MXGP Insider No.11: American Interest

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

So Valkenswaard saw the return of the MXGP class to its 2014 state, with no Americans to hold any interest for our friends across the pond. And while I am partly joking, unfortunately, it was true, as the numbers on any website you choose will back it up.

Just looking at the MXGP race highlights numbers from Valkenswaard on the MXGP TV YouTube channel shows it:

154,000 – Qatar
100,000 – Thailand
89,000 – Patagonia
78,000 – Trentino
48,000 – Valkenswaard

Now yes, it has only been four days since the MXGP of Europe, but I can tell you from experience that the majority of the views come in the first couple of days, and probably even the first 24 hours, so that number isn’t going to get much higher. It also shows the gradual decrease in interest from round to round, which I don’t think is completely unexpected. New, shiny things always get looked at and we’re now about two months into the season and only the true fans remain. However, if you did stick with it, you’d have witnessed some awesome racing at Valkenswaard in both classes, despite the seemingly boring 1-1 performances of both Herlings and Paulin. Combine the Frenchman’s results with Cairoli’s DNF-7 and it has really opened up the championship battle, even if Villopoto is unlikely to be able to get back into the frame after his injury.

Speaking of Villopoto, I have to say I was pretty disappointed to read some of the stuff posted online by respected American media, about not only his ditching of the GPs and returning to race Hangtown (not going to happen) but also the fact that he is a shadow of his former self, and no longer the same guy who has pretty much dominated that side of the Atlantic since he turned Pro. I guess the rivalry between the two series is still there, even at the top, and I don’t blame either side for wanting to prove “they are the best” but I prefer to focus on the positives and right now, there are a lot of those about.

As mentioned, the MXGP class is awesome to watch with or without Villopoto and much like last year, the battle behind Jeffrey Herlings in the MX2 class is as intense as you’re ever likely to witness. None of these guys are letting off as they all try to prove that they are the heir, but while they maybe fast in one race, consistency is killing them. After his Overall win last weekend, Tim Gajser went 14-17 (although to be fair, he’s lucky to be walking after his horrendous crashing in the qualifying race). In fact, of the top 20 MX2 guys, only Roberts Justs and Dylan Ferrandis have scored points in all ten of the motos so far… how crazy is that? And Ferrandis only just did it, after his 10-place-docking for “kicking” Pauls Jonass as he made the pass. Now I saw it live and my first reaction was to laugh as he just looked to be widening his bike/body to stop Pauls moving over on him but I guess the FIM saw differently. They decided that this sort of thing is dangerous and they want to cut it out before it happens again (I think it best they don’t look at the start of any race any more). CLS Kawi must be really getting pissed at the FIM and I can’t believe Monster are overly happy. Although they can join the queue behind James Stewart and all his “fans”…