MXGP

Dear MXGP Fans,

First of all I would like to wish you all the best for 2024 ! 

The upcoming MXGP’s year promises to be remarkable.

First, we are welcoming back the MXGP of China, which was a great success in 2019, and a first ever Motocross Grand Prix in one of the most important and growing country in the world. Shanghai will host its second Grand Prix in September after the MXGP of Turkiye. 

After the Opening of the season on the spectacular and appreciated track of Villa La Angostura in Argentina, the MXGP will land in Spain – Madrid for the first Grand Prix in Europe. I am sure the Spanish fans will answer the call to support the reigning World Champion Jorge Prado in his mission to keep his title! The 2024 calendar will also welcome a new venue, Lugo – Spain for a second Grand Prix. The popularity of motocross in Spain is growing thanks to the great work of the last decade from the Spanish Federation in collaboration with Infront Moto Racing, which now are represented by talented riders like Prado but also Fernandez, and the next generation in European classes. I would like also to mention the talented rider Daniela Guillen who is also part of the future of WMX.

Another fantastic announcement is the presentation of the Offroad program from Ducati, building a team around some of the most experienced people in the paddock, Corrado and Marco Maddi, and the 9^th Time and legend of the MXGP, Antonio Cairoli together with Alessandro Lupino. Ducati will bring like Triumph a new and dynamic perspective to MXGP. It will continue to rise the level of competition of the sport. In the upcoming seasons MXGP will have the biggest number of Official Manufacturers participating in the World Championship in the history of Motorsport with 11 prestigious brands (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS, Triumph, Ducati, Beta, TM, Fantic)! It is a fantastic rewards for our work over the last decades but also brings a bigger motivation to continue to develop all the aspect of our sport to rise its popularity!

We used the wintertime to redesign our Official Magazine after several years, so you will find a different way of riding it, with more videos, podcasts, interactions with the riders, and all the stakeholders of MXGP. 

On the Broadcasting area, we renewed some important collaborations for example with L’Equipe – La Chaine in France to continue to provide LIVE to the French fans and some deals in Asia and South America. 

Finally, I would like to say a few words about Claudio and Davide De Carli who celebrated 30 years of racing team in the World Championship this week. They marked our sport with their professionalism, serious and positiveness during those three decades, participating actively to the growth of the MXGP. They are the most victorious team in our recent history, and I wish them to have 30 more years with this dynamic and great collaboration.

David Luongo

CEO Infront Moto Racing

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Jago Geerts will turn 24 in April, and as one of the youngest in the class, he is also somebody who will grow into the role of one of our championship contenders in time. It might not happen in 2024, but you just know, this talented Belgian will fight for championships in the big boy class in the future.

Amazingly, already with 24 Grand Prix victories to his name, he has an impressive past. His MX2 championship stats are also something special, with five top five finishes in the MX2 title race and four of those at the runner-up spot in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The only problem in the statistics of the Yamaha man, is he spent seven years in the MX2 class and came away without a World championship to his name, still though, the stats I just mentioned show that his career until now is a successful one, not a failure.

“I am happy with how my 250 career went,” Geerts said. “More than 20 GP wins,  it was a few good years and I missed out on the title a couple of times, but I have a lot of years and it is still my goal to get a World title and I will try and get it in the MXGP championship. At the moment I don’t have a specific goal (for 2024), I just want to have a few good weeks before the season starts and then for sure, you don’t know where we will be for the first round, but after a few rounds I will know my speed and what I need to work on. I don’t really go to the races with a goal, I just want to do my best.”

In 2024, he goes up against the big boys and with former MX2 champions like Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser, Jorge Prado, Pauls Jonass and Maxime Renaux in the MXGP class, he knows that he has an up-hill battle in 2024. Add names like Jeremy Seewer, Romain Febvre, Ruben Fernandez, Glenn Coldenhoff and many more, and you can see how difficult this class is.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team owner Hans Corvers was quick to point out how difficult racing the MX2 class was for Geerts. Corvers has always believe in his young charger and never doubt their long-standing relationship, it is clear that Corvers thinks his fellow Belgian has the credentials and talent to go all the way in the big bike class.

“You need to understand,” Corvers said. “Jago is so confident on the 450. He knows he has to learn in MXGP, but he said he feels so good on that bike, the 450. He fits a lot better on the 450 than the 250 and he knows that MXGP is more difficult, a tougher class, but on the 250 he had to fight with the bike, because it didn’t fit 100% his riding style. That doesn’t mean he is there for winning yet, but he likes riding the bike more and he feels more confident, and I think with the talent he has, it will come.”

