DOUBLE GOLD FOR THE GREEN AND GOLD
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RACING CATCH UP 026 MONSTER GIRLS 034
RIDER OF THE MONTH JANIS RAISULIS 038
SPECIAL FEATURE MXGP AUSTRALIA 054
BLOG JASON THOMAS 056
SPECIAL FEATURE JEFFREY HERLINGS 2016 KTM 250 SX
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HALL OF FAME EVGENY BOBRYSHEV
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PADDOCK TALKS2 014
RACING CATCH UP
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MONSTER GIRLS
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MXGP MAG
Chief Editor: Marionna Leiva Photos: MXGP
INFRONT MOTO RACING MEDIA
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MXGP Mag #143 2025
The articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of Infront Moto Racing.
Then content of this publication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written.
The copying of articles and photos even partially is forbidden unless permission has ben requested from Infront Moto Racing in advance and reference is made to the source (©MXGP).
GIRLS
DEAR MXGP FANS, THE MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS HELD IN USA, IRONMAN, WILL CERTAINLY REMAIN IN THE MEMORY OF MOTOCROSS FANS FOR A LONGTIME! AFTER TWO GREAT EDITIONS IN RED BUD, WE FINALLY WENT BACK TO THE US, AND FINALLY THE SUNSHINE GAVE US THE PERFECT SETTING FOR AN INCREDIBLE WEEK OF FESTIVITIES.
The collaboration with MX Sports throughout the entire year of preparation for the most popular off-road event of the year led us to great success. Crawfordsville welcomed all the participants with a fantastic parade that went across the city. It was great to see thousands of fans and residents cheering and welcoming the 37 nations that competed this year. It will remain a great moment in the history of our sport.
The weekend of the Motocross of Nations is always full of action, and once you arrive onsite, you can be sure to experience something special. The paddock was filled with hospitality areas and various activities. One of the highlights of the weekend was certainly the Yamaha BLU CRU World Super Finale, which brought together the best Yamaha Junior riders from the 65cc, 85cc and 125cc classes from all around the world to race on Saturday and Sunday in front of the fans. As always, it is important to connect professional athletes with the future of our sport, and since the creation of the European Championships taking place during MXGP, it has been our goal to include more events featuring kids and juniors in both the Grand Prix and the Motocross of Nations. This year, the broadcasting of the Junior World Championship held in France was also a continuation of this program.
Coming back to the Motocross of Nations, Team Australia arrived with one of the strongest lineups, determined to defend their first-ever title won last year on British soil. However, Team USA was equally eager to fight for victory on home ground. The line-ups from the top teams were very impressive and gave us a fantastic weekend of racing. Australia, the USA, and France completed this year’s podium. The young Belgian team
showed that we will have to count on them in the years to come, while Slovenia achieved a historic fifth position thanks to the stunning performance of Tim Gajser.
Next year’s edition will take place on the mythic track of Erneé in France and it promises to be epic once again.
I would like to thank the FIM, FIM Europe, all the National Federations that host a Grand Prix, our local organizers, the media that covered MXGP during this season, all our partners, the official manufacturers, all the teams and all the riders that participated to our events, from 6 years old to our newly crowned World Champions.
Finally, I would like to thank all the MXGP fans who attended the races for making our sport so special! It has been a memorable season, and we will work hard to make the next one even better.
MXGP Rocks!
David Luongo CEO of Infront Moto Racing
COOL SHOTS
COOL SHOTS
COOL SHOTS
DOUBLE GOLD FOR THE GREEN AND GOLD
AUSTRALIA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS AGAIN, AFTER A STUNNING DISPLAY OF RIDING FROM ITS TRIO OF RIDERS JETT LAWRENCE, HUNTER LAWRENCE AND KYLE WEBSTER, WHO LIFTED THE PETER CHAMBERLAIN TROPHY ON AMERICAN SOIL AT IRONMAN RACEWAY, INDIANA FOR THE SECOND SUCCESSIVE TIME, TO WIN THE 78TH EDITION OF THE MONSTER ENERGY FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS. USA AND FRANCE ROUNDED OUT THE PODIUM ON WHAT WAS ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND IN THE HISTORY OF THIS ICONIC EVENT.
With all major championships completed, it was time to shift our attentions to the biggest race on the planet, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations which this year took place in America at Ironman Raceway in the state of Indiana. As always, there was much to talk about leading into the event and of course, most of it had to do with Team selection; who was in, who was out and all that jazz!
The first piece of ‘breaking news’ hit us around the time of the Swedish GP in mid-August, when it was announced that The Netherlands selected a team which did not include Jeffrey Herlings, who was just returning from injury. Spain was also in the headlines when it was suggested that Jorge Prado would not feature in its line up either, but elsewhere, things were looking pretty good. Defending champions, Australia, would line up with the same team that took them to a historic first ever Nations win in 2024, and as far as the home-nation was concerned, the world would finally get to see Haiden Deegan line up on a 250cc as a first-timer in this event, alongside Chase Sexton (MXGP) and Eli Tomac (Open).
And then the final round of SMX happened, and suddenly, Sexton and Deegan were struck with injuries just two weeks out from Ironman.
Tomac was switched to the MXGP class as RJ Hampshire was brought into the Open class, but it wasn’t until Tuesday, in the week leading into the event, that Haiden Deegan announced he would not be lining up, as his collarbone was not quite
strong enough for him to compete at the level he would have wanted to. Enter Justin Cooper. Not ideal preparation for the home team, but still a good team nonetheless, and one which was more than capable of competing for the podium, at the very least.
THE BUILD UP
As if that build up wasn’t enough, there was still plenty more to come, and it all kicked off on Friday morning in the Media Centre. First up were the opening speeches from Infront Moto Racing, the FIM and the AMA/MX Sports, before we entered the realms of ‘gate selection’ for the Qualifying Races, and by that we mean the Ballot.
The defending champions, Australia, secured the best pick of the favoured teams when they were given 7th pick for the quali’ races. The Netherlands were given 8th pick as Germany were presented with 18, Italy 20, Belgium 22, Slovenia 26 with USA and Spain taking 35 and 36 respectively! More doom and gloom for the hosts, after their injury woes leading in. Following on from the Ballot was the official riders and team’s Press Conference, the perfect opportunity for a quick Q&A and family photo, before taking to the track for the muchanticipated Blåkläder Start Practice.
However, as popular as it was seeing the bikes on track for the first time, nothing could have prepared us for what was to come next, and by that we mean the NUCOR Riders Presentation. As followers of this sport will know, Friday afternoon is reserved
for the parade which sees the teams pass across the start straight in front of their fans, and in the past this whole show has been quite the spectacle. But, when it was announced that this event would be taking place in the town of Crawfordsville a few miles away, many wondered if it would be as well received, given that the fans were already parked up on-site in the camping areas. And with this being Friday afternoon, with a few beverages already disposed of, getting into town needed some logistical planning.
