MXGP Mag #7 April 2014 by MXGP MAG

#7_APRIL 2014

HALL OF F AME

Akira

Wata n

abe

Thomas Covington

The Road Taken MXGP PARADISE

THAILAND & BRAZIL

RACING CATCH UP

RIDER OF THE MONTH Thomas Covington

07 08 15 18 28 32 38 44 49 52 56 58

INDEX

COOL SHOT

MONSTER GIRLS

HALL OF FAME

Akira Watanabe

MXGP MAG: Chief Editor: Marionna Leiva Photos: Youthstream/Zanzani YOUTHSTREAM Media World Trade Center II Rte de Pré-Bois 29 1215 Geneva 15 Airport Switzerland MXGP Mag #7 April 2014 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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E Dear MXGP friends,

EDITORIAL

Giuseppe Luongo President of Youthstream Group

teams had problems with the race fuel they used. However, after inThe highlights of March are that vestigations it has been confirmed the first block of the non-European the problems arose out of some events have concluded extremely teams’ inexperience who unfortuwell, Arnaud Tonus’ first GP victory nately did not cool their race fuel as and Antonio Cairoli’s demonstration other teams had done; it is imperaof his determination to remain the tive to cool high standard race fuel MXGP King. in very warm and humid climate conditions. A similar problem ocThe 3 non-European GPs were curred some years ago at a very hot simply outstanding with great race- Motocross Grand Prix in Faenza. tracks, very high standards of orThis has been a good learning curve ganization and warm welcomes to and next time everyone will be more the whole MXGP circus. The pasattentive. sion and professionalism all these new organizers have for our sport After 2 years of very bad luck due is very promising for the future injury after injury, finally Arnaud Toof MX in those countries. It was nus has been able to show his great fabulous to see there were some talent by winning the MX2 GP of former GP riders who have found Brazil and currently leads the MX2 good teams in Brazil and race in World Championship. His victory the Brazilian National Championis well deserved and it’s without a ship with a good salary; this will be doubt we’ll be seeing Tonus on the the future in places like the Middle podium often in the future. East and Asia. With the experience these riders have they will help MX Antonio Cairoli showed that even grow in those countries and they with an ankle not at 100% he is can still have a good employment in once again the man to beat. It seem the sport they love. that every year after winter he The only shadow during these comes back even stronger than the travels around the world was the year before. Talent, hard training, fuel issue in Thailand where some

planned strategy, a mind of steal and the ‘never-give-up’ moto are all keys to his success. Paulin and Desalle are right there biting at Cairoli’s rear wheel, Nagl has had a promising start to the season and Van Horebeek is really good on the Yamaha of his new team, we will for sure see him more an more on the podium. Bobryshev’s injury is still causing him problems, but he’s a really strong guy and surely once he’s completely recovered he will be fast enough to return to the podium. Todd Waters has shown great potential; it’s his first time in the MXGPs and is still very young, but he’s been constant and shows he’s rapidly learning a lot. Frossard and Strijbos have both very good speed but still have not taken the results based on their pace. Now we are back on the old continent for the 1st European MXGP in Arco di Trento, fans are looking forward to seeing all the stars racing on the tracks they know well and there is excitement in the air to see if the same trend will continue in Europe or if Desalle and Paulin can upset the unstoppable Cairoli, and if Herlings will return from his injury and who will be the leader of the MX2 class. MXGP MAG 2014 MXGP.COM

COOL SHOTS

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COOL SHOTS

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COOL SHOTS

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HOLESHOT

FOX HOLESHOT

If you want to see how close things are this year in MXGP then look no further than the results of the Fox Head Holeshot award after round two in Thailand. After Strijbos and Karro took the points between them in Qatar, it was another split story in Thailand, Shaun Simpson ripping the HM Plant KTM UK to the line first in race one and Jeremy Van Horebeek taking the wide in tight out approach in race

two to deny Tony Cairoli his first Fox point of the season. That start meant we had the unprecedented scenario of 4 men sharing the spoils and we saw just how close and competitive the Fox Holeshot award will be this year! Brazil was a different story, Gautier Paulin, a man who had been way off the front on the drag to turn one in Thailand, lit it up in both motos to

take both points and with that the lead in the standings on two points. It was a close run thing in both motos as in race one Matiss Karro was in with a shot at taking the holeshot, but the Latvian crashed on the way into the first turn. It was Karro once again on a charge in race two and he crossed the line just a single bike length behind Paulin but in

this award there are no points for second place and Karro remains on the single point he scored in Thailand. However, the Wilvo Forkrent KTM 350 seems to be a lighting machine off the line and Paulin will have to keep his head in the game if he wants to retain the black plate in Arco Di Trento.

and hugging the inside track marker poles he scrubbed it over the holeshot line to take his first point of the season. Anstie, and in all honesty most of the field, learnt from race one and took the tighter tine through turn one to sneak the holeshot from Glenn Coldenhoff.