Now, with the winter testing going well and Geerts feeling more than comfortable on the all-new Yamaha, it will, in six weeks or so, be time for the sometimes quiet, but always respectful young rider to show us a little of what his future might be. Some top ten results might be fine at first, but then the fans will expect top five results and maybe even podiums in the sand in 2024. 
 

Photo Credit: Stefan Geukens

GUADAGNINI, DE WOLF, AND COENEN PREPARE FOR 2024 MXGP AND MX2 CAMPAIGNS

The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team is excited to unveil its formidable rider lineup for the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season, featuring Mattia Guadagnini campaigning the premier class of MXGP, alongside Lucas Coenen and Kay de Wolf in MX2.

Boasting a unique combination of seasoned experience and raw youthful talent, the team is poised for MXGP and MX2 golds and podiums, right from the very first gate drop of the season.

Click here to watch the official 2024 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team reveal

The most recent signing to the ‘Husky’ factory team is Mattia Guadagnini. Despite only being 21 years old, the Italian boasts a wealth of career experience, having previously claimed a double EMX125 crown in 2019.

Better still, Guadagnini has previously held the red plate, and won multiple Grand Prix in MX2. Graduating to MXGP has proved a little more challenging experience however. With his first full season hampered by injury following a heavy crash at the 2023 MXGP of France. Now back to full fitness, and with a brand new 2024-spec FC 450 underneath him, Mattia is refreshed and ready to give it his all, in the upcoming 20 rounds.

In the hotly contested MX2 category, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team are proud to present a formidable pairing: Belgian sensation, 17 year old Lucas Coenen, and 19 year old Dutch prodigy Kay de Wolf.

Both riders are on a meteoric rise, with de Wolf entering his fourth MX2 season after securing the red plate, as well as five podiums and a victory last year in Latvia. Lucas Coenen, is embarking on his second full season, having finished an impressive fifth overall last season; highlighted by three podium finishes and a spectacular win in Indonesia.

With just over a month to go, Mattia, Lucas, and Kay are currently working through an intense schedule of pre-season testing, before the first MXGP of the year goes live in Argentina on the 10th March.

#101 - Mattia Guadagnini: “I’m very excited to get back to racing this season. I felt like I made a good start in 2023, but then with the injury in France everything had to stop until I could heal. Now I’m feeling strong again, and all the preparations are going well. For sure it will be a long season, but I have the best team around me, where everyone shares the right attitude, I’m very excited to get started!”

#96 - Lucas Coenen: “It is a big deal to be part of a factory team, and especially with Husqvarna! The 2024 colours and everything are super nice, and the bike is also really fast. After the last GPs and the MX of Nations, I just wanted to be straight back out [on the bike]. But now, after such a long winter, it’s great to be out testing again. We have pre-season races now, but my focus is on the first race in Argentina, and see what others have!”

#74 - Kay de Wolf: “Being part of such a significant group with multiple factories and brands, especially on the Husky side, is truly special for me, and I'm really hungry to start the new season. I had a challenging 2023. I took time out to focus on being ready for this season, and now I’m feeling positive and really looking forward to starting racing again. My aim is to work on consistent performances and improve at each race!”

Rasmus Jorgensen (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager): “I’m super proud to be managing and representing the Husqvarna Factory Racing team. I’m a fan of the brand, and I’m so proud of the overall look of the team and its rider line up. I can honestly say that every one of our team members are extremely passionate about their profession in the sport. This already gets us a long way. It’s a very nice challenge to enter the premier class with Mattia. He is a laid back guy who enjoys the smallest things in life, but at the same time a hardcore racer who goes for it. With our FC 450, it’s a great package for sure. We also have two highly competitive MX2 riders under the same tent and so far this is going well. Again, I’m so proud of the overall look of the team and its rider line up. We will continue to work hard and never give up on the ultimate championship goals.”

Click here to read an exclusive pre-season Q&A with Mattia Guadagnini, Kay de Wolf, Lucas Coenen

Photo Credit: Bavo Swijgers

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) – 30 January 2023 – Infront Moto Racing is thrilled to announce the online release of issue #124 of the MXGP Magazine!

Welcoming the new year with a fresh layout, the MXGP Mag now provides an enhanced experience, immersing fans even further into the world of MXGP.