As our TV production crew were setting up camera’s, lighting and the stage for the live broadcast, some one and a half hours out from going LIVE, the town was still pretty quiet, but suddenly, with forty minutes to go, the buses which had been supplied back at the circuit to ferry the fans in, had more than done their job and from out of nowhere, Crawfordsville was literally wall-to-wall with enthusiastic fans, and in typical nations style,
they came armed with chainless chainsaws, flags and a few flares.
Kicking thinks off was a Monster Energy Stunt show, followed by the arrival of the Grand Marshall, Jeff Ward, in a classic pink convertible car. For those who don’t know, ‘Wardy’ is a seven-time winner of the Nations and it was great to have him on board as part of the weekend itself. We had the Southmond Marching Band, the Crawfordsville High School Cheerleaders, the BLU CRU riders, appearances from former winners and legends, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Stanton, Jeff Emig and Ryan Villopoto. The Monster Energy Girls got in on the act as well, and all of this in and around the arrival of the 37 teams who arrived on the back of pick-up trucks supplied by York Chrysler.
The town of 16,000 inhabitants was literally brought to a standstill as the main high street was closed to
allow the celebration to take place. It was OFF THE SCALE madness, all done in high spirits and the usual camaraderie. If you didn’t get to see it, then you watch it again on www.mxgp-tv.com where Paul Malin, Jason Thomas and Lisa Leyland talked us through it, with breakdowns, previews and rider interviews. We have never witnessed anything like it, ever. Of course, it goes without saying that none of this could have happened without the support from the local community, Mayor Barton and all his backroom team, police, emergency services, security and anybody else who helped make it happen. It was a pleasure to see it and be a part of it. How often do you get to see a town renamed #motoville and see it taken over by the biking community, as it was? Impressive.
As for the Qualifying Races on Saturday, things went pretty much as expected with Australia taking the lowest scores of 1-1-5 to qualify in first position. Remember, you can drop the highest score, so in
theory, the Aussies went 1-1. The Netherlands went 2-3 as Belgium took 3rd with 1-5 with Germany and The USA rounding out the top five. The only downside to the day was when Glenn Coldenhoff landed on a fallen motorcycle, crashed out heavily and as a result, was deemed unfit to take part on Sunday, ending the chances of any kind of result for the team.
We also had the YZ BLU CRU World Superfinale for the first time in the USA, where 65cc, 85cc and 125cc Yamaha riders competed in a onerace showdown, just like the European round in Sweden earlier this year. The 65cc class was won by Canada’s Chandler Powell, with America’s Tate Brush and Hudson Francis of Australia rounding out the podium. The 85cc class saw a USA 1-2 as Jaydin Smart and Tayce Morgan thrilled the home crowd as they edged out Australian Blake Bohannon.
For the six teams who failed to make the B-Final, the C-Final was the final race of the day and was won by Costa Rica, but of course, the conversations continued long into the night as to which team would win, who would win the races, who would the individual classes; just another Saturday night at the MXoN then!
RACE DAY
Kicking things off on Sunday was the 125cc BLU CRU race which was won by Cooper Johnson (USA) with Jonathan Bergeron (CAN) and Drew Stock joining him on the podium. The B-Final was won by Estonia after Harri Kullas (2nd) as JorgenMatthias Talviku (4th) did enough to make the main. All eyes were now on the BIG ONE, the 78th Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, and first up for race one was MXGP + MX2 riders.
It was an explosive start to the first race as Germany’s Simon Langenfelder fell in the first turn and would not re-join the race or line up for race two. Germany’s chances of a podium were buried in the dust right there. As the newly-crowned MX2 World Champion was being helped off the track, Lucas Coenen of Belgium bagged the first FOX Holeshot of the day, with Jett Lawrence close behind. On the exit of the turn three though, Ken Roczen fell and was hit by Josh Gilbert (Team GB), another disaster for Germany, and as Roczen made his way back to 18th, Gilbert salvaged 22nd as his teammate Dylan Walsh ran into some issues.
Upfront, one of the battles we all wanted to see was that of Jett v Lucas, but the reality was, it was pretty much decided on the exit of turn ten, when Jett powered around the outside of the Belgian, and from there was never headed. Coenen hung on
for second from Tim Gajser (SLO) who took third. The battle for fourth was decided when Romain Febvre fell from fourth to sixth, before making his way back to fifth behind Eli Tomac, who took fourth. As for the MX2 riders, Sacha Coenen had been the lead rider and was up to fifth, before a mistake dropped him to tenth at third distance. With brother Lucas in second, Belgium sat in first place in the GC until Sacha fell again with two laps to go, suffering bike damage in the process. Whilst he wasn’t able to cross the finish line, the Belgian was credited with 20th leaving the team fourth overall, with The USA the leaders, tied with France on 14 points, just two clear of Australia, whose MX2 rider Kyle Webster found himself down at turn one, and so his ride through to 15th kept the Aussies in it. The top MX2 rider was Kay De Wolf in eighth, from Mathis Valin (9th) and Justin Cooper (10th).
Race two saw MX2 + Open class riders, and this time it was Hunter Lawrence who claimed the FOX Holeshot ahead of Slovenia’s Jan Pancar, who was clearly amped after seeing Gajser take third in the first outing. Pancar remained in second for five laps, and did a good job of dealing with Valentin Guillod, Jo Shimoda and RJ Hampshire in those opening laps. When Hampshire made it to third, the writing looked like it was on the wall for the Slovenian, and as the American made a move for second at the end of lap five, it ended with Hampshire taking a dirt sample.
When RJ made it to second, he fell again back to fifth before another fall late-on left him in seventh. The standout performance came from Japan’s Jo Shimoda who went on to take second from Pancar and Liam Everts as Maxime Renaux rounded out
the top five. With two races done and all results counting to this point, Australia had jumped to the top of the standings, with a win from Hunter Lawrence and another come-from-behind ride for Webster, who fell again at turn one, and clawed his way back to thirteenth. With the Aussie’s now on 30 (1-1-13-15) the USA were on 31 (4-7-10-10) with France third on 33 (5-5-9-14). Belgium (47) was fourth, from Italy (55).
Just as he was in race one, Kay De Wolf was best MX2 rider in eighth with Justin Cooper next (10th) and Andrea Adamo (12th). Valin was fifth best MX2 rider in the race and third overall and collected the Ricky Carmichael best young rider award as a result of his efforts.
ALL TO PLAY FOR
The final race of the day saw Open + MXGP riders on track, and this time it was Jo Shimoda, fresh off of his second place in race one, who grabbed the final FOX Holeshot of the afternoon. Jett Lawrence was alongside the Japanese rider but quickly lost a handful of positions through the first few corners and languished in fifth position. Hunter Lawrence quickly took over the lead before the end of the opening lap, and as big brother was taking care of business at the front, l’il bro Jett found himself
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE SAW TWO BROTHERS WIN THE BLÅKLÄDER QUALIFYING RACES ON THE SAME DAY!
on the wrong side of Isak Gifting, with both riders going down briefly. Jett re-emerged in sixteenth and if he was to go 1-1 then he had some serious work to do to get there.
