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Jeremy Van Horebeek at the 2017 Grand Prix of Argentina
NEWS

Patagonia pushes MXGP 2018 into gear

Feb 252018

A long, tough but exhilarating nineteen rounds, thirty-eight motos and seven months lies ahead for the latest saga in the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship. The majority of the paddock will begin the time-zone-spanning trek to Neuquen in the depths of Patagonia through the coming days for the first flurry of racing this week and the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina.

The biggest targets across the dark volcanic earth that gets rough, fast, inviting and challenging for the more technical of the MXGP elite will be reigning champions KTM; the Austrians owning both MXGP and MX2 classes in 2017. Sand, loam, deep ruts, large jumps, slick hard-pack, undulations, flat, man-made obstacles and a variety of weather conditions: no other motorcycle racing discipline pushes both man and machine to such extremes. Add some colourful characters and diverse styles and motocross is prime for some fantastically close action.

Clement Desalle at the 2017 Grand Prix of Argentina Jeremy Van Horebeek at the 2017 Grand Prix of Argentina Romain Febvre at the 2018 Yamaha Photoshoot Jeremy Van Horebeek & Romain Febvre at the 2018 Yamaha Photoshoot Romain Febvre at the 2018 Yamaha Photoshoot

It all starts again in Argentina; the Neuquen facility usually packed with typically rabid and passionate fans as the site hosts the opening chapter of MXGP for the very first time. Chasing KTM will be the Monster Energy Yamaha duo of Romain Febvre (France, 26 years old) and Jeremy Van Horebeek (Belgian, now 28). For Febvre in particular 2018 presents the chance to erase some of the burning frustration of last year when a mistake with the set-up with this YZ450FM in pre-season meant a drawn-out period of readjustment. The 2015 World Champ should be one of more feisty and focussed among the favourites for 2018 success. Van Horebeek meanwhile continues the search for the level and consistency of his 2014 term where twelve podiums drew him up to the position of world no.2. ‘JVH’ enters his fifth year with Yamaha and should be primed to head the leaderboard.

Clement Desalle at the 2018 Kawasaki photoshoot
Switching colours – but not countries – and Monster Energy Kawasaki count on Belgians Clement Desalle (the most victorious rider in MXGP aside from Tony Cairoli since 2009) and rookie Julien Lieber; the latter playing catch-up in terms of fitness and feeling with the KX450F after recovering from knee surgery at the end of 2017.
Clement Desalle at the 2018 Kawasaki photoshoot
With names like Cairoli (the world champ) Gajser, Anstie, Paulin, Simpson, Seewer, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Strijbos, Jasikonis, Tonus, Leok and more as part of the MXGP Officially Approved Teams list then competition will be far from easy as the calendar rapidly clicks down to the curtain-closing Motocross of Nations at RedBud in the USA in October.
Darian Sanayei at the 2017 Grand Prix of Argentina
Over in MX2 and KTM’s Pauls Jonass will face fresh defiance in his bid for a second world title on the bounce. 114 Motorsports Honda’s Hunter Lawrence is one of the most exciting names in the 250cc division and for what will be only his second GP attempt. The eighteen year old Aussie claimed two podiums from the last three races in 2017 and the current contest will be his last Grand Prix campaign for the near future with a saddle in AMA Supercross/Motocross set for 2019. From Honda to Yamaha and the Kemea team boast the mix of experience (Russian Seva Brylyakov), burgeoning talent (Britain’s Ben Watson) and raw rookie potential (Belgium’s Jago Geerts) on the YZ250F.
Kiara Fontanesi at the 2018 Yamaha Photoshoot
MXGP will throw the two principal classes into the fray at Neuquen this weekend but only a fortnight later - and when the series returns to European ground - then the popular EMX European Championship begins at round two in Holland and other engaging support classes like MXW (the FIM Women’s World Championship with Italian star Kiara Fontanesi ready to aim for a sixth crown). A long winter period for motocross fans is now entering a proper thaw.

THIS ARTICLE FEATURES:

Clement Desalle at the 2016 Monster Energy MXGP of USA Clement Desalle

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Romain Febvre at the 2017 pre-season race in Sardinia, Italian Championship round one Romain Febvre

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