The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship concludes this weekend with the nineteenth round of the campaign in Matterley Basin for the MXGP of Great Britain.
The well-known British circuit of Matterley Basin will be present on the Calendar for the 6th time in a row and will be hosting the 13th MXGP event in its history. The first apparition of the venue was in 2006 when Stefan Everts and David Philippaerts won in MX1 and MX2 respectively. Since then, Antonio Cairoli is the most prolific rider on this track with five GP wins in MXGP (2011,2012,2014,2015, 2019). Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings comes just behind with four victories (2014 and 2016 in MX2, 2018 and 2020 in MXGP). From the ones who will take the start this weekend, Team HRC's Tim Gajser is the one who the most with two victories in 2016 and 2022 in MXGP.
In 2022, the MXGP of Great Britain was the opening round of the campaign and it was Tim Gajser who clinched the victory in front of Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer, 2nd and 3rd respectively. In MX2, Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Simon Laengenfelder won for the first time of his career ahead of Tom Vialle 2nd and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts 3rd.
The last Grand Prix in Italy witnessed the crowning of Jorge Prado and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo as the MXGP and MX2 World Champions respectively. They finally made it happen on the penultimate Grand Prix of the season in Maggiora. However the second and third place in MX2 are still in play between Jago Geerts, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Liam Everts and Simon Laengenfelder who have only 4 points that separate them all. This last round will be intense.
This weekend in Matterley Basin will also see the ultimate rounds of the EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing. While in EMX250, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi secured the European Title in the penultimate round in Turkiye, the fight for the EMX125 European Title will still be on between the first in the Championship MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Reisulis and 737 Performers GASGAS’s Mathis Valin, second. However, Reisulis has already one hand of the trophy as Valin trails by 37 points. Many things can still happen but if Reisulis continues on his recent form (he won the last 3 rounds), he could be crowned after Race 1.
Finally, the 2023 MXGP Awards will be taking place in Matterley Basin LIVE Sunday evening on MXGP-TV.com, YouTube Live and Facebook Live. The full line-up of the 2023 Champions will be present to accept their prizes in what will be a moment of celebration and amazing accolades for the shining stars of our sport.
MXGP
Jorge Prado is the 2023 MXGP World Champion. His performance at the Grand Prix of Italy has propelled him to the top to win his first MXGP Championship in his career. The first race was key in that he battled with his first rival Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre until the French rider got an issue with his bike and had to retire from the race which benefitted to Prado to win it all. The Grand Prix of Great Britain will be less stressful for Prado and may well giving him wings to perform even better, mainly to prepare for the MXoN coming soon.
Romain Febvre has unfortunately experienced a very tough weekend as he saw his hopes of fighting until the very last race for the Championship win vanished with a mechanical issue. The Frenchman will now look forward to perform well in Matterley Basin to put himself in the best conditions before the MXoN on home soil.
Jeremy Seewer showed again that he is always fighting for the top as he won the MXGP of Italy, thanks to his speed and consistency. The Swiss also secured the 3rd place in the Championship which is a good achievement despite not being the one to lift the mighty trophy. He will arrive in Kawasaki next season with plenty of confidence.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff showed good flashes of speed in Maggiora but it was not enough to clinch a podium and settled for the 8th overall. This last GP would be another perfect opportunity for the Dutch rider to get a first GP win this season and get positive results before the MXoN.
The momentum for Team HRC’s Rubén Fernández is the opposite as the Spanish is regaining confidence after his injury sustained in Finland and displayed great speed in Maggiora, setting the fastest lap of the weekend and getting his first podium since Germany. Fernandez can also battle for the 4th place in the Championship as he is 43 points behind Coldenhoff.
Team Gebben Van Venroy Yamaha Racing’s Calvin Vlaanderen has been a model of consistency this season and the MXGP of Italy didn’t change that fact with Vlaanderen going 7th overall. The Dutchman is guaranteed at least the 6th place in the Championship. His head will be turn to the Nations but he knows that it will pass by performing well in Matterley Basin.
Pretty much guaranteed the 7th place in the Championship, SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery MXGP’s Alberto Forato was one of the heroes of the weekend during his home Grand Prix of Italy. Forato won his first race of his career in MXGP with the RAM Qualifying Race and narrowly missed the first podium of his career on the Sunday. It is still a great achievement as he got his best finish with the 4th overall.
Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz’s Valentin Guillod clinched another top 10 for the season as he displayed a solid riding in Italy. The Swiss fulfils his objective of top 10 as he is 9th in the Championship although the last round in Great Britain will decide if he finishes 9th or 10th as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Maxime Renaux is going to come strong this weekend to get the best momentum and rhythm before the MXoN. Renaux who underperformed in MAggiora with a 16th overall will need to show a lot of determination in Great Britain to fight for a podium finish.
MRT Racing Team Beta’s Ben Watson finds himself in 15th position in the Championship before heading to his home Grand Prix. However the British best rider could well win several position if he performs well in front of his home fans and could get closer to the top 10 which would be a good achievement before going to the MXoN.
On top of that Adam Sterry, Jamie Carpenter, and Tom Grimshaw will be joining Ben Watson in MXGP. Irish stars Martin Barr, Glenn McCormick, Jason Meara, and Stuart Edmonds will also run in MXGP alongside British Championship regulars Harri Kullas, Tristan Purdon, and Ivo Monticelli.
MX2
Andrea Adamo is the new MX2 World Champion after a season of consistency and amazing racings that placed Adamo at the top of the Championship mid-way in the season. What an epic moment it was for the young Italian to finally get his hands on the trophy for the first time in his career on home soil of all places. Adamo responded present despite the huge tasks that was in front him before the MXGP of Italy and finished on the 3rd step of the podium.
Jago Geerts his getting back to his best and proved it with an excellent Grand Prix victory in Italy, his 7th of the season. Although the Belgian will be nourishing some remorse about this season due to his injuries that hindered his chances of winning the Championship that was promised to him, he may still get onto the 2nd place while preparing himself for the MXoN. Geerts will give everything in Matterley Bason to reach his 100% fitness.
Asamo’s closest rival before Italy, and teammate Liam Everts unfortunately didn’t perform to his usual standards, maybe due to the pressure and crashed in the second race which definitely handed the MX2 Championship to Adamo. Evert will need to regroup quickly as the battle for the 2nd place will rage on in Matterley Basin between him, Jasgo Geerts and Simon Laengenfelder.
Simon Laengenfelder is unstoppable since his comeback from injury as he clinched another podium in Italy. The German is now also in the battle for the 2nd place in the Championship as he is levelled with Everts and only 4 points behind Geerts. The MXGP of Great Britain will be th big decider for the final podium of the season and will offer some thrilling battle.
Another place will be decided this weekend between Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen, F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf as they will fight for the 5th place. L.Coenen who is 5th in the Championship has 17 points on Horgmo and 27 points on de Wolf. Despite finishing in 7th place in Italy, L.Coenen displayed his amazing talent with a huge comeback in Race 2. The pressure will be now to maintain his 5th place and ride solidly without doing any mistakes.
Horgmo is getting better and better asnd has been fighting for the top spots during the second part of the season. His form is excellent at the moment and could gain a position in the Championship. On the other side, both riders will have to deal with ex Red Plate de Wolf who is really gaining momentum and rhythm with a great 4th place overall in Maggiora. The objective for the Dutch rider is also to raise his fitness to be as competitive as possible and come back to the top. That will be interesting to see him riding elbow to elbow with his closest rivals for a symbolic but important 5th place.
In MX2 local hero Taylor Hammal, Calum Mitchell, Joel Rizzi and the injury returnee Bobby Bruce will be repping the red, white and blue.
EMX Classes
This weekend’s MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin sees a good lineup of British racers taking on the World and Europe’s best, with the likes of Billy Askew making his EMX250 debut and Josh Vail in EMX125 fresh from doing the Revo British MX, MX Nationals and Bridgestone British Masters triple on a Big Wheel 85 peaking the interest
Alongside Askew in the EMX250 class are fellow British Youth hotshots Ben Mustoe, Joe Brookes, McKenzie Marshall, Kelton Gwyther and Calum Marriott.
The EMX125 group is 59 riders strong and joining Vail behind the gate are Freddie Gardiner, Kai Thorpe, Max Harris and Ollie Colmer.
TIMETABLE
SATURDAY: 09:30 EMX125 Free Practice, 10:00 EMX250 Free Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, 11:55 EMX125 Qualifying Practice, 12:30 EMX250 Qualifying Practice, 13:45 MX2 Time Practice, 14:20 MXGP Time Practice, 15:05 EMX125 Race 1, 15:50 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race
SUNDAY: 09:40 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.