MXGP #115 March 2023

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RUBENFERNANDEZ DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

MARCH 2023

P.22RACING CATCH UP

MONSTER GIRLS P.44

P.48RIDERS OF THE MONTH COOL SHOT P.10
P.80HALL OF CONTENT

MXGP MAG

Chief Editor: Marionna Leiva

Photos: MXGP

INFRONT MOTO RACING MEDIA

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MXGP Mag #115 March 2023

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).

ccscscs EDITORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.7 COOL SHOTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.10 FOX HOLESHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.18 RACING CATCH UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.22 SOCIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.38 RIDERS OF THE MONTH Ruben Fernández . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.44 SPECIAL FEATURE MXGPAcademy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.56 HALL OF FAME RuiGonçalves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.68 PADDOCK TALKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.74 SPECIAL FEATURE Stefan Everts 2006 Yamaha YZ450FM . . . . .P.76
TO THE EDITOR. . .
P.38
QUESTIONS
P.84
OF FAME
EDITORIAL

Dear MXGP Friends,

The season started with a fantastic Grand Prix in Patagonia-Argentina, on the beautiful track of Villa La Angostura.

The Argentinian fans answered the call with a record of attendance for the 7th time we were going to Patagonia. In MXGP 41 riders entered the Grand Prix and 33 riders in MX2, it was definitely the perfect scenario to start the season.

The new points system of the Saturday RAM Qualifying Race gave a totally new rhythm to the weekend. The show rose a new level with a fantastic engagement from the riders, who already need to score points for the championship. It will open the championship to more suspense, as to some riders fit better Saturday’s sprint format, while others are better on the 2-heats format of Sunday. It will be very interesting to see how it will develop during the season. In MX2, Jago Geerts made a perfect start with 60 points and the red plate, and in MXGP Rubén Fernández won his first MXGP Grand Prix but let the red plate to his compatriot Jorge Prado, who started the weekend with a victory on Saturday.

MXGP went back to Europe to celebrate the MXGP of Sardegna at the deep sand of Riola Sardo. A totally different kind of track than Argentina but the same intensity. Here again Geerts showed to the MX2 class that he will be the man to

THE NEW POINTS SYSTEM OF THE SATURDAY RAM QUALIFYING RACE

GAVE A TOTALLY NEW RHYTHM TO THE WEEKEND.

beat this year, but Kay De Wolf, Thibault Benistant and Andrea Adamo are chasing him. In MXGP, the weekend developed positively for Jeffrey Herlings, who offered a fantastic battle with Romain Febvre and Maxime Reneaux, after a comeback in the second heat on Sunday from the back of the pack to win his 100th Grand Prix! Jorge Prado kept the red plate and he is 7 points ahead of Herlings thanks to his victory on Saturday’s RAM Qualifying race. But here again the battle for the title will be more open than ever.

Italy was also the occasion for the launch of the new paddock show; from now on, in Europe and after the last Saturday race at 6pm, the top riders and winners of the day will be invited on a bright new structure in the paddock to be interviewed in front of the fans.

On the TV production side, the 2023 season was the occasion to completely renew our 26 minutes magazine that highlights the best moments of the Grand Prix on the Monday following the Grand Prix. The new Behind the Gate will go deeper into the riders’ preparation, their lifestyle, it will feature some of their personal stories, and

it will also show the background of the different Grand Prix and all the stakeholders that make this great championship possible. For sure, we will not forget the best moments and images of racing. It is available on the main MXGP’s broadcasters and on our MXGP-TV.com channel. Regarding the TV Coverage, we have just renewed our agreement with Automoto until 2024 and with the Dutch Channel NOS, and the Women Motocross World Championship’s season will be broadcasted live in Spain on ESPORT3, TV3´s thematic sports channel in Catalunya, as well as on the digital platform Esport3.cat.

After a weekend off, we are heading to Switzerland, where MXGP will finally come back after several years of break, a perfect Easter Weekend in the tradition and the passion of the Swiss fans of Motocross. We are back to Frauenfeld, back on the traditional track of the club. We will have a very special Grand Prix with the classical Saturday program, but on Sunday MXGP will be off and the racing will be back for Easter Monday. There is no doubt that Jeremy Seewer and all the Swiss riders will count on the massive presence of the public, who have always answered the call. The entry list of the riders is showing a big participation in all the categories with more than 48 in MXGP, 40 in MX2, 50 in WMX and almost 100 riders in EMX125 for their opening round! No doubt, MXGP season is on!

See you in Switzerland.

EDITORIAL
David Luongo CEO of Infront Moto Racing

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FOXHOLESHOT

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15 SECONDS, THEN 5...AND IT’S OFF TO A 30-MINUTE RACE PLUS 2 LAPS AT A FURIOUS PACE. BUT THE FIRST VICTORY IS IN THE FIRST CORNER, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO COMES OUT AFTER THAT TURN TAKES THE FOX HOLESHOT. A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE. A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON ON THIS PRICE BEFORE SOME EXPLANATIONS.

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Prado, Grand Master of the discipline

Historical partner of the FIM Motocross World Championship, Fox can boast of giving a black plate to the biggest names in the discipline, at each Grand Prix. But since 2017, when the reward was launched, only three riders have received the Holeshot Award and the financial gift that goes with it. Would it be a surprise to recall that the now legendary Tony Cairoli was the first rider to win the title in MXGP? Jorge Prado, then 16 years old, followed him in the MX2 class. In football, a Hat-Trick is when a player scores three consecutive goals. So, it is not ridiculous to use the same terminology to describe the performance of the Italian and the Spaniard, who were able to repeat the feat in 2018 and

2019, to achieve an already historic performance.

The following year, against the backdrop of the global health crisis, was a bit of a downer for TC222, who saw his title of ‘fastest rider at the start’ slip away from him in favor of his teammate... freshman Prado! The native of Lugo, in the autonomous province of Galicia, has made this race in the race his specialty. For his first season in MXGP, he finished with 16 points, far ahead of a certain Tim Gajser (6 points), World Champion the same year. At the same time, it was Frenchman Tom Vialle who took the lead in the MX2 races and made forget the performances of the Spaniard in this category.

