MXGP of Great Britain - 2015 Preview

The pre-season hype was all about the confrontation of eight times world champion Tony Cairoli and ten times US title holder Ryan Villopoto, however it was confirmed earlier this week that Villopoto will no longer be racing due to an injury sustained at the Italian GP.

Along with Ryan Villopoto, home heroes Tommy Searle and Jake Nicholls will also miss this weekend's British MXGP

The pair have been struggling with injuries all season and neither are fit enough to race at Matterley Basin. It's a massive blow to the riders, their fans and the GP promoter.

After sustaining a compression fracture to his spine at the MXGP of Thailand in early March, 24-year-old Searle was battling back to full fitness but a crash at the recent MXGP of Spain has sidelined him again.

Nicholls' injury crisis has been even worse than Searle's. The 25-year-old Wilvo Forkrent KTM rider broke his right radius and ulna at an international meeting in France in February and despite two Maxxis championship comeback rides the injury has still not healed sufficiently for him to compete at Matterley Basin.

Despite the accense of Villopoto and the hype of Cairoli, the talent throughout the MXGP class has been abundant. In particular Max Nagl, Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin, have stepped up their game.

Matterley will be vital – it's the seventh round of 18 and anybody who is lagging in the points at the end of the Bank Holiday will have a mountain to climb to get back in contention.

TMX takes a look at 20 top contestants from MXGP and a dozen from MX2 to whet your appetite for the upcoming festival in the rolling Hampshire countryside, and there is plenty more to keep you entertained with three European classes on the programme and particular interest in the European MX250 as Adam Sterry carries the red plate as series leader in his endeavour to become the third Brit in four years to lift that class crown.

MXGP CLASS

#12 Max Nagl (Germany – IceOne Husqvarna) Age 27, 8 GP wins

The German has been the surprise of the year as he raced to victory in three of the first four GPs aboard the factory Husky in the team owned by Formula1 star Kimi Raikkonen. The team has tersted the 2016 FC450, but Max will continue to race the 2015 bike – never change a winning formula!

#19 David Philippaerts (Italy – DP19 Yamaha) Age 31, 1 world title, 12 GP wins

The veteran of GP racing is the only man at the start apart from Tony Cairoli ever to have won a world title in the main class and can still show tremendous speed.

Matterley is also one of his favourites, as long-term fans will recall from the titanic duels he won against his compatriot Cairoli when they were still on 250s back in 2006.

#21 Gautier Paulin (France – HRC Honda) Age 25, 11 GP wins

The Frenchman was surprisingly off the pace at the overseas races as HRC struggled to put him a package together despite their massive resources.

On their return to Europe things started to look up and Cairoli crashed trying to stay with Gautier at Valkenswaard where ‘GP21' dominated the weekend.

#22 Kevin Strijbos (Belgium – Rockstar Suzuki) Age 29, 5 GP wins

An early season hand injury held back the Belgian at the first two rounds, and he decided to skip the next three to get an operation so that he can get back where he belongs – battling for podiums.

#24 Shaun Simpson (Scotland – Hitachi Revo KTM) Age 27, 1 GP win

The Scot didn't enjoy much luck in the first few rounds, but he turned it round with his typically Highland resolve when he stormed to fifth at Valkenswaard and he is once again by far the most successful rider in the series without full factory support.

The Simpson Army will have their horns and flags out in force at Matterley, and the UK champ is sure to respond.

#25 Clement Desalle (Belgium – Rockstar Suzuki) Age 26, 19 GP wins

The MX Panda has admitted himself that he is more relaxed than ever before this season and his unbroken succession of podiums has kept him in the forefront of the standings all season.

Is 2015 the year when the three-times world number two, who will presumably only have one piece of cake on his birthday five days before the British GP, finally tastes gold?

#28 Tyla Rattray (South Africa – Monster KRT Kawasaki) Age 29, 1 world title, 15 GP wins

RV2's sidekick is a champion in his own right and has already shown his ability to ride up front several times this year without posting a podium score.

The South African was the last person to take a title off TC#222 in 2008 before his five year stint racing stateside.

#39 Davide Guarneri (Italy – TM) Age 30, 2 GP wins

TM's lone wolf has kept the Italian factory in the top ten all season again with a series of solid rides until he crashed big time at Valkenswaard on the same rhythm section which claimed Tony Cairoli.

Davide got away with a concussion and should be back on the lower leader-board at Matterley.

#47 Todd Waters (Australia – IceOne Husqvarna) Age 24

The Australian has a laid-back style reminiscent of Clement Desalle and has opened eyes with his charges through the lower order on hard-pack. One gets the impression that he could run with them if he could get better starts.

#89 Jeremy Van Horebeek (Belgium – Rinaldi Yamaha) Age 25, 2 GP wins

The 2014 world number two has struggled with his starts this year and too often ended up on the ground as he has pushed the limits in his endeavour to recover.

A broken hand at round four has kept him out of Valkenswaard and Talavera, but he is due to return with a vengeance at Matterley.

#112 Lewis Gregory (England – GL12 Yamaha) Age 29, runner-up EMX300 2014

Lewis was one of the heroes of the 2014 Matterley GP as he battled for victory in the EMX300 class.

With no big two-stroke class in Hampshire this year, backer Bob Buchanan has got Lewis a wild card ride in the GP and the sound of that 250 amongst all the four-bangers will ensure massive support.

Give Lewis your backing every lap!

#183 Steven Frossard (France – Wilvo Forkrent KTM) Age 27, 3 GP wins

Last year's world number five and Nations winner has been a great disappointment this year, both in the GPs and the Maxxis.

With his own home GP a week after Matterley, the team's home race would be the perfect place to turn his season around.

#222 Tony Cairoli (Italy – Red Bull KTM) Age 29, 8 world titles, 72 GP wins

The eight times world champion thought long and hard back in the winter before deciding to stick with the updated 350 rather than switch to the new 450 KTM.

If Tony gates and can ride his own lines he can check out, but has had to call on all his wealth of ability to pass the 450s as they take away his corner speed and use their power to defy him on the straights.

A broken bone in the hand when he crashed chasing Paulin at Valkenswaard should be healed before Matterley, but Tony is now in the unusual position of chasing the points leaders and needs to start beating Desalle and Nagl on a regular basis if he is to rack up title number nine.

#259 Glenn Coldenhoff (Holland – Rockstar Suzuki) Age 24, 1 GP win

The ‘Hoff' has quickly established himself as a top ten contender amongst the big boys, his graceful style keeping him out of trouble and able to put in a succession of good laps.

Initially a Dutch sand expert, the Dutchman of Indonesian descent is equally at home on hard-pack, in fact his sole GP win to date came at Matterley two seasons back.

#461 Romain Febvre (France – Rinaldi Yamaha) Age 23, 1 GP win

The former Supermoto star has been the revelation of the year as his no-nonsense style has seen him match the pace of factory Yamaha team-mate Jeremy Van Horebeek and even keep Ryan Villopoto on his toes week in, week out.

Romain even dusted himself down from the inevitable get-off at Valkenswaard to finish top ten and rattled out a fifth later in the day. A true fighter!

#777 Evgeny Bobryshev (Russia – HRC Honda) Age 27, 1 GP win

‘Bobby' has had a succession of torrid injury-hit seasons since his breakthrough with the CAS Honda team, but a more temperate approach to racing this year has seen him finish every moto with a gradual upgrade in the placings until he narrowly missed the podium at Valkenswaard.

#971 Nathan Watson (England – IceOne Husqvarna) Age 21

Nathan is planning his return to race action at Matterley after suffering an impact fracture of the wrist last month in Germany.

Pay special attention to the way the 2013 factory Husky hugs the bumps; Nathan is the official test rider for the WP air-forks and shock.

MX2 CLASS

#1 Jordi Tixier (France – Monster Kawasaki) Age 22, 1 world title, 2 GP wins

The defending champion had a turbulent start to the campaign as he collapsed from dehydration within sight of the chequered flag in the steamy heat of Thailand and, following an altercation with the track doctor, was suspended for a month to miss Argentina. Since his return in Europe he has climbed the podium regularly.

#33 Julien Lieber (Belgium – Standing Construct Yamaha) Age 20

The slightly-built Belgian has failed to repeat his holeshot skills from the Suzuki days, but his racing speed has gone up two notches this term on the Standing Construct Yamaha.

He is however still prevalent to asking too much, as shown by his massive crash in Thailand. But for the points he has effectively thrown away in those trips to earth, the native German speaker could be pushing for a medal ranking.

#41 Pauls Jonass (Latvia – Red Bull KTM) Age 18

KTM placed their faith in the world junior champion when they sacked champion-to-be Tixier at the end of last summer, and the Latvian has shown the benefit of the lessons he learned under the wing of Stefan Everts last year to upgrade his hard track skills to his undoubted ability in sand.

Jonass already has his first lead laps under his belt, but tends to fade physically at the end of tough motos.

#59 Aleksandr Tonkov (Russia – Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna) Age 21

Still racing the 2013 factory Husky at the overseas GPs, the new MX2 holeshot king has raised his game a further notch since the series returned to Europe, culminating in his best-ever GP performance at Valkenswaard aboard the 2016 Husky, essentially a yellow and blue brother for the factory Toomers being raced by Herlings and Jonass.

#84 Jeffrey Herlings (Holland – Red Bull KTM) Age 20, 2 world titles, 46 GP wins

The MX2 Terminator displayed his guts and resolve when, with the rod out of the broken thigh which cost him the 2014 title and just three weeks after getting the all-clear to ride again, he recorded a stunning double at the Qatar opener and repeated the dose in Thailand.

A collision with team-mate Pauls Jonass cost him Argentina and he suffered his first straight-up defeat for two years at the hands of Tim Gajser in Arco before getting back to winning ways at Valkenswaard.

The clear favourite – but you never know in motocross.

#91 Jeremy Seewer (Switzerland – Rockstar Suzuki) Age 20

Now a full-time pro after completing his engineering studies last summer Jeremy is a top ten regular on the only factory RM250F in the series; his amiable personality off-track and his rugged but fair commitment when racing have earned him a wealth of fans.

#92 Valentin Guillod (Switzerland – Standing Construct Yamaha) Age 22, 1 Euro title

Valentin took a leaf out of Mel Pocock's book when he stepped back down to EMX2 after an ill-fated premature start to his GP career, and rebounded last year with his first GP podium and seventh in the series.

Now getting used to his Yamaha after the team switched brands lock, stock and barrel, he could be on the box in Hampshire.

#99 Max Anstie (England – Monster Dixon Kawasaki) Age 22, 1 GP win

If there is to be a British winner at Matterley next weekend, then it must surely be Max. Although his very best performances have all come in sand, the son of former GP winner Mervyn can run with the best anywhere and Steve Dixon has a long record of putting his bikes on the podium in the UK. Let's just hope the DRT Kawasaki holds together for the throttle-happy redhead.

#152 Petar Petrov (Bulgaria – Hitachi Revo KTM) Age 20

Yes, Petar is truly only 20. The Bulgarian with the thick eyebrows seems to have been around for ever as he was already a GP regular at the age of 15.

He has had several top ten motos this year, but needs better starts, his physical size a handicap in MX2.

#243 Tim Gajser (Slovenia – Gariboldi Honda) Age 18, 1 GP win

The Slovenian caused as sensation in Italy last month when he became the first rival in three seasons to take a GP off Herlings straight up.

The maturity he showed when he remained unflustered as the Dutch supremo exerted pressure was in contrast to his crash-happy antics in the past, but Honda hopes that the turnaround was here to stay were soon dashed as Tim crashed his skull out three times a week later at Valkenswaard.

#919 Ben Watson (England – Hitachi Revo KTM) Age 17

The Maxxis MX2 leader has yet to turn his UK form into top ten results at world level, and would undoubtedly benefit from better starts as the pack down to 20th, which is chasing the full-blooded factory stars, is all on a similar pace.

Home crowd support could be the impetus to make the breakthrough.

TIMETABLE

Saturday: EMX150 Free/Timed practice 07:45; WMX Free practice 08:20; EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 08:45; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 09:20; WMX Time practice 09:55; MX2 Free Practice 10:30; MXGP Free Practice 10:55; EMX125 Last Chance Qualifying Race 11:30; EMX250 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 12:00; EMX250 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 12:35; EMX150 Race 1 13:30; MX2 Time Practice 14:00; MXGP Time Practice 14:35; WMX Race 1 15:20; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying Race 17:00; EMX125 Race 1 17:40; EMX250 Race 1 Last Chance Qualifying Race 18:25.

Sunday: EMX150 Warm-up 07:45; WMX Warm-up 08:00; EMX125 Warm-up 08:15; EMX250 Warm-up 08:30; EMX150 Race 2 09:10; WMX Race 2 09:50; EMX125 Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX250 Race 1 12:00; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; EMX250 Race 2 15:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.