MXGP Mag #20 May 2015

#20_MAY 2015

HALL E OF FAM

Danntye

Lapor

f o n o i t u The Evol

t n e m e l C e l l a Des

RACING CATCH UP

RIDER OF THE MONTH Clement Desalle

07 10 17 20 28 30 38 42 46 52 58 60

INDEX

COOL SHOT

MONSTER GIRLS

HALL OF FAME Danny Laporte

MXGP MAG: Chief Editor: Marionna Leiva Photos: Youthstream YOUTHSTREAM Media World Trade Center II Rte de Pré-Bois 29 1215 Geneva 15 Airport Switzerland MXGP Mag #20 May 2015 The articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of Youthstream.

Then content of this publication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written.

The copying of articles and photos even partially is forbidden unless permission has ben requested from Youthstream in advance and reference is made to the source (©Youthstream).

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EDITORIAL

Giuseppe Luongo President of Youthstream Group

Dear MXGP Friends, After 5 rounds MXGP looks more unpredictable than ever; Nagl leads with 5 points in front of Desalle, 30 in front of Cairoli and 36 in front of Paulin, and Villopoto will be back in the battle as soon as he recovers from his tail bone injury. Up until today the races show 5 of the 6 candidates with the potential to win, unfortunately for Van Horebeek he has not been able to respect the prognostics due to his injury. Febvre has made an outstanding start to the season, he has confirmed his place in the midst of the best and has jumped from his role as

rookie to that of a podium contender.

Every race is thrilling; whoever would have imagined Cairoli taking 47 points in Pietramurata which is one of his not-so-favorite circuits and only 14 in Valkenswaard which is one of his best, and Villopoto crashing in Pietramurata to lose 3 heats’ points, and Paulin, who, after starting his season off slowly collected a fantastic victory in Valkenswaard. At the moment the classification supports to the 2 most regular (and fast) riders: Nagl and Desalle. Nagl is who has won the most with 4 race victories, Desalle has had 1 race

victory but has always been in the top 4, Cairoli 2, Paulin 2 and Villopoto 1. With Villopoto fully recovered from his injury and Cairoli’s hand repaired, Spain and England are bound to give us some more surprises.

This year’s Championship will be considered like the best Championship in the history of Motocross because so many riders have the potential to win, and also for the overall level of all the competitors which is extremely high at every position. Finally MXGP has become the class we have dreamt of: the class of the stars, and it will continue to be just that thanks to the arrival of the young

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and talented riders coming especially from the MX2 class and from the European Championships.

With such a high level of competition and with so many stars racing for the final victory, surely more twists of the plot await us in the months to come.

Meanwhile, in the MX2 class the bullet, Jeffrey Herlings, confirms his domination, but behind him there is a fabulous fight between many capable

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success in terms of racing, public, and media, and the success was confirmed the following weekend by the Grand Prix of Europe in The European 125cc and 250cc Championships, which Valkenswaard. started their season in PiThe last 2 months have etramurata and continued in Valkenswaard, registered shown an extraordinary growth in MXGP social methe record number of riddia; very important numbers ers’ presence and demonhave been reached which strated the potential of those Championships, which pulls MXGP in front of many are the fundamental base of other major sports. As an example: on YouTube there the World Championships. was an increase of nearly 3 million viewers per month!

The Grand Prix of Trentino, in Pietramurata, was a huge Let’s try and keep this trend! young riders like Ferrandis, Jonass, Gajser, Tonkov and Tixier.

COOL SHOTS

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F

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HOLESHOT

FOX HOLESHOT TRENTINO AND EUROPE

You would be hard placed to find two more different start lines than those that lie on the Pietramurata and Valkenswaard circuits, but when you are hot you’re hot and the same men roared to the front to duke out the Fox Holeshot award at both events.

Let’s start with MX2 where there was a welcome return to

racing action for the number 1 plate of Jordi Tixier. Something seemed to have clicked in his enforced absence and the combination of perfect reactions and a very fast Monster Energy Kawasaki between his legs meant two dominant holeshots on Sunday to take him into a tie with Jeffrey Herlings in the standings. He was pushed hard for it in race two by Aleksandr

Tonkov on the brand new 2016 FC250 Husqvarna but with only 20 hours on the bike things weren’t quite dialed in for the latest Austrian race machine.

Fast forward one week to the sands of Valkenswaard and the Russian and his new motorcycle were suddenly the pair to beat.