With Hunter up front, Lucas Coenen had moved into second, where he remained until he fell to ninth on lap seven, allowing Shimoda a route back into second, although by now, Jo was being caught by Eli Tomac. By the time Jett had found his way back to third, Australia was pretty much home and dry, but the battle for second and third was going back and forth between France and the USA. With four laps remaining, France was in second, until a mistake from Romain Febvre cost him a position and therefore a point, allowing the USA to leapfrog back into the silver medal position, but when Febvre regained that position as Shimoda began to fade, France were back in second. That all changed though with two laps to go when Gifting put in a heated charge to pass Renaux for eighth. The scores were suddenly tied but with Tomac in second, the USA would get the nod in the tiebreak.
After sixteen laps, the chequered flag fell to Hunter Lawrence, who had just gone 1-1 to win the event outright. He also won the Open Class, adding to the MX2 Class win he took in 2017, but bigger than that, was when Jett Lawrence crossed the line in third, which was more than enough for Australia to crowned World Champions for the second successive year. In their post-race comments, both brothers offered high praise to Kyle Webster, who had to ride his butt off to register solid scores in both races, and when push came to shove, the Aussies won with a score of nineteen points, fourteen less than the USA (2nd) and France (3rd) who tied the scores. Jett Lawrence won the MXGP class with 1-3 scores from Eli Tomac who was second 4-2 and Tim Gjaser (3-4) who was third in class.
For Jett Lawrence, this was his fourth Nations appearance, and his record is pretty astonishing, winning bronze in 2022, silver in 2023, gold in 2024 and gold again here in 2025. For Kyle Webster, two gold medals in the past two years makes up for a rough Nations in Assen in 2019, but that one is probably already a distant memory after these last two events. And for Hunter Lawrence, a MX2 class winner in 2017 and four medals in the last four years, including the two gold’s is nothing to
be sniffed at either, and this latest MXoN now sees Australia with five podiums: 2 x 1st – 1 x 2nd – 2 x 3rd.
For the USA, second overall in 2025 means the nation has now landed on the podium no fewer than thirty-five times, which is one less than Great Britain, as France move on to twenty-five podiums, placing them fourth on the all-time list of podium finishers.
Overall, the 78th Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations did not disappoint. Great racing, great crowd, a great result for Australia, a podium for the home nation America after what was a tense run-up to the event and France made it back to the podium again after finishing off of it in 2024.
And finally, as mentioned earlier, none of this would have been possible without the amazing support from Montgomery County, Mayor Barton and the people of Crawfordsville, and to everyone behind the scenes that helped to make this one a resounding success. The good news is, we will be back to do it all over again in 2026 at Ernée, France. See you there!
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BORN TO WIN: JANIS REISULIS AND THE LATVIAN LEGACY
From EMX125 to EMX250 - The Making of a Double Champion
The rise of Janis Reisulis has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Just two years after conquering the EMX125 presented by FMF Racing European Championship, the Latvian prodigy has done it again, this time in the fiercely competitive EMX250 class, becoming one of the youngest riders ever to capture both titles on his way up the motocross ladder.
At only 17 years of age, the rider they call “The Killer” has already built a résumé that most would envy over a full career:
from back-to-back 85cc Latvian Championships (2020–2021), to EMX125 bronze in 2022, European gold in 2023, and now the 2025 EMX250 crown with the VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 Team. His steady climb through the European pyramid reflects a perfect blend of Baltic toughness and quiet determination, a racer who lets his throttle do the talking and his results write the story.
For the second time in three years, Reisulis has stood at the top of Europe’s motocross stage, and this latest triumph proves that Janis isn’t just following the path of the sport’s greats, he’s blazing one of his own.
THE CALM BEHIND “THE KILLER”
It is said sometimes, maybe by those who yearn for the characters of yesteryear, that modern athletes don’t have personality. It is tough enough for top sportspeople in the 21st century to work as hard and be as dedicated as they have to be in the ultra-professional sports world, that to then try and project a personality is often put down as a low priority. After all, the racing and results are what count.
BACK FROM INJURY, BACK ON TOP
A winner in virtually every series he has been able to complete in the last five years, there is no doubt that the younger of the Reisulis brothers is a coming force in the Motocross world. His first EMX125 campaign in 2022 saw him finish the season in third, behind Cas Valk and his brother Karlis, but then he took the EMX125 title after a season-long battle with Mathis Valin in 2023. Despite a false start to his EMX250 career in 2024 due to a torn ACL, his comeback in 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular.
In this respect, Janis Reisulis will hardly win many of those people over. With a deadpan expression, rarely smiling or openly happy, the kid they call “The Killer” will never truly show the joy of the sport to fans. However, this very persona is a characteristic all of its own, very true to his Baltic European roots, and helps add an edge to his on-track charisma that has always very much spoken for itself.
Janis had finished fourth in the opening EMX250 round at Madrid before his injury, and returning to Spain for just his second event in the class, it was like he had been there for years. In the deep mud at Cozar he overcame a mid-race slip-over to re-take the lead from Mads Fredsoe and win by 11 seconds by the flag. The mud limited him to 12th in race two, but he was clearly on the map. From there, a double win at St Jean d’Angely already marked him out as the alpha male of the class, and he took the red plate after Trentino despite a DNF in race two!
A mechanical failure in Switzerland left him with a tiny points lead over two new challengers. Reigning EMX125 Champ Noel Zanocz and rising Spanish star Francisco Garcia were each just two points behind Janis, but again he showed his class with complete domination through the mud of Portugal and Spain with a complete four race sweep on the Iberian Peninsula!
RIVALRIES, REDEMPTION AND THE ROAD TO MX2
Despite defeat to Zanocz at Ernée, an emotional perfect weekend at his home GP put him in a commanding position, and he maintained the lead from there, despite an incident in Finland where his Hungarian rival Zanocz put him off the track! The tasty rivalry between the two will be one to watch in years to come as they both progress to MX2, and the ebullient Garcia will also get amongst them!
Janis returned to winning ways at Arnhem to really put the Championship beyond doubt, and he sealed the deal with second behind Garcia on the Saturday race in Türkiye! There is no question of the Latvian’s talent, and in an age where racing brothers have often prospered together, he will join his sibling Karlis in MX2 for 2025 and beyond. Janis will have been interested in seeing Mathis Valin scoring well in MX2, as he will put himself at that level. His “Killer” persona and self-confident aura that seems to accept victory as the inevitable result will add yet another shade of colour to an already dazzling, talent-stacked MX2 category. Watching the progress of Janis Martins Reisulis into his new GP career should be absolutely fascinating.
