We've got your number!
By TMX Archives on 18th Dec 08
CHRISTMAS came a few days early for the GP stars last weekend when Youthstream announced the list of 31 approved teams, the riders and their numbers for the 2009 MX1 and MX2 world championships.
The GP promoter warned that there could still be changes before the FIM are given the privilege of announcing the final list on January 31, but 33 of the 40 guaranteed starting places in MX1 have been allotted (in addition Beursfoon Suzuki still have to name its 450 rider) and in MX2, 37 places have a name against them. Of these TM have yet to confirm Matteo Bonini (MX1) and Martin Michek (MX2), but it is unclear from the list whether this is simply a matter of their riding numbers or, more likely, a possible reversal of class with the Italian a potential front runner in MX2 if the new 250F comes through initial tests with flying colours.
Biggest surprise in the list is the inclusion of Suzuki factory test rider, Yohei Kojima, in the Inotec team, while both Jeremy Tarroux and Evgeny Bobryschev remain for a further year in MX2 after their Dutch teams had previously indicated an intended switch to MX1.
Several expected names are missing, presumably because they haven't coughed up the inscription fee. Most prominent team not on the list is SRS Honda, which has been announcing Khounsith Vongsana and Wyatt Avis, while there is also no place for Kornel Nemeth. Indeed Sarholz KTM only announce one rider, Marcus Schiffer, and one wonders just how the team can justify sending a truck all over Europe for a single rider; a collaboration with KTM Nederland appears likely.
Valenti Suzuki with European SX champion, Fabien Izoird, also fails to land a place, but there is less surprise that Bodo Schmidt is not listed, thus leaving Pierre-Alexandre Renet without a GP ride.
Carlos Campano has landed a ride, thanks to his Yamaha Spain cash input, in MX1, alongside another paying rider, Rob Van Vijfeiken, with Van Beers Yamaha.
Guaranteed' a ride by virtue of his Euro series ranking, Nikolaj Larsen is not on the lists either. Supported by national federation cash, the young Dane had jumped to Beursfoon after initial talks with MVRD, and one can suspect that Tarroux will eventually race MX1 after all when the final lists come out if negotiations for Larsen are completed.
From a British point of view Alex Snow is now confirmed for a GP slot with KTM UK, and two east European teams, a three-man squad from Latvia and Delta's multi-cultural squad from Czecho with Portugal's Luis Correia and Corrado Maddii's son, Marko, from Italy complete the line-up. European 85cc champ in 2007, Jason Clermont, is confirmed as second rider at NGS Honda.
FOR FULL STORY SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2008