MXGP

From 1947 to 2007, the best motocross riders in the world travelled to Namur every year. There, where the Grand Prix Motocross of Namur, also known as the Grand Prix of Belgium or the Grand Prix of Wallonia motocross, was organized on the circuit of the Citadel of Namur. The course was drawn between the trees, streets and paths that can be found in the city park of Namur. In 2008 the GP 'moved' to Lommel.

The GP of Belgium in Namur was to motocross what the Circuit de Monaco is to Formula 1. However, due to its specific and extreme character, the course on the Citadel of Namur could withstand comparison with Monaco on more than one point. For example, the course ran between many trees and allowed the pilots to make deep descents before ending up on the street, covered with a layer of sand for the occasion. This Grand Prix was extremely popular with the motocross public. British, Americans, Russians, Finns, Swedes, everyone with a heart for motocross wanted to experience this legendary spectacle at least once.

Sadness was therefore omnipresent when the plug was pulled from the organization in 2007 when Namur MX Events saw some old-timers leave and no successor was found for chairman Pierre Chonquerez. The Belgian Grand Prix has been held in Lommel ever since, with the exception of 2012 and 2013, when Edmond Detry brought the Belgian Grand Prix back to Wallonia. The Grand Prix took place in Bastogne. 

However, this Namur businessman had bigger plans and investigated the possibility of a new Belgian Grand Prix at the Citadel of Namur. The man spoke aloud of a Grand Prix in 2015 and the Motocross of Nations in 2025. But he and the entire motocross community got a cold shower when it became clear that the track no longer met modern safety and facility requirements. Because the Citadel is more than a historic motocross track, these sweeping changes cannot be made. A Grand Prix at the Citadel of Namur therefore seems extremely unlikely in the future.

In 1988 Eric Geboers became world champion at the Citadel of Namur. However, it was not the Belgian himself who won the Grand Prix race, but the Swede Håkan Carlqvist. The Swede, motivated by the fact that no interesting team had made him an offer for next season, drove blisteringly fast. Carlqvist had only one intention: to prove the sceptics wrong and to relegate the opposition to amateurs. This put the Swede in the spotlight even more by pouring a beer at the Château du Monument known to motocross fans. Carlqvist eventually finished in a creditable tenth place in the final standings of the world championship. After his stunt he kept the honour to himself and hung up the motocross boots.

Eric Geboers won only once on the legendary track that spread over the Citadel of Namur. When he did this, in 1990, he immediately became world champion for the fifth time. On site he also immediately announced his retirement from active motocross. Immediately after the race, Geboers was picked up by a helicopter to tell the Belgian sports public his fifth world title and the news about his retirement in the much-watched Sport weekend on the then BRT.

Stefan Everts never lost a Grand Prix at the Citadel of Namur. The technically gifted pilot won his first Grand Prix on this mythical ground in 1998. The man from Neeroeteren did this as a wild card pilot on a Honda built uniquely for him. The Limburger, who competed in the 250cc World Championship that year, made an occasional trip to the 500cc class and convincingly won both rounds, in which his lead was so large that he was able to stop for a drink during the second race, following the example of Håkan Carlqvist who achieved this ten years earlier in 1988. This was just the first of his total of seven Grand Prix victories at the Citadel.

After the first victory at the Citadel, it took until 2001 due to injuries before Stefan Everts started again in a race at the Citadel. From 2001 to his retirement in 2006, Everts won all the Grand Prix's he participated in at the Citadel. In 2003 he even won both the MXGP and the 125cc Grand Prix of Belgium on the mythical course in one day. At the end of his career, the counter stood at seven Grand Prix victories in the capital of the Walloon Region, as many as 'Mister Motocross' Roger De Coster.

Photo Credit: Geoff Meyer

The KTM GP Academy will tackle the 2024 racing season with the purpose of helping young riders reach the limits of their potential and to go as far as they can with their career goals at the top of motocross. ‘KTM GP Academy: Ride to MXGP’ will benefit from the co-operation between established teams and the KTM Motorsports department to amplify and boost the scheme.

