The FIM Motocross World Championship is in Latvia this weekend for the eighth Grand Prix of the of the 2023 season.
The circuit of Kegums will be hosting the MXGP of Latvia which will mark the 18th MXGP event since its first appearance in the MXGP calendar in 2005.
The hard sand of the Zelta Zirgs track in Kegums has seen many thrilling racings in the past on this technical circuit.
The most successful rider on this track is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings who won six times in Kegums in 2017,2018 and 2020 in MXGP and three wins in MX2 in 2010, 2013 and 2016 while Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff is another rider who found success in Latvia with two wins in 2015 and 2020 which will surely give them some added confidence this weekend.
The MXGP of Latvia will also host the 5th round of the EMX250 and EMX125 presented by FMF Racing with Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi leading in EMX250 while MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Martin Reisulis leads the EMX125.
The MXGP of Latvia marked the 6th stop of the season in 2022 and it was Team HRC’s Tim Gajser who dominated the Grand Prix in front of home hero Standing Construct Honda MXGP’s Pauls Jonass and Team HRC’s Rubén Fernández in the MXGP class.
In 2023, Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado lands in Latvia with his full confidence back following a podium in France and a win in the qualifying race.
The championship frontrunner has extended his lead in the championship with a solid 4-3 in France and third overall. After his first non-podium GP in Spain, the Spaniard shows that he is mentally ready for the battle this season with getting straight back at it in France. He also has won once in MX2 in 2019 which shows that he can win in Latvia.
A solid 24 points behind in the championship is Herlings, who had a nightmare of a Grand Prix in France with a rare streak of misfortunes.
The ‘bullet’ started the GP by some strong ridings going 3rd in the qualifying races and 2nd in race 1. Race 2 was not destined to Herlings as his goggle strap broke early in the race to then unlikely break his foot peg on a landing which ruled him out of the race.
Herlings will take the opportunity of the MXGP of Latvia to get back on top, mainly as he is the most successful rider in Kegums with 3 wins in MXGP (2017,2018,2020) and 3 wins in MX2 (2010,2013,2016). The MXGP of Latvia could be the ideal event for Herlings to get back to winning ways.
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre is back to 3rd place in the championship following an impressive display in his home GP in France with a 2nd place on the podium and his first race win of the season.
This win was overdue considering the strong performances the Frenchman showed so far in the season.
A confident Febvre is one to be feared by his rivals and the MXGP of Latvia may show that he will push and put pressure on the front two rider in the Championship.
Levelled in points with Febvre, Fernández is continuing to show impressive control and maturity. With another solid Grand Prix in France, going 5-4 for 4th overall the Team HRC’s rider shows that he found the way to be consistent which is the key for a successful season.
Latvia could be a positive weekend with an expected podium for Fernández who was already on the podium here last year.
The rider that is on the high at the moment is Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer, 5th in Championship.
The Swiss comes to Latvia on the back of a formidable Grand Prix of France that saw him impressively winning with a 1-2. Seewer is going from strength to strength after inconsistent first few GPs. It looks like the 5-time Vice Motocross World Champion has found something recently and it shows with his impressive consistent top performances. Seewer is also on a hot streak of five holeshots in a row which is a good indicator of his form at the moment.
Team Gebben Van Venroy Yamaha Racing’s Calvin Vlaanderen who sits in 6th place, continues on his constancy as he went 5-8 for 5th overall in France. The Dutch rider is simply one of the riders that is always in the mix for big points.
He has never been out of the top 10 so far in the season which shows his remarkable skills. 7th in the Championship is Coldenhoff, who could be using his experience of his past successes in Latvia to get back on the podium this weekend.
Coldenhoff won twice in Latvia in MXGP demonstrating that he suits the hard sand track of Kegums. Interestingly his last podium was in Sardinia which was another sand track.
Unfortunately, the 8th and 9th in the Championship, Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Maxime Renaux are out with injuries and will not be competing in Latvia.
Making his way into the top 10 is Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz’s Valentin Guillod who has been a strong performer this season with 4 top 10s and a good 6th overall in the last GP of France. The Swiss is growing in confidence and has been a rider to watch so far.
Another notable rider to mention is SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery MXGP’s Alberto Forato who is 11th came out 4th of the qualifying race in France battling with Herlings for a while and showed incredible speed during the weekend.
Unfortunately, the Italian crashed in race 1 which hindered his chances to get more points. Latvia will be a good opportunity to get back and fighting for another top 10.
The home hero Jonass started the season strongly with a 5th overall in Patagonia-Argentina but unfortunately got a few issues with injuries and will not be competing at home this weekend.
The Latvian made his country proud when he clinched the 2nd place last year in Latvia, in one of the highlights of his season.
The 2017 MX2 World Champion, who is 18th in the championship after competing in only three Grand Prix events, showed that he can fight for top 10s when competing.
Photo courtesy GasGas
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MXGP – World Champs Top 10 (after 7 of 19 rounds):
1 Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 342 points
2 Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 318 Points
3 Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 263 Points
4 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 263 Points
5 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 243 Points
6 Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 226 Points
7 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 217 Points
8 Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 203 Points
9 Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 202 Points
10 Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 162 Points
MX2 – World Champs Top 10 (after 7 of 19 rounds):
1 Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 319 points
2 Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 318 Points
3 Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 307 Points
4 Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 303 Points
5 Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 259 Points
6 Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 254 Points
7 Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 235 Points
8 Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 201 Points
9 Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 196 Points
10 Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 149 Points