The MX World Championship’s first visit to Qatar – and first night race to boot – kicks off the 2013 World Championship next Friday, when Round 1 of the season sparks the season into life.
Ahead of the opening GP of the campaign redbull.com picks out the riders it expects to feature as the major players in this year’s MX1 category…
Tony Cairoli
Nationality: ITA
Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2012 Championship finish: 1st
It was a great season for me last year, winning the MX1 title, but this season we want to improve more and try to do it even better!
Four-times MX1 World Champion Tony Cairoli doesn’t need much of an introduction…
In 2013 the formidable Italian will be going for a fifth consecutive title, and few would bet against him. With 54 World Championship Grand Prix victories to his name, Cairoli is the man in MX1 and will take some stopping this year.
His pre-season has gone according to plan, with the Italian National Motocross Championship wrapped up quite comfortably, and he completed another triumphant World Championship campaign in 2012 with six straight GP wins in the final six rounds. If he carries that kind of form into the start of the 2013 season, his rivals will stand little chance.
Clement Desalle
Nationality: BEL
Team: Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1
2012 Championship finish: 2nd
My starts are something I will need to work on before Qatar.
Desalle was the man able to run Cairoli closest for the title in 2012, but the Belgian still came up short against the might of his Italian rival.
He’s finished inside the top three for the past three seasons, and remains with his factory Suzuki team for 2013 on a new RM-Z450. Desalle’s pre-season has picked up pace as he continues to sharpen up before Qatar – after a heavy crash in Mantova he won at Valence last weekend.
Last season he didn’t pick up a first moto win until Round 7, and knows he’ll need to be on it from R1 to be able to trouble Cairoli.
Gautier Paulin
Nationality: FRA
Team: Kawasaki Racing Team
2012 Championship finish: 3rd
My goal is to be better and reach the next step, like every athlete. That next step: to win the world title.
Frenchman Gautier Paulin, a former BMX World Champion, had what could be described as an almost-perfect debut season in MX1 last year. He won only the second GP of his rookie campaign in Bulgaria and continued to deliver top results throughout the year, also learning the hard way on occasions as he developed his ever-expanding skillset in MX1.
His seamless adaptation within the KRT ranks meant he signed a deal for 2013 and 2014, such was the successful partnership, and with a determination that matches his talent Paulin will certainly be one of the riders consistently at the front throughout the season.
Max Nagl
Nationality: GER
Team: Honda World Motocross
2012 Championship finish: 16th (only raced four of the 16 rounds)
The goal for the team and myself is of course that we want to get the world title. For sure it’s difficult, but if we can finish top three I think we’ll all be very happy.
Fortune hasn’t exactly shone on Max Nagl in recent times. After missing the majority of the 2012 season with a persistent back injury, the German bounced back in style towards the end of the campaign with strong results.
He secured a ride with Honda’s factory team for 2013, but then fractured a wrist in pre-season at Mantova in January. The latest news is positive though and Nagl will be ready for Qatar – if he manages to stay fit for the duration of the season the 2009 Championship runner-up will be there at the sharp end when the final, decisive rounds are being played out.
Plenty of talent…
Other riders who’ll be well worth watching out for in 2013 will be Belgian duo Kevin Strijbos – back with the factory factory Suzuki team – and Ken De Dycker, who joins Cairoli in the factory KTM ranks.
Rui Gonçalves and Xavier Boog, riding for the ICE1 Racing team on KTM machinery, both have plentiful experience and will expect strong results, while the likes of Jeremy van Horebeek (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Tommy Searle (CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit) both step up from MX2, bringing through even more talent.