At the MXGP of Thailand in MX2 Jeffrey Herlings was 6th going into turn one as his team mate Jordi Tixier and the Bike It Yamaha Cosworth of Max Anstie swept around the outside, but the wide first turn meant that Herlings could get on the gas really early

In Brazil it could easily have been a double points scoring ride for the Wilvo Neestan Husqvarna Factory Racing of Aleksandr Tonkov, as it was the Russian to settle for his one point in race two after a crash from Jordi Tixier broke the pack apart in the first turn

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leaving Tonkov with a clear run to the line. Tonkov was backing up the form he showed in race 1 where he nearly snuck it, but that first start was all about Jose Butron on the KTM Silver Action, the Spanish rider was untouchable in race one and added to his tally from the opening two rounds to lead the standings with three points out of a possible six.

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THE TROPICAL

STORM

Within hours of the first banking of MXGP, MX2 and WMX points in Qatar, the teams and organizers were back to work, breaking down the pits of Losail into those same neat flight cases which were sitting at their bases in Europe a couple of weeks prior. This time they were off to board the big bird for the second time this season to head in the direction of Si Racha, Thailand, where round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship was all set to take place.

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After landing in Thailand, it was onto a shuttle bus which drove us out on to the Pingthong Estate 3. We arrived at a wide flowing caramel colored circuit, kitted out with 17 turns and 22 humps which includes the huge perfectly formed triple jump and a sandy wave section. Those who don’t get out of Europe much were in awe, it looked like motocross paradise. The pits consisted of a series of white pop-up type tents that stood side-by-side all in a line. But they weren’t just any old pop-up tents, they were very high tech indeed, each enclosed with tarpaulin type walls and kitted out with its own air conditioning unit,

which was a blessing given the plus forty degree heat.

On the Friday before the event, the boys, who had just spent an On the other side of the pits, all of untypical week jogging on the Thailand’s trading and advertisbeach and swimming in the sea ing stands had been constructed, rather than laying down laps on which included a fully functioning their dirtbikes, were keen to get McDonald’s and a massive podium on anything that had an engine. which was used for music and So when the opportunity arose entertainment over the weekend, for them to part-take in a media as well as the opening ceremony opportunity race, aboard that on Saturday where Youthstream most typical of Thai transport the President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, Tuk Tuk, they all jumped at the FIM/CMS Director Dr. Wolfgang chance. Although the riders had Srb, official authorities and the all pinky promised to go easy on organisers of Thailand shared the old tuk-tuks, the old adage their appreciation for the fans that - you can take the racer out and supporters that showed up to of the race, but you can’t take the witness Asia’s one and only MXGP race out of the racer – stood true round. as Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Matiss

Karro tried to hit the only turn on the track wide open and rolled his tuk-tuk complete with Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Petar Petrov in the back.

their journey before heading back to the head quarters in Europe. The last of the early season flyaways had to have put a smile on everyone’s dial. If there ever was such a thing as MXGP paradise, The following day, it was off with there is no doubt it would look the flip-flops and board shorts something like Brazil. Hot tropical and back to business. Proving climate, golden sandy beaches, they’ve got the whole ‘work hard, warm sea water, green grass, play hard’ lifestyle down pat, the palm trees, the best BBQ’d meat orange army, also known as Red you’ll ever eat and rowdy fans are Bull KTM Factory Racing came just some of the things that make out all guns blazing. Both current the MXGP of Brazil so spectacuworld champions, Antonio Cairoli lar, and that’s without mentioning and Jeffrey Herlings stamped their the glorious red clay circuit, quite authority on motocross in Thaipossibly the only motocross track land, sweeping both motos for the on the calendar that can live up to second year in succession. the description of radiant.

the MXGP of Brazil is the perfect mix of work and play. The track is arguably one of the most impressive circuits ever to host a round of MXGP, a photographers dream with the contrast of colors from the blueness of the sky through to the greenery and the red clay. And then there is the Brazilian public, who give a whole new meaning to the term ‘MXGP fan’. After witnessing the MXGP of Brazil, it’s evident that true sports fans are those that go nuts for their favorite riders. Even in free practice, the stands were literally shaking as the 35,000 plus horde roared with excitement.

On Friday evening the riders and After Thailand, the bikes were Located just to one side of the big- their team managers were welpacked up once again and put back gest theme park in the Southern comed to a typical Samba Paron the truck for the final leg of Hemisphere, Beto Carrero World, ty, where carnival characters

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dressed to the nines danced to the local Brazilian band. Samba dancers from the local samba school spiced things up in their costumes, which consisted of make-up, glitter, some feathers and not a lot else, while the guys behind the bar served Brazil’s number one cocktail the Caipirinha and their delicious BBQ’d skewered meat. After listening to the pessimistic comments of weathermen over the days leading up to race day, the weekend was tarred with the same brush as previous years, that it would be another mud-fest. However, despite looming dark clouds and very threatening skies, the rain was minimal and only once was there a hard down pour. While the rain exaggerated the humidity it also left the track very spongy, rutty and gnarly which massively

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increased the entertainment value of the races. A few ruts and sticky sections weren’t enough to hold back Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, as the Italian seven-time world champion rose to the occasion to take another two back to back victories, extending his FIM MXGP World Championship points lead to thirty points ahead of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Gautier Paulin and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek who are tied in points for second. Trying to predict a winner of MX2 with the absence of the usual dominant force Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings was a lot like a raffle. If you cut up the MX2 entry list and threw all the names in a hat and drew out CLS Kawasaki Monster En-

ergy’s Arnaud Tonus, you are a winner! Tonus stepped up to the plate in Beto Carrero, dominating race one and sitting a comfortable second in race two, to mark the date of March 31 2014 as the best day of his life. The Swiss sensation took his first ever MX2 race win, his first ever MX2 Grand Prix victory and his first ever MX2 world championship red plate on Sunday in Brazil, making him the most successful Swiss MX2 rider in history. After the press conference in Beto Carrero, Brazil, the paddock was packed into flight cases for the last time until September to be shipped back to Europe where in two weeks time the first European round of MXGP will take place at the picturesque circuit of Arco di Trento, Italy.

FIM Motocross World Championship

Standings MXGP CHAMP. STANDINGS

MX2 CHAMP. STANDINGS

1. A.Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 142 points 2. G. Paulin (FRA, KAW), 112 p. 3. J.Van Horebeek (BEL,YAM),112 p. 4. C. Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 111p. 5. M. Nagl (GER, HON), 110 p. 6. K. Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 73 p. 7. S. Frossard (FRA, KAW), 68 p. 8. T. Waters (AUS, HUS),68 p. 9. E. Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 67 p. 10. J. Roelants (BEL, HON), 61 p.

1. A. Tonus (FRA, KAW), 112 points. 2. G. Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 110 p. 3. D. Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 107 p. 4. J.Herlings (NED, KTM), 97 p. 5. R. Febvre (FRA HUS), 96 p. 6. A. Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 87 p. 7. M. Ansite (GRB, YAM), 77 p. 8. J. Tixier (FRA, KTM), 77 p. 9. J. Butron (ESP, KTM), 74 p. 10. T. Gajser (SLO, HON), 63 p.

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

142 points 113 points 112 points 112 points 110 points 68 points 52 points

MX2 MANUFACTUERS 1. Kawasaki 2. KTM 3. Suzuki 4. Husqvarna 5. Yamaha 6. Honda 7. TM

130 points 127 points 110 points 102 points 94 points 73 points 6 points

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3,9

MILLION minutes watched on MXGPtv Youtube Channel in 2014, just after 3 MXGP events.

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IN THE WORLD OF #MXGP 27

THOMAS COVINGTON: THE ROAD TAKE

Walking into the huge paddock awning moments after the finish of racing on Sunday in Brazil is kind of like standing in the front row of a Justin Bieber concert, with the heating turned up to the max and the sprinkler system on. A seething sweaty mass of fans clamouring for something, anything to take home as a souvenir, race shirts, boots, helmets, even just removed socks are fair game to the seething mass of bodies pressing up against the fencing that gives the teams their own section of heavy stifling air to work in. Just out of reach of one particularly enamoured fan, who was determined to get her hands on the number 64 number board at any cost, was a group of three men deep in conversation, an island of calm in an ocean of steam and shouting, Thierry Chizat Suzzoni, the KRT Team owner, team manager Franรงois Lemariey and the new addition to Monster Energy Kawasaki Thomas Covington.

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RIDER OF THE MONTH

These three men took a shot in the dark this year, the deal that saw Covington come to race the opening 4 rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship was made barely 3 months before the opening round in Qatar, that in itself was just a month ago, in motocross terms it’s the blink of an eye. In that time the team have built a bike for Covington to race at the sharp end of GPs, a top level chassis to which they have added his US suspension and engine and tried to make it work against machines with years of development.

bring over the material he had in the US, the suspension, his engine and we could build his bike over in Europe, that was the best option for him and for us to get a performing bike from the beginning.”

Covington before things kicked off, he had just finished up an interview from Amy Dargan for the TV magazine the first of a busy weekend of TV commitments that included the on board lap and the studio show with Paul Malin.

From the start all three men have been in a race against time to get everything together, dialled in and race ready. After the second Moto in Qatar you could have said they were already there but that wasn’t really the truth as Thailand wasn’t a continuation of that form for Covington and it was only in the 2 week break between Thailand and Brazil that the team got a chance to really put in the time on the bike that was needed to get it set how he wanted.

What about the interest in you from the media, have they been wanting to get to know you a little bit? “For sure everyone was trying to figure out who I was and what I was all about, even in the US too not many people knew who I was, looking back on it I feel it was a really good decision for me to come over here and do these GPs.”

François Lemariey ,Team Manager “Because we are and not an MX2 team we have our main target which is our MXGP riders and we are an MXGP team, so On the Friday in Brazil we the thing we asked was that he grabbed a bit of down time with

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Maybe it’s given you more exposure than you would have got going straight to the outdoors? “Not many guys have taken this route, coming over to the GPs

other than Lieb and Osborne, I think it’s really cool though, I don’t see why more guys don’t do it, it’s really cool.” When you were first going to make the trip over were you nervous, it’s quite a big thing to go and do … “Yeah, for sure it was a big move but I’d already met Thierry and I knew these guys were a first class team that knew what they were doing, so I wasn’t too nervous about it, I figured most of them knew English, so I wasn’t too worried. I’ve spent a few days at the track with Gautier and that’s been really cool, it’s a good experience to be able to ride with someone like Paulin, I really enjoyed training and riding with him and hopefully I’ll get the chance to train and ride with him a little bit more in the future.” Seconds later the interview was over as a car rocked up in a

cloud of dust. Steven Frossard had arrived to pick up his teenage teammate and with a quick goodbye Covington was away to rest up for Saturday in the capable hands of his designated driver. After a hard start to the season you would be forgiven for discounting the young American from a pure results point of view but that Covington believes he can do it is certain, he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t believe, but do the team share that sentiment? Lemariey again: “We can see on the track that he is an American rider, because of his style, he keeps on trying until the last lap, he never gives up so that’s a good thing, I think everyone saw that he could do well like in Qatar he did 3rd in the second moto, so I think he is capable of doing the results but he needs to learnt the European racing way because you know tracks are different than in the

US but I think with more experience, he can do good.” Time is one thing that Covington is fast running out of in his MXGP taster session and Saturday and Sunday in Brazil were not particularly kind to him once more. A sluggish 17th in race one was bettered in the second moto as he raced with 2013 EMX250 runner up and fellow rookie Jeremy Seewer for 6th until a crash with 3 to go left him with a bike that wouldn’t restart and a walk back to the pits. How would you rate those two races? “It was a rough weekend for me for sure, hectic the entire week actually, just things going wrong for me some bad luck, but it was fun out there, the track was cool, I got the experience of coming to Brazil and I think in the second moto I showed I was able to run I the top ten, even without my goggles!”

It seems like these races are a lesson in patience for you right now? “I feel like I have the speed to be up top 5 but things have to go right for me you know, qualifying the bike and everything, hopefully I can get a bit more organised in the future.”

the championship Covington still has his work cut out to prove to the world’s press and fans that he has what it takes to cut it at this level right now, that’s a band wagon that his trainer, former SX champion Johnny O’Mara, is already firmly on.

What about the stadium atmosphere here, it’s quite special? “Oh, it’s cool for sure, getting to the gate and hearing the whole crowd behind you, even when I was walking off the track in the second moto the whole crowd was cheering for me walking off the track so it was a cool experience a really good atmosphere here.” With one race left of the scheduled 4 round attack on

“Johnny is the only guy, him and my practice mechanic are the only guys that see me every single day, all the work that goes in. Leading up to it, training went really well he got me ready for sure but if things would have gone with just a little better luck you know maybe I could have gotten those results. It’s good to have people like that believe in me because there are not really too many guys that believe

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in me like that, so it’s really cool to have him on my back From the outside it has been a tough 3 race schedule, Covington puts his heart and soul into racing, each lap in practice is ridden like the first lap of the race, the results may not have been coming thick and fast but they are all taking this seriously, this is not how things will remain, Monster Energy Kawasaki are determined to help him reach his potential as fast as possible and with their support and his own well placed self belief, Covington can yet deliver on the promise. Watch out for the #64 in Arco Di Trento, this tale is not over yet!

The heart of Sou

What makes motocross in Brazil so special? After visits to six Grands Prix since 2009 we try to lift the lid on why the sport finds some of the most passionate fans in the world deep in South Americaâ&#x20AC;Ś 38

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SPECIAL FEATURE

uth America

A huge cheer goes up. The Monster Energy girls have made their way past the grandstand and are heading for the first corner to get ready for their board duties. The crowd shout and whistle their approval. It seems quite natural for this particular region of Brazil enamoured with the beach lifestyle and summer living. What the people have really come to see is evident by the general murmur and lack of seating space around the circuit once the bikes are revved

into life and begin filtering into the start gate. A voluminous public are grouped into vibrant coloured zones through t-shirts and banners in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tribunesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;; in Brazil nobody is standing, but everybody is hooked. Those not under cover lap-up the sun or put up umbrellas for shade. The commentator is ramping up the tension and excitement, and any signs of flamboyance over the jumps by the riders on the warm-up lap are met with hoots of pleasure and approval.

This could be any Brazilian Grand Prix since the FIM Motocross World Championship returned to the country on an annual basis since 2009. The hike to South America has become so entrenched, so warmly received and so popular that the first of two visits in 2014 has just been chalked-off with the third trip in a row to the Beto Carrero theme park, north of Florianopolis and in the Santa Catarina state. The second will take place in September at a new venue in

SPECIAL FEATURE

Goias, further north and in the centre of the largest country on the continent with a population of over 200 million. The Brazilian Grand Prix means living out of a crate for the teams but any inconvenience of being 6000 miles from Europe is outweighed by the rigorous quality of this fixture. Track, presentation, organisation, profile and, crucially, an enthusiastic following through the gates are what make this stop on the Grand Prix calendar so appreciated. The response of the crowd to elements of the racing like a rider charging through the field, an audacious overtaking move, a cheeky whip mid-moto or a racer having crashed, remounted and lapping alone at the back of the pack bring forth a vocal blast of endorsement and admiration. Any form of heroism or showmanship and they love it. The volume level matches and even outstrips some of the historic hotbeds of fandom for motocross in Europe like the UK, France, Belgium and Italy.

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When Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli glides through the air past the last big seating complex on his final lap to victory the background is an animated mix of waving batons, clapping and people going bananas. All too rarely do you see such outward emotion for an athlete that is not a native. But Cairoli is not alone. CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Arnaud Tonus also feeds on the vibe and the fans love the aggressive antics of the Swiss’ team-mate Dylan Ferrandis. This is Brazil. Combine the obsession with sports – the FIFA World Cup this summer will be followed by the Olympic Games just two years later – and that Latin passion and you have a heady mix. “In Brazil we are very tribal about sports,” says Brazilian photographer and journalist Idario Cafe, a veteran of twenty years covering the races for national press. “Of course football is in pole position because it is so popular and cheap to play; you just need a ball and shoes! However there are many motorcycles on the streets and people like riding.”

“Motocross fans are different people,” he continues. “They follow the sport because they have a bike or their brother, uncle or somebody else in their family has one. That’s the difference from football where people stay home and watch it on TV. For motocross, people get out and get to the track. They live it.” Only three years ago Honda were selling over 1.6 million motorcycles in Brazil and the current number still stands close to this figure. Allegedly they have 80% of the market and their presence in sponsorship of MXGP has been ever-present since the turn of the decade both in the level of support and also attendance of the multi-rider official team. At Beto Carrero this time Yamaha is the prominent partner with Honda saving their powerplay for Goias. “The Grands Prix came to Brazil in the 1990s but there was a gap of around ten years before they arrived again at Canalinha,” explains Cafe. “There was a lot of interest be-

dition,” he says. “Football was very big in the towns around the era of Pele and then Formula One had a boom with the likes of Senna but these have gone up and down in popularity. Motocross however has kept small but very constant because people like to get out and do it. Wherever you go in Brazil – from the north to the The force behind the Brazilian south – there is somewhere to round is promotions company Carlinhos Romagnolli with some ride motocross. There is not twenty years of experience and a nationwide culture of motocross but it is growing and we fifteen of those with the successful national Arenacross have noticed that since the FIM championship (five rounds, the World Championship started coming here every year.” domestic motocross contest runs to eight). Romagnolli has So far the Grand Prix has been overseeing the Grand Prix since 2011 and sheds his been shown a lot of love by the own insight into Brazil’s fixation Santa Catarina province in the south. Is motocross in Brawith the sport but it still taps zil territorial? “The country is into that same ‘participation’ very big,” surmises Cafe. “We factor; people like to ride and might have one or two races in they like to get out and watch. “Brazil is a big country but mo- the north because the regions have money and they do well tocross has always had a tracause the people wanted to see the best guys racing here. It is important for us and important for our series in terms of development. I travel sometimes to the USA and also around the world to watch motocross and I can say that it is very special when it arrives here.”

for [bike] sales there. Most of the events are more towards the south and southwest as there are a lot of motorcyclists in this area. The money to make the races is also. Further north you have the beaches and the Amazon; so it is not so easy logistically.” Flicking through the TV back in the hotel and it is not difficult to find coverage of football or sports generally. The media centre at each Brazilian GP has been busy and well attended. ESPN Brazil usually makes it out to the Motocross of Nations. Does the sport capture attention in the national press? Cafe: “It is a battle. Football is 100% but when the GP is coming then it can be possible because an FIM Grand Prix is the highest level with the best riders.” For Grand Prix promoters

SPECIAL FEATURE

Youthstream Brazil is an important part of their global plan for the sport and a territory where they have been able to penetrate and prosper, more than any other international motorcycle racing series’ like MotoGP (that hasn’t been present in Brazil for ten years) or WSB. “We want more countries in the FIM Motocross World Championship and with the involvement of the local governments things move a lot faster,” said Youthstream CEO Daniele Rizzi. “From what we have seen we really think the State of Goias will be another success and it will be a memorable end to the season.” For now Goias will become the main focal point of attraction for motocross in Brazil with the penultimate race of the GP term lined up for the first weekend of September. After races in Canalinha, Campo Grande (near the border with Paraguay that still entertains

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the Brazilian Championship) and Beto Ca rero in the modern era of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Goiania will be a new discovery for the FIM elite. “This year they have chosen the second MXGP there because the city has commercial importance,” opines Cafe. All being well it could be the first of several journeys to Goias. “As we have done three events here [Beto Carrero] it would make sense to establish and build an MXGP in another location for another three years and in this case it will be Goias,” reveals Romagnolli. “The goal is to maintain two rounds in the championship but it will end up being a decision we will make each year.” “The local governments get behind the events a lot and we will see that especially with the second Grand Prix in Goias,” says Cafe. “Football and the Olympics are taking a lot of the cash needed to make sport

events happen, but I think in these regions we don’t need to worry and we could continue with two GPs per season.” “Goias and Santa Catarina are two states that are not hosting the World Cup,” Romagnolli affirms. “Having the Olympics and the World Cup here is not a problem but the small economical crisis and political problems here are. We have to take care of things so we can continue to move forward.” That leaves just one more challenge. The Motocross of Nations. Last hosted in 1999 Brazil is current the hotspot for the world’s best international sport so why not the flagship event for MX in 2018? If the people had their way then we’d be booking tickets already for a third flight across the Atlantic this year; long may that desire and affection remain. Text: Adam Wheeler

MONSTER GIRLS

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MONSTER GIRLS

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MXGP ACADEMY

MXGP Academy

Master Motocross with MXGP Academy

Hard work will always beat talent, if talent doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work hard. As you may have read in recent issues of MXGP Mag, Youthstreamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MXGP Academy is a programme developed to train, guide and inspire all types of riders from all corners of the globe to take their motocross career to the next level. While the MXGP Academy has already been on a few missions this year, with coaches two-time World Champion John Van Den Berk hosting a winter training camp in Spain

and highly acclaimed fitness expert and motocross enthusiast Jan Postema scouring the globe to help with the development of motocross in new countries like Thailand, the team is finally proud to announce details about the latest project on the go, the MXGP Academy Master-Class. MASTER-CLASS Over the past few months the organizers and coaches of the MXGP Academy have put their

heads together to create an MXGP Academy Master-class which will focus on assisting the cream of our youth and their support systems as they take a deep breath and dive into the world of elite motocross. The Master-Class will take place at selected rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, with the first class to be held in Arco di Trento, Italy on April 12. Starting at the bottom, the first MXGP Academy Master-Class will cater

to the young riders on 65cc and 85cc bikes and will consist of a few hours spent training on the MXGP circuit ‘Arco di Trento’ on the Friday, right before round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship. On the Saturday morning, MXGP’s day of practice and qualifying, the kids and their parents will go on an exclusive tour through the MXGP paddock where they will get an insider’s look behind the scenes of the some of MXGP’s most iconic riders and set-ups which should give them some insight of what is in store for them in the very near future. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE Nothing is impossible – even the word itself says ‘I’m possible’. So why are some countries written

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off in their ability to ever produce top motocross riders? One of the MXGP Academy’s many goals is to increase awareness by preparing training schools and unique motocross experiences for the youth in places that are more or less unfamiliar to MXGP. For the past two years MXGP Academy trainer Jan Postema has been travelling back and forth from Europe to Thailand in order to give to the Thai motocross community a wealth of knowledge they never would have dreamed of having, from on-thebike skills such as braking, passing, body position, line selection and throttle control to fitness and nutrition, even to the extent of explaining the importance of demeanour and behaviour in the paddock. While Rome wasn’t built

in a day, the Thai motocross racers have been improving in leaps and bounds and are now moving closer to becoming semi-professional motocross athletes. Not only that, but since Jan has been working with the Thai riders, they have now been to and competed twice at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations as well as qualified for the MXGP of Thailand at their very own world class circuit of Si Racha. While motocross is Thailand has been an exciting challenge, the most important thing is that there has been a phenomenal amount of progress. Thailand is a perfect example that anything you set your mind to is possible and that there is a lot to look forward to in the very near future.

52 Photo: MEYER

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Foto: P. HAUDIQUERT

HALL OF FAME

Akira Watanabe,

Japanese Motocross Legend

Japan was, arguably, responsible for the evolution of dirt bikes, almost to the point that if it wasn’t for Japan pushing the envelope, developing, creating mods and bolt-on bits, improving performance and increasing production numbers, we could all still be on air cooled twin shockers. Despite Japan’s massive role in the evolution of motocross machines, they have only produced a handful of FIM Motocross World Championship competitors and have only one FIM Motocross World Champion, Akira Watanabe. Back in 1978 Watanabe flew the flag for Japanese motocross when he took one of the first ever Suzuki RM 125’s to victory in the FIM Motocross World Championship. In doing so he not only wrote his name in the history books as the one and only Japanese FIM Motocross World Champion, he also was the only guy to throw a spanner

in the works of nine-years of Belgian domination. Back in the late 1970’s, 1975 to be precise, the FIM Motocross World Championship introduced the 125cc class. Throughout the first decade of 125cc racing, three Belgians ruled the roost, namely Gaston Rahier, Harry Everts and Eric Geboers. Rahier won the first three of the FIM 125cc world titles, only to loose it in 1978 to the young Japanese phenomenon. The following year, Watanabe and Rahier lined up again and the Belgian had unfinished business with the Asian usurper. While Watanabe won that particular battle, finishing ahead of Gaston Rahier in the final standings, both stars lost the war to a name that would eventually take the motocross world by storm, Everts. Today, thirty-six years on from his and Japan’s one and only

FIM Motocross World Title, Watanabe still pops up here and there at selected rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship and now with MXGP’s expansion into Asia, Mr. Watanabe San, a long time Suzuki rider, supporter and employee, jumped at the opportunity to join the pits and support crew of Rockstar Energy Suzuki World as they took on round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Si Racha, Thailand. MXGP Mag: First of all, welcome to the MXGP of Thailand! When was the last time you were at a World Championship race? Watanabe San: Um, last year I came to MXGP Thailand because it’s pretty close to Japan, so it’s easier. It is also a nice opportunity to be in the sun and warm weather because in Japan it’s still cold. MXGP Mag: Back in your glory days, would you have liked to

race in Thailand? Watanabe San: Yeah, of course! If there was a Grand Prix in Thailand when I was a young guy, I would have been very interested. In my time, there was no Grand Prix of Japan, nor was there a Grand Prix in Asia, so I had to go to Europe and stay until the end of the season. It was a hard time but I did get to go to a lot of cool places in America and Europe, just not in Asia. Now I am getting old and there is a race in Asia and that is awesome for the young guys. MXGP Mag: Really? What was so hard about it? Watanabe San: It was hard in Europe, without my family or friends and I couldn’t eat Japanese food.

