step of the podium.

Febvre was forced to settled for second, after a nice race win in the opening heat, that saw him chase down Gajser, before passing him on lap 6 and the leading the race until the end, to take his second race win of the year. Then in race two, the Kawasaki rider worked hard to get around a couple of riders before catching up to Gajser once again, though this time he could not make a pass stick and eventually dropped the gap, to finish the race in second.

It was also a special day for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin who lined up for his last MXGP race of his professional racing career. The Frenchman battled well inside the top 5 in both heats and finished race one in 4^th and race two in 3^rd position, after a battle with his teammates Jeremy Seewer and Arnaud Tonus. He also claimed the third step on the podium, his second podium this season, on his final GP.

Additionally, Clement Desalle of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing and Tanel Leok of A1M Husqvarna also took part in their final MXGP of their careers, with Desalle narrowly missing out on a podium spot, as he was tied on points with Seewer in 5^th, and Leok finishing 21^st overall.

With Gajser crowned as world champion at the previous round, this left the door open for second and third in the championship standings, which was to be decided between Seewer and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli.

Seewer had a strong first race, starting well inside the top 5 and then worked hard to get past his teammate, Tonus, for third. While Seewer finished third, Cairoli placed 6^th in the race, which gave Seewer a one-point advantage heading into race two. As the gate dropped for the second heat, Seewer was able to get another good start and squeeze into the lead, before being passed by Gajser, Febvre and then eventually Paulin.

Cairoli had a dramatic start to the second race, which saw him pushed out wide in the first corner, as he hit the bank, which as a result caused unrepairable damage to his bike and forced him out of the race, meaning he could not fight for the silver medal. All while Seewer had another strong race to finish 4^th and cement himself as this year’s vice world champion, for the second season in a row.

So, in terms of the podium it was Gajser who was victorious at the final round here at the MXGP of Garda Trentino, while Febvre finished second and Paulin third. While in the championship standings, it’s Gajser who claimed this year’s title, over Seewer who finished second for the second year in a row, and Cairoli third in the standings.

Tim Gajser: “I’m super happy to win my fourth title on Wednesday. Today the goal was to just go out there and have fun and we did that; we won the last overall of the year. So, couldn’t end better. I am so thankful. I want to say a huge thanks to everyone, to all my team, we were really working hard, and everybody was putting so much effort into preparing the bike, getting better and better. The beginning of the season, in March when we did the two GPs in Valkenswaard and in Matterley Basin, it was good but then we had the long break and then when we returned, I wasn’t feeling so good, I was struggling. But now, the last couple of GPs I started to find good speed and started to put consistent races together and win the title, so I’m super happy and I want to say congratulations to all the guys here, but also to Gautier [Paulin] for an amazing career, wishing you all the best in the next chapter”.

Jeremy Seewer: “It was a strange year for us, starting that early and then a big break. But, Valkenswaard was really horrible, I scored seven points and I think that’s one of the worst GPs in many years for me, so it was hard to not race for that long after a GP like that, because you would love to go back the next day and show different. Somehow, I did my homework and put many good races together after that, had some awesome races in Latvia, won my first races in Faenza and stuff like this. I definitely made a step and improved. I could battle with these guys. Overall Tim [Gajser] was the man, he put things together, especially for the last few races and he was just that little better but overall for me, I’m happy, I got second today in the championship, ok the thing I wanted was first but I can’t wait now to get back to work and for next year”.

Antonio Cairoli: “I’m really happy. It’s another season that I finish on the podium, my fourteenth season that I finish on the podium, so it’s something amazing, after so many years of racing. Of course, Tim [Gajser] was very difficult to beat this year, especially in the last part of the season, he was very strong. After Latvia, my knee was getting worse every time, so I couldn’t really train, so for me it’s really important and I lost a little bit of fitness and confidence because when the track gets rough and slippery, I need to slow down. In the end, we are all ok and that is the most important thing, ok we lost second place but we try to look forward to the next year, we have another season to see what we can do”.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), 33:44.705; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.946; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.592; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:29.763; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:36.843; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:47.636; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:00.457; 8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Honda), +1:08.856; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:11.092; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:12.032.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:53.636; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:15.977; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.364; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:23.276; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:27.880; 6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.674; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:39.182; 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:47.984; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:58.086; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:00.226.

MXGP - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 47 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 47 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 38 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 28 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 28 p.; 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 23 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HUS), 23 p.; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 16 p.; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 15 p.

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 720 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 618 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 599 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 572 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 505 p.; 6. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 476 p.; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 466 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 375 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 316 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 298 p.

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 764 points; 2. Honda, 757 p.; 3. Yamaha, 690 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 661 p.; 5. GASGAS, 486 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 383 p.;

Main Photo: Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, Tom Vialle, Tim Gajser, FIM President Jorge Viegas

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser; 2. Gautier Paulin

The MX2 action today was just as exciting as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Watson shared a race win each in the category.

