MXGP

For every single motocross fan around the world this is the battle we all hoped for. There has never been such a contest in the history of the sport. Two of the greatest riders in the motocross record books coming together in the toughest series in the world, to race on the most difficult circuits across the globe.

Ryan Villopoto with his nine American championships has one thing in mind when he arrives in Europe this week and that is to make sure there are no stones unturned in his preparation for 2015. A team meeting this week, then a good look at the Lommel circuit, are the first steps in what will be a memorial season.

“There are a couple of things that make me nervous,” Ryan Villopoto said recently. “Obviously traveling to different countries. Some of the counties are a maybe little bit different to what I am used to, so there’s things I have to watch out for. Learning the tricks of the trade. And I have to learn them very quick. It’s going to be making the mistake of eating an ice cube that was frozen from tap water, then you get sick—that’s the sort of stuff I will need to learn real quick. Not make a mistake in that area.”

What Villopoto can do without any question is race and we will all see at the Grand Prix of Qatar in February just how fast he is compared to riders like Cairoli, Paulin and Desalle.

“When it comes to the bike, the tracks—that’s all the stuff I am really good at. I have a good base coming from KMC. Our factory bike is one of the best. Kawasaki of Europe, they have a good bike as well. The great thing is that it’s going to be essentially the same bike—with a few different parts and set-up a little differently. I know how I like to ride my bike and have it set-up, so I plan on doing the same.”

There can be no doubt Antonio Cairoli is ready and waiting for Villopoto to arrive, and his preparation will be just as it is every year. Motivation has never been a problem for Cairoli and having knocked off world championships in eight of the last ten years means he doesn’t need to improve too much.

“I am excited about it,” Cairoli said recently. “I think it is amazing for the world championship having him here. It is clear that the MXGP series is the main racing around the World, as we have races all over the World. It is a new challenge and to race against him, it’s nice, also for the fans.”

Whatever happens in 2015 you can count on the whole motocross world sitting and watching. Thousands upon thousands will be at the circuits and millions will be watching online. There can’t be a more exciting feeling than what the motocross world will have for the 2015 FIM motocross world championship.

Yesterday evening Sportel, the most prestigious media convention for all sport related television and media, commenced in the world’s mecca of business development, Monaco.  Youthstream joined all major sports television broadcasters such as Eurosport, ESPN, FOX, BEin Sport, and NBC Universal among many others, to explore and discuss all the new and exciting media related content as well as celebrate and honor the people responsible for providing you, the viewer, with the best sports images of the year in the annual Golden Podium Awards.

Over the three day duration, from October 07 through to October 10, Sportel celebrates its 25^th anniversary. Youthstream is proud to have been an exhibitor at all 25 Sportel events over the years as it always provides a fantastic opportunity to promote and increase global awareness of the FIM Motocross World Championship, and also allows us to interact with other major right holders such as IOC, NBA, NFL, UEFA, DFL, NASCAR, FIBA and FIFA, just to name a few. Sportel also provides the perfect platform for Youthstream to bring MXGP, the LIVE content as well as the 26mn Magazine to the attention of multiple broadcasters from various different countries.

Already, Motors TV have extended their partnership with Youthstream and are excited to offer the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship season in their new Free-to-air format which means their will be an increase in MXGP coverage globally.

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 06 October 2014 - Youthstream presents the thirteenth issue of MXGP Mag which features a review of the best moments from the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, a glance at Team France’s road to 2014 MXoN glory, a recap of the constant war for the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship MXGP and MX2 crowns, and a special feature on American motocross legend Jeff Emig. This issue also includes a tribute to all of the 2014 MXGP Award winners who received their prizes in the cool of the night on Saturday at the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

Click here to read the thirteenth 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 thirteenth 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

After defined the team who will participate in the 2015 world championship, with Ivo Monticelli in MX2 and Jose Antonio Butron in MXGP, Marchetti Racing KTM team has completed the ranks of the junior team, confirming Alessandro Facca (European 85cc), Ivan Petrov (European 125cc) and the 85cc 2014 World Champion, Kim Savaste, who will take part in the European Championship 125cc with KTM SX 125.

