As is always the case when the FIM World Motocross Championships head outside of Europe the feeling of excitement and the unknown is always one of the most interesting elements. Going to Brazil this year everyone involved remembers the great circuit and facility of last year’s Grand Prix of Brazil; so many riders are looking forward to returning. Belgian Ken De Dycker who has struggled the last couple of GPs knows that he needs to perform in Brazil to get back on track with the leading three riders in the FIM World MX1 Championship, Antonio Cairoli, Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle.
“I didn’t do so well at Brazil last year,” De Dycker mentioned. “But I know I need to get back on the podium and score as many points as possible. For me Bulgaria and Portugal didn’t go so as I had planned and I lost a lot of points on the top three guys. I want to do my best in Brazil and hopefully I can get some of those lost points back.”
Two riders who have good memories of the mud in Brazil are Spanish rider Jose Butron and Australian Dean Ferris. Butron made the podium in the MX2 class and Ferris led the MX1 moto for some time. Another rider who will want to get a GP win is World MX1 Champion Antonio Cairoli. The Italian has lost out to Gautier Paulin the last two GPs and he will enjoy the technical circuit of Beto Carrero .
“Of course it is a bit of a concern that Gautier (Paulin) has won the last two races,” Cairoli said. ” He has improved a lot since last year and his confidence must be good now. I need to work harder and I am sure it will be okay. Brazil was not a good GP for me last year.”
Cairoli managed to finish in 8th place in the 2012 Grand Prix of Brazil, apart from the Grand Prix of Sweden where he failed to finish both motos, Brazil was his worst GP of the season and no doubt Cairoli will be looking at fixing that memory.
Amazingly Jeffrey Herlings also struggled in the mud of Brazil in 2012, he also finished 7th in the MX2 class, while it was Tommy Searle who won the overall, ahead of two riders who surprised everyone, Christophe Charlier and Jose Butron.
Herlings will hope for sunshine and perfect racing conditions so he can continue his fight for that undefeated 2013 he so much wants.
“I will have to ride well every week to remain undefeated,” Herlings said. “I know each week the pressure is more than the week before and I need to just ride my own pace and I think everything will be okay.”
So as the riders board their planes to Brazil question marks remain who will be the victor on the red soil of Beto Carrero.
By Geoff Meyer