Packing a sand gate is a different proposition to a traditional

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soil surface with a top layer that breaks up far more quickly when the bikes launch off the line. It takes a lot of thought to get it right, just ask Max Nagl whose Saturday start practice consisted of four minutes thirty of the five minute window preparing a start spot, and one single start to see how it panned out. His brand make Tonkov got it right both times when it counted on Sunday, ripping into the first left hand part of the opening chicane with enough of a head start to defend his line on the exit and cross the holeshot line in the lead, by race two he had it down to a fine art and had a good 4 bikes lengths over his competition. Those 2 points, when added to his single point from Argentina, have put him into the lead of

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the contest after 10 moto starts, and with improvements sure to come from the new bike package, Tonkov could be the man to beat as the European season gets into its stride.

Max Nagl was the man on a mission coming into the Grand Prix of Trentino with 3 points to his name and supremely consistent starting prowess on his righteously powerful Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna. Out of the 4 starts over two Grand Prix he netted 50% of the haul, one at each GP, and if it wasn’t for a firm but fair move from Tony Cairoli in moto 1 in Italy, where he used his inside line to ease the German into the turn one berm, he would have further extended his lead in the competition.

Nagl would leave the next race in the Netherlands with a considerable 3-point advantage over Cairoli after hooking up his start perfectly in race 1, but he had to concede race 2 to the Yamaha Factory racing Yamalube machine of Romain Febvre (plus the two Hondas of Bobryshev and Paulin) in a debut hole shot for the MXGP rookie.

So Husqvarna seems to have the nack of the Fox holeshot right now with their bikes and riders leading both competitions as we head towards the next race on the dusty hillside of Talavera de la Reina, a track with one of the longest and fastest start straight/turn one combinations of the year, watch out for the white bikes on the 10th of May!

RACING CATCH UP

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TRENTINO & VALKENSWAARD

INTENSIFY

Believe the hype! It’s real. MXGP 2015 continued its intensity as it touched down in Europe and notched the dazzling spectacle of the MXGP of Trentino and the MXGP of Europe to its belt of ground breaking Grand Prix.

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MXGP OF TRENTINO Starting with round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Trentino, formerly known as Arco di Trento, has had a rebranding as the Pietramurata track, but it’s still that same compact and rocky circuit shadowed by the Dolomite Mountains with stunning views.

While the scenery made the silent atmosphere on Thursday extremely calming and good for the mind, body and soul, the Grand Prix that kicked off on Friday was an intoxicating brain blast of action and noise. The racing was next level awesome, especially with the thousands of rowdy fans all jamming in to the venue to support their favourite riders.

most popular riders in the world, Antonio Cairoli lit up the atmosphere with his first moto win, which wasn’t an easy feat as he had Max Nagl, Clement Desalle and Ryan Villopoto hounding him all the way to the finish. The racing was amazing and it was on the heels of that race that the championship took a turn. Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl busted out his fourth Fox Holeshot of the season which saw him go unchallenged for his fourth MXGP race victory of the season and his third MXGP overall. While that was a surprise on its own, the second race also saw Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto go down in what will be one of the most talked about crashes of the year.

Italian fan favorite, and one of the

Meanwhile in MX2, things got

just as crazy. Race one saw ‘The Bullet’ run away in typical Jeffrey Herlings style, while race two threw a spanner in the works.

When the gates dropped Herlings was buried in around tenth while the defending FIM MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier pulled the holeshot. Right on Tixier back wheel was Gariboldi Honda’s Tim Gajser and he wasted no time in railing around Tixier for the lead.

From then on, it was a game of catch up for Herlings as Gajser ran a scintillating pace out front.

With one lap to go, every single motocross fan inside the cozy venue of Pietramurata was on their feet, whooping and roaring as Herlings threw everything he had on the table to catch and pass Gajser. But the Slovenian was relentless on his mission, with extra motivation provided by the thou-

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sands of fans that had journeyed from his home country to watch him race. As his lead dwindled in the last 4 laps the race intensified, until the last lap when Herlings lost traction coming out of a heavily shadowed 180 degree corner and hit the deck, rewarding Gajser with his first race win of the year and the first Grand Prix victory of his career.

And if that wasn’t enough the icing on the cake for the Gajser is that he has become the first rider to beat a healthy Herlings with an undamaged perfectly running bike since Tommy Searle back in 2012.