TWO TITLES, ONE FUTURE
With the EMX250 title now secured, Janis Reisulis joins an elite list of riders to have conquered both of Europe’s premier development classes, proof not just of talent, but of resilience, focus, and relentless drive.
His trademark “Killer” calm, shaped through years of pressure and perseverance, now meets its biggest test yet: MX2, where he’ll face familiar rivals and stand alongside his brother Karlis on the world stage.
From the junior tracks of Latvia to the roughest European circuits, Reisulis has shown that composure and consistency can be as devastating as pure speed. Two European titles in three seasons, eight national crowns, and countless race wins tell their own story, but the message runs deeper. He represents the next evolution of the modern motocross racer: calculated, confident and absolutely uncompromising.
As he steps up for 2026, one thing is certain in Janis Reisulis’ mind, he isn’t done winning; he’s just getting started.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2020 85cc Latvian Champion
• 2021 85cc Latvian Champion
• 2021 EMX85 European Championship, 2nd Position
• 2022 EMX125 European Championship, 3rd position
• 2022 125cc Dutch Champion
• 2022 125cc German Champion
• 2022 125cc Latvian Champion
• 2023 EMX125 European Champion
• 2023 125cc Dutch Champion
• 2025 EMX250 European Champion
MXGP IN AUSTRALIA � A NATURAL EVOLUTION
THE 2025 MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ALL THREE OF THEM - CAME TO THEIR CONCLUSION AT THE MXGP OF AUSTRALIA PRESENTED BY SITZLER, AND WITH A NEW FACILITY FOR THE SERIES INCORPORATING A BRAND NEW MOTOCROSS CIRCUIT BUILT FOR THE OCCASION, THE INEVITABLE SPECULATION WAS RIFE ABOUT WHAT WAS IN STORE WHEN THE TEAMS AND CREWS CONVERGED ON THE HIDDEN VALLEY MOTORSPORTS COMPLEX IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.
There can be no doubt, however, that the event on the outskirts of the city of Darwin, named after the father of the theory of natural evolution, well and truly delivered a fantastic finale to the MXGP season.
With the rise of Australian athletes in the sport, especially the Lawrence brothers with their exploits in the USA as well as the Motocross of Nations, Motorcycling Australia were keen to further boost interest by bringing the world’s
premier Motocross Championship to its shores, and contacted Infront with the idea to make it happen. While the entirety of the 2025 Pro MX Australian Championship is held on the southwestern regions of Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia and New South Wales, the CEO of Motorcycling Australia, Peter Doyle, reached out to the Motorcycling Northern Territory organisation when considering a venue for the Grand Prix itself.
Some three and a half thousand kilometres northwest of the nearest National Championship venue, the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex has been operational since 1986 and held national-level events for both cars and motorcycles since the late 1990s. Besides a full-spec tarmac circuit sits an impressive drag strip, a top-level karting facility, and even off-road tracks for quads and dirt trucks. Fully functional pit garages, catering, and media facilities make it perfect for the requirements of MXGP, and to come at the end of a three-week run of far-flung races after Türkiye and China, the fact that it lies in Australia’s “Top End” region also helps with logistics, saving around 11 hours of flying time compared to Brisbane or Sydney. While it is known for having a very warm climate, it still feels relatively fresh coming from the humidity of Shanghai, especially during what locals call “the build up” before the wet season that typically arrives in late November.
TOURISM
The first, maybe uneducated, opinion I heard of Darwin was that “there’s nothing there”, and while it is not as well known for tourism as some of its south-western counterparts, that really could not be further from the truth. Located on the beautiful coast of the Timor Sea between northern Australia and the southern islands of Indonesia, the city is large enough to provide a buzzing nightlife, especially around the area of the University, but small enough to escape quickly to the amazing countryside and all the wonders held there.
Quick research from many in the paddock revealed the abundance of Crocodile Tours around the many rivers and wetlands. The week leading up to the race, with many arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race, direct from China, saw just about every rider or team personnel’s social media accounts awash with footage of wild crocodiles dancing out of the water to snap up the meat provided by a local tour guide. “By law we have to carry lifejackets, but if you go overboard then drowning will be the least of your worries!” were the encouraging words of one such captain, as we were also advised to keep our heads, arms, and anything else well within the edges of the boat as we left the riverbank. Your humble writer found himself on a boat with four World Champions and
most of the crew from one of the biggest teams in the paddock, and their reactions to the incredible, completely wild and massive reptiles in that river were as awe-struck as the rest of us!
One memorable moment was a rider comparing two battling female crocs to a pair of team bosses competing for his signature! Another suggested that one scarred creature, who apparently “could take a hit from a sledgehammer without a problem”, was akin to Sacha Coenen, who also seems to emerge unscathed from even the biggest of impacts! On learning of the fact that male crocodiles never stop growing, explaining how the oldest of them become the dominant animal in the river, an MX2 rider quipped that they were like one of the MXGP legends onboard: “They’re like you –the older they get, the more badass they are – and the more annoying!”
MEETING THE FANS
On the Friday before the racing began, the media event took place at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct, a vibrant park area which was, even the day before the event, already buzzing with fans, media, and team staff enjoying the various restaurants and bars. The Precinct looks out on a small Aqua Park and Lagoon as the Timor Sea washes gently against its pebbly beach front. Beach Volleyball (on a sandy area of the bay) seems to be a permanent fixture here, as well as the use of the grass for soccer or even a spot of rugby.
The fans flocked to the area for the well-advertised signing session, and the local organisers could not have used the space better, as there were MXGP-themed games such as giant draughts and “connect-four”, an extensive merchandise stand, a spot to get a photo with the official MXGP Champion’s trophy, as well as wildlife demonstrations. Many riders and team personnel got up close and personal with baby crocs, snakes, and spiders, before being involved in a “Welcome to Country” ceremony performed by the indigenous traditional owners of the land, the Larrakia people.
The excitement over MXGP coming to this part of the world was clearly evident here, with fans from all over Australia gathering for the event. Even though some had travelled the same sort of distance as Turkish fans would to get to Matterley Basin, or Spaniards to Kegums, for Aussies who had waited 24 years to see World Championship Motocross in person there was just no option, they were not going to miss this chance! The legendary friendliness and laid-back attitude of Australia was well received by riders as well. Most fans didn’t skip any of the multitude of stars who were waiting with pens and posters, and
some riders were just impressed with the fans’ knowledge of their own careers. Some superb demonstrations of Trials riding, and particularly the “Jet Pack Entertainment” show, involving a world class Hydroflight Sport (seriously, look it up!) athlete, kept both fans and riders engaged in a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Far from just a photo opportunity, the event proved that Australian fans, and the local area, were excited for the MXGP circus to be in town, and eager to show that Darwin is a great place to come to in its own right.