European Championship EMX125 and EMX250 and the FIM Junior World Motocross Championship (125 category) will be the prime breeding ground for the new-look KTM GP Academy: Ride to MXGP. Together with the ‘Racestore KTM Factory Rookies’ team and Gabriel SS24 KTM, KTM will be providing support and guidance through these crucial learning stages for riders to make their way to the FIM Motocross World Championship, and perhaps entry to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.

Similar to the KTM GP Academy in MotoGP™ – where series such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, FIM JuniorGP and KTM Junior Cup powered by ADAC – filter the best and the brightest into consideration for KTM teams in Moto3™, Moto2™ and MotoGP, ‘Ride to MXGP’ is in the formative stages of carrying the same emphasis and 2024 will be an important launch pad.

Racestore KTM Factory Rookies will be helmed by former KTM Factory Racing Grand Prix rider and Motocross of Nations Team Italy Manager Thomas Traversini. Thomas has been collaborating closely with the Italian Federation in a mentor and coaching role and his knowledge and dedication makes him an ideal figurehead for Paolo Menacci’s Racestore team. The crew will identify and work with promising teenagers and the fettled KTM 125 SX at the foundation level of ‘Ride to MXGP’: the extremely popular EMX125 championship. The riders will be Gyan Doensen and Nicolo Alvisi.

Gabriel SS24 KTM is led by former MXGP winner and multi-British Champion Shaun Simpson.The Scot finished 4th in the 2015 MXGP World Championship from a satellite team set-up and with a production KTM 450 SX-F as well as claiming four GP wins and four national titles. Well-spoken, knowledgeable and passionate about the sport, Simpson will now be looking to help promising Dutch teenager and ex-EMX125 European Champ Cas Valk for his second year in EMX250 where he’ll ride the KTM 250 SX-F. The following frontier is MX2 Grand Prix competition.

A roster of Grand Prix winners and world champions have come through KTM’s previous proactive approach to talent development. Names like Jeffrey Herlings, Jordi Tixier, Pauls Jonass, Jorge Prado, Rene Hofer and more have worked their way up the ladder to crest the peak of MXGP. Solidification of the ‘Ride to MXGP’ program means that KTM are making a large investment to smoothen the pipeline for the best juniors spotted at national and continental level to become even better.

Thomas Traversini, Racestore KTM Factory Rookies, Team Manager: “I’m really pumped for this new project to come in 2024 with Racestore and KTM. We have two high-level riders and everything will be on-point for the beginning of the season. It’s a development idea that I’ve wanted to happen for quite a few years and I’m very proud to be involved. I’m ready to work, and I will put 100%, and more, to help it succeed.”

Paolo Mencacci, Racestore KTM Factory Rookies, Team Principal: “I am very happy to start this new adventure with KTM and the young riders involved in EMX125.I’m very proud that we are now an official KTM team and have an important role to play. I want to say ‘thank you’ to Thomas Traversini who has decided to work with us and I know with him and with all the team together we can achieve some important goals.”

Shaun Simpson, Team Manager Gabriel SS24 KTM: "2024 is going to be an exciting year for us at Gabriel SS24 KTM. We have been building up to this point for three years, and now have the resources and riders to compete at the top level. We are delighted to welcome Cas Valk to the team in what will be his second year in the EMX250 championship. Cas is already a veteran on the EMX podium, and is a serious title contender for the 2024 season. A massive thank you to KTM and Simon Gabriel for putting their faith in me in what will also be my debut year as a full-time manager. We are excited to see what the future will bring.”

Robert Jonas, Vice President Offroad Racing: “Our work with young talented riders has had a lot of success in the past and now we have a firmer direction with the KTM GP Academy: Ride to MXGP for spotting junior riders and helping them to get better, faster, stronger and smarter. I want to thank everyone who has supported and backed us, both at HQ and especially Simon and Shaun and Paolo and their teams and with Thomas now coming onboard and back to the KTM family! 2024 is the first season and phase of the project, and it will be fascinating to see what the environment can produce. We know some riders progress very quickly and others need time, and motocross can be a difficult sport with many setbacks. The GP Academy should be a positive initiative to keep supplying our Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team in the future. We want to underline our commitment to the sport and to continue placing ‘orange’ right at the heart of the elite.”

Photo Credit: KTM

Fantic presented some novelties for 2024: relying on three structures with deep experience, it will participate in three classes.

After its debut in 2022, Fantic returns to line up in grand style at the starting gate of the MXGP World Championship. In fact, for 2024, Fantic will participate in the premier class of motocross by entrusting the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP team to the experience of Louis Vosters' Dutch structure, a protagonist in the world motocross championship in recent years. The riders who will bring the Fantic XXF 450 to the race, under the guidance of team manager Vitaliy Tonkov, will be the outstanding Glenn Coldenhoff and the rookie Roan Van de Moosdjik.

Fantic will also be present in the MX2 World Championship and the EMX250 European Championship with the Fantic Factory Racing MX2 team, with Matteo Migliori's SM Action structure from Modena, together with team manager Emanuele Giovannelli. The Fantic bearers will be the Dutch Kay Karssemakers, the EMX250 2023 vice Champion who deservedly rises in the World Championship, and the Spaniard David Braceras. The French Alexis Fueri is confirmed in the EMX250.

The Fantic Factory Racing EMX125 team will be present in the European 125 championship with Daniele Marchese's SDM team, which will field the Italian Simone Mancini, the Hungarian Noel Zanocz, and the Belgian Douwe Van Mechgelen.

FANTIC FACTORY RACING TEAM MXGP
Louis Vosters (Team Owner)
Vitaliy Tonkov (Team Manager)

Glenn Coldenhoff 
Roan Van de Moosdjik
 

FANTIC FACTORY RACING TEAM MX2
Matteo Migliori (Team Owner)
Emanuele Giovannelli (Team Manager)

David Braceras
Kay Karssemakers
Alexis Fueri (EMX250)

FANTIC FACTORY RACING TEAM EMX125
Daniele Marchesi (Team Manager)

Simone Mancini
Noel Zanocz
Douwe Van Mechgelen  

Photo Credit: Fantic Factory Racing
 

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 10 November 2023 – Infront Moto Racing is thrilled to announce that tickets for the highly anticipated MXGP of France are now available online!

Get ready as Saint Jean d’Angely gears up to host the FIM Motocross World Championship on the 18th and 19th of May 2024!

An iconic venue since its debut on the World Championship stage in 1984, Saint Jean d’Angely has not only witnessed thrilling motocross action but has also proudly hosted the Motocross of Nations in 2000 and 2011. The 2024 edition will mark the 18th time that this track will be in the MXGP Calendar.

The last time MXGP stopped in St Jean d’Angely was in 2022 for the MXGP of Charente Maritime where Tim Gajser emerged victorious in the MXGP class and Tom Vialle secured the top spot in MX2, setting the stage for their respective Championship victories. Renowned for its electrifying atmosphere, this Grand Prix is a favourite among fans who passionately gather to cheer on their motocross heroes.

Beyond the MXGP and MX2 races, spectators will have the privilege of witnessing the talent on display in the supporting classes, including the EMX250 and the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing.

Don't miss this golden opportunity to immerse yourself in a weekend of thrilling motocross action. 

Grab your tickets now and be part of the excitement! Secure your spot and experience the roar of the engines and the cheers of the crowd at the 2024 MXGP of France Right Here!

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St Jean D’Angely

BEDDINI GASGAS FACTORY JUNIORS INTRODUCED FOR 2024 MXGP

GASGAS is thrilled to reaffirm its commitment to future talent with the introduction of a booming junior program. The MC 250F will be well represented in the EMX250 division from this day forth, as the Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors will have Valerio Lata and Mads Fredsoe beneath their tent when the new season starts.