The latest edition is now available, featuring Alessandro Lupino as the rider of the month. Lupino, who has retired from MXGP, is showcased in an article that delves into his extensive MXGP career, offering a nostalgic look at many motocross highlights and his life before embarking on new challenges with Ducati.

This month's special feature,The Countdown Has Begun explores the all the big changes in riders and teams for the upcoming 2024 season. Additionally, the 2024 MXGP calendar is explained and gives many information on all venues, marking the return of China that emphasises the increasing global reach of the MXGP series each year.

Take a journey into the Vintage Bike section, where the spotlight is on the 2010 KTM 350 bike, while the Hall of Fame highlights the career of Joel Roelants.

Introducing a new section in the Magazine layout, a Podcast segment is now available. For this inaugural edition, the focus is on Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy's experience at Maggiora in 2023 during the MXGP of Italy, along with his support for the Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Team.

You can find all of this and more in the 124th edition of MXGP Magazine, 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.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Mag Issue 124
 

The eighth edition of the MXGP Patagonia Argentina is moving forward with the preparations for the race to be held, as scheduled, on March 9-10 in Villa La Angostura. 

Infront Moto Racing is delighted to launch the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season in Villa La Angostura. Thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders involved, +Eventos (local organizer), the Government of the Province of Neuquén and the Municipality of Villa La Angostura, in a joint public/private work understanding the scope of the event and the significant positive impact of this international competition in Patagonia, the organization of the race ratifies the development of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Argentina.

Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: “We are very excited to head back to Villa La Angostura once again. We thank +Eventos and the Government of the Province of Neuquén for their background work to make this happen. We are very committed to bringing the best of the sport to the thousands of MXGP fans in Latin America, see you soon at the season opener on March 10!”

David Eli, Director of +Eventos and local organizer of the MXGP in Argentina, added: "The MXGP Patagonia Argentina is an extremely important event for the region as well as for the World Championship and this is understood by all stakeholders. We also have an unbreakable commitment to the thousands of fans who come to this race and are looking forward to March. Thankfully, we were able to resolve all the formalities to be able to start the ticket sales. We look forward to welcoming you once again on the best track on the world: the Patagonia Race Track”.

The Province highlighted the importance of the sporting competition in terms of tourism, especially for the cities and towns that make up the southern region. It was also emphasized that thanks to the dialogue and understanding with the organizers, this event, which places the province in the international calendar, will become a reality.

The countdown for the MXGP Patagonia Argentina, which will be the opening of the 2024 MXGP season, has started. Tickets (General admission and VIP) will be online at Paseshow: https://mxgpargentina.com/entradas-generales/

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Patagonia Argentina
 

Apart from the fact that Kawasaki Factory rider Jeremy Seewer is yet to clinch a Motocross World Championship, he has to be pretty happy with his career, a career filled with top two finishes in the MX World Championships and 13 Grand Prix victories, five in MX2 and eight in MXGP. Most riders would dream of such an achievement. 

Seewer, who arrived on the Grand Prix scene back in 2015 was able to finish second in the in the MX2 class in 2017, then followed that up with eighth in MXGP in 2018, second in MXGP in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, before finishing third last year and that third place came after he struggled in around 10^th early in the season points standings.

The always friendly and open Kawasaki rider made the big move from the Yamaha factory team, where he had raced for the last six years, to the green machines and while he feels it might take a while to get his true speed on the new bike, he is very excited for the coming season.

“I rode it just after the season ended,” Seewer said of the new bike. “Just to get to know each other and try some things, but nothing serious, just to get a base set-up, just to try some things. Then I took some time off, because that is necessary with the season we have. I rode the bike in December for a bit, just to get some laps in, get used to the bike and now I am in Sardinia, doing some suspension stuff and now we really get into testing and start to make the bike the way I want it.”

His time in Sardinia will take in a lot of work. Seewer knows that hard work is needed as setting up any factory bike to your liking is going to take time and patience and the rider from Switzerland doesn’t want to get frustrated in this process.

“First of all, I need to dial the bike in. It will take time and I can’t expect to be ready now or within two weeks. I am not stressed, I take my time, be patient, do my homework and hopefully get it all ready, but without putting myself under pressure, because that won’t make it better. Get the bike ready and physically I am preparing since November with my body. I am pushing hard and trying to put another step on top of it and get stronger and stronger each year. Hard, hard work and then we go there.”

