MXGP of Great Britain preview
By Team TMX on 21st Sep 23
This weekend (September 23/24) Matterley Basin near Winchester hosts the 19th and final round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship. While both the MXGP and MX2 titles may have already been secured the on-track action should still be fairly fierce as three riders fight over second place in the MX2 class.
Andrea Adamo (Red Bull KTM) has already been crowned champion but Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha), Liam Everts (Red Bull KTM) and Simon Laengenfelder (Red Bull GASGAS) are separated by just four points - Geerts leads the way on 706 points while Everts and Laengenfelder are tied on 702. Only two of the three will leave Matterley Basin with an FIM Medal so it’s sure to be dramatic.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said in the MXGP class where disaster aside the top-10 positions look fairly locked in. One man who can move a few places higher is Tim Gajser (HRC Honda) who will be looking to displace Mattia Guadagnini (Red Bull GASGAS) and Benoit Paturel (De Baets Yamaha) although even if he does that will only place him 11th in the final championship classification.
Behind them, sole MXGP Brit Ben Watson (MRT Beta) is embroiled in a battle with Brian Bogers (Standing Construct Honda) for 15th in the series. Seven points separate the pair and with non-starter Mitch Evans (KRT Kawasaki) just one ahead of Ben the fight is really for 14th. Watson doesn’t necessarily need your support but he’d sure appreciate it so get yourselves to Matterley Basin and give him a cheer.
There are a plethora of British Wildcards set to compete in the MXGP class with (in numerical order) Tom Grimshaw (Chambers GASGAS), Jason Meara (GASGAS), Tristan Purdon (SS24 KTM), Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha), Stuart Edmonds (Honda), James Carpenter (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha), Glenn McCormick (Chambers GASGAS), Martin Barr (Apico Husqvarna) and Adam Sterry (Sarholz KTM) all showing on the pre-entry list. This may change but is a good indicator of what’s coming up.
The MX2 class has fewer Brits with Taylor Hammal (SS24 KTM), Calum Mitchell (Lexa MX Husqvarna), Bobby Bruce (ASA United GASGAS) and Joel Rizzi (DK Offroad GASGAS) on the list. Again, that may change even at this late stage.
As well as being the final round of the MXGP and MX2 series, Matterley Basin will host the final rounds of the EMX125 and EMX250 championships.
Andrea Bonacorsi has already wrapped up the EMX250 title and will race in MX2 this weekend. This could leave Dutchman Kay Karssemakers as the favourite to win but let’s not forget British Wildcard Billy Askew who makes his series debut for the Revo GTCI Kawasaki team. Billy has shown plenty of pace in recent weeks and could be the boy to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
On the entry list that Infront Moto Racing published earlier this week, other Brits in the mix include Ben Mustoe, Joe Brookes, Mckenzie Marshall, Kelton Gwyther and Calum Marriott who is competing on a French licence. Also, keep an eye out for #401 as Lotte van Drunen makes her EMX250 debut after finishing third in the WMX series.
In EMX125, Janis Reisulis is likely to claim the title in race one at Matterley Basin as he holds a 37-point advantage over Mathis Valin. Ulsterman Cole McCullough is the leading local in 19th place in the championship. The KTM-riding star from Castlederg has finished as high as sixth so far this season and could do well at Matterley Basin if he’s able to get a start. Only one other Brit has scored points in the class so far this year with Ollie Colmer claiming a 12th in moto one at Lommel.
Hoping to make it through Timed Qualifying along with McCullough and Colmer will be locals Freddie Gardiner, Kai Thorpe, Michael McCullagh, BW85 triple champ Josh Vail and Max Harris. The pressure is on so please give them your full support.
The action kicks off on Saturday morning at 09:30 with Free Practice for the EMX125 boys with the MXGP RAM Qualifying Race wrapping things up at around 17:50-ish – it’s a long lap at Matterley.
Sunday is a similar schedule with the second EMX125 race leaving the line at 09:40 and the final MXGP moto starting at 17:10 when the sun will be low in the sky and visibility low on some sections of the track.
Full timetable –
Saturday
09:30 EMX125 Free Practice, 10:00 EMX250 Free Practice, 10:30 MX2 Free Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, 11:55 EMX125 Qualifying Practice, 12:30 EMX250 Qualifying Practice, 13:45 MX2 Time Practice, 14:20 MXGP Time Practice, 15:05 EMX125 Race 1, 15:50 EMX250 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race
Sunday
09:40 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.
Tickets are available on the gate and Matterley Basin can be found off the A31 to the East of Winchester. The postcode for spectators is SO21 1HW.
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