MXGP

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli is without question the most successful rider when it comes to results at the Grand Prix of Latvia. The Italian legend has picked up victories in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 at Kegums, and also finished second to Clement Desalle in 2010.

Only injury the last two years have robbed him of even more success at the beautiful sand circuit, and this weekend you can be sure he will be looking to recover from a less than spectacular performance in Valkenswaard last month.

It wasn’t that Cairoli didn’t do something special, but mistakes cost him his chance of a third GP victory in 2017.

“It was a tougher weekend than expected,” Cairoli said. “Other than the first race everything went in the right direction, with victory in the qualifying race and a good feeling on the track. Unfortunately, at the first start I made a small mistake out of the gate and I slid the bike a bit too much, losing traction. From there it was an uphill struggle and I had to push really hard to claw back over twenty positions. Everything was going well, until I got into ninth position, behind my team mate. Just as I was going to pass him, I got a huge face full of sand that got inside my goggles and consequently into my eyes. From that moment, I lost most of my visibility and I had to settle for the ninth position…certainly not the one I was hoping for in this race.”

Despite the opening moto blues, Cairoli came back strong in the second race to dominate and show that he can go into Latvia with a lot of confidence.

“Between the two races I was very angry about what had happened and I was also worried because my right eye was giving me some issues, preventing me from seeing too well. Despite everything, however, I managed to start in front, which simplified my job, controlling my opponents until the finish line, even if I was not as fast as I could have been without the visibility problem. It's a shame that we missed the podium by just one point, but today we have gained precious points and we are getting closer to the red plate.”

Now with a race victory to his name, and his consistent results at Kegums, you can be sure the Italian will want to stand on top of the GP podium come Sunday evening and make a step closer to the red plate, currently owned by HRC Factory rider Tim Gajser, who just happened to win in Kegums in 2016.

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer

At the MXGP of Trentino the Italian platform MXNews presented a charity project in order to build a children playground in Caldarola, a small town damaged by the big earthquakes of August 24th and October 30th 2016 which destroyed homes, shops, factories, religious buildings, hospitals, etc.

MXGP, Teams and Riders are proud to support this Charity project.

Support us by sharing or bidding on the auction of items MXGP Champions donated.

Click HERE for more details!

Auction ends on May 18th at 17:00

MX2 world champion Jeffrey Herlings finally showed signs of his old self last weekend at the Grand Prix of Europe. The Flying Dutchman produced a runner-up finish and nearly scored the overall. While his 3-3 results was a long way from his sizzling MX2 performances at Valkenswaard, where he had won seven GPs on the trot, his confidence is building and it shouldn’t be too much longer before we see him on the top step of a Grand Prix podium.

After his performances last weekend, he talked about Valkenswaard, and he gave his opinion of his season so far.

Q: How do you feel after finally making the podium after such a tough first five rounds?

Herlings: We did finish second, but the disappointing thing was we had the speed to win. I think I was the fastest guy. We are working so hard with the team, putting the bike upside down to try whatever I ask for. I really want to thank the team, they did a great job and they delivered me one of the best bikes, or maybe the best bike out there. The only thing we need to improve is the starts. We have the confidence, but we need to get starts. We need good starts every time.

Q: It’s a big struggle to get through after a bad start, isn’t it?

Herlings: I wanted to be in Gautier’s spot, but I felt close today to the win and that is good, but for the Dutch fans I felt for them. We got second, and that is like a win for me at the moment. I think I came from outside the top ten in the first moto and 15th in the second moto, and all these guys are fast. It’s been a good day and I just want to work from here.

Q: But it’s a big improvement on some of the other Grand Prix?

Herlings: We came to Qatar with a broken hand, and we were riding, but we couldn’t ride how I liked to, with so much pain. In the second round as well, then I couldn’t ride for five weeks almost. We went from GP to GP and I felt terrible, I even felt embarrassed. Now I have been back on the bike for a couple of weeks, and I am pain free, so that is positive. Now we can work on getting better and better.

Q: What have you learnt about the MXGP class?

Herlings: These guys are super-fast and during the winter, I didn’t expect them to be so fast. MXGP is like all-out war, from the start of the race until the end. That is something we are not used to, but I think we will get there. We are back on the speed, now we need to get the starts sorted. Gautier is on the same bike as is Tony and they pull one after the other holeshots.

Q: How can you get onto that top step of the podium?

Herlings: I just have to get it all together and once we have that I think we are on a good way. For sure the championship is over, but maybe we can get top five. I have been winning here seven years in a row and even though I have had a bad season, they expected me to be on the podium and that is what I did. 

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 28 April 2017 – Youthstream and 8M Sports Group are proud to announce the formerly MXGP of Italy is now renamed as MXGP of Lombardia. The event, the second stop of the Italian tour, has been renamed to better reflect the recently updated host.

The race is set to take place at the modern Ottobiano circuit organized by the new formed 8M Sports Group on the 24th and 25th of June, 2017. The facility is dedicated to the success of the MXGP of Lombardia with a planned 130,000 square meters of paddock parking and 1,600 trucks gathering 16,000 cubic meters of sand in order to expand and enhance the arena.

You can be sure that you will experience something unique and historic at the circuit of Ottobiano, the 24th and 25th of June for the MXGP of Lombardia.

Tickets for the MXGP of Lombardia can be purchased online here.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

In the 80’s there was no age regulation in the 125cc class, and even though some very experienced riders raced their entire career in this category, some young kids shined and had strong performances. Winning his first Grand Prix when he was only sixteen years old, Dutchman Dave Strijbos was only eighteen when he became the youngest 125cc World Champion in 1986! Both records stayed on the FIM books for 25 years until Ken Roczen won his first GP at the age of 15 and then became World Champion when he was only 17 years old.

Read the full feature HERE

Join Team Suzuki World MXGP and MX2 for an insight of what it is like to prepare for a Motocross Grand Prix weekend in this new video just released by the team. 

Shot on location at the MXGP of Trentino in Italy, it shows the passion and enthusiasm of its team of professional riders and the hard-working people behind them, driving forward the Suzuki Factory effort from Japan; now in the hands of 10-time World Motocross Champion Stefan Everts – the most-successful MX rider of all-time. 

Get a ‘sneak peek’ into what it’s like behind the scenes during a busy race weekend and follow the riders’ preparation before and during a World MXGP and MX2 event; this one filmed at the spectacular Pietramurata venue. 

General Manager Stefan Everts introduces his young team of RM-Z250-mounted MX2 riders Jeremy Seewer, Hunter Lawrence and Zach Pichon – son of former Suzuki World Champion Mickaël Pichon, who won two world titles for Suzuki and was a strong adversary for Everts - plus MXGP riders; the experienced Kevin Strijbos and his team-mate Arminas Jasikonis, debuting the new 2017 Suzuki RM-Z450WS Factory machine, also talk about preparation, life and their love of the sport and the strong bond with the Suzuki Family. 

Watch the video here below

One hundred and fifty-third issue of this re-designed bi-weekly motorcycle sport magazine, tackling the latest races and issues in MXGP, MotoGP, AMA Motocross/Supercross and World Superbike as well as general motorcycling and accessories with the best blogs and photographs. In OTOR 153: MXGP: Paulin’s back; two memorable Grands Prix in a week for different reasons but especially for Gautier Paulin. Full reaction and gallery from a cold Valkenswaard. SX: Tomac takes charge; performance of a stellar season for Eli Tomac to defeat Ryan Dungey and rub finger tips on the 2017 AMA 450SX Championship trophy. Blog & pics. MotoGP: Lone Star; Marquez does it again for half a decade of dominance at COTA, Austin. Neil and David Blog from Texas with Cormac on lens duty once more. Por Fin: Prado’s moment; Spain now has a superlative motorcycle athlete in motocross as well. We have a look at the latest teenage sensation in MXGP: Jorge Prado

Read it HERE

MXGP will be back in the cool track Kegums for the MXGP of Latvia on May, the 7th. 

Kegums will host together with the MXGP and MX2 classes also the second round of the European Championships EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and the third round of the EMX250. 

Here below the links where to downbload the official timetable of the event as well as the Entry Lists in PDF formats: 

TIMETABLE

MXGP Entry List

MX2 Entry list

EMX250 Entry List

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing Entry List 

Ticket sales for the MXGP of The Netherlands which will take place at the world famous TT circuit in Assen during the 10th September weekend, are now open. Purchasing the tickets online NOW on the official event website you can take advantage of a special doscount.

Don’t miss the chance to go to the MXGP of The Netherlands. Get your pre-sale ticket HERE.

Here we are! One of the most awaited moments of the week: MXGP in collaboration with Monster Energy has the pleasure to interview a Monster Girl at every GP. The feature will go up the week after the event.

At the MXGP of Europe we had the pleasure to catch up with the Dutch Monster Girl Linsey. Here what we asked:

Which was your First MXGP event?

It was Valkensavaard many years ago!!! I live in Holland so love working locally, the fans are awesome.

Which is your favorite rider?

Tommy Searle! He is amazing on a bike, I cant wait for him to return to the MXGP!

What is your favorite part of being a Monster Girl?

The girls, we are like a family! It is so much fun working with them, especially Steffy she is so fun and crazy! It is not a job when you work with your friends.

To get to know more about your favorite Monster Girl, check out our Monster Girls section on http://www.mxgp.com/ or click HERE, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.