MXGP INSIDER #25: BRITAIN’S TITLE HUNT

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the MXGP Insider, penned by David Bulmer, presented by KTM Australia. 

This week’s biggest “news” was the release of Robbie Maddison’s Pipe Dream with a video that has gone viral and crossed over from the motocross industry into mainstream media. It’s always nice when this happens because usually, the only time motocross gets that sort of coverage is when something bad has happened. This week I noticed on my Facebook feed that a Dutch newspaper has highlighted all of Jeffrey Herlings injuries in a double-page spread, and then allowed a “letter from the public” criticising how much money these injuries have cost the Dutch taxpayer in terms of medical attention. Obviously the person writing the letter has never heard of “Red Bull” but it just goes to show how a lot of the outside world views this sport.

In his absence from the MX2 class, Pauls Jonass took up the reins as the red plate holder. He was sitting just 10pts behind Gajser and Guillod and has much better skills in the sand than those two, so it seemed like an obvious thing. Of course, there is still the matter of surviving 70 minutes of brutal conditions but he did that successfully and now is in prime position to maintain KTM’s dominance in the MX2 class. With sand races at Mantova and Assen coming up, he should even be hoping to extend that gap on the rest of the field, with the only rider likely to beat him being the flying Max Anstie. Anstie is still in seventh place in the standings but now sits just 46pts back and in this current form, with the finale being at Glen Helen, he has a real shot of taking this title. It’d certainly be great comeback from the Brit who really struggled early on in the year.

Speaking of Britain, I’d be stupid not to highlight the fact that GB walked away with four overall wins in the deep sands of Lommel. Considering how “we’re” not exactly known for our skills in the loose stuff, it should be encouraging for any rider to know that if you put in the work and ride it often enough, you can go onto to becoming a master, as Shaun Simpson has ably demonstrated in Lierop and now in Lommel. He won his first ever qualification race on Saturday and then had a perfect 1-1 performance on Sunday that was so much more than just jumping the quad. He is now preparing to take on the Americans at Unadilla in a race that he intends “to have fun at, nothing more”, although no doubt the internet warriors will take great pleasure in whatever results he puts in.

Someone who knows all about that is Ryan Villopoto who made his long awaited return to an MXGP race after a couple of months in the wilderness. He came fully prepared for a grilling but seemed to cope ok with all the questioning although it would be awesome for him to say what he really thinks about a number of subjects…

Lastly, I just want to mention that I heard some good news regarding a young Australian rider. I don’t want to say too much in case it does jeopardise the deal, but it’d be great for Australian representative in Europe if it does come off.