MXGP OF EUROPE A cat was thrown in the bag at the fifth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. Taking place in the already treacherous black sand, the track in Valkenswaard for the MXGP of Europe shaped up gnarlier than ever.

With a long dry spell preceding the race weekend the track was

more demanding than normal and it saw the eight time FIM Motocross World Champion Tony Cairoli go down hard, which forced him out of race one, while Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin made light work of the circuit as he ran-away for his first race win of the season.

In race two, a positive Cairoli was back on the line, although it has been recently revealed that he has a small fracture to his hand. So with Cairoli wounded and an absent Villopoto, the two riders with FIM World Championship titles to their names weren’t really in the running and even if they were, it’s doubtful that they would have had anything for Gautier Paulin in the Netherlands as he stepped it up, rode like a machine in every race to go unbeaten for his first grand prix victory of the year.

In MX2, it will come as no surprise to know that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings was unstoppable. Race one saw ‘The Bullet’ smoke everyone, while in

race two, he did give the rest of the field a smidge of a chance when he got off to a shocker of a start and eventually binned it in half way into lap two.

With that a chunk of drama was injected into the MX2 race, but Valkenswaard is sand, and Jeffrey’s talent in the sand is second to none. Therefore, the Dutchman with an abundance of screaming fans all standing behind him, carved his way back through the pack to take his second win of the day, his first overall Grand Prix win since the MXGP of Thailand and his sixth consecutive grand prix win at the circuit of Valkenswaard.

So with two more epic rounds of MXGP stapled to the wall, there is a weekend free before the championship contenders traipse off to Spain for the sixth round of the championship where they can get their scrub on at one of the most natural terrain circuits on the calendar. It will also be exciting to have Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto back on the gate, along with the possible return of Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos. See you there!

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FIM Motocross World Championship

Standings MXGP CHAMP. STANDINGS

MX2 CHAMP. STANDINGS

1. M. Nagl (GER, HUS) , 214 points 2. C. Desalle (BEL, SUZ) , 209 p.

3. A.Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 184 p.

4. G. Paulin (FRA, HON) , 178 p.

5. R. Febvre (FRA YAM) , 156 p.

6. E. Bobryshev (RUS, HON) 138 p.

7. R. Villopoto (USA, KAW) , 124 p.

8. S. Simpson (GBR,KTM), 98 p.

9. T. Waters (AUS, HUS) , 92 p.

10. G. Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 86 p.

1. J.Herlings (NED, KTM),222points 2. D. Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 185 p.

3. P. Jonass (LAT, KTM), 148 p.

4. T. Gajser (SLO, HON) , 137 p.

5. A. Tonkov (RUS, HUS) , 133 p.

6. V. Guillod (SUI, YAM), 129 p.

7. J. Seewer (SUI, SUZ) , 125 p.

8. J. Lieber (BEL, YAM), 121 p.

9. J. Tixier (FRA, KAW), 115 p.

10. T. Covington (USA, KAW), 102 p.

MXGP MANUFACTUERS 1. Husqvarna 2. Suzuki 3. KTM 4. Honda 5. Yamaha 6. Kawasaki 7. TM

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218 points 209 points 201 points 179 points 161 points 157 points 70 points

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MX2 MANUFACTUERS 1. KTM 2. Kawasaki 3. Yamaha 4. Honda 5. Husqvarna 6. Suzuki

244 207 161 157 136 125

points points points points points points

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MXGP SOCIAL

TWITTER, FACEB IN THE WORLD OF #MXGP @getofftheroaduk ‬ Credit to @ryan_villopoto2 for racing & doing well in @mxgp this year. Good to see he’s got the guts to leave his comfort zone & race abroad

@OnTrackOffRoad ‬ Amazing @TimGajser243 crash image from Ray Archer at Euro @mxgp.

@charmainejoice Need i say more?!?! @ JHerlings84 is a certified machine!!! Nailed it again bullet! @mxgp @getofftheroaduk ‬‬ ‬‬ @Stevemilne40 great to have a new @mxgp fan, welcome to the best show on earth #MXGP @waspy1986 Watching @mxgp on Motors TV. I’m new to watching this but it’s brilliant! @MCRogWarren ‬ ‬‬ Fab weekend @mxgp Europe.

Herlings paulin & sterry, superb , and met some mx legends . #happydays‬‬ @LiamThomas20 Such a mega weekend at @ mxgp ... @JHerlings84 is something else in the sand! #mxgp

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@panclan02 @MCRogWarren @mxgp Fab weekend hungry for more #bringonmxgpGB

You can WIN some awesome prizes this year by participating in the GET, ATHENA Photo Competition.

