MXGP

With what has been a mega season of MXGP racing in our rearview, we flash back on some the best moments captured by the stars of MXGP and MX2 with their GoPro on-board cameras. Thanks to GoPro and their awesome, compact, versatile and durable GoPro Hero3+ devices, we have been able to experience some of the most real and raw moments experienced throughout the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship from the rider’s perspective, in crystal clear HD format.

Click HERE to watch the video and get amongst it!

When you think ‘MXGP’, you think the world’s fastest motocross riders, the world’s best circuits, the world’s best teams and … the world’s prettiest girls! This is why the team at www.MXGP.com have introduced a new section to our awesome website, Monster Energy Girls!

If you scroll down, right in between the ‘News’ and ‘Calendar’ panels are click-able sections in the following order: Tracks, Teams, Riders and now, Monster Energy Girls.

We know it’s hard to say ‘no’ to a bit of eye-candy, especially when you are exhausted, so don’t say ‘no’, click, enjoy and thank us, and the team at Monster Energy later!  

Photo: Monster Energy

Returning to competitive action following a season curtailed by injury, Husqvarna racing catches up with Todd Waters.

Sitting seventh overall in the MXGP classification after round five of the FIM Motocross World Championship, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Todd Waters was on course to become the standout rookie in 2014. But an unfortunate training accident prior to the MXGP of The Netherlands saw the popular young Australian sidelined with a broken leg, hip and collarbone.

Now with the all clear to race again, Waters returned to racing at the final round of the ADAC German Motocross Championship. Placing a highly impressive fifth in race one, Waters is delighted to be back on track.

Husqvarna Racing News: Todd, what did it feel like to finally get back behind a starting gate again?

TODD: “It felt really, really good. I’m a racer – racing’s what I love to do. You can practice and train day after day but there’s no feeling in the world that beats lining up alongside 39 other riders that are all gunning for that same piece of ground in the first corner.”

HRN: To finish fifth in your first race back must have been a welcome surprise. Did you have any expectations leading into the event?

TODD: “We were racing with a very open mind. Honestly, the team and myself where there just to get a feel for things. They put no pressure on me to deliver a result – they just wanted me to finish both races. On Saturday I was naturally nervous and a bit rusty so I only qualified 16^th. That gave me a bad gate pick but somehow I started good and was running as high as third before eventually crossing the finish line in fifth.”

HRN: Rain before the second race made things difficult, how did you deal with the slippery conditions?

TODD: “I like riding in the mud but up until that point I hadn’t ridden in mud for a very long time. I had done all my training on sand tracks like Lommel so it was hard to adapt. My start wasn’t so good this time and I got filled in during the first few corners. But like I said, we were just there for the practice. Getting two full motos in was the most important result for us.”

HRN: When did you make the decision to return to racing?

TODD: “I started back riding about four weeks ago. I had hoped to be ready a little earlier than that so I could race the final GP’s but it just didn’t work out. At 14 weeks after my injury I rode for three days but I wasn’t ready. My ankle was giving me a lot of pain so Antti Pyrhönen – my team manager – made the decision to wait. Even though I wanted to ride he could see I wasn’t ready. In hindsight I have a lot to thank him for because it was the right call to make. It’s good to know that the team have my best interests at heart.”

HRN: Recovery wise what have you been doing to help your rehabilitation?

TODD: “I’ve been lucky to have the support of Red Bull helping me in my recovery. During the first four weeks I spent most of my time resting and allowing the bones to heal. From there it was a matter of slowly building everything back up. Daily physio at Red Bull’s facility in Austria was interesting. They really opened up my eyes to new ways of doing things. We worked a lot on balance and building up my core strength while barefooted. It was a lot of fun.”

HRN: Although you missed out on the majority of the season with injury, have you settled into European living?

TODD: “Personally, that’s one of the most important things I can take away from this year. Prior to January I had no base in Europe. I was still sort of commuting between Australia and Belgium. Now I know what I’m about. I’ve got a home, a car and a life – I feel settled. I’m already excited for next year.”

HRN: What are your plans for the off-season? Will you return home to Australia?

TODD: “We have a little bit more training and testing to do here first. I also need to visit Red Bull for a three-day fitness assessment where we’ll work on a training programme for when I return home. About the second week of October I fly back to Australia and from then until Christmas it’s about working hard to be ready for 2015.”

HRN: Finally, with the Motocross of Nations taking place this weekend who‘s your money on for the win!

TODD: “It’s got to be Australia. I’ll be cheering hard for those guys. It would be cool to see them on the podium!”

Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing

At the 2014 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations there will be a long list of European nations looking to continue the domination Europe have over the last couple of years.

Of course everyone will remember the way Team Germany won the Chamberlin Trophy back in 2012 around the very tough Lommel circuit. With perfection from their MX2 rider Ken Roczen and solid back-up performances by Max Nag and Marcus Schiffer it was always going to be difficult to beat them as Team USA struggled in the deep sand.

A year later at the Teutchenthal circuit in Germany it was the always competitive Belgian team of Clement Desalle, Ken De Dycker and Jeremy van Horebeek who scored the least points, thus walking away with the winner champagne. Despite a final moto crash by Desalle and DNF the Belgian team still stopped Team USA from adding to their already impressive 22 MXoN victories.

Now in 2014 the nations line up to challenge each other for the most important prize in motocross. This year hasn’t been the most friendly for the European teams, with major injuries to riders like Clement Desalle, Ken De Dycker and Jeffrey Herlings, while the non-appearance of Ken Roczen and Jordi Tixier will make the job of beating Team USA even more difficult.

The French even without their MX2 world champion Tixier have a strong line-up. Gautier Paulin loves this event and has won two motos in his time as a Team France rider, winning motos in 2009 in Italy and 2011 in France. Paulin burst back into form with his victory at the last GP of the season in Mexico, and will be excited to once again line-up against the American riders.

“The Motocross of Nations is a special event,” Paulin said. “Everyone who races the MXoN wanted to perform at their best. I feel lucky to have won two motos, and to be able to represent my country in Latvia gives me great pride.”

Alongside Paulin will be Dylan Ferrandis and Steven Frossard. Frossard too has performed well in the MXoN finishing with a 5^th place in a moto in 2009. Frossard also won an MX2 GP at Kegums a few years ago, so his hopes will be high come next weekend. France have only won the MXoN on one occasion, at the Namur circuit in Belgium in 2001, when David Vuillemin, Luigi Seguy and Yves Demaria shocked the Belgian team to take victory.

Other European teams looking for some success will be Team Great Britain with Shaun Simpson, former AMA 250 champion Dean Wilson and big event rider Tommy Searle, and of course Team Italy with MXGP world champion Antonio Cairoli, Davide Guarneri and former world champion David Philippaerts.

Team GB haven’t won the event since 1994, and despite being one of the most successful nations in the MXoN, it would be a huge surprise if they won in Latvia. Italy have two victories in the MXoN, in 2002 and in 1999.

Marchetti Racing team KTM has reached an agreement with rider Jose Antonio Butron Oliva. The Spanish champion, and third place at the 2013 World Championship MX2, in 2015 will be part of the team led by Elio Marchetti, with the direct support of KTM.
Butron, twenty-three years old, will be riding the KTM 350 SX F in the next MXGP World Championship season, and will be assisted already by KTM Marchetti Team at the 2014 Motocross of Nations, scheduled for 28th September in Kegums (Latvia) where he will race for the Spanish Team in the MXGP category.
Butron, ninth in the top-ten of the MX2 World Championship in 2014 season, in 2015 will also attend the Internazionali d'Italia Championship and the Spanish Motocross Championship.
 
Elio Marchetti (Marchetti Racing KTM team manager): ‘It's with great pleasure that I welcome a rider I admire for his determination, courage and desire to win; in MX2 he has been amongst the protagonists. Amazing in the starting, I think he has a great potential to express even in the difficult highest class, the MXGP, and I am sure he will settle very well in our team’.

Jose Butron: 'Next season will be very important for my career because it will be my first season in the hardest class, the MXGP. I am confident I can do well and I’ll try to prepare myself at best. The opportunity offered by the  KTM Marchetti team is perfect for me: I know that they guide and follow their riders a lot, and I am not too bad with Italian language. I have everything it takes to do the best’.

In the MX2 class is confirmed for the 2015 season the rider Ivo Monticelli, best italian of the category. Born in Filottrano (Ancona), twenty years old, Monticelli will ride the Internazionali d’Italia Championship and the Motocross World Championship MX2 class, with the KTM SX 250 F by KTM Marchetti Racing team.

Ivo Monticelli: 'I am happy to continue with the KTM Marchetti team. I found myself very well with them and this season we did a great job. Unfortunately there was some physical problem but we have also done something good in the difficult and hard-fought MX2. I am confident for the next season; we will try to get in the best condition '.
 
2014 has been a positive season for the KTM Marchetti Racing. Some injuries have not allowed Pauls Jonass and Ivo Monticelli to achieve the expected results, but both have shown a continuous growth, which has allowed Jonass to shine enough to earn promotion to the official KTM MX2 team , and Monticelli to fight consistently in the top-ten of the MX2 World Championship. 
The team has also increased its engagement with young riders, and has led Andrea Zanotti to the Italian junior 85cc. title. 
 

Jose Antonio Butron Oliva.

Born  27/01/1991 in Chiclana de la Frontera (Cadice)
Race number: #17
Website: www.josebutron.com
His first race at 7 years old. Second in the 2005 junior 125cc World CHampionship, Butron ha has won nine  Andalucia Motocross National Championships; eight Spanish Motocross National Championships. Third in the final classification of the 2013 MX2 World Championship, e has reached eight MX2 World Champioship podiums.

Copyright: Photo: Marchetti Racing Team KTM

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Antonio Cairoli is the living proof dreams come true. After being given his big break in 2004 by Claudio De Carli, Team Manager of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MXGP, Cairoli took third place in the FIM MX2 World Championship in his rookie season. From then on, 'Tony' as he is called by all his friends, family and millions of fans, has gone on to claim an incredible eight FIM Motocross World Championship titles, six in MXGP and two in MX2, with the eighth being locked down in the first race at MXGP of Goias just a couple of weeks ago. 

As a small celebration, the team at MXGP-TV.com made a cool video. Click HERE to check it out!

MXGP-TV’s 26mn Magazine is a filmed production that covers all the action, both on the track and off, with highlights from racing in MXGP and MX2, a GoPro on-board lap of the track as well as the inside scoop from the pits at each round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

It was and will go down in history as one of the most gripping FIM Motocross World Championship finales in history. Amidst the cactus’ that decorated the infield of the all new circuit in Leon, Mexico, all craziness was breaking loose as both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Jeffrey Herlings and Jordi Tixier vied for the 2014 FIM MX2 World Championship crown. Meanwhile, the saying goes “you’re only as good as your last race”, and with MXGP of Leon being the final world championship round until next year, it was a relentless race for bragging rights for the hard chargers in MXGP.

So, it wasn’t ALL taco’s in tequila in Mexico. Check out the vid of what really happened at the final round of the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship by clicking HERE or tune into Eurosport tonight, Wednesday 17^th September at 23:50 (CET).

Eighty-ninth 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 89: Mexican melee; MXGP rounds off for 2014 with altitude, attitude and a tense climax to the MX2 title chase. Ray Archer imagery, report and perspective inside. Gautier takes the lid off; a special and personal interview with one of MXGP’s most charismatic stars with a cool photoshoot to match. GP also chats 2015 and the future. On the trails with MXGP; Arnaud Tonus, a new Scott bicycle, some sunny off-road trails and then an intro to Scott’s 2015 wares. What could go wrong? It was bloody…

Click here to read OTOR 89

The final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship took place today in Leon, Mexico. If you want a brief summary of what went on, watch the video highlights in the film below.