A team of promising boys, which confirms the interest and support of KTM in the promotion of motocross among young riders.

Born January 16, 2000 in Helsinki, Kim Savaste already at nine years old he won (with 65cc.) the Finnish and Estonian championships. In 2010 and 2011 he won the Finnish Championship 85cc and in 2012 (KTM SX 85) got the individual win in the prestigious team competition of the World Cup 'Coupe de l'Avenir'. In 2013 he won the Nordic Championship, the round of the European Championship in Denmark, and he was ranked fourth in the finals European Championship  85cc. Also in 2013, the town of Riihimäki has awarded him with the 'young athlete awards.'
In 2014 he became world champion 85cc in the Junior Motocross Wrold Championship in Lierneux (Belgium).

Copyright: Photo: Marchetti Racing Team KTM

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will go into the 2015 World Championship racing season with another strong lineup and with the intention of once again challenging for both the MXGP and MX2 world titles.

The factory team that has dominated the competition in recent years will field eight-times World Champion Antonio Cairoli of Italy, Ken de Dycker of Belgium and Britain’s Tommy Searle in MXGP. Cairoli, one of the most successful riders in FIM World Championship competition will continue his bid for another title. Teammate Ken de Dycker will return to the competition after a 2014 plagued with injuries but Ken will be ready to race for the 2015 season. Newcomer to the MXGP lineup but no stranger to the KTM factory team is Tommy Searle of the UK. Searle finished second in MX2 in 2008 riding a KTM 250 SX-F.

Herlings out to capture third MX2 title in 2015
Jeffrey Herlings of the Netherlands was the stand out rider in 2014, winning 12 of the first 13 GPs but then broke his leg. The Dutch rider showed enormous courage to return in the final round in Mexico in an attempt to win his third consecutive title and returns in 2015 with this goal firmly on his radar screen.

Continuing KTM’s policy of nurturing the most promising young talents, Herlings will be in the MX2 factory team with Pauls Jonass, 17, of Latvia. He won the FIM 85cc Junior World Title in 2011 and captured the Junior Motocross World Championship title in 125cc. In 2014 he rode for Italy’s Marchetti Racing KTM. Herlings and Jonass will be riding the KTM 250 SX-F.

KTM has also signed young Dutch teenager Davy Pootjes to compete in the European Championship. He will also compete in selected MX2 GPs next season.

Pit Beirer, Head of KTM Motorsports: “We are pleased to announce the factory team lineup for 2015, which I believe is a strong balance of both experience and talent. We already know we can expect great commitment from Tony Cairoli, Ken de Dycker and Jeffrey Herlings. We’re pleased to welcome Tommy Searle back into the factory team and with Pauls Jonass and Davy Pootjes we have two talented young riders under contract to secure our future. The competition continues to be very tough but we will be doing our best to keep KTM firmly in the forefront of these challenging championships.”

Copyright: Photo: KTM Racing

Today in Assomotor headquarter, owned by Alfredo Bevilacqua, the 2015 agreement between Alessandro Lupino and the team from Emilia has been signed. 
The rider from Viterbo will race the International of Italy and the FIM Motocross World Championship on the Honda CRF450 handled and prepared from Assomotor race department and supported directly by Honda RedMoto, Italian off-road distributor for Honda. The technical staff is full of well-known names of world motocross, such as Andrea Bertolini (World Champion 500cc – 1999) who will be the technical manager and coordinator of rider activities while Roland Solva will be in charge of the suspension department of the CRF450 2015. Tomasini R&D will develop and prepare the engines for the season, this yearly agreement has an option for 2016 season too.