All you have to do to go into the draw to win one of three sweet prizes is: 1.Find any ATHENA or GET Logo at any round of MXGP this year.

2.Take a photo of it.

3.Upload it to the Athena GET Photo Competition app on MXGP’s Facebook page with the hashtag #MXGP #Athenalive.

Logo’s can be found on the rider’s gear, on the bikes, on the team trucks, and around the paddock of MXGP on various other banners and advertising panels.

The prizes up for grabs are: •Two VIP passes to any 2016 MXGP round of your choice •Go Pro prize pack •Ogio Prize The picture VOTED the best, will win.

Sound easy enough? Find an Athena or GET logo, snap a pic and upload it to Facebook.

Click HERE To go to the competition page.

There were some battles in Trentino that define what MXGP is all about.

Here is one of them, it includes Ryan Villopoto’s CRASH with GoPro footage too:

Tony Cairoli had a rough weekend in Valkenswaard at MXGP of Europe. In race one he had an enormous crash, which forced him OUT of the race.

WATCH the crash here:

BOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE

@jeffrey_herlings84 was shining for many reasons in Valkenswaard...gold everywhere!

@alexv60 #MXGP #Gautierpaulin #French

@jamiej3771 They dont mess around with AMB Transponders at the world round’s! #Tag #TagHeuer #Transponder #AMB#MyLaps #FIM #MXGP #STYLE

@gabrielle_30 Funny weekend at Valkenswaard with people going up to @davehamlet asking for his autograph thinking he’s @ryanvillopoto

@bradlewis91 Mxgp of Holland @ craiglewis24 #mxgp#valkenswaard

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The evolution of Clement Desalle

The first time I ever interviewed Clement Desalle was on top of the Rockstar Energy station at the German GP in 2011. Before that point I had only heard less than flattering advice on how to approach an interview with the Belgian. In all honesty I thought the interview went pretty well, he answered my questions politely and sat still long enough to record the interview we needed, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, perhaps on the upcoming races but most certainly not on the people there to interview him, it was exactly what I had been told to expect and was part and parcel of getting answers from the reluctant star.

PHOTO:RAY ARCHER

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Fast forward to 2015 and my latest sit down with him at the Grand Prix of Patagonia, Argentina and he was a different man.

Chatty, relaxed and happy, if not eager, to engage in conversation with me and the crew before the interview began, his only slight complaint was the roasting lamb on the open fire nearby, as a happy owner of a gaggle of goats the charring meat in his field of view wasn’t his number one choice of location, but nonetheless he gave a candid and responsive interview which you can see here.

Since then he has held on to the red plate through the South American races and the slick conditions of Trentino with a level of consistency and muted in-

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tensity that has been exhilarating to watch, off the back of that his podium and post race interviews have also been more chirpy and upbeat, especially when thanking the guys looking after his cherished golden Labrador.

Despite this new found joie de vivre Desalle is still a fairly guarded man so, on the Saturday after qualifying in Valkenswaard, MXGP Mag sat down with the man who has overseen 90% of Desalle’s time in MXGP, Rockstar Energy Suzuki team manager, and motocross legend in his own right, Sylvain Geboers, to get the inside scoop on what makes up the Clement Desalle of 2015.

MXGP Mag: You’ve known him as a racer as long as most people. How has he developed, personally and as a rider?

Sylvain Geboers: “He has progressed year by year as a rider, in let’s say small steps. He never wanted to take big steps at once, I think on one side he was afraid to run into accidents and so on, but on the other hand accidents have withheld him from further development, especially in the results. But year after year he made progress especially now he has been working more on his weak point, which was sand riding. He has always been a strong character but for a long time he used that energy for things that were not really important for racing, right now he is concentrating on the racing and using all his energy on the racing, he isn’t thinking about the public or the track.”

MXGP Mag: Where has that come from, this added maturity?

Geboers: “He is only 26 and he is a clever man and I think he sits down and reflects on what happens and tries to improve from there and that is the most important thing at the moment that he makes his chances. He is clever and he thinks and he takes it step by step, small steps, never too much at once to overstep.”

Desalle himself concurs with that assessment of his approach, it’s not perhaps something that has been communicated so well in the past but now the message rings loud and clear, he has paid his dues and learnt from his mistakes.

Clement Desalle: “Every year that it comes I have taken some experience, so I try all the time to improve myself with that experience and compared to 2011 I

have all the time tried to find small things that can be better for the future, I have improved myself since then for sure. It’s true that I think the best form a rider can have is between 25 and 30, I think you have all the capacity of your body at this time.”

MXGP Mag: Do you think he uses that calculated mind on the race track when the gate drops because calculated and step by step is not necessarily what a lot of people would call to mind when they watch Clement race?

Geboers: “I don’t think so, I think he races race after race, today he is not thinking about the final, of course he thinks about the championship but that is still far away, he knows that he has to progress from race to race not too much at once.

MXGP Mag: Why does it work in this team, what is it that means that you have wanted to stay with him and he has wanted to stay with you for the length of time that you have, staying together as a team when it would be so easy to pick another route?

Geboers: “Because he is a good rider, he is honest, and we work in a professional way. He has a lot of respect for what we do and he has respect for us, so in the 5 years, 6 years now, all those times he has only over reacted once, that was Thailand in 2014 when he was ready to win the race and he had a problem with the fuel. That was not a problem with the team or the bike and that was something when he over heated and it was the only time it happened and he

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that distance helps in a way?

Geboers: “I think we must keep that distance to keep the job clear, not mixing MXGP Mag: It is rare un- up emotions, not bringing less you are Tony Cairoli emotional things into the with Claudio De Carli, that race.” sort of thing. How do you personally view Clement, MXGP Mag: That is somewhat is your relationship thing some riders strive with him and how close is for in a team, they want to your contact or how much feel warmth and accepted do you step back, how does and perhaps Clement has that role work? found that level of emoGeboers: “We are working tional support elsewhere together as professionals, that has helped him develnot more than that, we re- op more? spect each other very much Geboers: “Every rider is but not more than rider to different, and as team boss team boss, I have never I think you have to apprebeen to his house for exciate the rider for what he ample but everything works is, we don’t have to change great.” his character, we appreciate who he is and try to MXGP Mag: Do you think work together as well as excused himself 10 minutes later and I think working almost 6 years together is rare.”

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possible and that is how he respects us.”

MXGP Mag: Talk us through your views on the first races, you must be pretty content to be in this position and have held onto the red plate for 3 rounds and defended a championship lead, that must be something you have felt fairly good about?

Geboers: “Of course, but the most important is that we can defend the red plate in the last round so we are not exaggerating on that but it is of course a blessed thing that he is in front and has done so well in 4 races, even the race in Italy didn’t work in the way he wanted or the way we wanted, but I think that’s

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why when a football team wins games when they are playing bad that’s when they win championships! So let’s take it that way.

without the red plate, but it makes the job lighter!”

MXGP Mag: Today, Saturday, he crashed and came back to 11th, he clearly MXGP Mag: Perhaps pre- wants every single posiviously when bad things tion he can. have happened then it’s Geboers: “He saved a good snowballed and escalatspot on the grid, that’s ed into something that what it is, today he was a damages his championbit disappointed because ship hopes, this year it it’s now two races in a row seems much more consis- that he crashed in qualifytent and on another level. ing and of course he wants Does having the red plate to be in the top 3 and that change the attitude in the is enough for the moment, I team awning or is it busi- think even finishing 11th in ness as usual? qualifying is still ok, I only Geboers: “I have to say the told him ‘We cannot win the red plate motivates every- world championship tomorone, in this team or in an- row but we can lose it, so other team it’s always like keep that in mind!’” that but our people have always worked well with or Prophetic words from

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Sylvain Geboers, as true to this years from, Desalle was on the podium again in Valkenswaard, and though he conceded points and the red plate one more to Max Nagl, his pace and results in the sand were ahead of those of previous years. The Clement Desalle of 2015 is a happier more engaged man than we’ve ever seen before and is the only one of the championship contenders to have a 100% podium record so far. Last year he did the double in Spain and with the hard pack track next on the agenda both he and the Rockstar Energy Suzuki World team must be confident that the number 25 will be back in red on May the 10th.

MONSTER GIRLS

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Matterley Basin: The English ideal

This May, why not take junction 9 off the M3 in Hampshire? Why you ask?

Well two reason, one is the historic market town of Winchester with its world famous cathedral, its quintessentially English atmosphere and its Great hall, the only surviving part of Winchester castle and the bit that contains King Arthur’s legendary round table. It’s a city that bridg-

es the gap between the green commuter belt that surrounds London and the rugged protected wilderness of the South Downs National Park, and it is a perfect jumping off point for outdoor holidays that make the most of Britain at its best.

Because May is when the countryside shines, with the hedgerows in bloom

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and the sun almost guaranteed to be better than mid summer there are few better times to appreciate the UK and what it has to offer outside of the hustle and bustle of London and its plethora of tourist hotspots.

Reason number two is of course that on May 24th it’s the annual celebration of Motocross on perhaps the most loved track in the series at Matterley Basin. Just 15 minutes from Winchester city center the gloriously wide track provides some of the best facilities on the calendar,

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match those with spectator views that no other track can hope to compete with and you have a recipe for an unforgettable weekend.

With almost any point on the side of the valley offering a total view of the circuit you can be assured of seeing all that the best of the Motocross world has to offer. This year that will also include the EMX 125, 250 and 150 championships, as more than 200 riders fight it out over 2 days to prove who is the next big thing to look out for on the world stage.

One thing we would suggest is to get there early on Saturday morning, pitch your tent or camper in plenty of time to enjoy the

days racing and the extensive rides, attractions and food stalls that cover the top edges of the valley and keep enough energy in reserve to make the most of the Saturday night party in the public camp site, it has always been a stalwart of the British GP and it’s much better to be at the party than listening to it outside as you try to sleep!

Don’t worry too much about sleep as the wide, fast and spectacular circuit always brings out the best in the MXGP riders, which will be more than enough to keep you buzzing throughout Sunday.

The British Grand Prix is certainly one you don’t want to miss.

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Masterclass mad

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MXGP ACADEMY

dness 2015

This year is going by at a serious rate of knots, which stays true to the saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun’. It’s hard to believe we are already in May and we are also five rounds into the FIM Motocross World Championship. With that said, and in reference to the term ‘fun’, this is easily the most exciting time of year for the youth of our sport.

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Most amateur championships are already in full swing and the weather is getting better and better, which means for most of us, more laps! While ‘laps’ are all part of the fun, some kids want more from racing a dirt bike and those that do can attend the MXGP Academy, which is back in 2015, bigger and better than ever.

Although the MXGP Academy didn’t really stop over the winter with two-time FIM Motocross World Champion and MXGP Academy trainer John Van Den Berk holding MXGP Academy training schools down in the south of Spain, the race season brings more to the

table with the MXGP Masterclass taking place at many rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

in the world, the FIM Europe’s MXGP Academy gives riders an authentic insight and experience of life as an MXGP pro, for example; the Masterclass commences on the The first two Masterclasses of the Friday before the round of MXGP year took place in Pietramurata where selected rising stars from Italy, at the MXGP of Trentino and the local country are selected to in at Valkenswaard at the MXGP of come and learn. Upon arrival, the Europe, where the MXGP Academy kids are taken to the media center trainers Jan Postema and John where they are taught some key Van Den Berk were excited to be aspects in dealing with photogback in the paddock and working raphers and journalists, always a with a bunch of young and entricky thing to learn. After a lesson thusiastic racers, all inspired and on the importance of interaction re-motivated for a new season of and presentation when it comes to racing. the media and how it can encourage sponsorship, they were able to Unlike any other training program gear up and hit the track.

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Out on the MXGP circuit, the coaches focused on particular sections of the track where they used an abundance of unique training techniques to demonstrate specific skills that will benefit the young stars in shaving seconds off of their lap times. The riders were out on circuit for approximately two hours before they had to call it a day so that the MXGP track crew could finalize the track preparations for racing the next day.

On the Saturday, the training and qualifying day for MXGP and MX2, the Masterclass students were given a tour of the MXGP paddock, in between MXGP and MX2 riding sessions of course, where they got to meet some of their MXGP heroes. They were also given an in depth look at the trucks and setups and were able to attend the

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qualifying press conference after the racing is finished. After the a couple of days of living the life MXGP style and seeing what they can aspire to from the heart of the paddock, the little rippers headed home ecstatic and a little more knowledgeable about what their future may hold.

We can’t wait to see them all line up in the European Championship and the FIM Junior World Championships as their skills and careers develop and evolve on the road to MX2 and MXGP. For more information contact secretariat@ mxgp-academy.com.

