The 2014 Motocross Championship starts on March 1. Toni Cairoli will again be the man to beat.
In two weeks’ time, the MX World Championship will begin on the scorching Losail track in Qatar. This year, the championship has several big changes, the most significant one being a new name: MXGP.
Yes, after nine seasons, Youthstream, the Motocross World Championship promoter, has decided to give a fresh twist to the sport to attract new, large investors.
Youthstream boss Giuseppe Luongo is fighting hard against the world economic recession. He’s convinced that the MXGP must travel around the globe to not only be more international, but also to attract new investors to the sport.
Besides the usual European rounds, Youthstream, together with the FIM, has arranged for five of the 18 championship rounds to be held outside the continent.
MXGP: Cairoli, the King
Talking of the competition, the biggest news is Husqvarna’s comeback. The company, now controlled by KTM, has pulled out all the stops to recruit the services of the ex world champion Tyla Rattray, all the way from the USA.
The South African, helped by team-mate Todd Waters, will have a difficult mission: to beat Antonio Cairoli, four-time world champion in the top category of the MX. But it won’t be ‘mission impossible’ – the last person to beat Cairoli was Rattray himself in 2008.
One thing remains clear: Antonio Cairoli is the favourite. The champion’s pre-season has been impressive and his main rivals – Desalle, Strijbos, Bobryshev, Nagl, Paulin and Frossard (who debuts this season with the Kawasaki Factory Team) – know it.
Unfortunately, this year there are no Spanish riders in the top class, as Jonathan Barragán is definitely out of the running.
MX2: Herlings, under scrutiny
There is a big question mark above Jeffrey Herlings and whether the rider from the Red Bull KTM Factory Team will be in shape for the first round in Qatar.
At the end of last season, he had problems again because of an old shoulder injury, so his pre-season hasn’t been great. This injury gives some hope to Herlings’ rivals, who want to put a stop – once and for all – to the Dutchman’s rule.
There is a long list of contenders for the title. Kawasaki will have three candidates to halt the invincible KTM. Husqvarna, on the other hand, has chosen two of the most promising young riders: the Russian Aleksandr Tonkov and the Frenchman Romain Febvre.
Meanwhile, Suzuki is confident that Glenn Coldenhoff will improve on the success of last season. José Butrón, riding a factory KTM SXF250, will give his all in order to claim the title, after finishing third in 2013.
Calendar 2014
MXGP/MX2
- March 1: Losail (Qatar)
- March 9: Si Racha (Thailand)
- March 30: Beto Carrero (Brazil)
- April 13: Arco di Trento (Italy)
- April 20: Sevlievo (Bulgaria)
- May 4: Valkenswaard (The Netherlands)
- May 11: Talavera de la Reina (Spain)
- May 25: Matterley Basin, Winchester (Great Britain)
- June 1: Saint Jean D’Angely (France)
- June 15: Maggiora (Italy)
- June 22: Teutschenthal (Germany)
- July 6: Uddevalla (Sweden)
- July 13: Hyvinkää (Finland)
- July 27: Loket (Czech Republic)
- August 3: TBA (Belgium)
- August 17: Dimitrov (Ukraine)
- September 7: Goiania (Brazil)
- September 14: León (Mexico)
MXoN
- September 28: Kegums (Latvia)