MXGP Mag: Do you hope to see a round of MXGP in Japan in the near future? Watanabe San: Yeah, I really hope so. I think about six years ago, we had a GP there. It was great. It’s a shame we don’t have it anymore, but I think the Japanese Federation is talking about it again, that would be cool.

MXGP Mag: What do you think Thanks Watanabe San, we hope to about the bikes now? see you at more MXGP rounds in Watanabe San: They are very fast the future! but I think in my time the machines were around ten kilos lighter, only there was not enough power.

MXGP Mag: Do you know Kei Yamamoto the Gariboldi Honda rider? Watanabe San: Yeah, I have MXGP Mag: Do you still have a bike? trained him since he was five Watanabe San: Yeah, if you go on years old. Two years ago he rode my Facebook page, you can see for my team, Suzuki Japan. Then it how I ride. I am still riding a Suzuki was my first year working on the RMZ450. team and he took the 250cc title.

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MXGP Mag: So you’re happy to see another Japanese rider back in MXGP action? Watanabe San: Yeah for sure. He has a good chance to improve this year. So I told him how he should ride this year; in the beginning he must go easy, not push too hard and crash, but just get better and better.

PADDOCK TALKS

Paddock Talks 01/LIVE DJ in the paddock of the Thai MXGP. 02/The Monster Energy rig was very busy during the MXGP of Brazil. 03/Klemen Gerkar and Xavier Boog winners of the Tuk-Tuk race in Thailand. 04/Full entertainment in the paddock of the Brazilian MXGP. 05/The Thai girls promoting MXGP among the fans. 06/Mr Boettcher, Mr Gomes, Dr Srb, Mr Romagnolli, Mr Rizzi, Mr Reis hosted a press conference in Beto Carrero to present the second MXGP in Brazil.

05 07

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Paddock Talks 08

07/Bobryshev and Tonkov experienced what Thai Boxing is! 08/Paddock chit-chat with Kevin Strijbos and Amy Dargan in Brazil. 09/The Brazilian MXGP paddock was invaded by thousands of enthusiastic fans. 10/Mr Shuhei Nakamoto, Executive Vice President HRC, with Roger Harvey, General Manager HRC, in Thailand. 11/Livia Lancelot completed her overseas adventure in Beto Carrero, Brazil, before entering the second round of the WMX in Arco di Trento. 12/ MXGP-TV offers the exclusive Studio Show from each MXGP.

QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR

QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR Hi MXGP, I want to enter the EMX125 class in Bulgaria. How do I proceed? Thanks, Jan Dear Jan, Thank you for your e-mail. Please contact our Sport Office that will give you an entry form: sportoffice@youthstream.org. All the best, Youthstream Hi MXGP, All is OK? Where can I watch LIVE timing of the races? Cheers, Ca Andrade Marcio Freitas Dear Marcio, During the MXGP event, you can follow LIVE timing on www.mxgp.com, www. MXGP-TV.com as well as the LIVE streaming. Enjoy it! Best Regards Youthstream

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Hi MXGP, What is the Schedule for the EMX 125cc Races AND MOST IMPORTANTLY the NEW 300cc 2 STROKE CLASS??? I am an MXGP-TV user and I am really looking forward to the new 2 Stroke class. For real motocross, we Americans must look to Europe and the FIM. Please give us the schedule for all the races which will include the 2 strokes. Cheers, Jim Hart Dear Jim, Thank you very much for contacting us and showing such interest for the EMX series. The schedule of the EMX races may vary every weekend due to the number of categories racing that weekend; the first moto will be on Saturday, but the second and final race will be always on Sunday. In order to know the exact timetable for these races, you can subscribe to the mxgp-tv.com newsletters and every Thursday you will receive the LIVE program which include the EMX races schedule. Best Regards Youthstream

Hi MXGP, Where can I buy the MXGP Video Game? Thanks. Marco Tolzin Dear Marco, Thank you for your interest in the MXGP Video Game! You can find all information about purchasing the game by following this link: http://www. mxgpvideogame.com. Best Regards! Youthstream Hi MXGP, When is the next race in April? Cheers, Luciano Manoel Hi Luciano, You can find the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar by following this link: http://www.mxgp.com/calendar All the best, Youthstream

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