MXGP Insider No.28: American GP?

Welcome to our weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s MXGP Insider. Penned each week by Vurbmoto’s David Bulmer, the MXGP Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories of the European motocross scene.

The “will he, won’t he” drama that has surrounded Ryan Villopoto ever since the German GP at Teutschenthal in June (around 70 days ago) is still continuing, but it’s looking more and more likely that we’ll be seeing the #2 Kawasaki rider lining up at the start gate in Qatar for the first round of the 2015 World Championships. Of course this is all just still hearsay and no matter what you read or hear, there won’t be anything new regarding the situation until the official press release comes out (if indeed it happens). People might know Villopoto’s barber (who he’s asked about hotels in Doha) but that still doesn’t change the fact that we’ll only know when RV wants us to know… and even then it still might not happen.

One thing that I have heard might be announced at the Motocross of Nations though, is a deal for another American rider. Unfortunately I’ve been sworn not to tell people, but it will certainly make next year’s GPs even more exciting should this other deal come off.

Something that is guaranteed to happen for 2015 is the schedule to change. I read somewhere that Youthstream have to present some kind of schedule to the FIM before September but in all honesty, it’s the one they release at the end of October/November that is more of interest and likely to be nearer to the truth. I honestly don’t expect to be travelling down to South America three times next year and you can almost guarantee that if the Villopoto deal comes off, a US GP will appear.

It definitely seems weird that so much can be hinging on one rider and I’ve no idea what KRT’s backup plan is, but if Villopoto doesn’t end up coming to the World Championships, I’m not completely sure who is actually available to sign otherwise…

Anyway, today is the day the official team sheets were announced for the 2014 Motocross of Nations and after a lot of press releases, there weren’t really too many major surprises. Roczen and Herlings are two major absentees, Brett Metcalfe was also unable to come, the French went with Ferrandis over Tixier, Febvre and Musquin and Pourcel. I had heard that Philippaerts wasn’t going to make it, with Lupino drafted in as his replacement and Cairoli back to MX1, but that doesn’t seem to have happened so he’s still the MX2 rider.

While I feel that USA are definitely favourites (as they pretty much are every year), I don’t think they will necessarily win any of the motos, especially if the conditions aren’t that great. I’ve watched a decent amount of mud races recently and it seems like they don’t seem to cope too well when it gets really nasty. Obviously we all hope that it stays dry and everything runs smoothly but every Latvian I’ve spoken too (and I actually know quite a few) think that the weather won’t be great and that there is a strong possibility of rain. I guess we shall see…