MXGP

Team Suzuki World MXGP General Manager Stefan Everts talks about taking over Suzuki’s factory GP squad, winter training and pre-season races before the MXGP World Championship gate drops at Qatar on February 27th. He says moving back to Suzuki, where he won the first of his 10 world MX titles, was a decision that changed his life.

What a couple of crazy months it has been. My life has changed completely, but I don’t regret my decision for a second. I’m still very happy and motivated and so far everything is falling into place. What has made the whole process extra difficult, is the early start of the GP season. Everything has been under pressure time-wise. We are in full preparation with our riders, we go training with them in Spain and France, because of the weather it is impossible to stay in our region. Also, the mechanics are waiting on the spare parts. We have been participating in some international pre-season races and we are testing more things on the RM-Z450 and RM-Z250. Moreover, the crates for the oversea races have to be packed and shipped. So many things to do in such a short period has made it extremely tense and buzzy. Luckily, we have a great team and a great crew with loads of experience, so we are getting there. 

I’ve also been away from home a lot, joining the riders and the team on the training sessions. We went to the RedSand MX Park in Spain for a few weeks in January. Riding went so good and the riders where very happy. I’m also really happy with how they are training together, pushing each other to do better, learning and sharing their experience. It makes me happy to see that we can have such a strong team spirit. It’s pushing all riders to the next level in their skills. 

You can see that the guys like it: Kevin’s speed this winter has been really good. His confidence grew over the past few months and he is happy and satisfied with his RM-Z450. Also Ben is doing good. He had a little shock therapy with the Belgium and Dutch sand the last couple of weeks, but he is picking-up fast and he grew so much the last couple of days. I’m happy to be captain of those two guys in my first year as General Manager at Team Suzuki World MXGP. 

They say, time is going by fast when you are having fun and this is really true. Our first race as a team is already in the history books. We went to Hawkstone last weekend and it was a good test for the team. Overall I was happy, even though we had a little technical issue with Kevin, but it taught us a lot about the riding style of Kevin and Ben. They are both so different. For the first time we saw some big differences in setting-up the bikes. We really collected some vital data at the race in Hawkstone; and the guys did good there. BT rode well and is up there with the top guys, speed-wise. Only his fitness needs to improve but I’m sure that this will come in the next few weeks. 

Our final stop before the big MXGP season start in Qatar will be Valence. It’s our last rehearsal. And we also have the pleasure to welcome Yamaguchi-san from Suzuki Japan for this race. He and the crew will fine-tune the bike for the best possible results. Hopefully we will have a miracle with the weather, so we can have some sunshine for the race. But we are ready for anything. 

Personally I’m also very excited to go to Qatar. The first GP is always special. The whole family comes back together again, riders in new gear, new team set-ups and Qatar is special, racing under the lights. It adds some class on TV and the images afterwards. Plus, we made some changes on our overseas set-up and I’m very happy with the final results. Just watch and see! 

S72 

Belgian Clement Desalle will be the sole Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team representative during the first two GPs as teammate Jordi Tixier underwent wrist surgery this week.

Tixier, MX2 world champion in 2014, switched to the MXGP class this winter due to the age regulation in the MX2 class. The 23 year old Frenchman, whose 2015 campaign as a member of the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team was brought to an end after a crash during the Grand Prix of Lombardy, had signed a two year deal with Kawasaki early last year to enter this new and exciting challenge. Recovering from the wrist injury sustained in Mantova, Jordi was able to enter the traditional testing session with his new team in November and immediately had a good feeling with the factory KX450F-SR Kawasaki. Working hard on his physical condition through the winter, Jordi still had some pain in his right wrist and further examination has revealed damage to a ligament and forced him to have further surgery in Paris by Professor Mathoulin, one of the most famous hand specialists. The surgery was successful but Jordi needs now time to recover before getting back to racing.
 
Jordi Tixier: “Of course it’s a big disappointment to miss the opening rounds of the MXGP world championship, but there was no other solution as the most recent examination revealed that my wrist had still some damage after the surgery of last summer. Professor Mathoulin didn’t want me to race with infiltration as it could have dramatic consequences so I had no real choice. Fortunately he didn’t have to put in any screws or a spindle in my wrist, he just repaired the ligament and worked on some bones; I’ve a light plaster for one week, then I will visit him again for a check up and I will follow his advice. It’s just a shame that it came so late; I had some pain when riding the bike but all the doctors told me that it was just normal after such an injury. I want to thanks the team and all our sponsors, as nobody put pressure on me, and I can’t wait to be back racing as the bike is fantastic and the team so professional. It’s a tough period for me, but I will be back stronger as soon as I will be fit again.”
 
François Lemariey (KRT team manager): “Of course it was a tough decision for Jordi as the season starts now, but the team doesn’t want any rider to compete whilst he is injured. Jordi and ourselves are both very disappointed, but we know this sport, as do our sponsors who understand the situation. We saw during the testing session how strong Jordi’s potential on the 450 can be, and we want him to make his debut in this new class fully prepared and physically ready. Going for a surgery was a joint decision; of course we wish him a prompt recovery and we’re convinced that he will come back stronger.”

MONACO, (Principality of Monaco) 11 February 2016 - The widely recognized Italian broadcasting service Mediaset has renewed their contract with Youthstream to broadcast the entire 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship and the all new Supermotocross Riders’ Cup which will take place the 8th of October at the famous Veltins Arena, on popular Italian television channel Premium Sport. In addition to the broadcasting of all MXGP and MX2 races and the Supermotocross Riders’ Cup, they will also screen the prestigious Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, which will take place at home for them in Maggiora, Italy, on Italia 1.

As an Italian based mass media company, Mediaset S.p.A is the largest commercial broadcaster in Italy. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the founder back in the 1970’s with his family’s holding company Fininvest still holding 38.6% of the company shares.

Mediaset’s head office is in Milan where most of its studios can also be found. Although Milan provides a lot of the action for the company, it also has a further three big television production centers in Segrate, Cologno Monzese and Rome.

A great majority of MXGP fans come from Italy with the nation being home to one of the greatest motocross riders of all time, Antonio Cairoli, who will be hoping to bounce back this year and claim his ninth FIM motocross world title. With Mediaset agreeing to broadcast the entire championship for yet another year, Italian fans will be thrilled to know they can support their heroes from the comfort of their own home all season long.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Mediaset

Premium Sport

Shift MX (SHIFT) is proud to be partnering with Team Suzuki World MXGP for MXGP 2016. MXGP riders, Ben Townley and Kevin Strijbos will be racing in the upcoming season of FIM World Motocross Championship.

This collaboration marks the start of a new and exciting era as SHIFT engages in its first ever Team partnership in World Motocross Championship. With Stefan Everts, the legendary multi-time World Champion, leading the team as General Manager, Team Suzuki is being groomed for a dominating position in MXGP:  

“I’m very honored to have SHIFT as a team partner for 2016. SHIFT is different than the other brands. They’re heading in a different direction and have a unique strategy. That’s something I find within myself and what I also try to do. I’m also trying to be different and I want to stand out from the big bunch. I believe that this similarity between us will lead to a great partnership.” - Stefan Everts, General Manager, Team Suzuki World MXGP.

Philippe Casadesus, SHIFT's Brand Manager remarked that “this partnership is perfectly synchronized with a new era for our two organizations. We have great ambition for the Shift MX brand -based on a strong 5 years plan and the launch of many new products- as well as Suzuki GRP and its new management set up. No doubt that our common ambitions will be a great catalyst for strong results.” 

Catch the infamous and every stylish Ben Townley, who turned a lot of heads around at Ernée - MXON 2015 last september, along with teammate Kevin Strijbos, who has proved himself over the past years to be a force to reckon with, sporting their all new SHIFT MX racewear at the first round of World Motocross Championship in Qatar on 26/02/2016.

About SHIFT MX:

Based in Irvine, CA, Shift stormed onto motorcycling scene in 1997. Shift heritage was built around iconic personalities like Jeff Emig and Seth Enslow, re-definining the culture of motocross as a lifestyle. Shift has always been the choice for those looking for something unique and fresh, fusing culture and fashion into all of our performance products. For more information, and to view the full range of Fox products, visit www.ShiftMX.com

Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer

After last year's success, the coffee table magazine ‘The Art of Motocross’ (available in English and Dutch) launches in cooperation with the organizer from the MXGP Valkenswaard, a special ticket promotion.

One hundred and twenty-third issue of this bi-weekly motorcycle sport magazine, tackling the latest races and issues in MotoGP, the FIM Motocross World Championship, AMA Motocross/Supercross and World Superbike as well as general motorcycling and accessories with the best blogs and photographs. In OTOR 123: At the fifth for Roczen; the former world champ finally puts the pieces together for a first 450SX victory at Glendale, Phoenix as Dungey and Tomac fill the other podium spots. Gearing up: Answer; in a small quest to discover how off-road riding wear is designed and realised we travelled to Irvine and visited the offices at Answer for some insight. A different road; former British MX Champ and the UK’s first MX1/MXGP winner Billy Mackenzie is getting his hands dirty in a different way: custom bike building. We paid a visit. Mid-weight missile; Roland goes for a blast with Ducati’s 959 Panigale and rates the latest incarnation of Bologna’s sporty flagship model. What’s the word? Verdict inside

Clich HERE to read OTOR issue 123

With the opening round of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship set to take place at the end of the month, the pre-season performances of some of its competitors is making the expectations go to another level.

Of course the two favorites for the MXGP championship are defending champion Romain Febvre of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team, and multiple world champion Antonio Cairoli of the Red Bull KTM Factory team.

Both riders have suffered minor injuries in the last two weeks, leaving their preparation for the opener in Qatar a little underdone. Both will be fit for Qatar, there is no doubt about that at this point.

With a series as long as the MXGP series is nobody is too worried that these two champions won’t be at their best at the pointy end of the championship in September.

Febvre might have picked up a slight arm injury last weekend, but his performance a week earlier showed that the speed of 2015 is still there and his race craft is looking Cairoli like. The Frenchman must go into Qatar as the favorite, as the title belongs to him until somebody else edges him away from the biggest prize in the sport.

What has also been shown in the two weekends of pre-season, is that a handful of riders are looking sharp going into Qatar.

Clement Desalle who moved to the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team in the winter looked brilliant last weekend at an International event in England. The Belgian won the opening moto, and finished a consistent 1-3-4 from his three races, and from all accounts looked comfortable in his new green colors.

It’s been many years that Desalle has been a serious contender for the MXGP championship, but has always come up short, sometimes due to injury, sometimes just bad luck. Is the 2016 version of the tough Belgian strong enough to end the year on top of the point’s race?

Another shining light from the pre-season races is New Zealand’s Ben Townley. Under the watchful eye of his team manager Stefan Everts, the former MX2 world champion scored a strong second place finish in a moto last weekend, and looked really well rounded. Much like Ryan Villopoto in 2015 the world will be watching on February 27 when Townley lines up for the opening GP of the season.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider Jeremy Van Horebeek, who had a shocker of a season in 2015, is also looking likely to return to his runner-up form of 2014. The Belgian has already scored a moto win this year and his consistency has been impressive, going 2-3-2-1 for the four moto’s he has competed in.

Of course in the MX2 ranks, Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings stands head and shoulders above his rivals. With a good winter preparation, and complete fitness, he has finished with 1-4-1-1-1, two of those results (4-1) coming in super finals against the 450 machines.

These are just a handful of riders who are showing good form, but there are a long list of others, Shaun Simpson, Evgeny Bobryshev, Max Nagl, Kevin Strijbos and Gautier Paulin have also looked fast so far this year.

Bring on the Grand Prix of Qatar, it looks like it’s going to be another classic.

Photo: Yamaha Racing

Throughout the month of January we ran our annual Social Media Awards where YOU, the fans, chose the winners. Here’s who won:

Best Crash:

• Ryan Villopoto MXGP of Trentino
• Pauls Jonass MXGP of Leon
• Romain Febvre MXGP of Italy
• Jeffrey Herlings MXGP of Germany
• Gautier Paulin MXGP of Leon
• Julien Lieber MXGP of Thailand

WINNER: PAULS JONASS

Most surprising season upset:

• Jeffrey Herlings
• Dylan Ferrandis
• Max Nagl
• Antonio Cairoli
• Ryan Villopoto
• Clement Desalle

WINNER: RYAN VILLOPOTO

Biggest surprise of the year

• Tim Gajser winning the world championship
• Pauls Jonass almost winning the world championship
• Gautier Paulin only winning one round
• Ryan Villopoto only winning one round
• Evgeny Bobryshev finishing third in MXGP
• Romain Febvre winning the world championship

WINNER: PAULS JONASS

Best Twitter personality:

• Antonio Cairoli
• Romain Febvre
• Gautier Paulin
• Shaun Simpson
• Kevin Strijbos
• Ryan Villopoto

WINNER: SHAUN SIMPSON

Best Facebook personality:

• Antonio Cairoli
• Valentin Guillod
• Shaun Simpson
• Gautier Paulin
• Romain Febvre
• Jeffrey Herlings

WINNER: JEFFREY HERLINGS

The best style:

• Valentin Guillod
• Gautier Paulin
• Antonio Cairoli
• Max Anstie
• Clement Desalle
• Ryan Villopoto

WINNER: ANTONIO CAIROLI

Favourite Manafacturer:

• KTM
• Husqvarna
• Suzuki
• Yamaha
• Honda
• Kawasaki
• TM

WINNER: KTM

MONACO (Principality of Monaco), 05 February 2016 - Youthstream presents the twenty-ninth issue of the MXGP Mag. The cover story is about MXGP title threat Clement Desalle and his switch to Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing. This issue also includes a rev-up for the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MXGP of Qatar, a look at the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina and an insight as to what is happening at the MXGP Academy. Read all this and more.

Click here to read the twenty-ninth 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 twenty-ninth 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

MONACO, (Principality of Monaco) 4 February 2016 – Youthstream are pleased to announce that Wössner, a leading manufacturer of forged pistons, will be an advertising partner for the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship season. As a partner of MXGP, the brand Wössner will be visible to the public and MXGP’s extensive television audience.

The brand ‘Wössner’ has a long history in motorsport, Eckart Wössner, the company owner and CEO, was a keen motorcycle racer himself and takes pride in his countless number of wins at national level.

Business began for Mr. Wössner in the 1980’s, in Weil am Rhein, Germany, when he became an exclusive importer of pistons from America, which he distributed across the country. It wasn’t until the 1990’s before he started the in-house production of his own high-performance forged pistons which ever-since have become increasingly popular worldwide.

In 2003 Wössner increased their production area in Germany by four times its former size and continued to expand with the establishment of Wössner USA in 2005, and Wössner Italia Srl in 2011.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Wössner