Copyright: Photo: Press Assomotor

Ninetieth 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 90: Kegums comedown: report, opinion and killer images from Latvia and the 68th Motocross of Nations where France triumphed for the second time. Lorenzoland in Aragon; MotoGP makes a penultimate European stop at Motorland Aragon and JL seizes control again of the series before the epic flyaway leg. The countdown; a look back at the thrilling fight for the 2014 MX2 FIM title through the words and thoughts of the Red Bull KTM at the centre of the drama. Wheelie-king; meet the USA’s youngest and coolest motorcycle stunt master. Aaron Colton opens his garage and shows off the Super Duke heart of his shows.

Click here to read the 90th issue of OTOR

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 1 October 2014 - Nine-times US champion Ryan Villopoto will contest the FIM MXGP World Championship for the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team in 2015, while Jordi Tixier will defend his MX2 world title in Green.

Having won the Monster Energy FIM Supercross world title for the last four years, 26 year old Villopoto, a loyal Kawasaki rider throughout his professional career, will take on the challenge of the world's premier outdoor motocross series with the intention of bringing Kawasaki their first World Championship in the MXGP class; the worldwide series will host 18 rounds on four continents in 2015.

“I am ready for the next chapter in my career and to accomplish new goals,” said Villopoto. “I’ve never been one to look at the record books so when an opportunity like this comes around, to race against the best in the world and represent USA, I have to see it through. It will be a major change of pace, but I am extremely excited about the opportunity and also to be joined by a former champion like Tyla (Rattray). He knows what is needed to succeed on the world championship stage and I know I can learn a lot from him.”

Racing alongside Villopoto for the Kawasaki Racing Team in the MXGP class will be Tyla Rattray; the 28 year old South African won the MX2 world title in 2008 and was a regular race winner during a highly successful career in the USA with Kawasaki.

For Kawasaki Motors Europe, Racing Manager Steve Guttridge commented: “Ryan Villopoto is a truly global motocross star; for fans around the world to see him race on their home tracks will indeed be a privilege. After such dominance in Supercross it is refreshing and characteristically brave to see Ryan take on the world’s best MXGP riders and set his sights on supremacy in this class as well.”

Team owner Thierry Chizat Suzzoni proudly added: "For 2015, we are very excited to welcome Ryan Villopoto and Tyla Rattray into the Kawasaki Racing Team. It’s a fantastic challenge for the team and we are aware that the 2015 championship organized by Youthsteam is going to be very demanding, but our team is very enthusiastic and has ended this season on a high at the Motocross of Nations so we are going to actively prepare with the goal of taking up this challenge. I would like to thank Kawasaki, Monster Energy and all our partners for helping us to make this project become a reality."

MX2 world champion Jordi Tixier, who clinched the title in an epic duel at the final round in Mexico last month, will bolt the number one plate to his KX250F in the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team next season; his teammates will be Dylan Ferrandis and Thomas Covington.

2015 will be Tixier's final season in the MX2 class due to the age limitation ruling and will mark a welcome return to green machinery as he clinched a French junior title on a KX125 during his youth. Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team will focus next season exclusively on the MX2 class with the full support of the Kawasaki factory.

“I’m very happy to have signed with the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team; they approached me during the season and I saw how motivated they were to sign me," explained an enthusiastic Tixier. "It will give me further motivation to defend my World title on a new bike; I know that everyone in the team is motivated and so am I. The team have the support of the Kawasaki factory in Japan; we spoke a lot with the technical staff and I know that they are able to provide us with the best material for every situation.”

The 21 year old will be joined in the team by fellow French youngster Dylan Ferrandis (20) and the 18 year old American talent Thomas Covington. Each of them has already shown his competiveness this season as Ferrandis raced to a career first GP moto victory on his way to fourth in the final standings, while Covington proved his speed with a moto podium on his debut in Qatar in March.

Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki Motors Europe, said: “It's fantastic that Jordi is coming back into the Kawasaki family for 2015 in MX2. I truly hope he can take the final step in his MX2 career and get another World Champion title with Team Green before moving up to the MXGP class in 2016!  The team has a great line-up of riders again for next season and we are all motivated to give them the very best tools and equipment to win at world level on the KX250F."

Team owner Jean Jacques Luisetti commented: “Of course I'm delighted to have Jordi in the team alongside Dylan Ferrandis and Thomas Covington; we’ll have one of the best line-ups for next season and Jordi will make his first appearance for the team at the Paris-Lille Supercross next month. We will stop our investment in the MXGP class to focus on the competitive MX2 class where we have the full support of the Kawasaki factory and of course from our sponsors who trust in our project.”

Meanwhile, leading the charge in the U.S. for Kawasaki, the team welcomes two former 250 supercross champions as Davi Millsaps and Wil Hahn make their debut on the KX450F.

“We are extremely anxious to begin the 2015 season,” said Dan Fahie, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Manager. “We have big shoes to fill after winning four-straight supercross titles but I could not be more excited to have both Davi and Wil on the team. Both riders have proven to be top contenders in the 450 class and they are just as enthusiastic as we are to get back racing and on top of the box.”

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki is excited to return to sweeping the podium with a nearly all-new roster for 2015. Adam Cianciarulo returns for his second full year after an astounding rookie showing in 250 East Supercross, winning the first supercross he entered along with two additional wins and five podium finishes in five races. Four-time arenacross champion Tyler Bowers returns to the team for his first full season following special appearances that included a 250SX win at Las Vegas in 2013.

Chris Alldredge will make his supercross debut following impressive top-10 finishes in the last three Pro Motocross nationals along with Arnaud Tonus who will make his U.S. debut after competing in the MX2 World Championship for Kawasaki where he won the 2014 MXGP of Brazil. Rounding out the roster is Joey Savatgy who scored his first professional podium finish in Indiana with second overall.

“We have a fresh crop of riders for the new season, all of which have a lot of potential,” said Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit owner. “We expect Adam and Tyler to hit the ground running, while Alldredge and Tonus will be making their supercross debuts, and Savatgy will be looking for a breakthrough year. I expect nothing but the best from each of these guys every weekend.”

“We have put together a tremendous group of riders for the 2015 season. The championship proven line of KX bikes has allowed us to fill our stable with race winners and champions,” said Reid Nordin, Senior Manager of Racing for Kawasaki Motors Corporation. “Having TwoTwo Motorsports choose Kawasaki is important to us as well. Chad is a proven champion and knows he needs good equipment in order to be competitive and win. We’re also excited to have Hanny return to racing. He came close to winning a championship for us in the past and we believe he has the talent and determination to be competitive.”

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 29 September 2014 - Yesterday morning before the commencement of the final day of the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo took the opportunity to make some important announcements regarding the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar.

Mr. Luongo accompanied by the Club of Loket President, Mr. Duorak Zdenek, ACCR Vice President, Mr. Jan Stovicek and President of the motoclub Uddevalla, Mr. Magnus Thelin, confirmed that in 2015 there will be 18 rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Mr. Luongo was proud to announce the renewal of contracts between MXGP and Loket, Lommel, Uddevalla and Kegums.

“We have signed a multi-year contract with Loket, in the Czech Republic, we have come to an agreement with the support of the ACCR to improve the infrastructure, to create more room to grow the sport of motocross. We also, as we announced earlier this year, have renewed the contract with Lommel, Belgium, who have received support from the local political authorities. Also we will continue here in Latvia and we have also renewed the contract with our long time friends in Uddevalla, Sweden. We have also signed a long term contract with Argentina to organize an MXGP race in Neuquen.”

Mr. Luongo also mentioned that the season is scheduled to start around the same time as it did in the previous two years, with the opening Grand Prix taking place in Qatar. He also made a reference that the final round of MXGP 2015 would take place in Mexico once again, although this detail is yet to be confirmed. Last but not least, Mr. Luongo expressed his desire to continue to expand the FIM Motocross World Championship. It was also said that rounds that may possibly appear on the calendar in the near future stretch out as far as Australia, and of course, USA.

The official calendar for the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship can be expected within the next ten days.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM