MXGP Madness?
By Ben Rumbold on 6th Mar 23
The MXGP series is gonna be interesting. Image: Dick Law
Series promoters, Infront Moto Racing, which is run by the Luongo family have made steps in the right direction with the reduction of entry fees for this season, more support for teams in terms of travel expenditure and in particular the encouragement of wildcards with a further reduction of prices for home-country racers.
One move is proving a little unpopular, however, as the Saturday Qualifying race, already responsible for many injuries in the last few years, now earns championship points for the top 10 finishers – 10 for first down to one for 10th. As Herlings puts it, “this makes for a 60-moto series” – it’s actually 57 with the reduction to 19 rounds but you get his point. It’s gonna be a year of attrition!
Hearts have sunk thanks to the pre-season leg break suffered by reigning champ Gajser, although with other contenders maybe not at full strength yet, it might not be too bad for the championship drama. Herlings makes his return, having extended his long-running Red Bull KTM contract but is playing down his chances, saying that he’s not a podium guy yet and won’t be for a month or so. Factory Kawasaki man Febvre has just had surgery to battle arm-pump and, like Glenn Coldenhoff on the Monster Energy Yamaha, doesn’t have too many years left at the age of 32.
Also in the hunt is the rider who would have had #2 bolted to his bike if it weren’t for these days of career race numbers – determined Swiss stalwart Jeremy Seewer. He took three GP wins last year and is certainly in form pre-season.
Former MX2 champions Jorge Prado and Maxime Renaux will also fancy their chances, especially as they too stay put with GASGAS and Yamaha respectively.
Sadly, Britain has just one permanent rider in MXGP, Ben Watson, who has moved from his disastrous time at Kawasaki to the Italian Beta team. We keep our fingers crossed!
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