After a dark and damp fifth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Holland, the teams and riders of the MXGP and MX2 – again with competitors in the three European Motocross Championship classes to join them – are headed for sunnier climes this weekend with the sixth round of 18 on the 2015 schedule taking the series to Talavera de la Reina in Spain.

The second Grand Prix of Spain to occur at the undulating circuit south of Madrid this century will see Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP back to full strength with Clement Desalle joined by Kevin Strijbos in his bid to pin back championship leader Max Nagl (Red Bull Ice One Husqvarna Factory Racing), of Germany.

Desalle has a 100% podium record in the championship so far and is chasing his first victory since Germany last summer which will add to his career tally of 19 wins so far.

The Belgian owned both motos in a comprehensive sweep of the Spanish Grand Prix almost 12 months ago. Strijbos returns to the factory awning for the first time since opting for wrist surgery after the Grand Prix of Thailand in March.

A popular and ‘old-school’ track with hard-pack terrain, some challenging off-camber turns and small hilly rises, Talavera is a contrast to the bumpy sand of Valkenswaard upon which Desalle secured third position over a week ago.

The presence of the European Championship classes with the EMX125 (round three of eight, and featuring New Zealand’s Josiah Natzke in action again on his KTM125); the EMX250 (third of nine and featuring Suzuki’s 2014 EMX125 champion Brian Hsu in action on the RM-Z250) and EMX300 class too, the Spanish soil is sure to take some punishment across a busy weekend programme.

Desalle conquered Talavera in 2014 and knows a similar outcome – and first triumph of 2015 after three runner-up positions – will give him his best chance of dealing with the marginal five point gap to Nagl in the premier class standings and possibly reclaiming the red plate as MXGP series leader.

“My last win feels like a long time ago and it would be good to have my 20th soon,” he commented from his home this week. “I had a bit of trouble with my back and a rib after the crash on Saturday in Valkenswaard but nothing that will affect me for the weekend.”

“After last year of course I have good memories of Talavera,” he continued. “It is a narrow track but I didn’t have too many problems to pass and – like all GP circuits these days – it is important to have that good start. What will also be good for me this weekend will be to come through Saturday without any problems. I had crashes in Italy and also Holland so one small goal will be to have an easier weekend all around.”

Team-mate Strijbos has decided to get back into the rhythm of Grand Prix after enforced recovery time in the wake of surgery on his right wrist. The 28 year old encouragingly won both motos at Jauer last weekend for the second round of the ADAC MX Masters German Championship.

“I’m ready to try,” the Belgian says. “I had a good weekend in Germany and my wrist is still painful but not any more than it was before the weekend, so that’s good. I’ve been riding the bike quite a bit and I think its time to get back into Grand Prix. Realistically my goal has to be to hope for a top-10 finish this weekend and then we will have another week to improve and get better before going to England.”

At Jauer, Strijbos was chased by brand-mate and Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff on the RM-Z450 as the Dutchman took a solid second position overall in Germany and now fronts the competitive and well-supported national contest.

The 24-year-old heads to Talavera having missed out on MXGP’s return to the venue in 2014 as Codenhoff was sidelined with a knee injury at the time.

‘The Hoff’ still has experience of battering the Castilla de la Mancha dirt through European Championship outings at the track and knows that his hard-pack speed on the 450 in his maiden MXGP campaign is pretty sharp after two strong rides at Arco di Trento in Italy last month.

“I’ve had a good week and I’m ready for the hard-pack,” the former MX2 GP winner said. “I missed Talavera last year because of my knee surgery but I rode there before in the European Championship and I watched the race on TV last year to see how the track had been altered. I don’t think there will be many more changes and I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be hot but I’ve got my ventilated kit from Fox so I’m sure I’ll be good!”

Temperatures are expected to hit 30 degrees this weekend but the action will surely be as hot in the EMX250 Championship where Hsu is learning the demands of the feeder series to MX2 and also about pushing the limits of the RM-Z250.

Championship standings:

MXGP World Championship standings (after 5 of 18 rounds):

1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 214 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 209 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 184 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 178 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 156 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 138 p.; 7. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 124 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 98 p.; 9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 92 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 86 p.

MX2 World Championship standings (after 5 of 18 rounds):

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 222 points; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 185 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 148 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 137 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 133 p.; 6. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 129 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 125 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 121 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 115 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, KAW), 102 p.

EMX300 Championship standings (after 3 of 6 rounds):

1. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 50 points; 2. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Mike Kras (NED, YAM), 42 p.; 4. Matthew Moffat (GBR, HUS), 33 p.; 5. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 6. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Damon Strydom (GBR, KTM), 26 p.; 8. John Cuppen (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Joey Smet (BEL, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Patrick Vos (NED, KAW), 19 p.

EMX250 Championship standings (after 3 of 9 rounds):

1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 92 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 82 p.; 3. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 62 p.; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 61 p.; 5. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 57 p.; 6. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 47 p.; 7. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 42 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 42 p.; 9. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 39 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 37 p.

EMX125 Championship standings (after 3 of 8 rounds):

1. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 83 points; 2. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 82 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 75 p.; 4. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 54 p.; 5. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), 53 p.; 6. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 52 p.; 7. Cyril Genot (BEL, HUS), 49 p.; 8. Kim Savaste (FIN, KTM), 39 p.; 9. Filippo Zonta (ITA, HUS), 39 p.; 10. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, TM), 34 p.

Photo courtesy Ray Archer