Watson had the perfect end to his MX2 career with a second overall win of the 2020 season, and his career so far. Watson finished the first race third, behind Vialle and Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori’s Maxime Renaux, after some close battles with the pair and his teammate Jago Geerts. In the second race, the Brit got another good start and wasted no time to get into the lead, to then dominate every lap after that. He did however come under immense pressure from Geerts, before the Belgian crashed out of the race. A 3^rd and a race win was enough to hand Watson the round victory.

Finishing second on the podium was this year’s MX2 World Champion, Vialle, who dominated the opening race of the day, as he took the race win by a 6.133 second margin, over Renaux and Watson. While in the second race, the KTM rider struggled out of the start and then had a few small crashes to eventually finish the heat in 5^th, which was still good enough for 2^nd on the box.

Renaux was the final rider to get himself onto the podium and he did it for the 5^th time this season. The Frenchman finished 2^nd and 4^th in today’s race which was exactly what he needed to claim yet another podium, as well as the bronze medal this season.

In terms of the championship, Vialle claimed his maiden title a round early during the MXGP of Pietramurata and entered today’s action with the job done. While the title was decided early, as well as Geerts confirming himself as the silver medallist this season too, all that was left was the third spot in the standings, which went down to today’s races between Renaux and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton.

For Geerts the day didn’t end so well. He started good in the opening race and was battling hard with Renaux and Watson, though could not charge through and had to settle for 4^th. In the second race Geerts got another strong start and was chasing down his teammate for the win, before making a mistake and crashing out of the race, as a result picking up 0 points.

Nonetheless, Geerts finishes the season as vice world champion, with 14 race wins, 12 podiums and 6 overall victories to his name.

And of course, with a strong 2-4 result, Renaux held on to the bronze medal position after today’s race, as he finished the championship 17 points ahead of Beaton. And for Beaton, it was a mixture of a day. He finished the opening race in 7^th position, behind the likes of Stephen Rubini of Honda Assomotor and Isak Gifting of DIGA PROCROSS GasGas Factory Juniors. The Australian then had a much stronger second race, as he was able to find a way past Renaux and Gifting to get himself into third, before inheriting second, as Geerts crashed out. Despite a good second race, it was not enough for the Husqvarna rider to get back into 3^rd.

In MX2, it was Watson who took the final overall victory of the 2020 season, with this year’s MX2 Champion, Vialle, finishing second overall and Renaux taking to the third step of the podium. And what a year it has been for Vialle who has secured his first world title in the category, with Geerts finishing as vice world champion in 2020 and Renaux securing a medal scoring position in the standings, for third overall this season.

Tom Vialle: “It was an incredible day for me. To take my first world title was just amazing. The last two days were really good, I enjoyed them a lot. In the second race, I crashed in the start and I came back from last to fifth. I crashed again two times I think, so I was a little bit angry, I was hoping for better starts and better positions but I’m happy to finish second overall”.

“I tried to be as consistent as possible. We had a lot of races in the sand, so for me it was really important to be consistent every weekend and I tried my best every time, get a good start and ride like I do in training. I really want to thank all the team, my family, Joel Smets, as riding with the team for the last two years has been amazing”.

Maxime Renaux: “It’s been a really good season for me and the team. We made good progress since last year. I got my first race win and overall in Faenza, so that was really great feeling and then I tried to give my best and to be as consistent as possible, to fight for the podium in the championship. So, I’m really happy that we managed to do it, we are a strong team so that is also really good, and they are really happy, so we achieved what we wanted and I’m just so happy about it”.

Ben Watson: “It’s been another incredible day. I mean, the last six GP’s especially, I have been feeling good on the bike like all season, but sometimes that was not reflected in my results and I’m really happy for myself but also for the team and Yamaha, because every time they support one hundred per cent. Everything was laid out on the table for me to produce these results and sometimes they weren’t there and now as I’m leaving MX2, it’s really nice to play it back with some victories. For myself, it’s been really incredible and I’m really happy to find this step now in MX2 and go into this break, take some good rest with a really good feeling. And I’m definitely really excited to get started on the new bike now”.

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 34:05.231; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.133; 3. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:07.118; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:11.295; 5. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:13.465; 6. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:14.807; 7. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:15.700; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:27.320; 9. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:36.297; 10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:40.397.

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), 34:17.030; 2. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:00.888; 3. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:14.966; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:16.839; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:22.542; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:25.178; 7. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:32.737; 8. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Honda), +0:38.692; 9. Bailey Malkiewicz (AUS, Honda), +0:52.482; 10. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, Honda), +0:52.753;

MX2 - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 45 points; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 36 p.; 5. Isak Gifting (SWE, GAS), 35 p.; 6. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 23 p.; 8. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 22 p.; 9. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, HON), 21 p.; 10. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 20 p.

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 759 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 679 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 581 p.; 4. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 564 p.; 5. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 551 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 540 p.; 7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 466 p.; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 365 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 343 p.; 10. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 279 p.

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. Yamaha, 810 points; 2. KTM, 786 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 655 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 561 p.; 5. Honda, 411 p.; 6. GASGAS, 343 p.

Main Photo: Tom Vialle

Botton Photos: 1. Ben Watson; 2. Maxime Renaux

MXGP of Garda Trentino – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1550m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 18°

Weather conditions: sunny

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MXGP of Garda Trentino