MX2

SI RACHA (Thailand), 05 March 2014 – From the deserts of Qatar to the exotic countryside of Thailand, round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship is set to take place for the second year in succession at the circuit of Si Racha, Thailand. Located in the province of Chonburi, Si Racha is a small municipality that is now widely recognized for its world class MXGP circuit. Meanwhile the province itself (Chonburi) is notorious for its tourism industry as it is homes Thailand’s number one tourist hotspot, Pattaya.

The circuit in Si Racha is located in the Pinthong Industrial Estate 3, and is made from a soft soil which has been locally extracted from a river not far from the track. The track itself is 1,550 meters long, wide and flowing with 18 corners and a series of tricky and massive jumps, one of which was only jumped by two riders in MXGP last year.

Weather conditions are going to be a determining factor in this weekend’s races with temperatures forecasted to be above 30 degrees Celsius and almost 100% humidity.

Last year, the MXGP of Thailand was the second most watched Grand Prix on TV, with more than 83.6 million viewers across 171 countries tuning in to watch. Quick to stamp their authority on the 2013 season, both reigning FIM Motocross World Champions Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings went 1-1 in their respective categories to present their team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with both MXGP and MX2 red plates.

MXGP

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin will be running the red plate as the series leader after his impressive performance at round one in Qatar. The Frenchman, who placed second here in Si Racha last year, will be looking to go one better when the gates drop this weekend but not without a solid challenge from the stellar MXGP line up he is up against.

After standing on the second step of the podium last weekend, Team HRC’s Max Nagl has proved he is fit, healthy and ready for 2014. This will be the first time riding the circuit of Si Racha for the German since last year he fell ill with a stomach virus around this time. Taking all precautions to avoid getting sick this year, Nagl has flown back to Europe where he can return to his normal day-to-day routine before flying out to Thailand on Friday.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli shone here in Si Racha last year when he took home a double victory. Last weekend, the current World Champion nursed his injured ankle to third overall, although he did admit it didn’t really affect his riding. Nevertheless, a further six days rest will have done it some good and we can expect to see the Italian turn it up a notch this weekend in Si Racha.

2013 MX1 Podium

1. Antonio Cairoli   

2. Gautier Paulin

3. Clement Desalle

2013 MX1 POLEMAN: Antonio Cairoli    

MX2

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, with the expectation that he will be just as dominant this year as he was in 2013. The reigning MX2 world champ won in Qatar last weekend, although it wasn’t as smooth sailing as expected. This weekend in Thailand, the MX2 ace will be looking to up his game and put in a repeat performance of last year.

A lot of MX2 riders have raised the bar this year and momentarily are looking like genuine threats to the MX2 championship. CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis will be out to prove he’s not a one-race wonder, after winning race one in Qatar and getting sixth in race two for second over all. The young French talent didn’t have the best performance here in Thailand last year, but has already shown he can in fact run the pace and will be out to prove it this weekend.

Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre had an impressive start to the season last year. The French star took two podium finishes at the opening rounds in 2013 with a third in Qatar and a second here in Thailand. This weekend fans of MXGP will have the opportunity to see just how far he has come as he looks to do the same, if not better.

2013 MX2 Podium

1. Jeffrey Herlings

2. Romain Febvre

3. José Butrón

2013 MX2 POLEMAN: Jeffrey Herlings

All the potos of the MXGP of Thailand will be available here

TIMETABLE

Saturday: MX2 Free Practice 10:15; MXGP Free Practice 10:45; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; MX2 Qualifying race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying race 17:00.

Sunday: MX2 Warm-up 09:15; MXGP Warm-up 09:40; MX2 Race 1 13:10; MXGP Race 1 14:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Thailand

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 05 March 2014 – Youthstream presents the sixth issue of the MXGP Mag with the best moments of the MXGP of Qatar, an article on the new Team HRC and a very special Hall of Fame section on Joel Robert.

Click here to read the sixth issue of MXGP Mag or download it for FREE on Apple Store or Google Play. The iOs and Android versions contain exclusive videos and several photo galleries, and once the MXGP Mag has been downloaded, the reader does not need to be connected on the Internet to go through the content.

Those users who have already downloaded the other issues on their iOs device can automatically download the sixth 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 new app: http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP Mag

Don't miss MXGP's 26 minute magazine tonight on Eurosport International at 23:00 CET. 

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Jeffrey Herlings had probably his toughest GP victory in his career last weekend as he went 2-1 and claimed yet another GP win. The Dutchman had bad starts and struggled in the difficult conditions. Here are his comments from the podium press conference on Saturday night.

Q: Jeffrey, you got the win, but are you unhappy about the performance? How do you feel?

Herlings: I made it tough for myself. I had terrible starts and it was just me, not the bike. Jordi had some good starts and I had good starts on Friday, so it’s just me and I need to improve that. I haven’t spent much time on the bike in the last six months, like the shoulder problems then my leg, and it was difficult to come through the pack. The first moto I was close to winning and second moto it was again difficult to pass and my riding wasn’t good at all and I really wasn’t happy with that. I will go home to Holland and ride a little more. Try and regroup and train. I will be stronger soon and get some better results.

Q: Getting this GP out of the way and a little more bike time, that will obviously help you for a better performance in Thailand next weekend, or not?

Herlings: I think Thailand is better for passing. In Qatar it was hard to pass and the track in Thailand will be more difficult. I am seven points ahead in the championship points, and got the overall and I will go to Thailand and put KTM back on the box.

Q: You had to fight hard for your wins, a lot of guys kept you thinking?

Herlings: Second moto Febvre passed me, and I am not used to that and I have respect for him he is a clean rider. I had to work hard to get him back. I noticed I missed that extra five minutes at the end of the race, but I will get used to it.

Q: Do you feel like you are a giant and all these guys are like little people trying to stick pins in you and pull you down?

Herlings: For sure (it is difficult being the top guy), the other competitors are all trying to beat me or pass me and I know that. I have won two titles in a row and won a lot of GPs and its hard with the pressure, but it’s my job and I have a great team behind me and I am sure I can do it and if I stay injury free I should be okay and I got it on top of the box and I just need more time to ride.

Q: What about Max Anstie and his performance. Did he surprise you?

Herlings: Max (Anstie) rode a great GP, I was closing on him and I was three or four seconds off, but I came from 15th and he took the holeshot, his bike is really strong, maybe the strongest bike out there and he is coming from a slower bike in the Suzuki to the bike he has this year. He did a great job and obviously DNFed both motos, but at the end of the day I won and that’s in the books.

Q: What made the circuit difficult, to come back from your bad starts?

Herlings: I had big problems overtaking the riders, couldn’t find lines and was riding badly. When I came in after the second moto the team said I did a good job, but I didn’t, I told them I didn’t do a good job. I am used to beating these guys easily and it’s strange battling hard against them. I just need more time and I want to be better.

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 03 March 2014 – Youthstream is pleased to announce that ATHENA SPA has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with the MXGP (FIM Motocross World Championship) and the MXoN (Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations) that will see ATHENA SPA becoming the Motorcycling Equipment Partner.

ATHENA SPA is an International group with three divisions and ten branches both in Italy and around the world. Athena Industries: manufactures mechanical components for Industrial applications and endothermic engines. Athena Parts: manufactures and distributes mechanical spare parts (gaskets, cylinder kits, pistons) and electronics (under the brand GET) for the off-road, motorbike, scooter, maxi scooter and automotive sector. Athena Evolution: distributes within Italy emerging brands such as GoPro, Red Bull Racing Eyewear, Ogio, Recon, VR46 and the new line of electric bike GET CYCLING.

Erardo Ratzenbeck, General Manager of ATHENA SPA, said: “ Athena has had a good working relationship with Youthstream’s team for many years, so we are delighted to extend this to a new level of collaboration. We are excited to continue our growing business partnership with MXGP as Technical Equipment partner. We look forward to strengthening our existing relationship and being strongly committed to promote this amazing sport!”

MXGP and ATHENA GET Partnership has stared with the first race, the MXGP of Qatar, on March the 1^st, at Losail.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

ATHENA

In a sport dominated by males, Livia Lancelot is an unsung hero, or should I say heroine? This French wonder lady is not only one of the best female motocross riders in the world, she also stacks up against the males and will be out to prove it this weekend in Si Racha, Thailand, for the second round of the FIM Motocross MX2 World Championship.

So, news just broke you will be lining up in Thailand next weekend for the FIM MX2 World Championship?

“Yeah, last year Youthstream came to me with this idea that I should race in Qatar and Thailand. Of course, I said yes right away, it is a great opportunity for me and also for my sponsors. But also, I like to ride against the boys. I do it every year in the French Championship and also in the Le Touquet.”

Tell me about your experience in Si Racha (Thailand) last year…

“Yeah, I loved the track there; it was so cool, at least before it rained. After the rain, the track became really muddy and then I was struggling with the lines. So because I was not riding so well in the pre-qualifying I didn’t make the main race because of the 108% rule. I was still really happy to be there.”

Do you think the difference in strength between girls and guys is really obvious when racing MX2?

“Yes, of course. You know, girls are little bit more smooth than the boys and we try not to fight the bike so much. In the pre-qualifying last year, Jeffrey Herlings passed me on the straight before the big tabletop. It was so muddy there his bike was going sideways, like I could see both his number plates on the sides of his bike. I just thought to myself, woah, I can’t ride like that, if I tried and the bike went left and right like that, then for sure I wouldn’t be on the bike anymore.”

What are your goals or motivation for this race?

“You know, it’s a little bit hard to have goals in this race. But I guess I will just try not to be last (laughs). Otherwise, I will just try to ride my own race, not do anything crazy because this is not my class. I just want to go there to show to Thailand that girls can ride motocross too and for me, it’s really good practice.”

And you are back for your first full season since 2008 in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, what are your goals?

“Basically I want to have the red plate at the end.”

Okay, Thanks Livia, good luck!

LOSAIL (Qatar), 1 March 2014 – The official guide of the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship is now available in printable PDF formats. The guide contains all the essential information about MXGP and MX2 series, including entry lists, track details, rider and team profiles, statistics, TV broadcasters and MXGP rules and regulations.

The official guide also offers a brief summary of the FIM Motocross World Championship and FIM Motocross of Nations history, as well as a personal achievements profile for all of last year’s European champions.

Click here below to download the Guide in PDF format:

High Definition (87MB) 

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-high_definition.pdf

Medium Definition (31,5 MB)

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-medium_definition.pdf

Low Definition (20,7 MB)  

http://docs.mxgp.com/docs/YOU-13-3324_MXGP_Guide_14_A4-low_definition.pdf

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 01 March 2014 – Youthstream is pleased to announce its partnership with Alpinestars, a world leader in performance and protective footwear and apparel for all forms of motorcycle racing and motorsport.

From the start of this year’s MXGP season in Qatar, Alpinestars iconic logo will be visible on trackside banners, while the company’s racing service technicians will continue their support for its world-class athletes, as they have done for the past five decades.

Alpinestars has been at the very heart of motocross for over 50 years, giving riders protection and performance in one of the most demanding forms of motorsport.

From the time it introduced its first purpose-built MX boot in the early 1960s, Alpinestars has formed technical partnership with a roll call of illustrious world MX champions in which improved performance and development of technical footwear, protection and apparel have been the ultimate goal.

No one personified this endeavor better than "The Man" Roger de Coster, a rider synonymous with Alpinestars, who dominated five 500cc FIM World Championships between 1971 and 1976. Now young superstars like Jeffrey Herlings are following in the tracks of de Coster and winning in Alpinestars.

“Motocross has always been at the very core of Alpinestars and we hold the sport very close to our heart.  It is always great to cooperate with Youthstream and its passionate group of people to support the growth of the FIM Motocross World Championship.  Our relationship with Youthstream goes back decades and we greatly respect the way they have promoted motocross expansion and visibility to an ever-growing audience worldwide”, said Alpinestars’ President Mr. Gabriele Mazzarolo.

Through the agreement with Youthstream, Alpinestars will have greater visibility throughout the MXGP season, with track branding and paddock activations, while continuing to focus on its core activity of giving motocross racers more speed, control, comfort and protection.

“We are stunned to have onboard such a prestigious partner and industry icon”, said Mario Marini, Youthstream’s Director of Corporate Relations. “Alpinestars is in the genes of our sport and from the very beginning it has been a trend setter in quality, technology and design of protective equipment for motorcyclists. Alpinestars presence as one of the main partners of the series brings along further stature and a unique touch of style”.

About Alpinestars:

Established in 1963, Alpinestars is the world-leading manufacturer of high-performance motorsports apparel, clothing and safety gear. Alpinestars’ goal has always been to give racers the competitive edge by continuously innovating and developing new technologies and materials to improve performance because, in the fast and competitive arena of motorsport, even the smallest improvement can translate into significant gain.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Alpinestars