The next press launch is from MXGP:
VILLA LA ANGOSTURA (Patagonia-Argentina) – The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship is right here and able to begin this weekend in Villa La Angostura for the beginning of what will be an exhilarating season.
The resort city of Villa La Angostura on Nahuel Huapi Lake is already buzzing for the MXGP season opener. The MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina is without doubt one of the high favourites on the racing calendar as it’s well-known for its scenic panorama on the foot of the Andes, the gorgeous forests and lakes and the welcoming those who characterise the Neuquen province.
The MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina first made its look on the MXGP calendar again in 2015 and the gorgeous darkish soil observe of Villa La Angostura might be internet hosting MXGP and the quickest riders on the earth for the seventh time!
There have been many adjustments which have taken place within the low season with riders transferring groups and groups altering producers which can make the opening spherical much more thrilling as we get to observe everybody lining up of their new colors!
After lacking 2022, all eyes might be on the long-awaited return of Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings to see if he can comeback on the high of the Championship. The Dutchman might be decided to win in 2023 to succeed in the unimaginable complete of 6 World Title and write his identify without end extra within the legend of motocross and take part third on the all-time listing, the Belgian legend Joel Roberts. The bullet might be anticipated to realize essential factors this weekend to get off to an excellent begin. He may also be capable to rely on the expertise of KTM’s new Workforce Supervisor Tony Cairoli, to assist him on his quest to carry a sixth Motocross World Championship.
Following a dominant show in 2022, defending MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser will sadly be lacking from the beginning line-up as he’s in restoration and out not less than for the start of the season as a result of damage he picked up in pre-season. Nevertheless, Workforce HRC can rely on his new teammate Ruben Fernandez to signify the staff as he’s able to battle for the high-end of the desk after 2 podiums final 12 months and a promising total eighth place on his first full season within the MXGP class.
The listing of contenders for the rostrum this weekend isn’t wanting extraordinarily gifted riders and we are able to anticipate RedBull GasGas Manufacturing unit’s Jorge Prado to be one in every of them. Yr on 12 months the Spaniard is bettering and he confirmed that final 12 months ending third within the Championship standings and shutting a powerful marketing campaign. It is going to be fascinating to see if Prado, well-known for his quick begins (16 Fox Holeshot in 2022), can preserve that benefit this season and add extra GP wins to his identify, beginning in Argentina this weekend the place he already received in MX2 in 2019. Becoming a member of the Spaniard is Mattia Guadagnini, who is able to begin his first full MXGP season after competing within the final 10 rounds final 12 months and gathering vital expertise within the high class.
One other staff that’s sure to be very robust once more and make an assault on the Championships might be Monster Power Yamaha Manufacturing unit MXGP who enters in 2023 with the identical line-up as final season.
Jeremy Seewer on the again of a outstanding season once more and ending 2nd behind Tim Gajser. The Swiss is without doubt one of the most constant riders during the last 5 years since stepping up from MX2 however remains to be ready to clinch the mighty title. Being a 5-time Vice Motocross World Champion, and after good leads to pre-season Seewer has all of the expertise required to clinch his first podium of the season.
There’s additionally Maxime Renaux who has proved in his Rookie season that he was very aggressive with 1 GP win in Spain, and ending the season simply exterior the Podium. Having received one race final 12 months in Argentina, Renaux confirmed that he’s greater than comfy on these tracks.
Glenn Coldenhoff confirmed final 12 months with 1 GP win and a powerful 2nd half of the season that he’s a drive to reckon with for 2023. With robust leads to the pre-season he arrives in Argentina with a number of confidence and might be preventing for a spot on the rostrum.
One other contender for the rostrum this week might be Kawasaki Racing Workforce’s Romain Febvre who’s again to his greatest after having missed a lot of the 2022 season as a consequence of damage however confirmed high quality within the final GPs of the marketing campaign. His good type has continued throughout pre-season and the 2015 MXGP World Champion has proven repeatedly how briskly he might be, which makes him a severe candidate to the rostrum this weekend.
On the again of a tenth place within the Championship final season, Mitch Evans has switched to Kawasaki Racing Workforce and might be Romain Febvre new teammate. The Australian is happy to work with Antti Pyrhönen and present his abilities on a Kawasaki KX450-SR.
We are able to additionally rely on Standing Assemble Honda to combat for a spot on the rostrum this weekend because the staff stored its skilled and constant line-up with Brian Bogers and Pauls Jonass. The 2 males confirmed nice show all through the 2022 season. Bogers with a GP win in Flanders and an total sixth place within the Championship is constantly bettering.
Jonass, ninth within the total standing in 2022, involves Argentina, with the benefit to have already received right here in 2018 in MX2 and has additionally been frequently within the high 10s final season.
Calvin Vlaanderen, who prolonged his contract with Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha is one to observe after profitable the MXGP of Sardinia and getting 2 podiums in 2022. He’ll enter into his 4th season in MXGP with the goal to construct on his final 12 months’s efficiency and win much more GPs and proceed to carry out on the highest degree.
Alberto Forato will attempt to enhance and construct up on his eleventh place in 2022 as he stays with SM Motion Racing. Though it’s fascinating to notice that SM Motion Racing will now change to a KTM equipment.
In the meantime, Ben Watson will be part of Alessandro Lupino to race underneath the all-Italian MRT Racing Workforce BETA. The pair will work collectively to develop a powerful motocross bike for the model.
This season with JM Honda Racing is Brent Van Doninck who has improved all all through final season to get 4 high 10s within the final 8 races with an total fifteenth place within the Championship. He’ll hope to construct on these outcomes to get a fair stronger season in 2023.
The Swiss Valentin Guillod has signed for Workforce Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR and can now be competing on Honda equipment together with his new teammate Rookie Stephen Rubini who stepped up from the MX2 class on the again of a ninth place within the Championship.
The Swedish staff JWR Honda Racing will current two new riders in a very new line-up with the skilled Swedish rider Alvin Ostlund and Hardi Roosiorg. Each riders will hop on the Honda CRF450R with the target to ship robust performances in 2023.
De Baets Yamaha Mx-Workforce has signed Benoit Paturel who desires to begin recent in 2023, after having struggled with accidents in 2022 and competing in 10 rounds. Making the change from a Honda to a Yamaha livery, the Frenchman is motivated for a wholesome and aggressive 2023 marketing campaign.
Lastly, Kevin Brumann will participate for the primary time in the complete MXGP season with JK Racing, after having taken his marks on the final 4 GPs final season. The younger Swiss rider, on board of the model new YZ450F will need to show he can compete on the high degree.
2022 MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina – MXGP high 3:
Whereas the competitiveness might be excessive in MXGP, the MX2 class promised to be simply as a lot difficult.
Monster Power Yamaha Manufacturing unit MX2’s Jago Geerts completed for the third time in a row Vice Motocross World Champion in MX2 final 12 months, in one of many tightest seasons now we have ever seen. Ending on the final race of the final spherical of the season in a “winner takes all of it” situation. The Belgian has now all of the instruments to be once more one of many greatest favourites in MX2 and eventually put his arms on a crown that has escaped him to this point [Note: 2022 MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle is now racing AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross.] After all, Geerts is a large contender for a podium this weekend in Argentina.
The opposite huge podium threats this season might be Simon Laengenfelder, the one MX2 rider of Crimson Bull Gasgas Manufacturing unit Racing. He appears to be able to placed on a tricky problem on Geerts after profitable one GP final 12 months and displaying a superb season to complete third within the total standing.
Together with Geerts, Monster Power Yamaha Manufacturing unit will current a really robust line-up that might be pushing week in week out for a spot on the rostrum with Thibault Benistant and EMX250 European Champion Rick Elzinga. Benistant might be one to observe as he’ll enter his third full MX2 season, having completed fifth within the Championship, with a GP win in Germany. Besides Vialle and Geerts, the Frenchman together with Laengenfelder have been the one different GP winners in 2022 which exhibits his capacities to be on the highest march of the rostrum in Argentina.
Elzinga however is stepping as much as MX2 as a European Champion with 4 GP wins underneath his belt in that class in 2022. The robust rider could compensate his lack of expertise at this degree together with his youthful drive to carry out immediately. The MXGP of Argentina would possibly simply be the chance for the younger Dutchman to placed on the present on his first MX2 GP.
The opposite rider which will problem the massive favourites is Kevin Horgmo. Though the F&H Kawasaki Racing rider skilled just one podium final season, his unimaginable consistency within the high 10s all through the marketing campaign exhibits his abilities. Simply exterior the general podium, the younger Danish rider will certainly race to win this season and would possibly properly begin in Argentina.
David Braceras may also make his debut in MX2 together with his new staff F&H Kawasaki Racing. A powerful performer all through the final EMX250 season, will probably be fascinating to see how excessive he can carry out underneath an skilled staff.
Defending World Champion staff Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing enters into 2023 with three new riders. On the again of a promising tenth place within the Championship, Liam Everts, who moved to Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing, might be using the highly effective KTM 250 SX-F which is the machine with probably the most titles in MX2, the final one was Tom Vialle in 2022. The Belgian needs to proceed the Everts legacy and challenges the highest of the leaderboard.
Crimson Bull KTM also can rely on Andrea Adamo who made the transfer from GasGas and who has been one the brightest star of the 2022 MX2 season. The third rider is Sacha Coenen that would be the actual Rookie of the staff, after stepping up from EMX250. Collectively and after a winter preparation that allowed them to really feel comfy on their new livery, Everts, Adamo and Coenen might be anticipated to be pushing for the highest, beginning this weekend.
This may very well be a 12 months the place Nestaan Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing upset the hierarchy with promising riders like Kay De Wolf and Roan Van De Moosdijk, each having saved a lot wanted expertise by their couple of MX2 season and reaching many podiums. There may be additionally the rookie Lucas Coenen (twin brother of Sacha) who’s new to the staff and stepping up from EMX250. Lucas Coenen had a powerful pre-season preparation displaying his motivation to enter the MX2 class.
One other one to be reminded is Mikkel Haarup from Massive Van World MTX Kawasaki. The Danish rider proved that he likes the circuit of Villa La Angostura as he completed third final season in Patagonia-Argentina. He finally ended on the seventh place within the Championship and might be one of many risk to podium finishes.
In rivalry for the highest spots may also be Tem JP253 Ktm Racing Workforce Jan Pancar who confirmed good flash of his potential final season and has made the change to a KTM equipment for the upcoming season.
Lastly, one other one to search for this season is Camden McLellan who signed for JM Honda Racing after an important and constant show final season in EMX250. He’s coming off a profitable pre-season which locations him as a possible challenger for podium finishes in 2023 and notably in Argentina this weekend for his first MX2 abroad racing.
Tom Guyon with Fantic Manufacturing unit Maddii is a rider who confirmed his expertise on his rookie season in 2022. The Frenchman confirmed that he’s a rider that may achieve to get a full MX2 season after ending on the fifteenth place total regardless of lacking the beginning of the season by accidents.
2022 MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina – MX2 high 3:
Tom Vialle
Jago Geerts
Mikkel Haarup
