Looking back on the MXGP - A veterans tale
By Infront Moto Racing on 5th Dec 15
The 2015 season has been called the greatest most exciting season in the sports history. Drama, injuries and surprises made the 2015 MXGP series a classic. What might surprise many is the fact most are saying 2016 will be even better.
Multiple GP winner and a veteran of the GP series Rui Goncalves is really excited with 2016. Still riding for Husqvarna but in a new team the rider from Portugal looks at next year being even bigger than 2015.
"There was a lot of expectations from 2015, with Villopoto coming. 2016 will be a really competitive year, a lot of guys moving from MX2. This year a lot of guys go injured and I think in 2016 if everything goes well and less injuries then we have a really one of the best years of GP's. We race the biggest class, the highlight of motocross. Those MX2 guys moving up make it interesting. It's a long season and I wonder who can keep it up.”
Another veteran of the MXGP series is Shaun Simpson. The Scotsman is also expecting 2016 to rise to another level. Like Goncalves the KTM rider has seen his share of close battle in both MX2 and MXGP.
"It is hard to imagine that next year will be better than this year, but that is how it's looking. With the age rule it is pretty much tailors to go that way. I mean these guys know their futures is in the MXGP class. If you look at Gajser, he hasn't even reached the age limit, but if his goal was to win the MX2 championship and he has already done that, then his next goals seems to be an MXGP title. Why not get up, serve your time and try and get one earlier than you expected. I don't know if the age rule has dictated the direction the sport is going. I really feel like the MX2 class will eventually be like an EMX championship and the MXGP class will be like MotoGP where it's the cream of the crop.”
Former world number two Josh Coppins of New Zealand continued to watch the GP scene, and he wouldn't be surprised to see something special in 2016.
"It is hard to say, had you asked me this question a year ago would I have said Romain Febvre is going to win, for sure not. I think it's going to be tough for Tony (Cairoli), I think the stranglehold that he had isn't going to be there. He will still be a contender, can Romain back it up, winning it is hard, but backing it up is harder. The HRC guys will be good. I would probably say it will come down to Romain and Tony again, those two are consistent.”
Now with a couple of months of hard training, and then a handful of pre-season races the 2016 adventure will be on its way. As the three veterans told above, it's going to be a hell of a ride.