In 2021, Vialle outperformed the competition, taking no less than 22 black plates. In comparison, Mattia Guadagnini, second MX2 rider in

the standings, finished with...4 plates. But there was no time to look at what was happening in his former class for Jorge Prado. The man who starts faster than his shadow smashed once again his opponents, with two more Fox Holeshots than the previous season, for a total of 18. Five years of undivided reign for the Red Bull rider, who switched from KTM to GasGas in 2022. His change of bike had no impact on his riding, as he won a sixth Fox Holeshot Award at the end of last season, with 16 new hot starts. And here again, he was imitated by Tom Vialle, before his departure for other objectives. The Frenchie who concluded his season with 10 black plates and a World Champion title.

Being the leader at the first corner, a simple matter of principle?

Beyond the recognition and the financial reward, reaching the first corner as a leader has a significant tactical advantage: it considerably

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increases your chances of finishing in the Top 10, or even in the Top 5. Because when you look carefully a professional race, it can be noticed that from first to tenth place, the time gap is very often tight except in the event of the riders in front falling at the same time. Several parameters come into play, such as the acceleration of the motorcycle, the management of the accelerator by the rider, the adhesion of the machine to the ground or the time taken to disengage before the turn.

Taking the lead, from the very first moments of the race, means giving it the tempo you want, while avoiding the pressure of having to fight in the middle of the pack with the other competitors, with all the consequences that this can have. Moreover, it avoids suffering to catch up with the leading group. Because although the thirty minutes or so that a race lasts may seem long, it actually passes extremely quickly. And even more when you’re up against experienced drivers who make few mistakes on the track.

And let’s not forget the confidence that comes from knowing that you have thirty determined guys behind your wheels, including world and European champions and young up-and-coming riders. It shows how determined you are.

€10.000 to the winner in MXGP, €5.000 in MX2

For 2023, the FOX Holeshot award returns according to the usual rules, over the 19 rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship. One point is awarded to each rider who passes the initial corner first, in official races. A white line is drawn on the ground at the exit of this corner and GoPro cameras are installed around it to determine exactly which wheel crossed the line first. At the end of the season, the rider with the most points will win €10,000 in the MXGP class and €5,000 in MX2. This raises two questions: Will Jorge Prado be able to reach the 7th? His first plate in Patagonia, Argentina might be a good clue to answer that. And who will replace Tom Vialle, who left empty the World Champion’s seat and the Holeshot Award? The Fox hunt is on...

Fox Holeshots after two Grand Prix

The World Championship has just started, with two outstanding rounds in Argentina and Sardinia. In MXGP, Ruben Fernandez surprised everyone by winning the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, ahead of Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado. But it was the Red Bull GasGas Spaniard who was the most

impressive in the first race, taking the Fox Holeshot and finishing first in the race. In the second heat, Glen Coldenhoff took the black plate awarded by the fox brand, but he could not avoid the return of six of his competitors, to finally finish 7th. In MX2, Lucas Coenen was lucky and came out first of the first corner in race 1. But the joy was short-lived for the Husqvarna rider, who had to stop his race after a crash. He was imitated by Kevin Horgmo at the start of race 2. But the Norwegian had to give in under pressure from Jago Geerts and eventually finished second.

Back on the European continent, Monster Energy Yamaha Racing MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre were the quickest to start, taking the Fox Holeshot in race 1 and 2 respectively, but neither managed to hold the lead in both races, leaving Jorge Prado and Glen Coldenhoff to take the win. In MX2, Jago Geerts didn’t win race 1, but he had the merit to be the fastest in the corner. It was only a postponement for the Belgian who dominated race 2 but saw the young WZ Racing KTM rider Oriol Oliver show more ferocity at the start, to take the first black plate of his young career.

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TIM GAJSER 2022 MXGP WORLD CHAMPION TOM VIALLE 2022 MX2 WORLD CHAMPION
“WE SELL WHAT WE RACE, WE RACE WHAT WE SELL”

RACINGCATCHUP

2023 SEASON OPENING SIMPLY FEARLESS

SINCE THE LAST EDITION OF THE MXGP MAGAZINE, WE HAVE TRULY ENTERED INTO THE SEASON. WE FLEW ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO START THE 2023 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN PATAGONIA - ARGENTINA, WHICH WAS AN EPIC WAY TO BEGIN THE CAMPAIGN! THEN WE TRAVELLED BACK TO SARDINIA FOR THE FIRST EUROPEAN STOP OF THE SEASON AT THE SANDY TRACK OF RIOLA SARDO. IN OTHER WORDS, THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITING AND THE RACING… SIMPLY FEARLESS!

Argentina to Begin!

Let’s start with the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina. After a lengthy two-day trip to get there, beginning the Championship in Patagonia is always an amazing experience. The stunning landscape surrounding Villa La Angostura with a backdrop of the Andean mountains and the beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi was only an introduction to the warm welcome we received in the region.

The Grand Prix is always a massive success in terms of organisation, but also in attendance. This year’s racing weekend brought together around 43,000 fans who all contributed to the unique atmosphere found in Argentina and that reached maximum level even before the racing weekend began. We started the festivities with the

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inaugural opening press conference that officially kickstarted the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina with Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela and Organiser of the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina David Eli, followed by the riders’ press conference.

The day continued in the most thrilling way with the riders’ signing session in the city centre of Villa La Angostura among a large and electric crowd, there to cheer for the stars and watch a spectacular freestyle show. What a way to begin the weekend!

With fans already amped up and excited to see the fastest riders back in action, the real test began with the RAM Qualifying Race. The intensity of the race was already high as the new points system now attributes points to the top 10 riders. This was Jorge Prado’s turn to shine as he clinched first place, gaining

10 precious points along the way counting towards the Championship. Behind him was his teammate Mattia Guadagnini and Maxime Renaux. The day was marked by a huge crash from Jeremy Seewer, who was eying Ruben Fernandez in 3rd position when he lost control of his bike mid-air on a big jump. Fortunately, the Swiss rider came through without injury. In MX2, it was the beginning of a dominant racing weekend for Jago Geerts as he clinched the first qualifying place in front of Andrea Adamo, both showing great confidence on their new bikes.

The main action on Sunday saw some exciting battles throughout the day. Unsurprisingly, Prado got the first Fox Holeshot of the season with Glenn Coldenhoff taking the second one. Then Ruben Fernandez made it to the top for the first time in his career so far, with a 5-1 and leading race 2 from start to finish, he showed no sign of nerves in sealing his first GP victory. Second on the overall podium was Jeffrey Herlings, who celebrated his come-

back in (almost) the best way possible with an encouraging weekend as he went 4-2. He later admitted that after his 10th place in the RAM Qualifying Race he preferred to start strongly to fight for the top places. Jorge Prado finished on the third step of the podium but was delighted to get his first MXGP Red Plate thanks to his strong qualifying performance. The Argentinian fans were simply ecstatic to see two Spanish-speaking riders on the podium and they voiced their enthusiasm throughout the day.

