MXGPMAG0136

#136 2025

GUILLEM FARRES

BACK IN BLACK

CONTENT

005 EDITORIAL

008 COOL SHOTS

014 RACING CATCH UP

032 RIDER OF THE MONTH GUILLEM FARRES

038 SPECIAL FEATURE ACCELERATING SUSTAINABILITY

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PODCAST VALENTIN GUILLOD

RACING CATCH UP

046 SPECIAL FEATURE JOSH COPPINS 2006 HONDA CRF450R

052 HALL OF FAME RYAN DUNGEY

056 PADDOCK TALKS

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MONSTER G

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PODCAST

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COOL SHOTS

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RIDER OF THE MONTH MXGP MAG

GIRLS

Chief Editor: Marionna Leiva Photos: MXGP

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HALL OF FAME

INFRONT MOTO RACING MEDIA World Trade Center II Rte de Pré-Bois 29 1215 Geneva 15 Airport Switzerland MXGP Mag #135 2025 The articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of Infront Moto Racing.

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 Infront Moto Racing in advance and reference is made to the source (©MXGP).

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DEAR MXGP FANS, HERE WE ARE, AFTER A SUPERB IGNITION OF THE 2025 MXGP SEASON IN ARGENTINA ON THE BRIGHT NEW TRACK OF CÓRDOBA, WE ARE HEADING BACK TO EUROPE, IN SPAIN FOR THE SECOND GRAND PRIX OF THE SEASON. The Infinite Track of Cordoba delivered a fantastic Grand Prix and a massive crowd turned out over the weekend, demonstrating again that the Argentinian fans rank on top of the motorsport passionate pyramid.

I want to thank Mas eventos, David and Pablo Eli’s team for the great collaboration we had and for organizing such a great quality and intense Grand Prix.

In MXGP category, the top guns are already in full shape, and they are confirming the feeling of the pre-season races. The head-to-head fight between Renaux and Febvre during the whole weekend was a demonstration of speed and intensity which will promise a lot of great racing this year. Tim Gajser was just behind and we can be certain that he will be in the race for the title too. For their first MXGP Grand Prix the Ducati team got both FOX Holeshots with Seewer and Guadagnini, and the Italian rider scored a great fourth position overall, marking a fantastic start of the Italian brand in our sport history!

In MX2, the weekend was also full of suspense, Laengenfelder was so close to his first victory of the year but the last 2 laps of the day changed everything and Kay de Wolf won the GP and got the first red plate of the year, honoring his number 1!

At the beginning of the week, we announced the comeback of Finland to replace Indonesia’s venues in July. Finland is probably one of the biggest motorsport enthusiast’s countries in Europe. We are sure that their addition to the calendar with a new track on the world class Kymiring facility will definitely bring the Finnish fans to create another great weekend.

See you in Spain - Cozar for the second Grand Prix of the season in a few days.

MXGP Rocks!

David Luongo CEO of Infront Moto Racing

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COOL SHOTS

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COOL SHOTS

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COOL SHOTS

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RACING CATCH UP

MXGP 2025 FIRES INTO LIFE WITH A SOUTH AMERICAN SCORCHER!– 146 LONG DAYS SINCE THE FINAL CHAMPAGNE CORK WAS POPPED AT THE 2024 MONSTER ENERGY FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS AT MATTERLEY BASIN, THE MXGP ELITE TOOK THE NOW TRADITIONAL TRIP TO ARGENTINA TO BEGIN THE 2025 MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE NEW VENUE OF CÓRDOBA, KNOWN AS THE HEART OF ARGENTINA, AND THE INFINITO RACE TRACK ON THE EDGE OF THE SECOND-MOST POPULOUS CITY IN THE MASSIVE SOUTH AMERICAN NATION GAVE US A FANTASTIC START TO THE SEASON!

The new circuit was obviously a completely different proposition to the picturesque former Argentine venue of Villa La Angostura, set in the southern forests of Patagonia, and part of that was immediately apparent – the climate!

Set over 1,500 km closer to the equator, but within easy reach of a city of over 1.5 million people, the temperatures were set to be some 10 degrees or more higher, which became a factor!

After initial inspections brought nods of the head from riders, it was when the riders first hit the track to start the YPF Infinia MXGP of Argentina that another big difference was apparent – the crowd! Already in Free Practice, some five hours before the first actual Qualifying Race, the hillsides were full of eager fans, who greeted all of the stars with rapturous applause, especially when hitting the biggest jumps such as the uphill triple step-up which one rider called “Lorenzo’s Leap”!

The Official GoPro Lap, starring new Aruba.It Ducati Factory MX Team’s Mattia Guadagnini,

saw a fantastic level of noise to show the world how good the atmosphere was, and the Italian revelled in it, stirring the frenzy further with massive whips and nodding encouragement!

