As if to enforce the notion that nobody can predict how or in what direction an MXGP campaign will head…the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship once more launches into life in the midst of the Losail desert setting. Grand Prix begins in Qatar for the fourth successive year. As with most opening events of motorcycle racing series’, trying to foresee what will come to pass is a dizzy task as any precursors of form have been obfuscated by a lengthy winter and unexpected injury hitches. As for the riders themselves come this Saturday night, here is a stab in the dark at some of the issues and questions for round one…
How many riders are we looking at?
The official entry list has 24 in the premier class and 27 in MX2 with the first of seven rounds in the Women’s World Championship also commencing at the floodlit race track located a short distance from Turn 1 of the road racing asphalt. From MXGP names like Desalle (possibly), Tixier, De Dycker, and Rui Gonçalves have already been struck by injury, which also hits presence in the gate.
Who is new in MXGP?
With the high-profile exception of 2015 MX2 World Champion Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser joining the ranks and undoubtedly looking for some of the ‘Romain Febvre Effect’ it is more of a case of ‘who is where?’ Watch for Grand Prix of Latvia winner Glenn Coldenhoff making his first outing on the works Red Bull KTM 450SX-F in what is the Dutchman’s second term in MXGP. Three times MX2 runner-up Tommy Searle made way for Coldenhoff from the KTM squad but is back in Monster Energy Kawasaki colours as Steve Dixon’s British crew hope to have as much impact in MXGP as they have in MX2 in recent years. Former European Champion and MX2 moto winner Christophe Charlier will ride as number two in the works Rockstar Husqvarna team to 2015 Qatar GP victor Max Nagl while the surprising – but entirely welcome – addition of Ben Townley on the official Suzuki RM-Z450 (and the first event for the team and manufacturer in the ‘Stefan Everts era’) means another strong name added to the pack. Townley has been busy over the last month testing and training alongside a fully fit Kevin Strijbos and has been nearing the Belgian’s pace. Expect a solid start to 2016 from the experienced ex-multi champion who knows that Qatar is simply the first rung in a long eight-month ladder. Watch out for the lively Valentin Guillod – winner of three MX2 Grands Prix in 2015 – also making his debut in the premier class from the confines of the busy Kemea Yamaha set-up.
Major changes to the track?
None reported. Losail has largely remained the same since its inauguration with the QMMF overseeing a larger investment in permanent lighting provisions after the first race in 2013 and minor revisions to the layout and terrain prep. A fast sweeping opening left-hander hits a section of rollers and then a flat, jumpy but wide and modern layout then lies in store. Depending on the amount of watering and soil treatment then the surface can actually get quite rutty and technical in parts. The last jump zone before the finish line involved a daunting Quad jump; something that Max Anstie made his own in 2014 although the Briton crashed out heavily twelve months ago. ‘14 also, bizarrely, saw some rainfall briefly hit the Grand Prix timetable. Riders have to deal with a switch in temperatures some 10-15 degrees higher than found in Europe for the time of year. Other curveballs for this first GP involve the night timetable (the last MXGP moto starts at 21.10 local time on Saturday), the lighting system and the fact that the paddock operates out of freight, meaning relatively little creature comforts for the athletes at arguably the nerviest meeting of the schedule.
The podium-most-likely-based-on-pre-season…
OK, pre-season internationals can mean relatively little. Riders and teams are still testing and building into the racing campaign and many athletes will not be pushing at a hard rate in the name of minimising risk. There will be some however who have firmly sharpened their racing chops and could come into the weekend feeling less rusty, more prepared and – importantly – more confident than others. Based on results and hearsay regarding performances then the first Grand Prix of the year should see Evgeny Bobryshev, Shaun Simpson and Jeremy Van Horebeek walking the podium. The Russian earned the Italian elite crown and has made an unprecedented step with his pre-season training (read OTOR #122 for the details), Simpson has won Internationals at Hawkstone Park and Valence on the factory-engined Wilvo Virus Performance KTM and already exorcised a raft of mistakes after several crashes at the LaCapelle Marival meeting last weekend (the Scot still finished third) and a lighter and more motivated Van Horebeek took MX1 Italian honours and has earned good reviews for his progress from within the Yamaha factory team.
Previous winners?
Clement Desalle (with Suzuki), Gautier Paulin (with Kawasaki) and Max Nagl with his current Husqvarna team. In MX2 Jeffrey Herlings has won all three editions, which leads onto…
Can Herlings be beaten in MX2?
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Photo by Ray Archer
