MXGP

The Australian Motorcycling federation known as Motorcycle Australia (MA) has selected and announced their team for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at RedBud, USA this October.

The team will have FIM Motocross World Championship racer Hunter Lawrence riding his Honda 114 Motorsport’s MX2 machine with KTM Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs riding in MXGP and Mitch Evansa in the Open class with Micheal Byrne as the team manager.

The 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will be held the 6th and 7th of October at the famous American circuit of RedBud.

More information about the venue can be found HERE https://www.mxgp.com/tracks/red-bud

Addition Links:

Tickets: https://mxon.motocross-tickets.com/en/22471-motocross-of-nations/

FIM: http://www.fim-live.com/

MA: https://www.ma.org.au/

Event Website: http://redbudmxon.com/

While Switzerland might not have had an MXGP or MX2 champion in its history, the small country tucked between Italy, France, Germany and Austria has a long relationship with the sport of motocross. While Grand Prix events were held in Switzerland as far back as 1957, the history of the FIM, our sports federation, also has a deep relationship with the country of Switzerland.

While the FIM was founded in Paris, France, on 21 December 1904, it was then known as the Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes, however the name was changed to the Fédération Internationale Motocycliste (FIM) in 1949, and the headquarters were moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1959.

No doubt, with such a relationship with the country, many Grand Prix’s were arranged in Switzerland, and from 1957, until recent times circuits like Wohlen, Payerne, Roggernburg and more recently, Frauenfeld-Gachnang played host to the best motocross riders in the World.  The Frauenfeld area had actually held Grand Prix rounds much earlier than the last couple of years, and it was back in 1981 that Eric Geboers took victory in the 125cc GP at Frauenfeld.

Of course the first Swiss GP, held in 1957 was the start of something special with the country, and it was Belgian rider Nic Jansen who was the first rider to put his feet at the top of the podium in Switzerland, as he won the 500cc GP.

A long list of riders followed Jansen to the top of the podium in Switzerland throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s, as names like Rene Baeten, Bill Nilsson, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin, Jeff Smith, Paul Friedrichs, Torsten Hallman, Bengt Aberg, Heikki Mikkola, Roger De Coster, Gerrit Wolsink, Andre Malherbe, Hakan Carlqvist, Graham Noyce, Georges Jobe, Kees Van Der Ven, Kurt Nicoll, Dave Thorpe, Jorgen Nilsson, Gert Jan Van Doorn, Joel Smets and Darryl King all took victories.

Only a handful of these riders could duplicate their wins in that country, those being Lundin, Friedrichs, Aberg, Mikkola, De Coster, Malherbe, Nicoll, and Smets. The 500cc class mainly visited Payerne, and Wohlen, with the odd visit to circuits in Geneve, or Roggenburg thrown in.

In the new millennium Marniqu Bervoets won in the 500 class at Roggenburg, in 2000 and backed it up with another win in 2001.

If the 500cc class was a difficult one to win often, then the 250cc class was also a tough experience for the GP riders in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. From that first GP held in 1962 at the Lausanne circuit, until 1998 18 riders won, and again some big names in the sport from Jeff Smith, Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert, Heikki Mikkola, Hakan Andersson, Harry Everts, Jim Pomeroy, Guennady Moissev, Georges Jobe, Rolf Dieffenbach, Jacky Vimond, Jeremy Whatley, Trampas Parker, Greg Albertyn, Yves Demaria, Federic Bolley, Stefan Everts and Sebastien Tortelli. Pit Beirer would win in 2000 and a year later Claudio Federici won, and thus ending the relationship with the 250cc class and Switzerland.

The 125cc class obviously had the shortest relationship with Switzerland, as in 1976, the first winner was legendary Belgian, Gaston Rahier. Rahier would win three times in Switzerland, once in Roggenburg in 1977 and twice in Schupart in 1976 and 1979. Between his wins was a victory to Dutchman, Gerard Rond in 1978, and then names like Eric Geboers, Johnny O’Mara, Michele Rinaldi, Dave Strijbos, Jean Michele Bayle, Donny Schmit, Stefan Everts, Sebastien Tortelli, and Alessio Chiodi would take wins. In 2001 James Dobb would win at Roggenburg, and suddenly the country disappeared from the calendar. That was until Youthstream put in the hard yards and worked a deal with the current facility for the MXGP of Switzerland, in Frauenfeld-Gachnang.

Since its return into the MXGP and MX2 championship, two years ago in 2016, winners have been Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings in MXGP and Max Anstie and Benoit Paturel in MX2.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer

FRAUENFELD-GACHNANG (Switzerland) 15 August 2018 - MXGP is in Swtizerland this weekend for the 2018 version of the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS. After a week to recover from the brutal sand in Lommel, MXGP riders and crew will arrive in Frauenfeld-Gachnang for the first of 3 back to back weekends of racing. Wildly different conditions from the soft and deep surface in Belgium the Schweizer Zucker track will be another challenge for the world’s best riders and teams.

Aside from MXGP and MX2 this weekend EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and EMX250 will race over both Saturday and Sunday. In the EMX250 class Mathys Boisrame from the Honda Red Moto Assomotor team leads the championship by only 2 points after REVO Husqvarna UK’s Mel Pocock took his first overall win of the season in Belgium to tighten the title fight. Meanwhile EMX125 presented by FMF Racing has had the red plate switch into the hands of Yamaha Europe EMX125’s Thibault Benistant as KTM Junior Racing’s Rene Hofer suffered a season ending injury a few weeks ago.

MXGP’s point leader, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings is now 36 points ahead of his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Antonio Cairoli but with 250 points still up for grabs, or even too lose, the championship is far from over.

Herlings has been the favorite the past several races especially at the sand of Lommel but while he may have momentum on his side, Cairoli is returning to full health and fitness plus he won here in 2016 and reached the podium last year. However Herlings’ lone appearance in Switzerland last season result in a win for the Dutchman.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle has maintained 3rd in the championship and is still the only rider to beat Herlings and Cairoli. Desalle’ Swiss resume is weak though with a 10th in 2016 and 12th last year. Desalle will be interesting to watch this weekend coming off a difficult home GP where he was at one point lapped by Herlings.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser could be fighting for the win this week as the style of the Swiss track meshes well with his own. Gajser took 6th last year but was 2nd here in 2016 and has been improving as the season has continued on.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre just missed the podium in Belgium to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie. Febvre took fourth here in 2017 with Anstie in 5th. Anstie however won the MX2 class in 2016 while Febvre took 3rd in MXGP.

One of the strongest performances from Anstie’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate, Gautier Paulin, came here last year when he split the KTM’s of Herlings and Cairoli to take 2nd overall.

Also to watch this weekend is Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer for several reasons. Firstly Seewer is a Swiss native who will have the home fans behind him along with motivation from his home sponsor iXS and he has just signed with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP for 2019. Seewer has finished on the MX2 podium the past two years with a pair of 2nd place finishes.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 683 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 647 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 503 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 478 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 468 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 435 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 388 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 350 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 337 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 267 p.

2017 MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS MXGP Top 3:

1. Jeffrey Herlings
2. Gautier Paulin
3. Antonio Cairoli

MXGP Photos:

Top Photo: 2017 MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS MXGP Start

Bottom photos: 1. Gautier Paulin 2. Jeremy Seewer

In MX2 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado has shown his older KTM teammates from MXGP just how quickly things can change in the chase for a title. Prado and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass have been fighting for the championship lead the past races which has taken Jonass from the top to nearly 30 points behind in only a few weekends.

The question now is whether or not Prado can maintain his lead or if Jonass can respond. Jonass took 3rd here in 2017 behind Seewer and Marchetti Racing Team KTM’s Benoit Paturel who have both moved to the MXGP class. Prado took 5th last year but remains the biggest threat and favorite for the win this weekend.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen holds 3rd in the championship currently and returned to the MX2 podium in Belgium along with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Thomas Covington. Olsen has 2 top ten finishes in Switzerland with 6th and 8th in 2017 and 2016 while Covington has performed slightly better with a 4th last year and 7th in 2016.

Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 team’s Ben Watson will be a threat for the podium this weekend. Last year Watson was 7th but has improved greatly since and was riding well at the last hard pack race in Czech Republic before crashing out.

Watson’s Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Teammate Jago Geerts stepped up to the challenge of Lommel for one of his best rides in front of home fans and will also be one to watch with his newly added confidence. Both Kemea Yamaha riders will race the new 2019 YZ250F in Switzerland as well.

Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen will be another MX2 rider to keep an eye on with his solid results lately he could score his second overall of the year in Switzerland. Vlaanderen was 5th at this circuit in 2016 and took 9th last year.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 645 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 617 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 492 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 453 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 444 p.; 6. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 417 p.; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 346 p.; 8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 291 p.; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 261 p.; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 218 p.

2017 MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS MX2 Top 3:

1. Benoit Paturel
2. Jeremy Seewer
3. Pauls Jonass

MX2 Photos:

Top Photo: 2017 MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS MX2 Start

Bottom photos: 1. Jorge Prado; 2. Pauls Jonass

All the photos from the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS can be found HERE

TIMETABLE in Local Time (GMT+2)

Saturday: 07h45 EMX125 Group 1 Free/Time Practice, 08h30 EMX125 Group 2 Free/Time Practice, 09h15 EMX250 Group 1 Free/Time Practice, 10h00 EMX250 Group 2 Free/Time Practice, 10h55 Last Chance Race, 11h30 MX2 Free Practice, 12h00 MXGP Free Practice, 13h00 EMX250 Last Chance Race, 14h00 MX2 Time Practice, 14h40 MXGP Time Practice, 16h25 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17h10 MXGP Qualifying Race, 17h55 EMX125 Race 1, 18h40 EMX250 Race 1.

Sunday: 09h45 EMX125 Race 2, 10h25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10h45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11h30 EMX250 Race 2, 13h15 MX2 Race 1, 14h15 MXGP Race 1, 16h10 MX2 Race 2, 17h10 MXGP Race 2

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS

MXGP and Forma boots have teamed up for a Play and Win giveaway on social media for this weekend’s MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS. All that you have to do to enter to win a pair of Forma’s Predator 2.0 boots, an MXGP-TV.com season pass, and a copy of the new MXGP Pro video game is like the Forma post on the MXGP Instagram page, tag a friend in the comments and follow Forma’s Instagram page!

Two winners will be chosen just after the MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS so start liking, tagging, and following now to win!

Instagram Post Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmeEva1ArXI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The 16th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is taking place in Frauenfeld-Gachnang this weekend for the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS. Together with the MXGP and MX2 classes the EMX250 and the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing rounds are held. 

Timetable of the event and Entry Lists are available to be downloaded in PDF format here below

On the Frauenfeld-Gachnang track of the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS the local hero Jeremy Seewer (SUI) will be competing in an outfit with traditional Swiss SCHÄRESCHNITT (paper cut) design.

For his races on home territory it has become a tradition that Jeremy Seewer designs a uniquely special outfit and appears for the fans in an original, typically Swiss racing dress. That is why the jersey of his Swiss clothing outfitter iXS this year has a folkloric paper cut pattern.

Swiss paper cutting craft combines tradition and innovation – two familiar themes in Jeremy's career. The 24-year-old Bülach native created his own personal SCHÄRESCHNITT (paper cut) design in collaboration with the renowned Swiss artist Elvira Gerber in more than 40 hours of hand crafting. Looking at it more closely one notices many subjects in the design that are of special meaning to Jeremy.

The subject is Jeremy's participation in the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS. Aside from Jeremy in action the many Swiss spectators in bright yellow fan shirts and with Swiss flags cheering him on are recognisable. Jeremy's dog and his three donkeys, the silhouette of a Swiss mountain range, a Trychler (traditional bell-ringer) group, or also a demonstration by the Patrouille Suisse are some of the other striking elements Jeremy reveals from his private life.

iXS is producing the Jeremy Seewer SCHÄRESCHNITT jersey along with the shirts required for the race in a limited run of 91 authentic pieces. The shirts are individually numbered and will be offered to fans together with a certificate hand-signed by Jeremy for 91 Swiss Francs at the iXS stand at the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS.

Jeremy Seewer has been competing with the start number 91 since the beginning of his career. He will be wearing the iXS SCHÄRESCHNITT jersey mainly at the MXGP of Switzerland Presented by iXS in Frauenfeld-Gachnang on 18 & 19 August 2018.

Copyright: Photo: iXS