It was apparent that the hard work by the organisers to create this amphitheatre-like venue, with the moving of over a million cubic metres of dirt just part of the process, had paid off, and Córdoba was an instant hit that we are sure to return to.

Saturday’s Qualifying Races also proved that the circuit would race well, as the eager MX2 contenders blew out the winter cobwebs with some startling passing, not least former World Champion Andrea Adamo, who put in solid moves against his successor Kay de Wolf and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing stablemate Simon Laengenfelder to bring home a surprise win. The Italian Stallion gave notice that he would be a stronger force in 2025, although a mechanical issue dented his charge in Sunday’s first race.

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That was won by the reigning Champ, although De Wolf did drop his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing machine on more than one occasion over the weekend, hinting that the defence of his #1 plate will be no walk in the park! Sunday’s opener also showed that the track could cope with the weather, as massive downpours were soaked up by the circuit, which still needed watering to settle the dust for the later races! Rookie Cas Valk put in a fine third place finish in race one, and left Argentina seventh in the standings for the returning Venrooy KTM squad! David Braceras took his career-best race finish in fourth on his JM Honda Racing debut, and reigning EMX250 Champ Mathis Valin displayed his pre-season

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speed, but crashes and the damage from them limited his scoring.

Ultimately De Wolf came away from South America with the red plate again, but only after the heat had devastated Simon Laengenfelder, who suffered two late crashes to put that elusive fourth GP win out of his reach. The German’s teammate Sacha Coenen delivered a Fox Holeshot and ran away with race two, and lies only three points off the series lead as we head to Europe. Another Belgian, De Wolf’s new teammate Liam Everts, has to be satisfied with fourth overall after minimal preparation due to his 2024 injuries. Despite the Champ leading the way as expected, it’s wide open in MX2, just as we like it!

The MXGP warriors took to the circuit to more wild appreciation from the enthusiastic crowd, especially as they were clearing the biggest jumps with ease and reacting to the cheers in the process! The layout looked fast, and all riders were enjoying the new circuit.

The proud nation of France had endured a 2024 with no overall GP wins, but as Maxime Renaux and Romain Febvre tore lumps out of each other in the incredible atmosphere of Saturday’s Qualifying Race, it was hard to see anybody else getting amongst them! Tim Gajser was as solid as expected but was third in all three races, pressing forward throughout.

The real revelation was the Ducati Desmo 450 MX, making history on Sunday with the Fox Holeshot Award in both races! Jeremy Seewer lunged across the line for the glory in race one, although Febvre was quickly past on his way to an unchallenged win, then Guadagnini got the lead in race two and held it for most of the lap until Renaux came through.

The Italian, happy to be living on home soil again with his country’s most famous motorcycling brand across his shirt, had toiled through 2024 and finished no higher than seventh in any single race, so for him to pass his teammate for fourth in race one, then hold off Gajser for several laps on his way to the same finish in race two, was a surprise for

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everybody. To lie just 17 points off the series lead, fourth after the opening round, definitely exceeded expectations of where Ducati might be. They are, already, a serious force.

Many forget that Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP have had a fair wait for success since Febvre’s MXGP title in 2015, and Renaux’s MX2 crown in 2021, but their French flyer put the red plate on the blue bike for the first time since 2016 in MXGP with his Qualifying Race win, then took Sunday’s second win to keep it there for Cozar! Renaux was lucky to survive a big mistake which led to him jumping off-circuit in the opening race, however!

Febvre is only a single point behind for Kawasaki Factory Racing and looking strong, with Gajser just eight points further back as the two veterans dig in for another World Championship campaign, Febvre attempting to be the first rider to win his first two world titles a whole decade apart!

Many were excited for the debut of Lucas Coenen in the MXGP class, the 18-year-old hoping to be the first teenage World Champion in the premier class under its present format.

Expectations were lowered by rumours of arm fractures leading up to the event, and for sure he was not at full fitness, but he dutifully dug in and scored a fine sixth overall, and if he can show his MX2 speed on the big bike then he has every chance of hacking down the 30-point gap he has to the top!

Onwards we go then, to Cozar, for the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, where 2024’s final GP took place. There is word of extensive work being done to the circuit to address the teething problems of its first event. The next three rounds heading into April see the diverse challenges of the red Spanish dirt, the steep hillsides of St Jean d’Angely, and the deep sand of Riola Sardo ahead of the riders to truly show the depth of their strength.

Cozar will also welcome the EMX250 and EMX125 classes to their season opener, as both classes will have new Champions following the graduation of the class of ’24.

EMX250 will include reigning EMX125 Champion Noel Zanocz, newly-signed with the JM Honda Racing team, as well as the Dutchman who chased him for that title, Gyan Doensen, now on the Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors squad alongside German Max Werner. Simone Mancini is another

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EMX125 force to move up. The top-ranked remainers from 2024, Ivano van Erp and Nico Greutmann, will be joined by Champion Mathis Valin’s replacement at Bud Racing Kawasaki, rapid Australian Jake Cannon.