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HALL OF FAME

Danny Laporte A lifetime of achievement

Looking at Danny Laporte back in his racing days you could see he was a good looking blonde kid from Los Angeles, a surfer type, handsome, cool and with an ever present smile. He was marketable, determined and most importantly wanted to test himself more that most would dare. He is also one of only a handful of riders who have won both an AMA Motocross Championship and an FIM motocross World Championship, and a big part of the very first teams from America to win the biggest prize of all, the Motocross of Nations.

Laporte began riding in the early 1960s when the sport of motocross enjoyed a period of explosive growth in California.

He began racing professionally when he turned 16 and

by 1976 he was offered a job with the Suzuki factory racing team.

Amazingly just three years later in 1979, Laporte won the AMA 500cc national championship for Suzuki, and in 1981 he was part of the victorious American Motocross des Nations team.

With the success at the MXoN in 1981 and wanting to seek new challenges, Laporte decided to compete at world championship level in 1982 riding for the Yamaha Factory Racing team. In his very first attempt, he claimed the FIM 250cc motocross world championship against the heavily favored Georges Jobe. Jobe and Laporte battled hard all season long and built a strong friendship both on the track and off it.

“We got on well, in fact once in Russia we played a joke on the Russian police that nearly got us both into trouble. We came across this Russian policeman’s uniform, which the policeman gave us. Georges wanted me to wear the uniform at a dinner organized before the Russian GP, but I didn’t dare wear it, George did and nearly got thrown in jail. It was fun times and I had the utmost respect for Georges as a racer and also as a friend.”

Laporte also helped (along with Brad Lackey) to build a bigger interest in the Grand Prix series in his homeland, and not surprisingly soon after Laporte and Lackey won their 1992 world titles another handful of young American riders made their appearance in Europe.

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of the sport racing in his own backyard, beating the American riders with ease, it was natural that it was Europe that attracted Laporte the most.

“When I was young the guys I looked at were guys like Roger De Coster and Joel Robert. We got all the Cycle News issues and it was always the stories about those guys that attracted my attention, and we looked at the Europeans to learn more and that is why I wanted to race in Europe. Also the pageantry of the events in Europe, it has so much history. I mean the atmosphere in the 1970’s The whole Grand Prix scene and 80’s was in my opinion was exactly what Laporte found interesting about moto- the golden era of motocross in cross. Growing up in Califor- America and Europe. To go to a nia he got to witness legends track and there was a massive “When I first went over to Europe and we won the Nations it was great and everyone got into it, nobody expected us to win it, so that was a nice surprise. The next year I won the 250cc championship and I was on the cover of Cycle News and Motocross Action, so America was taking notice, and it did help build the awareness of the Grand Prix series. I mean it made a lot of press in America when I won my 250cc world championship.”

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crowd, it was really a lot of romance about it, and you had the Belgian fans in Belgium and the French fans in France and the British in England. In America it’s the same everywhere and it doesn’t change anywhere and in Europe everywhere you went it was different.”

Laporte seemed to get bored easily if he didn’t have a challenge that at times seemed unattainable, it was as if he had to push himself to another level to get the most out of his career.

Going to Europe in the 1980’s was not easy for Americans and it remains so now but perhaps not quite on the same level.

“For me that was part of the challenge, even for the Euro-

peans it is sometimes a challenge, the Italians don’t like leaving Italy with their pasta and lifestyle, or a Belgian might not want to go to Italy to live. You know we have the hard-pack in Italy and the sand in Belgium and Holland.

But for me that was part of the challenge, knowing it wasn’t going to be easy, and you have a different language and food, for me that was a big part of the challenge. I have to make things difficult on myself and if it seems easy I back off a little.”

top for the friendly Laporte.

it’s even more exciting because of the inclusion of Ryan Villopoto. With Ryan being THE guy in the US for so many years, going in the prime of his career to Europe I think it is great. I think Youthstream need to market it right to suit the American public, it can’t be too British or European for the American public, because American’s might not get it. I think the beauty of each country in Europe needs to be shown and respected, because that is a big part of the GP scene. If it’s marketed right, then it will be huge. They need to have passion and get excited.”

Laporte is looking at returning to Europe soon, to watch Villopoto racing. He often visits Italy for veteran races and loves every moment of it.

“I will always have a connection with Europe, I still love the romance Europe has and the pageantry of the GP’s. That will never change, it was a very important part of my life.”