The existence of the Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors serves as proof that the manufacturer remains very dedicated to the stars of tomorrow, as a position on the squad will prepare them to vie for a position on the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team. Lata has already shown such promise – he sprinted to a moto win in EMX250 earlier this year and secured multiple podiums. Fredsoe will debut in EMX250 after two seasons in the EMX125 class. The duo is keen to get on the gas and unleash their potential when the new campaign fires into life.

In addition to the above, two talented stars have been placed on REVO GASGAS Racing for the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship. Ethan Lane, who has spent an extended period in the United States, will represent the team in the MX2 division. 2024 marks his first term as a professional. Billy Askew has been tipped as Great Britain's next superstar and he too is committed to REVO GASGAS Racing: he will compete in the EMX250 events in the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship. The youngsters will be fortunate enough to learn from their more experienced teammate, Brian Bogers, who will race in MXGP.

The 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship starts in Patagonia-Argentina on March 10. The first round of EMX250 will run alongside round two, the Grand Prix of Europe, on March 24.

Diego Clement (Manager of GASGAS Offroad Commercial): "I'm pleased that our GASGAS development program is taking shape for the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship. We have many talented young stars who are hungry for success and now, with this new structure, there will be a clear path that allows them to dream of racing for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. We are excited to nurture this talent and watch each rider thrive. Thank you to Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors and REVO GASGAS Racing for their commitment."

Photo Credit: GASGAS 

After this 2023 MXGP campaign, Team HRC General Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas gave his thoughts on what has been an up and down season for the team and it’s two riders, Ruben Fernandez and Tim Gajser.

What would you give the 2023 season out of ten?
I think if you asked in January what I hoped for the season, and after what happened in Trentino, you’d get two very different answers. However, considering what happened to Tim, I think overall the season was probably around a seven out of ten. Of course, we go into every championship hoping to win, but Ruben still made a massive step with his results and the victory in Argentina was a moment I’ll never forget. Winning a GP is a great achievement and it really raised everyone’s expectations about what is possible. And credit to Ruben because he kept pushing throughout the whole campaign, getting podiums at rounds one, six, nine and eighteen, showing he never gave up. Then Tim coming back and winning two of the last three rounds was a good lift heading into 2024.

What were your impressions of Ruben’s season, on his riding and how well he integrated himself into the team?
I thought he did excellently. It is never easy coming into a factory team, but he immediately got on with every member of staff and his ability to communicate in many languages and just his personality as a whole is a pleasure to be around. As I mentioned, he won in Argentina and then got three more podiums, finishing fifth in the championship and perhaps if he hadn’t had the crash in Finland, he’d have got even higher. It was an impressive first year and we are very excited about what he can do next time around.

What about the performance of the Honda CRF450R for both riders?
I think we have an excellent platform to give both riders the opportunity to challenge for wins. The team work tirelessly, both here in Europe and back in Japan on the smallest details to try and improve the machine and I think it shows with the level of consistency out on the track. We are always trying to test and make things better and that’s what we are doing already, to make things better for 2024.

Tim’s injury was obviously a massive moment, but how well did you think he did once he came back?
We saw straight away that Tim had the speed on his return when he was fastest in timed practice in Loket. However, then we saw the true affects of the injury when he couldn’t quite put it together in any of the first few races. We knew the motos in Czech would be a lot harder than practice because you simply can’t replicate racing when you are at home. Then there were three sand tracks in the next four, with the other one being Sweden which was almost impossible to pass on, so again, we weren’t expecting too much just because of how little he’d been able to train in the sand. Finally, in Turkey, Maggiora and Matterley, there were three tracks that he liked and he was able to win three motos and two GPs and just show everyone that he is back. The double win in Matterley was a great finish and he gave himself a lot of confidence for this off-season that he is still at the very top of the field when he is on his A-game.

How was the Motocross of Nations?
That was an incredible event to be part of. There were so many fans and the atmosphere was amazing so I’m glad that Team HRC was a strong part of that. Having Tim, Ruben and the Lawrence brothers in our setup was nice and it was a good chance to catch-up with our American colleagues. We stay in touch with them throughout the year, and they had a very good year, but it is always nicer to be able to chat in person and you can share ideas a lot faster and just work much more efficiently. We love hosting those guys and we hope they can comeback at Matterley Basin in 2024. Obviously, Jett showed us what he is capable of, and we can see why he was able to do so well stateside, so that was good to see as well. Both him and Hunter have a very bright future and we’re very glad they’re part of Team HRC.

Thoughts on the 2024 calendar release?
It looks like a similar year to this year, honestly. A lot of the rounds are the same, although in a slightly different order. There were all these rumours about new locations and going here or there, but in the end, it seems we will be familiar with most of the circuits. Of course, there are a couple of TBAs listed so we don’t know everything yet, so planning can’t begin completely but already we are working on logistics for what we do know and making sure we are setup as best as possible.

And what about the hopes for the 2024 season as a whole?
Our main hope is that we can go into the first round with both of our riders 100% fit and healthy. If we can do that, I think we can have a very good year indeed. Tim will of course be looking to win the title back and make it six championships, and Ruben will be even stronger than this year and will be pushing for podiums and victories himself. He is only going to get better and between the two of them, I believe Team HRC will be a strong force at every round of the campaign.

Photo Credit: shotbybavo

Harry Everts is a true legend of our sport. Four Motocross World Championships to his name, a son who has 10 Motocross World Championships and now a grandson who has Grand Prix wins. Despite being born with polio and a sever limp, the first famous Everts dominated the 125cc Championship and also claimed a 250cc World Title

Everts senior recalls his racing days, with his most memorable moments being the intense battles he had with Akira Watanabe, the first and only Japanese MX World Champion. These encounters were undoubtedly the highlights of his racing career in Belgium

“Racing Akira Watanabe,” Everts said. “He was also tough. He could ride on your back wheel for 40 minutes, just stay there, and fighting. On hard pack, he was good, in the sand he was good, but after 30 minutes, he wasn’t so strong. Also in the heat, I was strong. You could see on his face before a race that he wanted to kill you on the track but I was the same on the inside. I saw him in Indonesia this year, he is also friendly, and he now teaches riders and tells them how to stand on the bike like I did. We had so many races and so many moments together.”

Everts also remembers one of his favourite races in his career, at the famous Namur circuit in Belgium where he changed classes. Moving up to the 500cc class he battled for victory, but a huge crash saw him fail in his attempt to win on the bigger more powerful machine.

“I didn’t win the GP, but that track was my favourite track as a kid. It was at that place; it was the first time I ever saw a motocross race. I was looking at the big names like Rolf Tibblin, Adolf Weil, Bill Nilsson, all the very top guys. I was a kid, and it was fantastic, and the public was so big back in those days. I was still riding the 125cc World Championship and I had a wild card to do the 500 GP at Namur. As you know the Suzuki 500cc bike of that time wasn’t so good. It was I think 1979. I know everything that happened that day. I had to start on the second line on the grid, and my start wasn’t so bad. I came to the front, and it was Noyce and somebody else battling. I come up on the citadel right behind them, and I caught them easy, and I thought I could win that heat. I didn’t want to mix it with them, because they were fighting for the world title. I finished third or second, and the second heat I was at the front and crashed, a big crash. I started again, and I came through the field, and I got third overall.”

Of course, Harry is also known as one of the master coaches, having taken his son Stefan to World Championships, but also working closely with riders like Pauls Jonass, Liam his grandson and many more. Now, well into his 70s the enthusiasm has no changed and he is one of the most popular figures in the Grand Prix paddock.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 31 October 2023 – The 2023 edition of Sportel, dedicated to sports media and broadcasting, successfully concluded at the renowned Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Infront Moto Racing was present to hold discussions on TV rights for the upcoming FIM Motocross World Championship season and engaging with existing partners.

Sportel once again served as the central hub for discussions about the upcoming seasons of MXGP on the television broadcasting front. Long-time TV partner Eurosport, with a contract in place until 2025, seized the opportunity to meet with Infront Moto Racing and expressed their appreciation for the extensive coverage of the MXGP series. Likewise, FOX Mexico and Direct TV were enthusiastic about their partnership and eagerly anticipated offering their viewers thrilling motocross races in the upcoming MXGP seasons, reaffirming the global interest in MXGP.

Infront Moto Racing also took that opportunity to meet with traditional partners such as RAI (Italy), NOS (The Netherlands), All Baltics, Motorvision (Germany), MTV Finland. The exchanges and feedback were positives further solidifying MXGP as a sought-after presence in the world of television broadcasting.

In addition to meetings with TV broadcasters, Infront Moto Racing also engaged with its technical partners, such as Cleeng, (MXGP-TV payment service provider), TMG, (antipiracy provider), Eurovision, (SNG provider and coordination), Stream AMG, (OTT technology providers), all of whom were present at Sportel.

The TV Department Director Charlotte Menard, was in attendance and seized the opportunity to explore potential digital and technical service providers, aiming to anticipate and embrace emerging trends and innovations to continually enhance the future of MXGP, ensuring the best possible services for all motocross fans.

In summary, the convention proved highly productive, fostering crucial discussions and laying the groundwork for further negotiations that promise to enhance the global coverage and visibility of MXGP.

LINKS

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After a horrific injury at the pre-season race in Trentino, Team HRC rider and five-time world champion Tim Gajser was forced to miss most of the 2023 MXGP season with a broken femur. However, after that lengthy rehabilitation, the #243 returned to win two of the last three GPs and give himself a massive boost of confidence as they head into the off-season, where he will now set his sights on the 2024 crown.

Photo Credit: Shotbybavo

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 26 October 2023 – Infront Moto Racing and Monster Energy are thrilled to announce the renewal of their strong partnership for another multiyear term. 

The continuation of the MXGP series' alliance with its most engaging partner marks a significant milestone, solidifying the shared commitment to shaping the future of motocross. Monster Energy remains the primary sponsor of MXGP and retains its status as the Title Sponsor of the prestigious Motocross of Nations event.

The world of MXGP has never been in better shape, with the pinnacle of each season being the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, recognized as the most important annual competition for elite motocross in the world. The event's popularity is nothing short of extraordinary, and Monster Energy has played an instrumental role in its immense success, as demonstrated by the incredible turnout of 102,000 enthusiasts at the last Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France.

Since 2011, the successful partnership between Monster Energy with MXGP grew from strength to strength with both partners deeply passionate about motocross and its success in every continent. 

Thanks also to this mutual effort Infront Moto Racing can continue its relentless mission to further broaden MXGP leadership in the motocross scene around the world.

This long-term partnership extension firmly reinstates Monster Energy as the leading and most influential brand in the FIM Motocross World Championship, a presence that spans from the racetracks to the MXGP Paddock and the starting gates, as well as their significant support to MXGP Teams.

Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo: “We are very proud to announce the renewal of our partnership with Monster Energy. On top of being the most exciting and active brand in the world of Motorsports, Monster Energy has also been a very strong partner in the most difficult and challenging times we had to experience, especially during the two years of COVID. We are sharing the same vision of raising the MXGP World Championship to be a global sport and to reach new territories together. I would like to thank Mitch Covington and Dave Gowland for their great collaboration. It is now more than a decade that we work together, and it is always a pleasure to share the same vision of making Motocross bigger and more popular season after season.”

“Motocross is who we are,” says David Gowland, Monster Energy Senior Vice President of Motorsports. “Right from the company’s beginning, the sport of motocross has played a significant role in the trajectory of Monster Energy and that will now continue with the extension and fortification of Monster Energy’s role as the primary sponsor of MXGP, as well as the title sponsor of the storied Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. The history and heritage of MXGP and the Motocross World Championship make it one of the premiere and elite forms of motorsport over the world and Monster Energy stands proud with MXGP and the fans that crowd Grand Prix tracks over the world on any given Sunday.”

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