TRACKSIDE
Part of the enthusiasm from the riders who attended the media event had also come from the fact that most of them had seen the circuit itself by that time. Romain Febvre, one of the most critical riders when it comes to track preparation, and in prime position to secure his second world title, had posted his positive reaction to the venue halfway around his track walk. In a similar fashion to the opening round of the year at Cordoba in Argentina, the circuit looked both fun and challenging in equal measure for the riders, with speed, technicality, and an array of spectacular aerial obstacles to showcase MXGP for fans both onsite and watching from home. Built to the
MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA WERE KEEN TO FURTHER BOOST INTEREST BY BRINGING THE WORLD’S PREMIER MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP TO ITS SHORES
side of the tarmac one and surrounded by lush grass banks to accommodate the spectators in an amphitheatre-like environment, it looked capable of bringing a similar atmosphere to that of Argentina as well.
Lucas Coenen, with an outside shot of the MXGP crown, called it “the best circuit he’d ever ridden”, while many were surprised at how soft the surface was despite the baking temperatures it endured. There truly was something for everyone, and not just on the track itself. Several impressive details were added to the paddock, as well as to the spectator areas. A giant stack of signposts was erected to show directions and distances to iconic tracks around the globe, while the entrance to the paddock was lined on one side with a rundown of each of the 2025 MXGP venues that led to this finale. The trade stands in the spectator areas, as with the choice of food outlets, were full of variety and individual style, and the organisers had also taken great care to make sure that large areas of
shade were provided to shelter from the scorching sun, as well as adding to the already substantial permanent washroom facilities of the venue itself. VIP areas were as spacious as could be, while offering a near-complete view of the action. It was tailor-made for a memorable MXGP event, and it looked like the fan experience had been very carefully thought about.
MEN AND WOMEN AT WORK
The same could be said for those who were set to work in the sweltering temperatures of the Northern Territory. For most, the general feeling was that after China, this was fine and dandy, as it lacked the humidity of the Asian continent
and benefitted from being close to the northern coast’s cooling breeze. The media centre was air-conditioned and with a well-stocked kitchen area. The onsite catering also had a substantial area, good screens, and a level of cooling that was acceptable with a canvas roof. For the TV crews, multiple air-conditioned temporary cabins were in place, some on the road circuit itself, in close proximity to the MXGP track. Perhaps the least happy member of staff was the GoPro camera specialist, who had to “climb the mountain” towards the Fox Holeshot line at the top of the short but steep exit to the first two corners or each and every race! As always, the reward was some excellent footage, and our man’s step count was up to a good level at the end of the weekend!
LET’S GO RACING!
There are few accents more suited to live motorsports commentary than the Australian one, and with trackside announcer Greg “Rusty” Rust whipping up the atmosphere, MXGP felt like it truly belonged in this new setting. The racing had the extra edge of having Championships on the line, and in WMX the big unknown was to be the speed of the local riders, especially as title chasers Kiara Fontanesi and Daniela Guillen needed to have riders between themselves and points leader Lotte van Drunen in order to close the points sufficiently! Charli Cannon, no stranger to the Women’s World Championship, proved to be on the pace, and some of the best crowd noise of the weekend came when she was challenging for the lead in Saturday’s opening WMX encounter! Sadly, a crash ruled her out of contention, and Van Drunen scored good enough points to make her job on Sunday a relatively straightforward one.
The MX2 Qualifying Race also proved that the circuit gave a good amount of line choices to make for great racing, with the technical difficulty at a high enough level that the best and fittest riders could make a difference, but would pay for not giving the track enough respect! Kay de Wolf, desperately trying to retain his MX2 world crown but with a gap to make up on red plate holder Simon Längenfelder, was able to make things closer with his win on Saturday, while his German rival looked nervous in collecting fourth place. With many riders loving the track and trying hard, MX2 was looking as wild as ever!
For the teams, the full pit lane garage complex was allocated accordingly for MXGP, MX2, and of course the WMX riders entered. While local riders had brought their usual transporters and were parked the other side of the pit garages from the main circuit’s start/finish straight, the travelling regulars made good use of the garage space, and a short ride through a tunnel brought them out onto the MXGP track’s start area. While the front of the garages that opened onto the pit lane were the riders’ areas for eating, ice baths, and preparation, the openings to the rear served as the work area for the mechanics, which fans with Paddock passes were able to view and get a close look at the machines themselves. It seemed to be a favourable arrangement for all parties.
Lucas Coenen backed up his stated love of the track with a clear win in the Qualifying Race, but Febvre came home second to leave him needing just five points on Sunday. Mattia Guadagnini looked as good as he has all year with third on Saturday, and for some that was a surprise. The Italian is one of the most affable, laid-back characters in the paddock, and for sure the local attitudes and jovial atmosphere seemed to completely suit him. Playing with his factory Ducati all through practice, he is fast when having fun, and his great start and brilliant speed echoed that feeling, just as it did back in Argentina. Maybe future team managers can learn the secret to unlocking Guada’s potential, which might just be to let the popular Italian enjoy life a little around a race weekend. With the right balance around him, he could be a real threat.
In contrast, Jeffrey Herlings, the winner of the previous three GPs, seemed to be all at sea in the Qualifying Race, and even used a toilet emoji to describe his riding when posting about his seventh position!
CHAMPIONS CROWNED
After Saturday’s sweltering heat, Sunday looked a little more changeable, and overcast for the morning’s WMX finale, but surely that wasn’t rain on the forecast? In a 2025 season almost completely devoid of rain-free weekends, it was starting to feel personal when we came to a region that had seen virtually no precipitation in the weeks leading up to the event!
Van Drunen was visibly fired up for the second race, and shot out of the gate alongside Fontanesi, grabbing the lead from the Italian on the exit to turn two! From there, although her main rivals did pass her to dispute the GP win, which went the way of Daniela Guillen, the title was only ever going to go one way. Two of the fastest girls in the support pack, Amandine Verstappen,
AUSTRALIAN FANS, AND THE LOCAL AREA, WERE EXCITED FOR THE MXGP CIRCUS TO BE IN TOWN, AND EAGER TO SHOW THAT DARWIN IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME TO IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
who was fourth in points before the race, and Australian Taylah McCutcheon, crashed together in the second corner to give Van Drunen even less trouble if she had issues. This allowed German veteran Larissa Papenmeier to take fourth in the series away from Verstappen, in what was likely to be her very last GP as a full-time WMX racer!
Van Drunen crossed the line third in both the race and the GP to begin the first of three title celebrations that day, and the relief was palpable!
WORTH THE WAIT
For Romain Febvre and the Kawasaki Racing Team, it had been a long wait for another world crown. The green machines had last won the premier class title back in 1998, in the age of 250cc two-strokes, and of course the Frenchman had almost got tired of the “ten years ago” narrative that he was being met with increasingly with every interview! The celebrations, on what was still a dry if somewhat humid afternoon, were every bit as emotional as expected, with normally unflappable Finn Antti Pyrhonen, the long-time Manager of one of the most professional teams in the paddock, almost unable to speak as his man brought home the World Championship they had all been working toward for so long! A lot of Kawasaki senior management had made the trip to be there, so their pit garage was full of more staff than usual to celebrate a momentous achievement, more than off-setting any negativity towards the brand that had been generated stateside. Even Lucas Coenen, winner of that final
race with the pressure almost completely off, had to stand back and applaud the monumental effort from Febvre to hold onto the red plate since early May. The mood around MXGP was such that even the cancellation of the second race couldn’t affect the feel-good vibes of the results.