“I think the des Nations in 1981 was a highlight of all time for me. When Chuck Sun, Donny Hansen, Johnny O’Mara and I won. That was just an amazing event that stands out for me.

It was so unexpected, we had no idea. I did well both weekends, finished second and third both weekends and I was on a mission, because I wanted a deal in Europe, so for me it was important and I wasn’t paying attention to everyone else, but we all helped each other along.

At the time we were not stars, Returning to America after his but we all won big championGP success, Laporte began to ships after that event. I mean, compete in desert racing and what was cool was that Roger won the famous Baja 1000 De Coster and Honda supported three times. In the 1990s, us.” he competed in international rally events, winning a stage Laporte currently resides in and finishing second overall Southern California with his wife in the 1992 Dakar Rally. He is and two children, he works with also the winner of 1991 Pha- long-time friend Donny Emler at raohs rally in Egypt. While his FMF Exhausts and continues to rally career was also a major keep an eye on the FIM Motosuccess, that very first MXoN cross World Championships.

Text Geoff Meyer victory was the cherry on the “I love it, and obviously this year Photos: Racer X

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PADDOCK TALKS

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Paddock Talks 01/Formula 1 legend Kimi Räikkönen, as the owner of Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing, came out to Valkenswaard to watch his rider Max Nagl snatch back the MXGP red plate.

02/Awesome is: Italian inspired base jumping at the picturesque Pietramurata circuit in Italy 03/Now this is a familiar face. Long time Yamaha rider and former vice world champion, New Zealand’s Josh Coppins also turned up in Valkenswaard.

04/We don’t know who is prouder, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl of his son, Mason, or Mason of his Dad, the current MXGP red plate holder.

We’ll say it’s a draw.

05/Lisa Leyland caught up with Scottish motocross phenomenon Dean Wilson.

06/Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Aleksandr Tonkov took his 2016 model Husqvarna to third overall at the MX2 grand prix of Europe.

07/A disappointed Ryan Villopoto announces he won’t be racing MXGP of Europe. We hope to have him back at MXGP of Spain.

08/Ken De Dycker fans are ready 05

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to race.

09/Great promotion team for MXGP of The Netherlands which will take place in Assen on the 29th and 30th August.

10/Team Bobryshev was all smiles at MXGP of Europe with Evgeny putting a lock on his best finish of the season, 4th.

11/Former world champion and long time Suzuki rider Steve Ramon came out to witness the gnarliness at MXGP of Europe.

12/Joel Roelants is one of the most inspiring people in the world. After being paralyzed from the chest down in a motocross crash, Joel has never lost his smile or his positive outlook.

Instead he has channeled his energy in things such as karting and other activities. It was great to see his smiling face at MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard late April. some trees.

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QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR

QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR Hi MXGP, Where can I find a chart of the overall standings in mxgp? I can’t find it! Any pointers much appreciated!

Thanks, William Statt

Hi MXGP We are thinking of going to Hello William, MXoN in France for the 26-27 If you go to MXGP.com, the of September, but I struggle to main task bar at the top of find the town it is in? Where is the page reads “Home, News, the nearest airport, and what Photos, Tracks, Results” etc. If is included in the price if we by you click Results a drop down VIP tickets? Is accommodation menu will appear reading “Live included? ? If not, where is the closest hotel?

Results, Standings, StatisThanks, tics”, click “Standings” and Carina Pettersen here you will fine the championship results.

Hi Carina, All the best, That’s great to hear, it is MXGP sure to be one of the best editions of MXoN ever.

Hey guys, FOUGERES is the nearest Where are the qualifying ractown. Accommodation is not es from MXGP or Trentino & included in the VIP package, Europe? so we suggest you search Thanks, the area of Fougeres, Bradley France on a website such as www.booking.com to find Dear Bradley, a suitable place to stay. The We do not have the qualinearest airport is Aéroport fying races recorded from Rennes-St Jacques. More Pietramurata and Valkeninformation can be found swaard. However, you can here: http://www.mxgp. find the highlights of all the com/tracks/ernee qualifying races on our Youtube channel: mxgptv or on Regards MXGP www.mxgp-tv.com Regards MXGP

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Hi MXGP I bought a one event MXGP-TV pass for the MXGP of Europe and I was wondering for how many days I can log in to watch the contents.

Thanks, Michel Hello Michel, Thank you for your question. Buying an MXGP-TV pass for one event gives you access to all the contents for 7 days after your first log in.

Best Regards MXGP

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