Meanwhile in MX2, while Kevin Horgmo and Lucas Coenen got the Fox Holeshot in race 1 and 2 respectively, Jago Geerts was a head above the pack as the threetime Vice World Champion went 1-1, adding to his first place in qualifying. Although in race 1 he had to battle to stay in front against his teammate and title contender Thibault Benistant. The Belgian’s performance was more impressive considering that he went to Argentina feeling unwell and was not sure about being 100%. Joining him on the second step of the podium was Andrea Adamo, who displayed some classy riding too and went

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3-3, leaving Thibault Benistant third overall as the Frenchman did 2-8.

In the end the MXGP podium was very special, with Ruben Fernandez getting emotional in front of a public very much behind him! This showed how much it meant to the Spaniard to win his first MXGP.

At the end of the races Ruben Fernandez, Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado took the occasion of a trip on a RAM and wave the thousands of fans present in the paddock to reach the press conference.

First European Stop in Sardinia and 100th win for Herlings!

The first stop in Europe two weeks later kept all its promises with an exceptional Grand Prix in the beautiful island setting of Sardinia. What a special place to land for the second round of the season, with the sun shining on the deep sand of Riola Sardo.

For the third time in a row, the MXGP of Sardegna delivered an outstanding event as much on the track as around it. With a crowd of 14,500 present to cheer for the home riders as well as the stars of the sport, the atmosphere was simply outstanding. The supporting classes racing in Sardinia were the Women’s Motocross World Championship and the European Motocross Championship 250cc category.

The MXGP of Sardegna was the occasion for the first brand-new Paddock Show to welcome the winners of the RAM Qualifying Races in MXGP and MX2, Jorge Prado and Jago Geerts along with the outstanding winner of the 2022 MXGP of Sardegna Calvin Vlaanderen and the home riders, Andrea Adamo and sixtime World Champion Kiara Fontanesi celebrating her return to the competition after more than a year. The Paddock Show is designed to receive the press conference after qualifying races. This also gives the opportunity for the public to connect even more with the riders, as they can get up close, ask questions and interact with the riders like never before!

As previously mentioned, the RAM Qualifying on Saturday was dominated once more by Jorge Prado, who seems to like this added element of the com-

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petition as he has bagged maximum points on both occasions so far. Behind him Glenn Coldenhoff, on form during the whole weekend, grabbed the second place while the third place was greatly disputed but ultimately went to Jeffrey Herlings, who had the last word.

In MX2 RAM Qualifying, Jago Geerts continued to top the category displaying another strong racing to secure a second consecutive pole ahead of Kay de Wolf, who showed his ease at racing on sand as he took second place and left Simon Laengenfelder in third position.

Sunday racing went wild in MXGP as Prado dominated the first race in front of Herlings and Vlaanderen, who both capitalised on crashes at different times from Coldenhoff and Seewer. After race 1, it looked like Prado was going to go all the way during the GP, however Jeffrey Herlings had other plans. In race 2 Febvre took the Holeshot to see Coldenhoff lead early on, showing magnificent pace. And that is when we witnessed greatness in action. Herlings, who had a poor start finding himself 14th after lap 1, made one of the most historical comebacks in Motocross. The ‘bullet’ would go on to show why he is considered one of the best riders of all time. Lap after lap he overtook many riders including Vlaanderen and Seewer to find himself 4th behind the two Frenchmen Renaux and Febvre. An absolutely brilliant battle ensued between the three of them, but they could not resist Herlings in the end. Herlings finished 2nd behind a sensational Coldenhoff.

With a 2-2, Herlings won his 100th GP of his career, continuing to make history and showing an immense level of fitness in Sardinia, particularly for a rider who was out for more than a year before the start of the season. Coldenhoff came in 2nd for his first podium of the season with 5-1 and Prado got 3rd place on the podium for the second time in a row with 1-6, and keeps the red plate until at least Switzerland.

In MX2 a great battle between Kay de Wolf and Jago Geerts lasted through the whole weekend. De Wolf would get the better of Geerts in race 1 and win the second race of his career finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. However, in race 2 It was Geerts who showed his speed and control to keep de Wolf behind and go

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2-1 to win the GP, while de Wolf with a 1-2 finished second on the podium. The podium was de Wolf’s objective before coming to Sardinia, but he would have loved to win his first Grand Prix. With 4-3 Thibault Benistant showed some good riding on sand and although he claims that it is not his favourite terrain, still managed to get third overall once again.

Alongside the MXGP and MX2 races, we witnessed the first round of the season for WMX and EMX250. In the Women’s category, defending World Champion Nancy Van De Ven did not have the start she hoped for as she crashed down on the first turn of race 1 to eventually abandon and focus on race 2. It was young talent Lotte Van Drunen who completely dominated the first race, finishing 30 seconds ahead of Daniela Guillen. Three-time World Champion Courtney Duncan let her experience do the talking as she moved from 8th to 3rd. In race 2, it was all about Daniela Guillen, who showed complete control of her bike as she passed Van de Ven for the lead after 2 laps, never giving up the lead. Van de Ven recovered from her disappointing first race to come 2nd. Van Drunen came 2nd overall with a 1-3, showing that she is one to watch for this season after delivering a strong performance throughout the weekend. Duncan claimed the 3rd spot on the podium with a good 3-4.

In EMX250, Italian rider Andrea Bonacorsi was the dominant rider of the round with a perfect 1-1, while Quentin Prugnieres showed great speed with a 3-3 over the weekend, leaving Kay Karssemakers joining the podium in 3rd position with a very encouraging 5-2. Other favourites Cas Valk and Ivano Van Erp finished 4th and 5th overall respectively.

With these first two events, the excitement for the season has grown even more as the competition in all categories is already so intense. The MXGP has once more delivered stunning scenarios and it is only the beginning. With Switzerland, Trentino and France coming up in the next weeks we can expect to see more sensational battles for the top spots.

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Behind The Gate – New Format

Our TV series Behind the Gate is completely revamped!

- NEW Format

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Immerse Yourself in the exclusive world of MXGP and be closer than ever to your favorites MX Stars!

Available ONLY on MXGP-TV.com

36 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS
WATCH THE VIDEO

MXGPSOCIAL

@motorex_powersports

Flyaway races on the MXGP calendar often require a little extra work from the mechanics when they arrive at the race track…

@andreabonacorsi32

Good way to start the season with a 1-1 in the motos! Let’s keep on working.

@diegofotocross

Argentina MXGP

How nice to see you again!!

Argentina Patagonia Villa La Angostura.

Welcome | MXGP of Patagonia Argentina 2023: Welcome to the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina 2023 here in Villa La Angostura!

@tukutafotos

Talk to me about joy!!! The museum is already at another level, how great Jeffrey!!! I couldn’t afford the jersey but it had something for

News Rules | MXGP 2023: FINAL COUNTDOWN | 1 WEEK until the first GATE DROP in Argentina

MXGP Voice Paul Malin presents the New Scoring System for the Saturday’Qualifying Races.

@pasionporelmx

What do you say about @ andreaadamo80? First race as a factory driver with podium included, 2nd Eso that’s seizing a shot. Be careful with the Italian from now on...

@bikegearuk

A good start for our #airohriders at the @mxgp of Patagonia Argentina

@hondaracingglobal

@rubenfernandez70, the star of the opening @ mxgp round with the overall win and on his debut for @hrc_mxgp

@pablo.epifanio

Great experience to accompany RAM Argentina at the start of the 2023 MXGP season, the Motocross World Championship. It was at Villa La Angostura (Neuquen), where the Stellantis brand debuted as a sponsor of the category with the pick-up as an official vehicle. A different March weekend.

@jeffrey_herlings84

@ktmfactoryracing @ hvgrealestate @redbull@ oakleymotorsports

#topevents @galvinbv @ giampishow@malelions @ hennekenskay @gruko_bv @ debrugbv@autoridderhof @ iamspecialized

Welcome | MXGP of Sardegna 2023: Welcome to the MXGP of Sardegna 2023

@yamahafactorymx2

Vamos!!What a way to start the season ! All three riders in the top

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IN THE WORLD OF #MXGP

MONSTERGIRLS

MONSTERGIRLS

RIDER OFTHEMONTH

TITLE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

TEAM HRC’S RUBEN FERNANDEZ IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST QUIETLY SPOKEN RIDERS ON THE FIM MOTOCROSS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AND HIS RACING CAREER UNTIL NOW, HAS MIRRORED THAT. THAT WAS UNTIL HE CLAIMED HIS MAIDEN GP VICTORY IN ARGENTINA THIS YEAR, AT THE OPENING ROUND OF THE 2023 CAMPAIGN, AND THAT MAKES HIM THE PERFECT CANDIDATE TO BE OUR MXGP RIDER OF THE MONTH.

If you follow MXGP closely, then you will know that each year, there is one round on the calendar which hosts the EMX65 and EMX85 European Championship; a one-weekendonly event which brings the best European kids together, to determine the best in Europe in their age group. In the recent past, we have seen riders such as Tim Gajser, Jorge Prado, Jeffrey Herlings, Maxime Renaux and Pauls Jonass win European and/ or Junior World titles at 65cc, 85cc and 125cc level, before going on to win a world title in either MX2, MXGP or both.

For all of the successes above though, there are others who

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have enjoyed success in those amateur championships who have not gone on to succeed at senior level, whether it be winning a race or even making a podium. But, does all of that really matter though?

In Ruben Fernandez’s case, the first time we saw him compete at European Championship level was in 2015 when he raced the EMX125 class. What we saw, was a rider who was a little rough around the edges, but also a rider who had a desire to want to do well. The season ended with him finishing 13th; his best overall result was 4th at Matterley Basin, but a 3rd in race two was perhaps a sign that this kid might just have something worth keeping an eye on.

The following year (2016) he moved into the EMX250 class where he improved his ranking to 11th, coming away with a

couple of 5th overall’s, but that all changed in 2017 when he rocketed to 3rd overall. With five top three finishes, he also realised a dream of making it to the podium when he placed 3rd overall in the round of Lombardia at Ottobiano. For 2018, he moved up to MX2 but unfortunately, injuries meant he missed half of the series, and as a result he moved back to EMX250 for the following year.

2019 and back in EMX250, Fernandez could only muster 9th overall. He missed three rounds, and there were no more podium successes. By now, most riders would have been disheartened and quit the EMX scene, but Ruben decided to tough it out, and in 2020 found himself back in MX2. After going 10-0/0-0 at the opening two rounds, it seemed like ‘RF70’ had entered ‘Struggle Street’ all over again, but before round three, the world was forced into lockdown.

Five months later though, we were back … and so was Fernandez. At the Latvian GP, the ‘70’ finished 3rd in the first race and looked set for a podium, and he would have succeeded had it not been for a fall whilst lying 3rd at the midway point of the race. His 4th overall was evidence that given the right opportunity, and the right guidance, this diamond in the rough - with a bit of polishing - might be a star of the future.

Above The Radar

Ruben’s move into the Honda 114 Motorsports team for the 2021 season came at the right time, and as we now know, it was the perfect fit for him as well. The ‘family’ atmosphere settled his nerves immediately, and with the first MX2 round not until June, it meant there were options to get dialled in with races at home in Spain. After the first two rounds of the season, Ruben had taken 2 podiums (1x2nd and 1x3rd) and headed for round three with

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the Red Plate as the MX2 points leader!

Despite some issues mid-season, Fernandez pulled three more podiums out of the bag as the championship was drawing to a close, and his efforts in those three rounds in Italy, had caught the eye of HRC boss Giacomo Gariboldi, who decided to promote him to the MXGP class for the final two rounds.

His 4-7 on debut earned him 6th overall. The riders who placed ahead of him were:

Herlings, Febvre, Cairoli and Gajser - who at that time held 18 world titles between them, with Jeremy Seewer (multiple runnerup) in 5th. Not a bad effort for a first appearance on a 450cc.

From there, the obvious choice was to move full-time into the premier class, and who would argue with that decision? His size alone suggested he’d be better suited to the 450cc, and as it turned out, it proved to be a well-measured decision. Ruben’s rookie season in MXGP in 2022 delivered two more podium performances, both of which were 3rd overall in Latvia and Indonesia, and had it not been for an unlucky crash in Czech Republic following his podium appearance in Asia, who knows? He might have registered a couple more visits to the box. In total, there were 11 top five race finishes, showing us that if all goes to plan, Fernandez could certainly be a top five contender in the championship, and possibly even top three.

The Impossible Dream

Fast forward to 2023, the start of a brand-new season and a second term in the premier class. Defending champion, and Team HRC teammate to Fernandez, Tim Gajser, was the only rider missing from the grid through injury; new rules mean the RAM Qualifying Race now carries world championship points, which count towards the

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championship standings, but not the overall GP classification.

At the MXGP of PatagoniaArgentina, Fernandez placed 4th in the qualifying race, and with it, took 7 points to get his championship campaign up and running. In Race One, the ‘70’ led for the first five laps before being passed by fellow countryman Jorge Prado, and just as it looked like we might get a first ever Spanish 1-2 in the history of the world championship, Fernandez fell from 2nd with just over a handful of laps to go. He eventually came home in 5th.

In Race Two, Ruben was once again in a hurry to get to the front, only this time he wasn’t so keen to let the opportunity pass him by, and after leading for the entire 19 laps, he crossed the line to secure not only his first ever world championship race win, but also his firs GP victory, and joins the short list of Spanish GP winners which now amounts to just 6 riders:

Javi Garcia Vico, Alvarao Lozano (MX3), Jonathan Barragan, Carlos Campano (MX3), Jorge Prado and Ruben Fernandez.

‘What can I say? It was a good weekend; I’m very happy. I got my first overall victory. It was home from home, we were in Argentina, it was my debut in MXGP with Team HRC and yeah, it was a special one.’

‘The first moto didn’t go as I’d have like it to; I was leading the first few laps but was a little bit nervous because it was my first time leading the pack, but I was comfortable in 2nd with 5 laps to go or something, and then I had a crash, so I believe it could have been way better. But then I can’t complain because I just went 5-1 and won the GP so I’ve got to take the positive and yeah, that’s what we did.’

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5 Minutes with the Man of The Moment

‘The nerves (in the second race) were not such a problem because I had a good gap in which to work; I only had to control the race, and I could take it a little bit easier in the last few laps of the race, and that helped to be a little bit more relaxed. It was more the first few laps in the first race where I was a little bit more nervous, as it was my first time leading, but it was okay in the second moto.’

‘When I crossed the line at the end of the second race, I wasn’t sure (if I’d won the GP). While I was riding, I was hoping to make a podium; 5-1 might be a podium hopefully, and when I crossed the line, I was obviously happy because I had won the race, I could see all my team cheering. I stayed there a little bit and celebrated and then they told

me I’d won the GP and I was like ‘what?’ And I still couldn’t believe it, so when I arrived to Lisa (Leyland), I had to ask her again, to make sure I didn’t celebrate for nothing! But anyway, I won and it was amazing.’

‘I had to celebrate with the team because a big part of this success is thanks to them, and if I am here racing at this level, it’s because I have a great team, a great bike and a great atmosphere here. It’s like a family; a real family team and that is important, and it helps me out a lot.’

‘It would have been nice to arrive here in Sardinia with the Red Plate just to be able to put it in my room, but the championship is long. This weekend will be a little tougher; it’s deep sand which

is not the best for me, so of course it’s going to be way more difficult than Argentina, but we will work hard to come out with the maximum points possible.’

‘(Previously) I didn’t feel like I had the package and enough tools to put it all together to make good results like this; now I believe I have it all. We have also been putting in the work, we’ve changed a few things; it’s the first year that I’m preparing at my home in Spain. I’ve always had to leave there; I was 4-5 years in Holland, two in Italy, two in France and always far from home, and this is the first time that I can stay home and prepare from there. I believe that makes a big difference. As Tim (Gajser) always says, ‘happy rider, fast rider’ and this is what I’m feeling now.’

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SPECIALFEATURE

FEATURE

THE THE TOMORROW

THE MXGP ACADEMY GUIDES THE FUTURE STARS OF TOMORROW

THE MXGP ACADEMY WAS CREATED IN 2014 THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF MARTIN VAN GENDEREN, TRAINER AND COORDINATOR OF THE PROJECT TOGETHER WITH JAN POSTEMA AND JOHN VAN DER BERK, TRAINERS OF THE MXGP ACADEMY AND IN COOPERATION WITH INFRONT MOTO RACING (YOUTHSTREAM AT THE TIME) AND THE FIM EUROPE; THE PROJECT THROUGH THE YEARS HAS EVOLVED A LOT AND CROSSED MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TO TEACH YOUNG RIDERS FROM 85CC AND 65CC EVERYTHING ABOUT MOTOCROSS.

As the time evolved the MXGP Academy developed with it and has become year on year more conscious to the evolution of riding style, the bikes, and all the environment around the riders. The riding style and training of the new generation of riders has evolved a lot, too. While in the past riders used to spend all day on the bike, there is nowadays much more work done behind the scenes such as specific training in the gym. A lot more focus is also spent on mental training and on the nutritional side, which increasingly become a crucial part of a rider’s training in order to develop as a well-round athlete, allowing to be competitive during all the race weekend.

Young riders and their family arrive a day before to selected MXGP races to access the program and training session. The strength of the Academy is to connect young local riders together with National Federations, great motocross trainers and ultimately get incredible firsthand experience on the same tracks as the MXGP athletes. The goal of the programme is not only to emphasise on their speed but also to raise awareness on riders’ education, safety and sportsmanship while aiming at creating memorable experiences by meeting their heroes during the events and obtaining valuable insight from them. Also the workshop for the parents in the afternoon “Communication with an MX-rider” is a real eye opener.

Last but not least, the MXGP Academy lately introduced a focus on the media side to teach and train the young riders how to behave with media, journalists and social media in order to be a complete athlete all round and understand how to always be professional in all circumstances. In that context, the MXGP Academy provides an amazing opportunity for young talents to experience the motocross professional setting.

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The reach of the programme goes beyond training young riders as it also focuses on training the local and national trainers to ensure that they can pass on the skills and knowledge to riders in their countries too, which is vital to keep growing into the best possible environment.

There is plenty of topics to deepen and focus on to develop riders into the stars of tomorrow for Martin Van Genderen Trainer and Coordinator of the MXGP Academy project.

MXGP Mag: How did the MXGP Academy evolve through those years?

Martin: “In recent years, in the MXGP Academy training weekends we added many different parts of training to help MX trainers, National Federations, and of course also MX riders; the focus now is not totally on the riding-training technique. We no longer see the “MX rider” as a “rider” but as an “athlete” riding a dirt bike. In collaboration with Infront Moto Racing, FIM, and the local Motorsport Associations, we introduced this vision in many countries all over the world. The MXGP Academy project is growing year after year and is becoming popular due to the program and support of the local Trainers and Federations. And therefore also automatically to the riders”.

MXGP Mag: If you look back at 5 years ago how the whole thing has changed for you, for the young riders…?

Martin: “The big work is done with the local MX Trainers selected by us, we prepare everything in advance with them and like that we create a direct link with the local riders: the Trainers are our point of reference in the country and at the same time the Trainers are also the point of reference for the riders. The MX trainers participate in educational programs about training, nutrition, fluid balance, mental coaching, preparation, medication, antidoping policy, “safety” (means of a good explanation of the existing flag signals in motorsport), etc. All aspects that belong to an athlete and that

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are necessary to allow a rider (the athlete) to be complete in our sport are thoroughly investigated step by step. The level of our Trainer has increased a lot and together with that also the level of the riders: in the last few years, we realized how important is to take care of all the aspects of a rider’s career and we realized how most of the time many of them, very important, is left behind.

With these programs, a huge step forward has been taken for the riders, but also the cooperation between the National Federations and Trainers that can cooperate together to make Motocross grow up in a well-structured program.”

MXGP Mag: This year we saw you traveling in different countries like Colombia, South Africa…how challenging and important is it to try to bring the MXGP Academy even in many different countries?

Martin: “These educational programs come together with the MTC program (MTC stands for Motocross Training Club or Circuit). We have Trainers linked with us in many countries of the World; the trainers can start a program to get recognized with an MX diploma and work together with the National Federations; having them is a country where there is not a big background for motocross is really helpful to make it grow up in a proper way.

As a result of all this work, we bring the quality of MX training at these Clubs or tracks to a higher level. If we can continue with this support in the long term, this approach to training it will become a standard as it is in many other sports”.

MXGP Mag: What is the most difficult part of being an MXtrainer connected to the MXGP Academy projects?

Martin: “We actually see that most MX trainers in the countries are often former Motocross riders that try to teach their experience to the young riders. Of course, all of them have their own approach to the training, but we realize that most

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of the time the main focus is only on the riding side leaving behind all the other aspects. The most difficult thing for us is to try to change the training approach and the way it is seen by the trainers, the riders, and the other people around. It is really important to work with “data” construction around the athlete even if she/he’s young. We do it slowly as our side will take only 25% of the training time, which means the trainer can still use 75% of the time for what he thinks is more important, but on the other hand we start to introduce the riders to many other fundamental things. Like that they get used and they don’t see a change like a big “turnaround” but like a small improvement that will change their training life a lot.

MXGP Mag: Nowadays social media are a crucial part of a rider’s life, we saw that since the last year the MXGP Academy has increased the attention to this side with media tours and some tips to the young riders; tell us more about this side.

Martin: “Social media has become a crucial part of the rider’s life, even more, when they are so young between 12 and 18. Some of them don’t realize the “political” importance of social and how this can affect their career in a good and bad way, so it is also important to “protect” them on this side and we pay a lot of attention to our educational programs for trainers and riders”.

MXGP Mag: What is the future of the MXGP Academy projects?

Martin: “We see the future positively given the reactions we get; we want to improve and start as many MTCs as possible together with Federations and trainers all over the world.

This will increase the chance that good riders will be found in countries where Motocross has not such big history and could be a big opportunity for everybody. The project should also contribute to make Federations understand the importance of the trainers and their role in forming young riders. The Trainers will be the ones finding the good riders and bringing them in a good position, then when they’ll be

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ready, they can join our program and make the final step.

At the moment we are working on a good guidance plan for after 2025, and I’m sure many good riders will come out of this program: our main focus is now on the small classes like EMX65 and EMX85, that are a crucial part of rider’s career because at this time riding should switch for a “hobby” to a proper job that can give them a future. It may sound overly ambitious, but with the parties we now work with as Infront Moto Racing, FIM, various teams, and company partners, we look forward to doing great things with a long-terms project.”

The future of the MXGP Academy seems really bright and in good

hands as again in 2023, the Academy will be present in Europe at the MXGP of Spain, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic, Finland, The Netherlands and Turkyie. There will also be a great opportunity overseas with the combination of MXGP Academy with MTV-project education program in Lombok, Indonesia.

The Academy plans to include workshops, seminars, and panel discussions for parents, trainers, and Federation representatives interested in motocross in addition to training and masterclass sessions for riders. Importantly, the training program does not stop after the events are finished, as there is a follow up with trainers, federations, riders and their families to make sure their

development continue outside of the MXGP Academy.

It is also really positive to note that the Academy’s reach is constantly growing globally as well as with an increasing number of trainers. The long-term goal is to include as much young riders as possible into the program and discover talents around the world. Ultimately, developing our beautiful sport and give motocross youth all the tools to make it to the top scene when they will be older. The MXGP Academy is there to guide young riders throughout their development in the healthiest environment possible and help them to master their craft to become the Motocross heroes of tomorrow.

SECTIONNAME HALLOFFAME

RUI GONÇALVES

NOT SO MANY PORTUGUESE RIDERS HAVE BEEN RACING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LONG HISTORY OF OUR SPORT, AND FOR SURE RUI GONÇALVES HAS BEEN THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE FOR HIS COUNTRY, WINNING SEVERAL GP’S AND FIGHTING UNTIL THE LAST ROUND OF THE 2009 SEASON FOR THE MX2 WORLD TITLE.

Born on 17th May 1985 in Vidago, Rui had its first bike when he was eight years old and two years later he claimed his first national title in the 60cc class. After winning another title in this class in 1996, he jumped on an 80cc the following year and scored a few points in the European Championship. Then he dominated the national series in 1998, won the Portuguese round of the European series in 1998, won another Portuguese title in 1999, and finished third of the European series both seasons.

He moved to the 125cc class when he turned fifteen and claimed his fifth national title in 2001, which was a great season for him as he was also selected by the national team to race the Motocross of Nations in Belgium alongside Paulo Gonçalves and Joaquim Rodrigues, after his third position in the Junior World Cup. Contracted by team Yamaha Casola to race the GP’s in 2002, Rui moved to Belgium when he was only 16, leaving friends and family to race the 125cc World Championship, which was a dream. It took him a

few years to get more experience of GP racing and to become a pro rider.

At the opening round of the 2006 season, he impressed the paddock when he got the holeshot and led the race for many laps, during his first ever GP on a KTM; with a seventh position in the series behind six factory riders, he got his best ever season result and was expecting more for 2007, but an accident during the off season took him away from the tracks during five months. He was forced to miss the first rounds of the championship but he ended the season on a high note with his first podium at Namur and another one two weeks later in Ireland, results which were enough to convince factory KTM to sign him.

During his seventh season in the MX2 class he entered the top five of the series, but 2009 was definitively his best ever campaign; the first three GP’s were not really successful for

TITLE

him, as he finished only three motos, but he was used to train in the sand and he dominated all his rivals at Valkenswaard to celebrate his first GP win!

Two weeks later he did it again in front of his home crowd at Agueda and became one of the four contenders fighting for the world title. With two more GP wins that season, Rui was still in the battle for the title against Marvin Musquin when they arrived at the final round in Brazil. However, his teammate was the champion with a double win that day, and Rui finished vice champion.

Moving to the MX1 class in 2010, he missed the first rounds due to an injury and finished the season close to the podium with a fourth position in the sands of Lierop. Signing with Honda for his second attempt in the main class, Rui had a very consistent season – he was the one and only rider to score points in all the motos – and he finished sixth overall, only thirty points from the final podium! Unfortunately, a couple of injuries stopped his progression in 2012; losing a factory contract, he moved to several teams during the following seasons, but he was never back among the top ten. Rui Gonçalves finally retired with his last appearance being at the 2018 Portuguese GP.

Fifteen times member of the Portuguese team at the Motocross of Nations, and five times classified in the top ten, he remained involved in the MXGP World when he stopped racing. He was the track advisor for Youthstream and he offered his long experience and knowledge to the promoter of the series, but racing was still in his blood, and in 2020 he started a new chapter in his career when he decided to compete in the Rally Raid and the famous Dakar.

1998: 3rd in the 80 European Championship (Honda)

1999: 3rd in the 80 European Championship (Honda)

2001: 3rd in the Junior World Championship (Honda)

2003: 18th in the 125 World Championship (Yamaha)

2004: 16th in the MX2 World Championship (Yamaha)

2005: 10th in the MX2 World Championship (Yamaha)

2006: 7th in the MX2 World Championship (KTM)

2007: 11th in the MX2 World Championship (KTM)

2008: 5th in the MX2 World Championship (KTM)

2009: MX2 Vice World Champion (KTM). Win 4 GP’s

2010: 11th in the MX1 World Championship (KTM)

2011: 6th in the MX1 World Championship (Honda)

2012: 10th in the MX1 World Championship (Honda)

2013: 13th in the MX1 World Championship (KTM)

2014: 11th in the MXGP World Championship (Yamaha)

2015: 30th in the MXGP World Championship (Husqvarna)

2016: 25th in the MXGP World Championship (Husqvarna)

2017: 18th in the MXGP World Championship (Husqvarna)

Text and Photos: Pascal Haudiquert

T ’S TIME TO GET

GNARLY!

joy of the wind in their face. Well, the all-new 2023 KTM 450 SX-F was engineered for something else entirely. So, if you’re serious about kicking ass,

Photo: R. Schedl Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable pro visions of the road traffic regulations! The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipm ent available at additional cost.

PADDOCKTALKS

2 1 3 7 4

1 The Team HRC Crew and Ruben Fernandez took the time to send a message to Tim Gajser during the MXGP of Argentina. Class!

2 Hakon Fredriksen sent a message to his fans saying that his surgery was successful and that he is now focus on his recovery!

3 MXGP TikTok Page Reaches 100,000 Followers!

4 Best Rider of the Year Sponsored by Athena returns for 2023!

5 Unveiling the New SCOTT Jorge Prado Signature Collection

6 Jeffrey Herlings celebrates the 100th GP win of his career after his victory at the MXGP of Sardegna!

7 Say Hello to the Monster Girls from Argentina

8 Luciano Benavides special guest in Argentina

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6 5

STEFAN EVERTS 2006 YAMAHA YZ450FM

STEFAN EVERTS NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION WHATSOEVER, BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JUST CRAWLED OUT FROM UNDER A ROCK, THE BELGIAN IS A LIVING LEGEND IN THE SPORT OF MOTOCROSS. TEN WORLD TITLES AND 101 GP VICTORIES, THE G.O.A.T HUNG UP HIS HELMET AT THE END OF THE 2006 SEASON, A SEASON WHICH HE DOMINATED. THE BIKE THAT TOOK HIM TO THAT TENTH WORLD TITLE WAS THE ALL-NEW 2006 YAMAHA YZ450FM, AND IT’S THIS BIKE THAT WE WILL FEATURE IN THIS ISSUE OF MXGP MAGAZINE.

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SPECIALFEATURE

Saving The Best for Last

During his 18-year professional career, Stefan Everts made the most of the opportunities presented to him whether it was with Suzuki, where he won his first world title in the 125cc class - or at Kawasaki, where he added a 250cc title. Or, how about Honda where he added two more 250cc titles?

Despite those successes though, it wasn’t all plain-sailing. After two consecutive years (1999/2000) where he was injured, there was no way of knowing how the Belgian would fare coming back to the world stage; his switch from Husqvarna to Yamaha for 2001 was a oneyear only deal, and one which

came at the last minute, so no matter what, it had to pay off.

Five world titles in a row from 2001-2005 meant that things had gone better than anyone could have ever imagined, but heading into 2006, Everts was presented with a brand-new motorcycle. The big risk here was that if it wasn’t as good as its predecessor then it might show in the results. However, the flipside of that is that if Yamaha have done its homework, and the bike does what it’s expected, then great; all’s good!

When the 2005 season came to an end, the Michele Rinaldi Yamaha team went straight to work with the test programme, and for Everts, it meant more racing, as he recalls:

‘It was a completely new bike, with a complete new chassis,

because 2003, 4 and 5 it was the same model, with a steel frame. For 2006 they (Yamaha) went back to the aluminium frame, so it was a huge difference. The engine, I am not 100% sure if that was completely changed, but I know we went from hydraulic clutch to cable clutch, which was decided by Michele Rinaldi and Japan; I just had to follow their thing (direction).’

‘I did some Belgium championship races in October (’05) after the season for some tests, and straight away I had an incredible feeling on the starts with that cable clutch, and with that bike in general. I was like ‘wow! This bike allows me to go to the next levels!’ With the ’05, I was on the ‘max’ with this bike; I couldn’t go any further anymore, I couldn’t push any further. If I would go further, I would end up crashing, and with this new chassis and this completely new bike, it just felt like, okay, this is again endless to be able to push my limits forward.’

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‘When I did that first race in Belgium (’05), the bike already felt so promising, and I felt like ‘wow!’ But, I’d had this in previous years where I was like ‘now I’ve got a good setup’ but I first have to see it on paper and do some more racing before I start to fly in my head where like, okay, this bike is gonna bring me a lot of victories. So, after that race in Belgium, as good as it was, I stayed calm and just thought ‘we will see!’

Prior to the new season commencing, Everts also raced the new bike at a pre-season international at Pernes-lesFontaines in the south of France, which as he says was ‘one of the only times I rode there; I’d practiced there but that was an international race. I think I won all the moto’s there.’

It was clear, that those initial good vibes from October ’05 were still there. But how much testing did the Stefan do during the off-season exactly?

‘When it’s good, it’s good! You don’t need to go any further and start complaining and make more testing, only to make more confusion, you know? When it’s good, it’s good!’ And from there, the rest is history.

Whether it was or not, the bike felt slimmer according to Everts, but the biggest gain for him was the chassis and how it performed overall:

‘The balance of that bike was great, it was so good; you don’t have to make the big difference on the straight, but in the turns, it’s the corner speed where you can make the big difference, and that bike felt like I could really push myself constantly more and more, to go faster. I don’t know how big the difference was from ’05 to ’06 with the KYB suspension, but for sure it was an updated model. I felt good with the suspension but in general the chassis was just so nice to ride and, yeah, for me it was one of my favourite bikes.’

The power of the bike was also a big plus, but not in the way you might

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expect. Having more power at the rear wheel on the Dyno does not necessarily mean more power on track; sometimes it just doesn’t equate like that, and in actual fact, sometimes less is more. So, how was the power of the bike and what was it like to ride? According to Everts, ‘it was not aggressive, but it was strong; it just pulled good. The balance was good, it was not too much, because if you have too much power then it’s also hard to handle, and you know, I had years where I struggled with my starts but that year (’06), I took so many holeshots with that bike. I think the whole way with how the engine was set up, with the chassis, the whole package, you know, and the clutch, it just made it feel so good on the starts; I could just control that bike so easily and I could just go ‘full in’ where I could focus on the reaction and not to be focussed too much to try and keep the bike under control and stuff, and the result was like one holeshot after the other.’

When the season got under way at Zolder in Belgium, Everts opened his campaign with a 2nd place finish in race one before winning race two. At Bellpuig, Spain, two weeks later, he went 3-1 to win the overall, but what happened next was nothing short of sensational, winning the next TWENTY-TWO races, which included winning the first race at Desertmartin in Northern Ireland. From a 17-round campaign, Everts was looking at a season where he could become the first rider to go undefeated in overall victories. Heading into Ireland he had won 14 GP’s in a row, and after his first race win over Josh Coppins, he was halfway to making it 15 in-a-row.

However, it was Coppins who had the last laugh, picking up the win in race two, and the overall. It also cost Everts his 100th career victory:

‘I just had one moto where ‘I was not there’ (laughing) and that cost me my 15th GP win (in a row for the season, and GP win 100). The first moto was close you know, with Josh Coppins, but I just

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took the win by a small difference (0.722s - they finished 0.58s ahead of 3rd placed Ken De Dycker). But Josh; I don’t know! He was on a different planet that day. In the second moto, I got like halfway through and I was just ‘done’ - I couldn’t go anymore, but aagh, it was like that, you know?’

Was that one of the standout moments of the year for Everts? Possibly! But only in the way where ‘that was the one that got away!’ THE standout moment came two weeks earlier at his home GP at Namur in Belgium. Fastest in Time Practice gave him the first pick of the gates, and on a weekend where he could possibly win his 10th world title, at home, in front of a sell-out crowd … if there were any nerves, there were none on display. A win in race one meant he was a handful of points from making history, and after winning again in race two, a tenth world title was in the books. To do it at home was even better. All he would say is, ‘Namur is one of my favourite tracks, I did good there and I won the title … It was lovely (laughing) … so yeah, maybe that’s the one that will stand out.’

Following his defeat to Coppins, Stefan Everts raced to victory at the final two GP’s, pushing his overall victory tally to 101and his 2006 season was the most dominant performance by a rider in motocross at that point in the sport’s history, picking up 27 out of a possible 30 race wins - 22 of them in-a-row! His other race results were 2x2nd and 1x3rd.

16 GP wins in his final season, he never finished outside the top three, and was never off the podium; he was also the first to win SIX world titles in a row! All of this in his final year, aged 33. Even more impressive was that these were the last six years of his career. His dominance also meant he was the first rider to win a championship by more than 200 points - he won by 210 - and it would take until 2019 when Jorge Prado (213) and Tim Gajser (202) would break that 200-point margin in the same year.

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TOTHEEDITOR

QUESTIONS

❝ How can I watch the RAM Qualifying Races?

Morgane: ❞

Hi Morgane, The RAM Qualifying races can be watched on MXGP-TV with the season pass. Follow this link to to buy your pass https:// www.mxgp-tv.com/home

Thanks MXGP ❝

Hi, I’m looking at going to the MXoN in Ernee with my Camper Van, is it possible?

John

Hi John, the tickets for Camping access for the MXoN are available at https://ernee.motocrosstickets.com/en/6551-mxfr/.

Regards MXGP

Hi guys, I want to see photos from the last Grand Prix, is there anywhere I can go for that?

Lucy

Dear Lucy, yOf course, you can check the Photo Gallery on the MXGP and the last events on the website right here https://www.mxgp. com/photos?year_filter=2021

Best Regards MXGP

Hey guys, I would like to watch some great videos of MXGP, where can I go?

Leo ❞

Hi Leo, you can check great videos on MXGP YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ motocross. Thanks MXGP

Hi, I want to go to the Liquid Moly MXGP of Germany by car, can you guys show me how to get there?

Pascal

Hello Pascal : of course click here https://www. mxgp.com/tracks/teutschenthal to see all the details and location of the track of Teutschenthal. Thanks MXGP

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