MAELSTROM
Wait a second… cancellation? Oh yes, as was inevitably the case, 2025 delivered one last biblical downpour during the opening laps of MX2 race two, shortening that race and putting much of the new circuit almost underwater!
Up to that point, the title chase in MX2 was set to go all the way after an exhilarating first outing. The crowd got well and truly into it, as Sacha Coenen shocked them with a crash over one of the biggest downhill jumps when he tapped wheels with Guillem Farres mid-air, but the loudest reaction of the weekend came when De Wolf dived to the inside of Längenfelder to take the lead, almost putting his rival upside down in the process! Kay almost cockily blew a kiss in victory over the finish line jump, but the truth of the matter was that he still needed to claw back ten points in the final race – the difference between first and sixth places. If the red plate holder was second to the Dutchman again, then he would be Champion.
“The moment” happened almost immediately. Once more the crowd gasped as De Wolf made his move on Längenfelder right in front of pit lane, again seeing the German on the floor. By this time many had run for shelter, those covered areas not quite as effective against driving rain as they were against bright sunshine, and the weather had caught out many technical crews as well, including the commentary booth where Paul Malin and guest co-commentator Ben Townley suddenly found themselves in near darkness!
As dramatic as the downpour was, the on-track situation was mind-blowing! With De Wolf hunting down Sacha Coenen at the head of the pack, Längenfelder had recovered to sixth place, before a crash all on his own dropped him down the order, seemingly handing the title back to his rival! However, with standing water giving riders no option but to ride through massive puddles, several top men started to drop out, their engines flooded. Most significant of all was De Wolf, who dropped a long way behind an impressively solid Coenen as his machine started to splutter. Ultimately it ground to a halt, and the 2024 Champ had to push it back towards the paddock, just as Längenfelder came through inside the top six. Finally, there was no option but to wave the red flag. There was confusion, but Längenfelder and his Red Bull KTM team were celebrating!
It was a crying shame that the MXGP of Australia Presented by Sitzler came to such a wash-out of an ending. Of all the weather thrown at MXGP this year, that maelstrom was one of the worst, and very few circuits across the planet could have withstood it. As a few hardy souls dived into a chest-deep pool to the inside of the circuit, determined not to have their spirits dampened, the universal view was that the Hidden Valley venue had put on a superb weekend.
AWARDS
The weather hadn’t just affected things at the circuit. Set to air just a few hours after the end of the racing were the MXGP Awards, due to be held at a luxurious seaside platform near to where the media event had been. However, the storm had swept much of the temporary structure aside, forcing a swift relocation to an indoor facility! Again, the local staff cheerfully soldiered on, and the event went off without a hitch. The
party carried on long into the night, especially for those in the title-winning teams! The short distance to the town centre again played its part, and members of the paddock mingled and partied with many travelling fans, a story that continued into the week after the race! The local hospitality was unmatched, natural, and completely unforced, although Italians singing Italian karaoke was something that few in the area had seen much of before…
In summary, MXGP in Australia is looking forward to fulfilling its initial multi-year agreement, and on this evidence, it could continue for much longer than that. It’s a highly recommended event for any Motocross fan, and who knows, with the country itself suddenly enjoying a two-year winning streak at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, maybe one of those GPs could be converted into a larger event altogether… now wouldn’t that be something…
HOLESHOT EVERY START.
When you’re at the starting gate, you need every competitive edge you can get. Developed in the MXGP World Championship, the all-new Dunlop Geomax MX14 gives you holeshotgrabbing traction – with new Reinforced Scoop Technology (RST) to better penetrate and clear loose terrain. A rear tyre built to excel in extreme sand and mud.
‘IT’S BEEN MY LIFE’S WORK TO DEVELOP INSIGHTFUL OPINIONS’
HELLO!
by Jason Thomas
MY NAME IS JASON THOMAS AND I AM LIVING A LIFE WRAPPED IN AND AROUND THIS SPORT WE ALL LOVE. MY CURRENT ROLES INCLUDE SR. MANAGER OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR WESTERN POWER SPORTS (OWNER OF FLY RACING), ON-TRACK ANALYST FOR SUPERMOTOCROSS IN AMERICA, CONTRIBUTOR TO RACER X, GUEST HOST TO VARIOUS PODCASTS LIKE PULPMX AND FINALLY, OWNER OF MY OWN PODCAST, INDUSTRY SEATING.
To add to the fray, I have been joining Paul Malin and Lisa Leyland for several MXGP events as well as MXoN since 2017. To say I live in a whirlwind of Supercross and Motocross would be quiet the understatement.
I was born into a motocross family, my father racing when I was very young and my mother working part time for the AMA in America. I turned a burgeoning amateur stint racing into a 16-year career in America. My best finish was 5th at the Budds Creek National in 2006 but often found myself fighting for top 10 positions over those years. I raced around 135 international events as well, winning a race of some sort in over 30 countries. Seeing the world was always an opportunity that I refused to let pass me by. The off-season saw me in unlikely places racing in countries that most aren’t familiar with. Some would be nauseated by the endless travel; I was fueled by it. It served me well in my life post racing, too, as there aren’t many cultures that I can’t adapt to. I often reminded myself to do things now or wish I did them later.
My primary role with Western Power Sports is to be the front facing contact for media communication globally. Along with my team, determining advertising partners and best avenues for brand development are daily activities. I am actively involved in several WPS brands’ social media platforms and content as well as external messaging to customers and vendors. I have been with Western Power Sports for 13 years, beginning
immediately upon my retirement from full time racing.
My exposure to television broadcasting has been slowly evolving since my first opportunity in Jacksonville, Florida, at the USGP in 2017. That was furthered by more opportunities in intraEU MXGP events, and I give a lot of credit to Paul Malin for welcoming me alongside him. In 2022, I got my big break in America, joining the Pro Motocross broadcast team that summer. I was then signed on for Monster Energy Supercross in 2023 and the rest is history. The opportunity to publicly speak on a sport that has absorbed the majority of my life is still hard for me to comprehend.
The other various roles through writing and podcasts keep me very busy outside of working hours. I truly love analyzing and examining the different happenings in global racing. Whether it’s the human element off the track or a very specific technical aspect of racing technique, it’s been my life’s work to develop insightful opinions. Continuing to develop eloquent ways to articulate nuanced occurrences is what I dedicate my studies to. It’s what the sport deserves.
