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Maggiora all set for pivotal Grand Prix in MXGP & MX2

The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship settles in Maggiora for the MXGP of Italy. The eighteenth and penultimate round of the campaign could well see two new Champions crowned in MXGP and MX2.

Words & Images: InFront Media

The banks of Maggiora will be packed, with the possibility of seeing a home hero crowned as MX2 World Champion.

The old-school circuit of Maggiora has a rich history and has been the theatre of many spectacular races since its first event in 1966. Showing its importance in Motocross, the magnificent Italian track hosted three Motocross of Nations including the legendary MXoN of 1986 with team USA achieving perfect scores.
Over the recent events at Maggiora, the most successful rider was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings with 3 Grand Prix victories (2013, 2014 in MX2 and 2021 in MXGP). However, with Herlings not taking part at this weekend’s Grand Prix due to injury, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is the second most successful rider at Maggiora with 2 wins. One in MX2 in 2015 and one last season in MXGP while Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre also won there in 2015 in MXGP, when he famously won with bent handlebars!

In MXGP, Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado could be crowned as the Red Plate holder boasts a 67-point gap on his only contender for the title, Febvre. Prado would become MXGP Champion if after Race 1, he would have 85 points on Febvre or if at the end of the Grand Prix, he would 61 points more than the Frenchman.

In MX2, there are technically still four riders in contention with the leader, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo, his teammate Liam Everts, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts and Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Simon Laengenfelder, although the two KTM riders Adamo and Everts are the ones with the most chance to win the world title.

The 2022 MXGP of Italy was held at Maggiora and marked the seventh round of the season. It saw Tim Gajser win the overall with a perfect score in front of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer and his teammate Maxime Renaux.

Jorge Prado has a golden opportunity to bury the competition in Maggiora if the Red Plate holder keeps on doing what he knows best; getting great starts, winning races and staying consistent. The last Grand Prix in Turkey was not the dream scenario for Prado who made an uncharacteristic mistake on the second corner of Race 1 and fell, hindering his chances of winning. The second race was another twist of fate for Prado as he stalled in the same corner to finish 10th overall, his lowest result of the season. He will want to be back on top to secure the title as soon as possible.

Romain Febvre keeps performing at his best, taking another race win in Turkey and finishing 2nd overall. On the form of his life, Febvre does not have his destiny in his own hands but can certainly put pressure on Prado as he has done brilliantly over the second part of the Championship. Freshly re-signed with Kawasaki, Febvre will give everything he has to get as close as possible and not give the title to Prado easily.

Romain Febvre will look to take the title on to Matterley Basin

Jeremy Seewer had, like Prado, an unexcepted dip in form in Turkey with an 8th overall. If the Swiss rider cannot reach the MXGP title anymore, he can certainly secure the 3rd place in the Championship. He also secured his spot for next season in Kawasaki Racing Team alongside Febvre, which will free him up over the last two Grands Prix and he could bounce back at Maggiora.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff is 4th in the Championship and will arrive in Italy on the back of a 7th place overall. The Dutch rider is 48 points behind his teammate Seewer and can still fight for the podium.

Team HRC’s Rubén Fernández has been a force to reckon with in 2023 and his consistency placed him in 5th overall. The Spanish will have to make sure to keep the great performer Team Gebben Van Venroy Yamaha Racing’s Calvin Vlaanderen at bay to keep his position I the Championship. It won’t be easy knowing that Vlaanderen clinched a 4th overall in Turkiye showing a very good speed.

The leading Italian in the Championship, SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery MXGP’s Alberto Forato, is 8th and will be competing at home with the support of the crowd. Forato could not be in a better position after getting his career-best finish in MXGP with 5th overall in Turkey. What a moment it would be for the strong rider if he could get a long-awaited podium on home soil. He will also be full of confidence knowing that he will be representing his country at the MXoN in Ernée.

ALberto Forato will have his home crowd behind him through the Maggiora hillsides!

Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz’s Valentin Guillod, who is 9th in the Championship, has not been very lucky recently after some falls in Turkey that placed him 14th overall. The Swiss star could create the surprise knowing that his starts are getting better and better, as he showed in Turkey with a FOX Holeshot Award. However, Maxime Renaux is not far behind Guillod (only 8 points) and looking at the Frenchman’s performance in Turkey, it will be hard to contain the 2021 MX2 World Champion. Renaux is getting back to his best and is eager to get even better before the Motocross of Nations.