And of course, his team-mate, former MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre is one rider he will need to focus on, but with so many fast guys in the 450 class, Seewer knows that he better get on well with the Frenchman, than have personal problems with each other. 

“Me and Romain respect each other, we were team-mates in Rinaldi in 2019 and, you know, we are both guys who are individual, and he does his thing to go fast, and I do my thing to go fast. Maybe our paths cross and we end up doing something small together, but overall, I go my way and he goes his way. Not in a negative way, it isn’t like I will do what he doesn’t do. He knows what he needs, and I know what I need. We are both professional enough to not disturb each other. I think it is very healthy between us and we will probably push each other in some kind of way. We are not super close, which is normal, but we are also not hating each other. It is a healthy relationship.”

Now keep an eye on the green Kawasaki of Seewer in the coming weeks and months and let’s see if he can improve on that seemingly always bridesmaid role, a position he just seems to find himself in, season after season.

Photo Credit: Kawasaki

Five-time Motocross World Champion Tim Gajser of the Team HRC factory team has started his preparation for the 2024 MXGP championship, a title that he lost due to injuries in the pre-season of 2023. Now down in Sardinia, the Slovenian knows that the next two months will be very important to start his challenge to regain his championship. With two pre-season races also included in his preparation the Honda rider is excited to get started for 2024.

“The winter so far went really well,” Gajser said. “I took some time off after we finished testing at the end of October. We have a new bike for this year and now I am in Sardinia, preparing myself. So far, so good. We still have nearly two months before the season starts, but I will do the two races in Italy, and that starts in a couple of weeks, first one in Riola and then a week later in Mantova. I think racing will be soon and then also the GPs start as well in early March.”

It isn’t difficult to get motivated after his horrible season last year and while it is clear his desire is always to win; you get the feeling the injuries of 2023 will only make him stronger and hungrier for success.

“I am really motivated for this year. After coming from last year and the difficult season. It was tough for me and towards the end I was starting to feel really good on the bike (Gajser won the final round in Great Britain), and I was starting to be close to 100%. Off season the motivation is high, and I am so hungry to win the title and I feel good on the bike and there are things we can improve, and we do that in the off-season. We are trying new things on the bike, and I am very motivated for this year. I can’t talk too much about the bike, but Honda did a good job, so yes, I am happy with the new bike, and we usually do the testing here in Sardinia, but overall, I feel really comfortable on the new bike.”

Another thing that Gajser knows will challenge him will be the names like Herlings, Febvre, Prado, Seewer and Renaux, but also names like Geerts, Van De Moosdijk and the youngsters coming up from the MX2 class, the rookies.

“Every year we get young guys from MX2 coming up and I don’t think we don’t need to be afraid of that not happening. We have many great riders, and we don’t need to be affraid of not having good battles, there are good enough riders.” 

Of course, Gajser, like many of the leading MXGP riders love the fly-away races and the always smiling former champion would like nothing more than added races in different continents and countries.

“We race World Championships, so I think we maybe can add some more. I am really missing Brazil or Mexico, or even one in America, Glen Helen was really nice. Hopefully Infront can do some deals with these types of tracks, you know, maybe Australia, I have never raced there, but I would like to do there as they have good tracks in Australia. I like it when we went to Qatar, it was really nice, like the beginning of the season and racing at night under the lights. I think it would be nice for the sport to go to that region.”

So now, with his pre-season preparation just beginning, we will all know come the start of March when the MXGP championship of 2024 begins and going by his desire to get a sixth Motocross World Championship, I think we might even see the best Tim Gajser ever.

Photo credit: Bavo Swijgers

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 19 January 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is glad to announce updates to the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship Calendar.

Scheduled for the 11th and 12th of May, the MXGP of Galicia in Lugo will host its first-ever MXGP Grand Prix held at the spectacular Jorge Prado Municipal Circuit. The birthplace of our current MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado will welcome the best riders in the world.  In addition to featuring the MXGP and MX2 classes, the event will showcase the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and the EMX125 presented by FMF Racing.

This event will also be the second Grand Prix in Spain in 2024 and as a result of this exciting addition, the MXGP of Spain at intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos has been anticipated to the 23rd and 24th of March. The MXGP of Spain will keep the same supporting classes, the WMX and the EMX250. 

Building on the success of past events in Spain, and with local heroes such as Jorge Prado, Ruben Fernandez and Daniela Guillen, these two Grand Prix staged by leading national Promoter Last Lap promise to deliver amazing racing and great atmospheres fuelled by the passion of motocross enthusiasts from Spain and around the world. 

