The World Motocross Championship has been underway for awhile now. The American series only just begun, but the GPs have already completed five rounds. Let’s take a brief look at what has transpired in 2010 to get an idea of what to expect this weekend.
Round 1 – Sevlievo, Bulgaria
Max Nagl took the opening round victory.
Max Nagl claimed the top MX1 spot on his factory Red Bull KTM 450 with a 2-1 result. His orange counterpart, Tony Cairoli, gave KTM its first victory with the 350 SX-F with a win in Moto 2 (they call them heats, not motos). The Italian wound up second overall, but the second-moto win began a head of steam that he would ride for the next several rounds. Belgian rider Clement Desalle put his Rockstar Teka Suzuki on the podium in third.
In the MX2 division, KTM’s defending champion, Marvin Musquin, secured a 1-1 sweep with comfortable margins in each race. Suzuki’s Ken Roczen was second on his Teka Suzuki with Steven Frossard in third. KTM’s other factory 250 rider, Jeffrey Herlings, proved he’s capable of running up front with a third in the second moto..
Tony Cairoli is the Italian favorite and he won handily in his home country.
Cairoli had things dialed in his home country and the favorite and set another benchmark for the 350 with the bike’s first overall victory. The podium was the same as Round 1, though Desalle and Nagle swapped positions. Former world champion David Philippaerts struggled again on his Yamaha with crashes, but the early-season troubles are not indicative of what this Italian rider has to offer.
Musquin scored his third and fourth moto win, steamrolling the MX2 class for KTM after a late pass on teammate Herlings in Heat 1. American Zach Osborne narrowly missed the podium on his Bike-it Cosworth Yamaha UK machine.
Jeffrey Herlings collected his first win for KTM
Once again, Cairoli took the overall victory after an early win. Behind him were two former champions, Teka Suzuki’s Steve Ramon and Philippaerts in second and third, respectively. A dislocated shoulder for Desalle left extra room on the podium and allowed riders like Tanel Leok and Ken de Dycker to move up towards the front.
Herlings, at only 15 years old, the young MX2 rider thrilled his hometown crowd and picked up his first MX2 victory with a 1-1 performance. Frossard was third on his Kawasaki behind Roczen with Musquin having an off weekend in fifth.
Clement Desalle soldiered through the pain for a sin in Portugal. The Teka Suzuki rider is currently fourth overall.
Desalle hammered through the pain of his shoulder and came back to send a message to the MX1 class. The RM-Z450 rider rallied to a pair of second place finishes for the overall victory. Though Desalle won the war, Nagle and Cairoli won the battles with victories in Heat 1 and Heat 2, respectively. The two factory KTM riders tag-teamed the podium yet again with Cairoli emerging with the leader’s red numberplate.
Musquin was back in form for Round 4 and retook the red plate from Roczen. The French rider swept both motos for an even 50 championship points while teammate Herlings finished second. The German Suzuki rider was third and again American Zach Osborne poked into the top results in fourth.
Round 5 – Bellpuig, Spain
Tanel Leok picked up his first overall with a gritty ride in Moto 2 at Bellpuig.
The latest round in Spain saw Honda-mounted Leok claim his first victory of the season in the MX1 division. The Estonian rider edged Philippaerts by a single point with a win in Heat 2. Nagl put his KTM 450 at the front of the opening race, but crashes in the second outing ruined his chances at the overall, forcing the German into third for the day. Cairoli landed in fourth, the first time he failed to reach the podium in 2010, but the Italian carries the red plate into America this weekend.
Musquin extended his MX2 lead with a bit of Spanish luck. After a disappointing first moto, the Frenchman’s main competitors both DNF’d the second race. Roczen and Herlings suffered bad luck which damaged their championship hopes. Filling the gaps were Joel Roelants and Shaun Simpson, both KTM riders.
As you can see, the scene is very different in European motocross. Where KTM is the lowliest contender in the States, historically, the Austrian manufacturer is the big dog overseas, with the best riders and highly competitive bikes. It will be a very different sensation to have this many top-notch KTM riders on American soil.
Mike Alessi has proven that the KTM 350 is capable of being successful in America as well. Hopefully he comes out to square off with the GP guys.
Several American riders have been contesting the GPs all season, including Billy Laninovich, who is riding the factory Aprilia, and Jimmy Albertson in the MX1 division. Albertson is doubtful for this weekend as he is still under watch for a dislocated shoulder. Michael Leib grew up only 40 minutes from Glen Helen so he’ll be experience a homecoming of sorts, joined by Zach Osborn contesting the MX2. The factory teams have been quiet about announcing who will attend this weekend. It’s a dangerous proposition from the team standpoint. There is nothing to gain, but the risk of injury is great, which would essentially ruin the season for no reason. However, this is a historical opportunity, one that might be too good to pass up, plus the exposure will be great for the teams.
If any of the factory stars are going to come out, we’d anticipate Mike Alessi showing up on his Jagermeister KTM 350. KTM has the most to gain, especially considering the previous comment about the brand’s popularity in America. Who else has nothing but positives to gain from the USGP? James Stewart would be a nice surprise, but don’t hold your breath.
The excitement is reaching fever pitch as we head into the weekend. Bikes will fire up and lay tracks Saturday with practice and qualifying before race action starts Sunday (remember when we used to do this at the AMA Nationals?). Track workers are finalizing the little details that go into a high-level event and the organizer sent a message this morning saying:
“The track is in place, the bridges, paddock area, starting gate and infrastructure is in the final stages. Motocross teams and riders from all over the world are arriving by the hour.”
Aside from being the first USGP in decades, it also serves as a preview of the Motocross des Nations coming this September at Lakewood, CO. Watch for race reports throughout the weekend
USGP MX1 Rider List
Maximilian Nagl GER KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Kevin Strijbos BEL Suzuki Beursfoon Suzuki Mx Team
Joshua Coppins NZL Aprilia Aprilia Racing
Gareth Swanepoel RSA Honda Cas Honda Monster Energy
Ken De Dycker BEL Yamaha Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci
Anthony Boissiere FRA Tm Tm Racing Factory Team
Steve Ramon BEL Suzuki Team Rockstar Teka Suzuki World Mx1
Marc De Reuver NED Suzuki Beursfoon Suzuki Mx Team
Julien Bill SUI Aprilia Jk Datch Aprilia Racing
David Philippaerts ITA Yamaha Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team
Gregory Aranda FRA Kawasaki Bud Racing / Rockstar / Kawasaki
Rui Goncalves POR KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Clement Desalle BEL Suzuki Team Rockstar Teka Suzuki World Mx2
Yentel Martens BEL KTM Nestaan Jm Racing KTM
Davide Guarneri ITA Honda Ls Honda
Tanel Leok EST Honda Ls Honda
Matthias Walkner AUT KTM Hillinger KTM Mx - Racing Team
Ivo Steinbergs LAT Honda Latvia Elksni Honda Team
Kevin Wouts BEL Kawasaki Sturm Racing Team
Shannon Terreblanche RSA Kawasaki Sturm Racing Team
Sebastien Pourcel FRA Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team
Cedric Soubeyras FRA KTM KTM Sarholz Racing Team
Xavier Boog FRA Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team
Billy Laninovich USA Aprilia Aprilia Racing
Antonio Cairoli ITA KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Nicolas Aubin FRA Kawasaki Bud Racing / Rockstar / Kawasaki
Jimmy Albertson USA Honda Honda Racing Mx
Evgeny Bobryshe V RUS Honda Cas Honda Monster Energy
USGP MX2 Rider List
Marvin Musquin FRA KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Shaun Simpson GBR KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Petr Smitka CZE KTM KTM Sarholz Racing Team
Gautier Paulin FRA Yamaha Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team
Arnaud Tonus SUI Suzuki Teka Suzuki Europe World Mx 2
Joël Roelants BEL KTM Nestaan Jm Racing KTM
Valentin Teillet FRA KTM KTM Hdi Mx Team
Jake Nicholls GBR KTM Hm Plant Red Bull KTM Uk
Alessandro Lupino ITA Yamaha Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci
Jeremy Van Horebeek BEL Kawasaki Kawasaki Team Cls
Matiss Karro LAT Suzuki
Alessandro Battig ITA Honda Honda Racing Mx
Ken Roczen GER Suzuki Teka Suzuki Europe World Mx 3
Jeffrey Herlings NED KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Mel Pocock GBR Yamaha Bike It Cosworth Yamaha Uk
Harri Kullas FIN Yamaha Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy
Michael Leib USA Kawasaki Bud Racing / Rockstar / Kawasaki
Steven Frossard FRA Kawasaki Kawasaki Team Cls
Loic Larrieu FRA Yamaha Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci
Dennis Verbruggen BEL KTM Nestaan Jm Racing KTM
Zach Osborne USA Yamaha Bike It Cosworth Yamaha Uk
Christophe Charlier FRA Yamaha Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy
Nick Kouwenberg NED Yamaha Jumbo Tve Mx - Team