Also likely to compete for top honours are a pair of riders who are stepping back from MX2, while still young enough to compete in EMX250 as a reset from injury problems that have troubled their recent careers. Hakon Osterhagen from Norway will race for the AIT Fantic, after running close to the front in the mud of Portugal in last year’s MX2 race.

British hope Bobby Bruce has also been battling constant shoulder problems, so he will chase EMX250 gold for Bike It Kawasaki. On the British front, young Billy Askew has been training with former world #2 Tommy Searle for the Dirt Store Triumph squad and will be hoping to climb the podium.

Janis Reisulis, the 2023 EMX125 Champion, saw his brother make great strides in MX2 last season, so for sure will be out to join him in the big class soon, after competing in EMX250 for 2025. Long-time fans of the sport will also recognise the surnames Leok (Sebastian, son of Tanel), Maschio (Paolo, son of Mickael), and Gundersen (Pelle, son of Kenneth), so they will certainly be interested to see the family

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developments! Expect a tough campaign all year in the ever-entertaining division that marks the gateway to MX2.

EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing is always a hot-bed of strong racing, and as always we see a crop of young riders hit this class from 85cc success and battle those who have been around for a short while longer!

Watch for second-generation racer Jarne Bervoets to shine in his second year of EMX125 racing, as well as another famous “son of”, Levi Townley. Townley won the World Junior 85cc Championship in 2024, then finished second to rising British star Jamie Keith at the bLU cRU 125cc event at Matterley Basin in October. Jamie has signed with JK Yamaha, alongside MXGP rider Isak Gifting, for 2025 and looked untouchable in preseason races.

Mano Faure, Cole McCullough, Francesco Bellei, and Hungarian Aron Katona were also fast last year in EMX125 and could progress again this season. As always with the young riders, some could come out of nowhere to be surprise contenders, For fans of the sweet smell of two-stroke pre-mix, these races are not to be missed!

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MONSTER GIRLS

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MONSTER GIRLS

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RIDER OF THE MONTH

GUILLEM FARRES – BACK IN BLACK As one Spaniard, Jorge Prado, leaves MXGP for American shores, so another, Guillem Farres, comes back to chase his Motocross dream with full factory machinery in the MX2 World Championships.

Guillem Farres, the boy from Barcelona with the wild rocker’s haircut, has smartened up and taken on the mantle of being a factory rider for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, one of the brightest rising manufacturers in the paddock, and after an excursion to the USA was ruined by serious injury, he seems to have found a very happy home in a team that works from a base in his country of birth, and he seems to be fitting in beautifully! So just who is the real Guillem Farres?

Growing up in a small town outside of Barcelona, Guillem got his first dirt bike as a Christmas present when he was just four years old, but didn’t start racing until four years later after mainly riding on his Grandfather’s land, sometimes with his own father who raced locally: “I never thought it could be my job, I was just doing it for fun, still studying but also I kept riding pretty much every weekend because I loved it! It built up from there to the Catalan Championship, Spanish Championship, and even EMX, my family put a lot into it, everybody in the industry knows how hard it is to do all these races!”

QUALIFIER Discovering the varying fortunes of today’s pro riders over the last decade of EMX racing is a fascinating exercise in itself, and Guillem’s name first appears in the history books of 2016, when he placed ninth in the South-West European Qualifiers to earn a place at the EMX85 finale at Loket that year. That event was won by the much-missed Rene Hofer,

ahead of Spaniard Oriol Oliver. 2024 MX2 World Champion Kay de Wolf finished 18th overall that day, with Thibault Benistant 20th, and Guillem Farres 21st!

The following year was not to be so kind, and Guillem didn’t qualify in his final season on the smaller bikes. He made his EMX125 debut at St Jean d’Angely in June 2018, scoring a 15th position while Mattia Guadagnini and Benistant won the races.

In 2019 he really started to show promise, scoring points at Valkenswaard on his 16th birthday, before two dazzling third-place performances in races at Trentino and Mantova, with eventual chap Guadagnini, Tom Guyon, and Simon Laengenfelder all in the mix!

VICTORY By the COVID-condensed season of 2020 he was truly one of the top riders: “I started to take it very seriously, more professional, when I was 17, and got involved with a German team, racing the main Championship there as well as EMX250 and some MX2.” He scored three second places across three events in a week at Faenza, when eventual Champion Andrea Bonacorsi won all six races! Guillem missed two further events but came back with a stunning overall victory in the deep sand of Lommel, leading a Spanish 1-2 with David

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Braceras as they each took a win and fifth!

Sixth in the final standings, the chance then came to leap into the unknown and race in the USA, something he took with both hands!

SURPRISE Sixth in the opening race at Budd’s Creek in 2022 caught many by surprise, and with the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations due to take place at RedBud that year, he stayed out there to race for Team Spain for the very first time alongside Jorge Prado and Ruben Fernandez.

“My race on Sunday was not the best, I had some crashes in the mud so it wasn’t great. It’s just the coolest race, representing your country is a real honour, and although it was not my goal to stay there, I had no opportunities in GPs at the time, so I worked things out to get a ride in the USA for 2023.”

Freshly part of the fabled Star Racing Yamaha team, due to train at “The GOAT Farm”, formerly the home of Ricky Carmichael, he started with a Motocross-only contract, but issues with paperwork hindered his preparations. He didn’t return to the country until less than a month before the opening round at Pala Raceway in California, but exceeded expectations there with solid results, sitting seventh in the standings after round two, ahead of his teammate Levi Kitchen. Sadly, a crash at Thunder Valley’s third round put paid to his season just as it got going: “I was feeling really good, got a top five in race two at Pala, second round rode good, then I got into a start crash and it broke the humerus bone in my arm, so that season was over for me.”

SURGERIES “In 2024 I was racing Supercross, I had a good off-season, first two races in the top ten, going fairly easy, then in training for round three I had a mechanical issue which made me crash, and I ended up breaking my femur.

I had three surgeries, many months off the bike, and again another missed season for something which wasn’t my fault.”

Guillem was lying a tasty joint-seventh in the 250 East standings at the time, ahead of eventual Champion Tom Vialle in a topsy-turvy season which could have gone nicely in the Spaniard’s direction. After such a torrid time in the USA, however, he felt the call of home and began to explore options in a part of

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the world where many of Europe’s top teams spend their off-season, including a certain Monster Energy Triumph Racing outfit. “I asked my manager to look at options to come home, and I asked him to approach Triumph because I could see that they had a really good bike, and with Mikkel Haarup having to move class, that’s how it came about!”

TRIUMPH The Triumph team is well known as having a great atmosphere at the races; why else would Haarup, at 24 too old for MX2 but having no 450 Triumph to race, stay onboard as a development rider for a year at the peak of his career? With jovial South African Camden McLellan as part of the team, the pair decided to share a house in Malaga!

Camden himself said at the pre-season Press Conference, “I don’t think we can really say too much about what we get up to!” Guillem is enjoying the arrangement for a life based around Motocross; “It’s been really good for both of us, we get along really good, we both do different chores around the house and try and keep it as clean as possible! We can learn

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from each other in training, Cam’s a really good rider so we push each other to the limit!”

The opening round of MX2 – now a completely different field compared to his early endeavours – showed Guillem the level of the World Championships right now. After being passed by Camden for fifth in race one, the 6-11 scores he got for seventh overall have given him a place to start from; “Argentina wasn’t the best for me. I had no pace and was slower than all those guys, there’s a high level in the Championship but I’m pretty capable of being there, so I have to keep working and I’m sure I’ll be there.”

The cheerful soon-to-be 22-year-old has two home Grands Prix to look forward to within the first eight rounds of the 2025 MX2 World Championship, and for sure the spirit within the excellent Triumph organisation will help him to continue his bounce-back from a desperate two years in the Spaniard’s young career. Seeing his progress will be intriguing, and don’t count him out of getting the black British bike to the podium on more than one occasion in 2025!

Photo: Taglioni

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SPECIAL FEATURE

MXGP’S COMmITMENT TO ECO-FRIENDLY RACING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPIRELOGOMATS THE FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (MXGP) IS RENOWNED FOR ITS EXHILARATING OFF-ROAD MOTOCROSS RACES, CAPTIVATING AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE BOTH ON-SITE AND VIA TELEVISION BROADCASTS. BEYOND THE ADRENALINE-PUMPING ACTION, MXGP HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A LEADING FORCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN MOTORSPORTS.

The championship has implemented proactive measures to minimize its ecological footprint, setting an example for the broader motorsports industry. Essential to this mission is the collaboration with Empirelogomats, a key partner providing eco-friendly solutions that enhance the championship’s green initiatives.

MXGP’S PROACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) provides a regulatory framework for sustainability, and MXGP takes an active role in implementing and advancing these guidelines.

The championship has integrated comprehensive environmental measures into its operations, focusing on areas such as noise reduction, soil protection, and waste management. By adhering to the standards set by the FIM Environmental Code, MXGP ensures that each event is conducted with an emphasis on ecological responsibility.

EMPIRELOGOMATS: ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY ON THE GROUND A pivotal aspect of MXGP’s environmental efforts is its partnership with Empirelogomats. This Belgian company specialises in producing highquality environmental mats that are essential for protecting soil and surrounding ecosystems

during events. These mats are strategically placed in team tents and paddock areas to prevent contaminants like oil and fuel from seeping into the ground. Empirelogomats’ dedication to environmental responsibility is underscored by certifications such as FIM compliance, TÜV certification, and ISO 9001 accreditation. Their products are not only effective in contamination prevention but also embody sustainability through their design and manufacturing processes.

COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES IN MXGP MXGP’s sustainability initiatives encompass a wide range of actions aimed at reducing the environmental impact of motocross racing. These include: NOISE POLLUTION CONTROL Specialists conduct rigorous sound measurements to ensure motorcycles comply with prescribed decibel limits, effectively reducing noise pollution.

By implementing strict regulations on engine noise, MXGP contributes to reducing disturbances to local communities and wildlife surrounding race tracks.

SOIL AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

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The mandatory use of environmental mats in service areas prevents soil contamination, safeguarding local ecosystems. Additionally, designated zones for refuelling and maintenance ensure that oil spills and fuel leakage are minimized, preserving the integrity of the terrain.

WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING INITIATIVES One of MXGP’s most significant environmental commitments is its comprehensive waste management program. Designated washing stations with proper drainage are established at race venues, preventing toxic run-off into nearby soil and water sources. Teams are also required to use biodegradable cleaning agents for their motorcycles and equipment.

MXGP places a strong emphasis on recycling, with dedicated collection points for plastics, metals, and hazardous materials, including used tires and motor oil. At each event, organizers ensure that all recyclable waste is separated and disposed of responsibly. Used oil and lubricants are collected and processed through certified recycling programs to prevent them from contaminating the environment. These efforts demonstrate MXGP’s commitment to maintaining sustainability at every level of the competition.

SUSTAINABILITY IN MOTORSPORTS: A BROADER PERSPECTIVE While MXGP is at the forefront of green initiatives in motocross, sustainability has become a growing priority across the entire motorsports industry.

REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS Many motorsport organizations are now actively working to reduce their carbon footprints. Formula 1, for example, has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, while MotoGP is transitioning toward sustainable fuels to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. Electric racing series are also emerging to add another side of environmental awareness.

Motorsport events worldwide are increasingly shifting towards sustainable logistics and transportation methods. The use of biofuels, hybrid technologies, and alternative energy sources in team operations has become more prevalent.

ECO-FRIENDLY TRACK DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

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Another key aspect of sustainability in motorsports is track design. Many racing circuits are now integrating sustainable practices into their construction and maintenance. Solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and improved waste management strategies are being implemented at numerous tracks to ensure they operate in a more environmentally responsible manner.

In motocross, natural terrain circuits help minimise the environmental impact of track construction. By utilizing the existing landscape rather than making drastic modifications, MXGP and can reduce deforestation and soil degradation.

EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION: THE FIM RIDE GREEN CUP Education and awareness are pivotal to MXGP’s sustainability mission. In the dynamic world of motocross, an initiative to introduce environmental consciousness among young riders has been created: the FIM Ride Green Cup. Held annually in conjunction with the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, this program emphasises the importance of sustainability in motorsport, nurturing a generation of eco-aware athletes.

Through lectures, tree planting and challenges, the initiative aims to engage young riders in activities that promote environmental stewardship and instils a sense of responsibility. Therefore, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in motorsport. By engaging young riders and their teams the initiative promotes a culture of

environmental responsibility that extends beyond the racetrack A UNIFIED VISION FOR A GREENER FUTURE The collaboration between MXGP and Empirelogomats is in direct alignment with the growing trend of sustainability in motorsports. By integrating eco-friendly solutions and adhering to stringent environmental standards, MXGP ensures that the excitement of motocross racing coexists harmoniously with ecological preservation. As the championship continues to evolve and grow, its dedication to sustainability serves as a model for the broader motorsport community, demonstrating that high-octane entertainment and environmental responsibility can indeed go hand in hand.

CONCLUSION Sustainability in motorsports is no longer just a consideration—it is a necessity. As one of the premier off-road racing championships in the world, MXGP’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint set an important precedent for other motorsport disciplines. Through strategic partnerships like that with Empirelogomats, strict waste management practices, noise reduction measures, and educational programs, MXGP continues to push the boundaries of sustainability in motocross.

With a commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvements, MXGP is proving that motorsports and sustainability can go together, ensuring a greener future for the sport and the planet alike.

PODCAST

PRIVATEeR CHALlENGER VALENTIN GUILlOD IN THIS EPISODE, WE SIT DOWN WITH VALENTIN GUILLOD IN CÓRDOBA, WHO KICKED OFF THE SEASON BY TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE OF THE FIRST OVERSEAS GPS IN ARGENTINA AS A PRIVATEER. WITH DETERMINATION AND SKILL, HE’S FIGHTING AGAINST THE ODDS, HOPING TO SECURE A SEAT WITH A TEAM FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. JOIN US AS WE DISCUSS HIS EXPERIENCE, THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF RACING INDEPENDENTLY, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THIS TALENTED RIDER.

CLICK HERE

TO HEAR OR WATCH THE PODCAST

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SPECIAL FEATURE

JOSH COPpINS 2006 HONDA CRF450R JOSH COPPINS MAY HAVE COME ‘THIS CLOSE’ TO WINNING THE MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2007, BUT IT’S WHAT HE DID IN 2006 WHICH WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS. IN A SEASON WHERE THE GOAT SEEMED UNSTOPPABLE, COPPINS DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND BEAT STEFAN EVERTS AT THE IRISH GRAND PRIX, AND IT’S COPPINS’ HONDA CRF450R WHICH WE WILL FEATURE IN THIS ISSUE OF MXGP MAGAZINE.

New Zealand’s Josh Coppins had placed 2nd overall in the 2005 MX1 World Championship, losing out to Stefan Everts by 69 points.

However, going into the off-season the Kiwi

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knew he could at least challenge for the title in 2006, if everything went according to plan; which it did, until it didn’t! Injuries for riders are never welcome, but even less so when

they come so close to the start of the new season, as JC points out: ‘I picked up a shoulder injury at Honda Park in Belgium, one week prior to the first round at Zolder. I dislocated and tore my Labrum which required surgery, so I had surgery on Monday after round one.’

The injury would take the best part of three months to heal, which meant a lot of time on the couch watching the World Championship on television, like everybody else, and all he got to see was Stefan Everts in his prime, clicking off win after win after win, which when you feel you might be a contender, is a frustrating thing to have to watch.

‘Stefan was dominating and winning at will,’ Josh recalls, ‘and so then everyday I’d sit on the couch in Balen and watch the racing on TV, and then the ice cream van would come (laughing); I remember it pretty clearly and I was thinking ‘what am I gonna do? What’s my challenge, and I just thought when I come back, I’ve got to try and beat Stefan, at least once, and that was the goal.’

As for the bike, Coppins was already familiar with the Honda, having raced ‘red’ since 2002; he was also familiar with the CAS Honda Team as well. He’d also shown that he was a title contender too, having placed 3rd overall in 2003 and 2004, and 2nd in 2005.

In 2004, Honda came in with an all-new 450 machine, and by 2006, the bike was awash with various upgrades, which is not unexpected, given the shelf-life of each model year is around three years, but for 2006, CAS Honda could now call on HRC for a few extra’s, here and there.

‘The ‘04 to ‘05 was an all-new bike which as you know is not always a good thing, it can take a wee bit to understand, and then 05 to 06 was just upgrades, and understanding a little more about what we needed. ECU settings come to mind, which were better, and we worked on the clutch, which was the time of experimenting with the diaphragm spring, the single spring type clutch, car-type spring set up. So, we started experimenting with that and a slipper clutch, and that helped for our starts and the ECU mapping helped for better

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throttle-to-wheel connection and traction.

Josh continued: ‘We had a better budget, so in terms of the weight of the bike, we got the bike feeling more-light and together with that we also moved to Pirelli from Bridgestone. I had no issue with the Bridgestone tyre, but the issue I had was we were spending too much time talking about tyre choice, or compound.’

In other words, was there just too much choice with Bridgestone

‘WHAT AM I GONNA DO? WHAT’S MY CHALLENGE, AND I JUST THOUGHT WHEN I COME BACK, I’VE GOT TO TRY AND BEAT STEFAN, AT LEAST ONCE, AND THAT WAS THE GOAL.’

‘Yes!’ came the reply, ‘and so when we changed, we were more focussed on the bike whereas previously there was so much discussion around tyres, where Pirelli just simplified that, and that allowed us to work more on suspension or whatever it was, and that helped us make some good gains as well; the bike improved and the consistency of the bike improved. We also started to get a little bit more support from HRC; it was nothing like now, it was pretty much a Honda Europe deal with splashes of HRC stuff, which was enough to give you a good feeling but not enough to put you into a position where you sort of started to struggle, and had to search and test a lot, so that was kinda good. Positive, it made it pretty simple, it was more or less a production-based focus in terms of geometry.’

According to Josh, the list of HRC parts included ‘triple clamps, foot pegs and mounts, clutch and brake levers, but the base of the bike was still production-based. We did have some HRC parts in the linkage but we were also testing after-market stuff, like pull-rods, but we didn’t go too far off production-based geometry, but I believe we were using some factory parts.’

As for suspension, Josh’s Honda came equipped with 48mm Showa A-Kit, complete with bigger rear shock shaft and shock body, which was all prepared in-house, by his mechanic, Fabio.

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His relationship with the Italian went back to 2002 when Coppins raced for Vismara Honda,

and when the team eventually disbanded, Josh and Fabio ended up at the British-based CAS team, which now fell under the Honda Europe banner. A lot of the suspension testing was done during the winter, which turned out to be instrumental when Josh returned from injury, as he recalls: ‘Fabio came from the Corrado Maddii era, where it was just non-stop work and development. It wasn’t a ‘ok, we’re done and in three months we’ll re-visit …’ it was every day; keep progressing, keep thinking, keep adjusting. So, I was just riding all the time apart from when I had the injury, and then it all stopped. Ken De Dycker was my teammate but he was a completely different rider to me,

so none of his settings really worked for me, and so it just showed when I got on the bike at Matterley how much good work we had done in the winter, with all the time we spent in the Montevarchi region in Italy. We had a good pre-season in terms of set-up, which showed when we came back.’

By the time Coppins made it back to competition, seven rounds had passed, and when he arrived at Matterley Basin, he had no idea that a podium would even be possible first time out, but as he points out, the world can sometimes work in mysterious ways: ‘I just did rehab, which was pretty much a three-month thing, and then got back on the

bike, and I’d only ridden for … you know how sometimes you come back from injuries and it takes for ever, and then sometimes you come back and you’re like up to speed straight away? For whatever reason, I was up to speed straight away; I just didn’t quite have the fitness. I rode for a week and then went to Matterley Basin and got on the podium straight away (3-5). A bit tired second moto obviously with not having that base fitness, but it was all good.’

A podium (3rd) followed in Sweden next time out, followed by 2nd overall at the next three rounds, with no finishes outside the top three in the races. And then Desertmartin, Northern Ireland happened. Stefan Everts had won

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twelve GP’s in a row until this point, but when Josh went 2-1 to Everts’ 1-2, that streak ended.

Everts said that Coppins had beaten him straight up, no excuses, which almost twenty years on, Josh appreciates the acknowledgement, saying: ‘That’s cool to hear that, because I don’t think I ever rode that good ever again in my life, to be honest. That day was just one of those days where everything clicked and just felt amazing; I enjoyed the track, and it’s still one of my favourites now. I see the posts on social media and I just think what a cool looking track. So cool, in that it’s just got a good feel to it, I like sand tracks with hills, and the challenge of that, so yeah, it was just one of those days where everything just fell into place.

‘A funny story actually, the day after that was the Ken Hall Memorial in the south of England. I flew with Fabio and someone drove my practice bike there in the motorhome, and I got there, was having a sleep in between moto’s and when I come out and there were a few fans there. And one of them said to me ‘Oh, how did you go at the GP?’ and I said ‘I

won’ and he was like, ‘was Stefan not there?’

I was like ‘yeah, I beat him!’ and he was like ‘aah, no way!’ I was pissed off, I remember that! (laughing) Pretty funny now though!’

In many ways, it’s hard to not feel ‘robbed’ of what could have been an even better season, because had Coppins been on the gate at the first grand prix, who knows how the championship might have turned out. The Kiwi might have won the title, or he might have finished second just as he did the year before, but Desertmartin proved that he and the bike were more than capable. The question is though, could Coppins’ 2006 Honda have won the world championship?

‘Yeah, definitely! The bike could have. Whether I could have or not, if I’m honest, I’d probably say no. I felt like Stefan was more rounded, he had people with experience around him that could help him know when to push and when not to, what to do and what not to do. All I knew was push all the time, but certainly the bike was good enough, no doubt it. The bike was really good for a production-based, Fabio was a wizard, I also had Roger Shenton who is still at HRC, so in my eyes I had a dream team of staff at that time.’

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HALL OF FAME

RYAN DUNGEY similar story, a lot of podiums but again taking 5th overall as he didn’t finished the season. Winning more rounds than his rivals the following season, he finished runner up in both Supercross and Motocross and had to wait one more year to conquer both the Supercross Lites West Coast and the 250cc outdoor title in 2009. Selected to race for the first time in the MX of Nations at Franciacorta (Italy), he raced the MX1 class and was one of the best members of the US team with a win and a third position.

Born on the 4th of December 1989 at Belle Plaine (Minnesota), Ryan was fifteen years old when he won his first amateur race at the famous Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships in Tennessee. He did it again in 2006, and even though his results in the overall Championships were not astounding, he received some support from Roger De Coster, who was managing the factory Suzuki team. At mid-season Ryan did his first pro race on his native track of Spring Creek at Millville, and ended the season 28th in the outdoor series.

Moving to the 450 class in 2010 he delivered an incredible season, winning the title against reigning champion James Stewart in his rookie season in the premier class; a few months later he also won the 450cc outdoor series, and at the MX of Nations at Thunder Valley (USA) he remained unbeatable and helped team USA to win it’s 21st MXoN. Always on a Suzuki, but without Roger De Coster who left the Japanese brand to join KTM, Ryan got two series podiums in 2011 with second overall in Motocross and third in Supercross.

At the MXoN in France he once more joined Team USA on the top step of the podium, for his third consecutive win.

Moving to KTM in 2012 and back alongside Roger De Coster, Ryan had a strong start to the season with seven podiums in the first nine rounds, but he lost all chances for the title due to a broken collarbone; returning for the last three rounds and taking two wins, he finished third in the standings and took his revenge in the outdoor series where he claimed his fifth title, the first one for KTM in the United States.

At Lommel in Belgium Team USA didn’t win an eighth in a row, but EVEN IF HE NEVER ENTERED ANY ROUND OF THE Ryan and his teammates still made the podium MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DURING HIS CAREER, with a third position.

RYAN DUNGEY DESERVES A PLACE IN OUR HALL OF FAME DUE TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE AMERICAN TEAM AT THE MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS. HE ENTERED THE EVENT SIX TIMES, STANDING ON THE PODIUM AFTER EACH OF THOSE EVENTS AND CELEBRATING THREE TIMED ON THE TOP STEP!

In 2007 he entered the Supercross series for the first time, and won the first round on the East Coast at Atlanta! Injury forced him to missed two rounds, but on his return he won three of the four Main Events, finishing 5th in the standings and earning the ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award; The outdoor series was a

Then in 2013 and 2014 he broke the record of podiums (23 of 29 races in 2013, 21 of 29 races in 2014), showed incredible consistency, and earned several silver medals (Outdoor 2013 and 2014, Supercross in 2014) and a bronze in the 2013 outdoors. He continued to score podium finishes with Team USA at the MXoN with second at Teutschenthal in 2013 and third at Kegums in 2014.

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In 2015 he was back winning races, eight Supercross and seven Outdoors; add podium results in all Main Events bar one and you have the new SX champion, who also won the Outdoors in what would be his final season in outdoor Motocross. Racing only Supercross in 2016 and 2017 he claimed the title both times, seeing off a tremendous challenge from rising star Eli Tomac, and announced his retirement after celebrating his ninth

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title at Las Vegas. After a five-year lay-off, “The Diesel” returned in 2022 for the outdoor Motocross season, and finished the year sixth in the points chase at the age of 32 before slipping back into retirement. One of the most consistent and determined riders in recent American history left behind a huge track record for his impressive career.

TEXT & PHOTOS: PASCAL HAUDIQUERT

2001

28TH IN THE US LITES MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (SUZUKI)

2007

º5TH IN THE US LITES SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP EAST COAST (SUZUKI) 5TH IN THE US LITES MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

2008

2ND IN THE US LITES SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP WEST COAST (SUZUKI) 2ND IN THE US LITES MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

2009

US LITES SUPERCROSS CHAMPION WEST COAST (SUZUKI) US LITES MOTOCROSS CHAMPION MEMBER OF THE WINNING US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS ITALY)

2010

US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPION (SUZUKI) US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPION MEMBER OF THE WINNING US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS USA)

2011

3RD IN THE US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (SUZUKI) 2ND IN THE US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP MEMBER OF THE WINNING US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS FRANCE)

2012

3RD IN THE US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM) US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPION 3RD WITH THE US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS (LOMMEL, BELGIUM)

2013

3RD IN THE US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM) 2ND IN THE US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 2ND WITH THE US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS (TEUTSCHENTHAL, GERMANY)

2014

2ND IN THE US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM) 2ND IN THE US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD WITH THE US TEAM AT THE MX OF NATIONS (KEGUMS, LATVIA)

2015

US 450 SUPERCROSS CHAMPION (KTM) US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPION

2016

US SUPERCROSS CHAMPION (KTM) 17TH IN THE US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

2017

US SUPERCROSS CHAMPION (KTM)

2022

6TH IN THE US 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM)

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

Photo: F. Montero

CUT THE

NONSENSE

Dragging bars, scrubbing pegs, and taking names, that‘s what the 2025 KTM 450 SX-F is all about. Those trophies aren‘t going to win themselves. Bring the ruckus.

VISIT KTM.COM

PADDOCK TALKS 1

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1 A battle of factories, ten manufacturers, including Ducati and Triumph, join MXGP 2025.

2 Privilege of a World Champion.

KDW #74 will wear the big #1 to defend his MX2 World Title 3 Rookie Lucas Coenen has no pressure for MXGP season: “I am already sure about myself, and I am not going to be ridiculous.” The tone is set…

4 Same line-up but different look.

New numbers for Rick Elzinga and Thibault Benistant this 2025!

5 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders Coldenhoff, Bogers and Bonacorsi modelled in Sardinia to unveil their new Fantic XXF 450 livery.

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6 Royalty! The Royal House of Savoy announced a prestigious partnership with the Kawasaki Racing Team.

7 Welcome DC! The famous brand founded by the late Ken Block becomes main apparel and footwear sponsor for Abuba.it Ducati Factory MX team.

8 Ready to drive! Take a look at Lotte van Drunen’s van. If you didn’t know yet, it’s written on it, “The queen of sand”.

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9 Heroic Lucas underwent surgery just before flying to Argentina and snatched a sixth overall in Córdoba. Never give up!

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SOFIA ITALY