See below the updated 2024 calendar:

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Galicia

MXGP of Spain

Preparation for the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship is already well underway and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will aim to defend their MX2 title and push for more MXGP spoils with the same rider line-up but under new management. Stepping up from his Technical Co-ordinator role, Harry Norton has assumed the position of Team Manager and the 29-year-old Australian will guide the efforts of the crew and Jeffrey Herlings, Andrea Adamo, Liam Everts and Sacha Coenen with KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F machinery in the 20-round series.

Norton arrived in Austria in 2019 after a long association with KTM and KTM Australia in his native country where he worked at a local dealership and then also around the national racing scene. His passion for dirtbikes and competition meant he was eager to break through to the hub of the factory’s motorsport activities in Europe. His easy-going manner and technical proficiency allowed him to forge an immediately beneficial relationship with rookie Tom Vialle; the Frenchman won a Grand Prix in his first season and the pair scooped two MX2 world championships in the following three years

Norton quickly assumed an instrumental role inside the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organisation and was seen as the natural successor to Dirk Gruebel in 2023 as Team Technical Co-ordinator. The crew underwent a major revamp with three new riders and a wholesale reset of technical staff as KTM looked to the future. Norton was able to marshal the squad to a fifteenth MX2 crown with the KTM 250SX-F thanks to the positive first step with Adamo, and also help Herlings reach a new all-time win record of 103 Grand Prix triumphs in the MXGP category and with the KTM 450 SX-F.

Harry’s positive growth and growing influence means he will take the reigns of the MXGP operation for 2024, backed by Gruebel, Team Co-ordinator Valentina Ragni, Team Trainer Joel Smets and other figures such as new Technical Co-ordinator Stefan Simpson.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will be competing in MXGP pre-season events in Spain, Italy, France, Holland and the UK before the season begins in Argentina on March 10th.

Harry Norton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “People have asked me how I feel about this, and the answer is simply: excited. It was a dream to work for this team, and to make it as one of the key figures and to have such an input into how we go racing is next level for me. I’ve had some of the best possible influences around me, such as Dirk, Peter [Tillerkvist], Robert [Jonas] and Pit [Beirer], and I want to thank them for their help and for sharing their experience. We’ve got another big season ahead and with the same goals we always have. We have a strong team and we’ll work with the same passion and the same dedication to achieve what we can.”

Robert Jonas, Vice President Offroad Racing: “Harry has reached this position based on qualities that we really appreciate and we really value. He is passionate about the sport and dedicated to the brand: he already has a long KTM history and made a huge change to travel across the world and chase his professional dreams. He not only has the technical knowledge but has shown a high willingness to learn and can evaluate situations very well. What is also important is his character: Harry is open, friendly and calm and these are essential qualities for a race team that needs good organisation, a good atmosphere and to face the drama that sport can bring. We really believe in him. 2023 was already a test of what he can do and now he’s directing one of our most successful Red Bull KTM teams. We are confident that he, Valentina, Dirk and all the guys have a strong 2024.”

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 12 January 2024 – Infront Moto Racing is happy to announce a renewal of our agreement with the L’Équipe’s channel package - la chaine L’Équipe, L’Équipe’s main linear channel and L’Équipe live (available on the TV space of L’Équipe’s website and application) - who has been broadcasting MXGP to French-speaking viewers for many years.

The agreement has been signed to run from 2024 until 2026, and L’Équipe will broadcast the full MXGP season live on channel L’Équipe live, as well as the Monster Energy MXGP of France and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Live on their TV Channel with French commentary.

Infront Moto Racing is delighted to be continuing MXGP’s long association with such a prestigious media outlet in the country that currently holds the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations’ Chamberlain Trophy.

About L'Équipe:

For 77 years, L'Équipe group is a major player in French sport, with a strong and unifying brand which entertains and informs on various media: a newspaper and magazines, a channel package (la chaine L'Équipe, L’Équipe live 1, L’Équipe live 2) and a website with app and social media. More than 350 journalists work for the group to inform, investigate and talk about every sport topics, athletes, events as well as political, environmental and social topics.

L'Équipe group also organises events such as the Ballon d’Or, the Vélo d’Or and Demain le Sport. As a true multimedia group, L'Équipe reaches 43 million readers, web users and viewers each month in France.

L'Équipe Press Contact: 
Solene Delobelle
sdelobelle@lequipe.fr

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

L’Equipe