It’s round 10 of 18 in the FIM Motocross World Motocross Championships at the circuit of Saint Jean D’Angely, France, this weekend, which means the 2016 season is ready to edge past the halfway point.

This weekend, the premier classes MXGP and MX2 will be joined by the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, which is led by French rider Livia Lancelot. With Kiwi Courtney Duncan, the early series leader, still sidelined with injury, the New Zealander’s series podium position comes under serious threat this weekend.

The sixth round of the European Championship EMX250 will also join them, featuring New Zealand’s Josiah Natzke.

The weekend’s programme also includes the fourth round of the European Championship EMX125.

The steep Saint Jean d’Angely circuit is situated near Cognac, about one hour’s drive north of Bordeaux, on the west coast of France. It first made its first appearance on the motocross grand prix calendar back in 1984 and has been a common location for the MXGP of France ever since.

As the winners of the 2015 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, France has possibly the strongest line up of riders in MXGP this year. It’s hard to say who will be the most swamped in the paddock this weekend with the likes of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre, Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier and MP32 Tip Top Racing’s Milko Potisek the riders who will have the most noisy crowd support.

Febvre, in particular, will be in for a big weekend. Now that we are already nine rounds into the 18-round series, points are more crucial than ever, especially for Febvre since he trails Slovenian Tim Gajser by 24 points.

Spain was a tough weekend for the gritty Frenchman who got caught in an unlucky incident where Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson broke a chain while fending off the champ and left him with nowhere to go. Febvre fell and was ploughed into by fellow French star Paulin before having Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli finish him off while trying to avoid the carnage. The result of the crash was a dislocated shoulder which could have caused problems with the ligaments and muscles. Hopefully he has had some solid treatment throughout the week and will be feeling stronger this weekend.

On the other hand, Honda Gariboldi’s Gajser put in his most impressive performance thus far. His stats are nothing short of eye-popping, as is the way he rides. With the red plate firmly in his hands at the moment, Gajser is flying the flag high for the kids of the next generation.

Meanwhile Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl is hungrier than ever for a win. It was visibly noticeable that the German turned it up a notch in Spain. It’s obvious he wants to win, as will Paulin who finished on the third step of the box last weekend despite being strapped to the couch for a good chunk of this season.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle also put in his first really solid ride last weekend and has the confidence of a GP win in France.

MX2 CLASS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings could be in for a challenge this weekend since he’ll be letting loose on the home soil of his biggest threat Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis. It’s bound to be another “The Bullet versus The Mullet” show-down and in case you missed it, Ferrandis was running a butt-patch last weekend ‘The Mullet’ so that is where that phrase comes from.

Nevertheless, the likelihood that The Bullet will be victorious is still more than 95%, so fingers crossed one of those other super fast MX2 dudes, be it Ferrandis, Herlings or Pauls Jonnas or even someone else like France’s own Benoit Paturel, can do something about it.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jonass is starting to calm down a little bit now and is actually finishing races without sampling the dirt more than he has to, which as a result has put him on the podium at the last two rounds.

Kemea Yamaha MX Official Team’s Benoit Paturel proved he’s got the goods to run up front and with second place finish last weekend in Spain. It’s likely that the Frenchman has his eye on a piece of podium pie this weekend in front of his home crowd! How epic would that be?

Meanwhile Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer hasn’t had any ‘lovely days’ over the last few rounds, but if the rain stays away this weekend and the track firms up the same way it normally does, there is a good chance we will see Seewer back on the podium.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

MXGP Championship Top Ten:

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 385 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 361 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 338 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 317 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 295 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 274 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 210 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 204 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 180 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 156 p.

MX2 Championship Top Ten:

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 447 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 325 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 300 p.; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 251 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 240 p.; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 210 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 205 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 204 p.; 9. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 200 p.; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 197 p.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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