The fourth round of 18 in the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship takes place in Argentina this weekend and the unique venue will perhaps be where French hero Romain Febvre writes another thrilling chapter into the story of his inspiring career.

He was an unexceptional MX2 class No.3 at the end of 2014, but, in less than 18 months, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team rider has gone from an overlooked rookie to the granddaddy of MXGP, despite the fact that he is only 24 years old.

Just when you think you have seen all the fiery Frenchman has to offer, he turns it up a notch and wows you once again just like he did two weeks ago in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, when he pulled the pin on his grenade and launched it at the enemies, passing team-mate Jeremy Van Horebeek on the penultimate lap and Antonio Cairoli on the final lap for one of the most hard fought victories of his career.

Febvre only finished seventh at the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina last year, so a podium finish here at this awesome location is sure to be his mission. Meanwhile the new rookie on the block, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser has quickly shaken his underdog status with three race wins from the last six motos.

Gajser has been on the podium at every round so far this year and will be out to keep the wind in his sails this weekend.

As for last year’s MXGP of Patagonia Argentina winner, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl, it has not had the best start to his 2016 campaign but he came out firing on all cylinders at the MXGP of Europe where he won the qualifier and finished the weekend on the second step of the podium.

During the press conference in Valkenswaard, Nagl mentioned how excited he was to return to Argentina and how much he enjoys the track here. That positive frame of mind is sure to bring some good karma to the German.

And then there are the veterans; Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos who are both extremely familiar with the technique of popping corks, yet neither have done so in a while. But here is a chance for them to shine and there is plenty left for them to give the fans.

Cairoli, especially, was extremely quick in Argentina last year. He took pole and was in good shape for the podium before chucking it away when he clipped his peg while scrubbing during a battle for the lead with Belgium’s Clement Desalle. Speaking of Desalle, the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team rider tied with Nagl for the win at Argentina’s circuit of Villa la Angostura last year. He is an animal at this track and if his arm is nearing 100% he could be a threat to the top step.

On a lesser note, Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Ben Townley will not be lining up this weekend due to sickness, the Kiwi hero opting out of this GP and the next one too while he tries to shake off the virus that is bugging him.

MX2 CLASS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has one of the most epic win rates in the paddock. He has racked up wins in loads of different countries, yet Argentina is not one of them.

Last year, the man they call ‘The Bullet’ went pole by a country mile and was fastest man on track, but his hopes of winning the grand prix went up in smoke in race one when his bike was left mangled after getting hit mid-air which saw him crash spectacularly.

So far so good, Herlings appears to be on it this year; he is yet to be beaten and keeps getting better and better. As always, it’s hard to bet against him for the win, but as we saw last year, anything can happen.

As for the rest of the rippers in MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass was very quick here last year where he finished up on the second step of the podium while Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer landed on the podium for the first time in his career in third. Both are more than capable of uncorking a bottle of bubbles this weekend, the question is, in what order?

Meanwhile Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington is known to perform better at the “fly-away” GPs (as the riders like to call any venue that’s outside Europe). He was fourth here last year although this weekend could be a bit tougher as he withdrew from the MXGP of Europe a couple of weeks ago with a foot injury.

Unfortunately Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Brent Van Doninck is also injured and will not be racing after dislocating his hip during a national race last weekend, but his teammate Benoit Paturel will also be one to watch as he continues to pick up the pace.

STANDINGS AFTER THREE ROUNDS:

MXGP Championship Top 10:

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 137 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 124 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 107 p.; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 104 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 100 p.; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 84 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 80 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 79 p.; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 63 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 55 p.

MX2 Championship Top 10:

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 150 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 112 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 112 p.; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 91 p.; 5. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 78 p.; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 76 p.; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 75 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 60 p.; 9. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 60 p.; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 59 p

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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