Mostly, I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I am given. WPS has given me a home in Idaho for the last 13 years and both MXGP and SMX have welcomed me to their teams around the world. I wasn’t able to win the championships that Ricky Carmichael or Stefan Everts have. My path was less full of record breaking success. I watched, learned, and studied those that came before me and try to apply the lessons they taught. I’ll never do the job that this sport ultimately deserves but I also won’t stop trying, either.
JEFfREY HERLINGS 2016 KTM 250 SX-F
IF THERE IS ONE RIDER WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO THESE PAGES, IT’S JEFFREY HERLINGS. A RIDER WITH FIVE WORLD TITLES – ALTHOUGH, IT SHOULD BE MORE – ‘THE BULLET’ HAS MORE GP WINS (112) THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND MORE RACE WINS (213) THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A LONG LIST OF INJURIES OVER THE YEARS, IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BE TO THIS POINT.
In 2010, a young fifteen-year-old Herlings was fresh into MX2, and took just three GP’s to experience the podium from the top step, and by the time he was done in the class at the end of 2016, he’d amassed three world titles, 61 GP wins and 119 race wins to become the most successful 125/MX2 rider in history. And with the winter rumour-mill in full swing as we write this column, 2026 will see him line up with another
brand, and so as a mark of respect to JH84, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and pay a visit to the 2016 KTM 250 SX-F which guided him to his third world title.
After picking up two MX2 world titles in 2012 and 2013, Jeffrey Herlings missed two more opportunities in ’14 and ’15 when injuries cruelly ended both campaigns
prematurely. And when he returned to action in 2016, many thought he would do so as an MXGP rider, but for Jeffrey, it made more sense to race the 250cc for one more season, as he reveals:
‘Obviously everybody knows the story with the injuries and that we had to miss two championships because of injuries, so this last year (in MX2) was just because after my injury I wanted to be more comfortable for when I got to the big bikes …’ which when put like that, makes quite a lot of sense. Of course, he would have been a natural on a 450cc, but rebuilding that confidence, knowing that the wins were still there was an essential building block for the Flying Dutchman.
Having been with Red Bull KTM since 2010, it would be easy to assume that for the most part, Jeffrey’s set-up would be the same, and whilst some of that might be true to some extent, when you take into consideration a kid who was still growing, and with the transition from boy-to-man, the differences in height and weight would eventually come into play. Sure, many of the teams’ partners remained the same over the years, such as Renthal for instance, where JH84 continued to run the 997 Twinwall ‘bars, but almost a decade later, Herlings now stood at six feet tall, and so it was obvious that changes needed to be made to accommodate that significant detail. Whilst the ‘bar position may have remained the same, the position of his front brake and clutch lever did not, and instead of being ‘flatter’ on the ‘bar, they were now positioned
slightly lower/further forward for more comfort, as Dirk Gruebel explains:
‘His handlebar position was exactly the same, also the same height and bend as always but the lever position was a little bit more ‘Håkan Carlqvist’ – a nod to the tall, Swedish legend –but when you see tall guys on the bike, standing up, the levers need to be more down otherwise they don’t have control.’
When asked about the change in lever position, at the time Herlings remarked that, ‘yes, they were more up before, but then I got bigger and put them more down. I just like them like that. It’s hard to say if my weight and size has changed my setting and riding style, because every three years KTM comes up with a new bike, and with each of these we look at the specific differences over the previous model. If I was on the same bike since 2010 then yes, we would have needed a major difference, as I was 25kg less then, and 20cm smaller. By now things would have changed, but the bike has kept developing, the bike has gotten better and better and better, so it’s hard to pinpoint; over the last seven years many things have changed anyway.’
By 2016, the triple clamps were now provided by Neken, but the 20˚ off-set remained the same during his MX2 career.
In terms of the other ‘ergonomics’ of the general setup, other than the lever position, the seating/riding position maintained its neutral feeling, to the point that
despite the obvious model changes over the years and improvements in design and technology, you could almost jump on any one of Herlings bikes since 2010 and they would almost feel the same; there was just an air of familiarity about his bikes and how he sets them up, and that remained constant from 2010-2016.
The Selle Dalla Valle seat was not too hard, but firm enough to the point that he still felt at one ergonomically, with this machine. The rims were supplied by Excel and the hubs were by Kyte. The brakes were Brembo and the rims were wrapped in Pirelli rubber, but it was the internals which always made the difference.
When it came to the power plant, the motor was probably the most impressive that KTM had ever delivered for an MX2 bike at that time, and while the
WE ALWAYS HAD THE MOST POWER, BUT I ALSO I WANTED A SAFE ENGINE THAT I COULD TRUST AND WASN’T LIKELY TO BLOW UP
gains may have been marginal over its predecessor, it was enough to make a difference. Cosmetically there is never a great deal to ‘wow’ over, as the factory bikes look stock to the naked eye; but it’s underneath what counts.
The cases were production, but ‘modified and polished and so on’ and played host to a factory 5-speed gearbox. The piston and conrod were supplied by Pankl, and the exhaust system was a full titanium unit courtesy of Akrapovic, with the biggest gain being a reduction in weight. The clutch was from Hinson, and the H20 radiators could be switched from standard sized units in normal race conditions, to oversized ones when conditions became more extreme. The standard 44mm Keihin throttle body had been replaced with a 42mm unit in order to gain that extra ‘oomph’ required to help fire The Bullet out of the start.
First gear was very low; really short and hardly ever used. Second gear was the preferred starting gear, which needed to be solid in order to pull an 80 kilo Herlings off the line. His gearing was set at 13/50 – the same as it was in 2012, although back then the team also tinkered with 13/49 and 13/51, depending on the circuit. In 2016 year though, it was the preferred choice, although, if you want to make comparisons, it’s worth pointing out that on his 2015 bike, JH84 ran 13/52.
The swingarm was standard and the frame had been modified slightly, but the biggest gain for 2016 was with the suspension set-up. Whilst the production bikes came equipped with 48mm AER forks, Jeffrey continued to use the WP 52mm units with springs
up front; in 2015, his set-up was 4,4 at the front with the rear shock being a 45 spring. For 2016, he went slightly harder up front, opting for 4,6 but the rear shock went from 45 to 54 as a result of WP providing a different linkage. The height and overall balance of the bike remained the same but JH84 preferred the characteristic of the bike with the new linkage, which offered up better stability and improved traction at the rear wheel.
With all that being said, how was the performance of the 2016 KTM 250 SX-F and how did it compare to the previous model? Here’s Jeffrey with more insight:
‘Over the previous model, I was always pushing for more power. We always had the most power, yet I was always asking for more and more and more, so we were always looking for that, but I also I wanted a safe engine that I could trust and wasn’t likely to blow up. Definitely we also worked a bit on the frame; the frame had changed quite a bit over the previous models, but mainly it was the engine where we found a difference. The WP suspension has mostly stayed the same, although we’ve had to make changes to make it work with the other revisions. Then other small details like the swingarm, linkage and so on we also worked on; we were testing every little thing on the bike to improve, triple clamps, headstock, but each rider also has his personal preferences.’
One thing is clear with a 250cc, and that is teams are always looking for ways to improve and find marginal gains, and that was also true for KTM as Herlings pointed out:
“With a 250F you’re always searching for the maximum power, because this is the highest level of racing. I think KTM in Europe has probably the fastest engine, compared to the stock bike, there are quite a lot of
things that are different for the maximum performance. We run different suspension, the engine is way different, the exhaust and so on. The base is the same, but all of the fine-tuning is different. For the lites bike we had two set-ups; the 250 sand set-up and the hardpack set-up. I don’t want to say I’m really fast, but I think I can say I was pretty good on the sand, so we needed a different set-up for that.’
END OF AN ERA
When Jeffrey Herlings burst on to the scene in 2010, his impact was immediate, and it was clear to see that this Dutch wonder kid was destined for stardom. We knew it and so did he, although it only took three GP’s to convince him:
‘When I first entered MX2 I didn’t know it, but when I won my first GP at Valkenswaard it was my third GP out there and knowing I was just 15, I definitely knew I could be World Champion. Knowing that Ken Roczen was gonna go to the US, all the other guys had to move up - I already HAD the speed to win, so if I didn’t win a championship then it would be because I really messed up so yeah, it was expected and I expected it from myself!’
Sixty-one GP wins and three titles later, Jeffrey Herlings had been a massive part of MX2 since 2010 and it was always going to be difficult to imagine the class without him in it. But, the reality is that times change, people move on and so do riders. History will tell us that The Bullet became the most successful 125/MX2 rider in history, but history stops for no one! Jeffrey’s time in MX2, just like the 2016 spec bike which took him to his last 250cc title, was the end of an era. In 2017 he would line up with the big boys on a 450cc, in MXGP. And that, as they say, is a story for another day!
EVGENY ‘BOBbY’ BOBRYSHEV
in Russia, clinched his fifth national title and felt ready to enter the MX2 World Championship. 2008 was a learning year for him, with some highlights like a top ten overall during his second ever GP in Spain and at the Dutch GP, but also some bad days with some double DNF in Bulgaria or Czech Republic. He got similar results in 2009 with top ten results in Latvia and Sweden, but also raced national championships and won a championship in Russia and finished runner up in the Netherlands.
Born on 13th November 1987 in Moscow, Evgeny received for the first time a little bike when he was seven, a present from his father. He started riding it in the garden and then had the opportunity to train on a little track that his father built in a nearby field. He enjoyed riding bikes on dirt but also on asphalt, and after winning three motocross titles in the 85cc class, he won a 125cc road race title before coming back to motocross in 2005.
It was time for him to move on a 450cc in 2010, a bike more suited to his size. Signing a Pro contract with CAS Honda based in UK, he had a strong season with a tenth in the MX1 championship and another title, this time in the British championship. Signing with the Honda World Motocross team he improved his results in 2011 with his first ever podium at the third round in USA, a Grand Prix win in Germany and four other podiums! Fourth overall he was expecting even better in 2012, but he injured one hand after a bad crash during a practice session at the first round of the year in the Netherlands; he was forced to miss one round and had a couple of DNF, but also scored top ten results in most of the motos to finish the season in the top ten with a ninth position. Riding sometimes too hard, he struggled with injuries during the following two seasons, missed a couple of races but won the Dutch Championship in 2013 and always kept his factory contract as everyone knew how determinate he was.
Racing some rounds of the 125cc European championship in 2005, he did his best race at Kegums with a fifth position in the first race. Same program the following year, he just entered a few rounds and did his best performance during the last round of the series at Kegums (again) with a fourth overall. In 2007 he raced mainly
RUSSIAN RIDERS HAVE BEEN REALLY STRONG IN THE AND VLADIMIR KAVINOV DOMINATED THE 250CC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. THIRTY YEARS LATER EVGENY BOBRYSHEV WAS THE FIRST RUSSIAN TO BE BACK ON PODIUMS IN THE MAIN CLASS, WINNING AN MX1 GP IN 2011 AND ENJOYING NINETEEN PODIUM CEREMONIES DURING HIS CAREER.
Never giving up, he was rewarded for his perseverance in 2015, a nearly perfect season as he didn’t get injured and collected four podiums and clinched the bronze medal, only twenty five points from the silver one! 2016 was another good one; he scored points in all the races – thirty-six motos, only two riders did that – enjoyed three podiums celebration to finish fifth overall and to end the season with another Dutch title! Unfortunately, he was not so consistent the following seasons, missing
some rounds due to injuries. Back in a British team in 2018, he grabbed its tenth national title and finished twelfth in the
85 RUSSIAN CHAMPION
85 RUSSIAN CHAMPION
85 RUSSIAN CHAMPION
Forced to miss the following season due to a bad wrist injury, he was back in the World Championship in 2020, entered most of the rounds but missed five GP’s of what would be his last season at the highest
Text & photos: Pascal Haudiquert
125 RUSSIAN ROAD RACE CHAMPION
18TH IN THE 125 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM)
22ND IN THE 125 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (KTM)
MX2 RUSSIAN CHAMPION
4TH IN THE MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (YAMAHA)
20TH IN THE MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (YAMAHA)
20TH IN THE MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (YAMAHA)
MX2 RUSSIAN CHAMPION
2ND IN THE MX2 DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIP
IN
10TH IN THE MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA)
MX1 BRITISH CHAMPION
9TH IN THE MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA)
8TH IN THE MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA) MX1 DUTCH CHAMPION
14TH IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA)
3RD IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA).
5TH IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA) MX1 DUTCH CHAMPION
11TH IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA)
12TH IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (SUZUKI)
MX1 BRITISH CHAMPION
4TH IN THE MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HONDA). WIN 1 GP
37TH IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HUSQVARNA) level.
22ND IN THE MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (HUSQVARNA)
1 Rick Elzinga will take to the track in the 2026 MXGP Motocross World Championship with the Beta RX450 of Team Beta MRT Racing!
2 Isak Gifting continues with Yamaha & the JK Yamaha Supported MX Team through 2026 with an accentuate factory support!
3 After 105 top three race finishes, 55 podiums, 24 Grand Prix wins and five MX2 championship medals, Jagor Geerts and Yamaha part company. More news about Jago’s new chapter soon.
4 Know everything off and off track! The new MXGP: The Podcast offers fans a unique and in-depth look into the world of MXGP. On Spotify and YouTube!
5 Historic! The whole MXoN paddock gathered in the streets of Crawfordsville for an unforgettable parade on Friday. A memorable moment of the Motocross history!
6 The provisional 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar is now unveiled. 20 rounds, the MXoN back in Ernée and few new locations!
7 Shout out to the Lawrence brothers. For the first time ever, the all three MXoN races have been won by the same family members. An historic achievement for those who raised their level in the EMX championships.