The other home rider this weekend will be Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini who enjoyed his return to the competition in Turkey after his injury with an excellent 9th overall. Guadagnini has also been announced for the MXoN which he will work towards, starting with the MXGP of Italy.

MRT Racing Team Beta’s Alessandro Lupino will be happy to come back home after a string of results that are not reflecting his real level. The Italian will try to better his 8th overall in Latvia earlier this season with the help and support of the home crowd that will cheer for him.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Mitch Evans will be forced to miss the MXGP of Italy due to a wrist injury that has bothered him for the last few weeks. The Australian will try to recover and get back to 100% for the last round of the season, the MXGP of Great Britain.

MX1 Championship Standings

Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 841 points;
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 774 p.;
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 676 p.;
4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 628 p.;
5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 570 p.;
6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 532 p.;
7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 456 p.;
8. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 444 p.;
9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 310 p.;
10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 302 p.;

2022 MXGP of Italy – MXGP Top 3:

Tim Gajser
Jeremy Seewer
Maxime Renaux

The 2022 MXGP of Italy in MX2 saw Jago Geerts winning in front of his rival Tom Vialle. Stephen Rubini closed the podium in third position.

All eyes will be turned to teammates Andrea Adamo and Liam Everts, who are in close competition for the MX2 title. However, Andrea Adamo still boasts a 48-point lead on his teammate and could well be crowned on home soil despite missing a good chance in Turkey as he lost many points with a 6th overall. One thing that is guaranteed is that Adamo will give his all in front of the home fans who will be there to give massive support throughout the weekend. The dream of winning the MX2 World Title could be complete, and made all the sweeter if won at Maggiora. On top of that, Adamo will ride in the Nations for Italy which is also an achievement.

Liam Everts on his own part is displaying great form as he is coming to Maggiora after two back-to-back victories, closing the gap to the Red Plate holder. Everts has nothing to lose and that can be seen in his current form. He is making a great name of his own and will do everything he can to reduce even more the gap to Adamo. Everts has been selected to represented Team Belgium at the MXoN which is an added motivator for him to keep his form at the top level.

Can Liam Everts deny Andrea Adamo a title win on home ground?

Jago Geerts is technically still in contention and clinched his first podium in Turkey since coming back from his second injury of the season. The most important for Geerts will be to raise his fitness and level to 100% before the Motocross of Nations.

4th in the Championship, Simon Laengenfelder will be more focussed on performing for his own benefits, knowing that he will be an important part of Team Germany at the MXoN, where he will be joined on the team by the legendary Ken Roczen. The German will also try to put pressure on Geerts for 3rd place in the Championship, being only 5 points adrift of the Belgian.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen is 5th in the Championship and had to retire from the MXGP of Turkey during the first race, due to a fall that injured his shoulder. He will try to line-up for the MXGP of Italy and get back to his usual form before the MXoN with Team Belgian alongside his MX2 countrymen, Geerts and Everts.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Roan van de Moosdijk put in a solid return in Turkey after weeks of recovery as he finished 5th overall, even leading races at some point. Van de Moosdijk comes to Maggiora with the intention of coming back to his best before the end of the season and preparing already for next season.

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo is a solid 7th in the Championship and finally managed to climb onto the podium with 2nd place overall in Turkey, along with the first moto win of his career in race two. His determination, hard-work and speed have finally paid-off and will give the Norwegian some wings over the last two Grands Prix with the weight of winning his first race lifted from his shoulders.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf, who is now 8th in Championship due to few injuries this season, will make his long-awaited from his injury sustained at Lommel for the MXGP of Flanders. The Dutch took his time to recover perfectly and make sure of being competitive. De Wolf will now work towards the MXoN in Ernee in October where he will compete in MX2 with Team Netherlands.

MX2 Championship Standings

Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 732 points;
2. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 684 p.;
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 650 p.;
4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 645 p.;
5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 520 p.;
6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 508 p.;
7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 505 p.;
8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 501 p.;
9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 462 p.;
10. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 352 p.;

2022 MXGP of Italy – MXGP Top 3: