All Eyes Turn to Qatar
FIM MX World Champs 2015
The eyes of the Motocross World turn towards Qatar this weekend as the lights turn on for the hugely anticipated first round of the MXGP World Championship 2015 and the much anticpated clash between Antonio Cairoli and Ryan Villopoto.
The race everyone has been waiting for since American Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto signed the contract to come to compete in the FIM Motocross World Championship is here. Yes, the Grand Prix of Qatar is just days away.
All the best motocross riders in the world are heading to Doha, Qatar with one thing in mind and that is to do the very best they can. Of course a lot of the attention is on the Villopoto vs Cairoli fight. The two best riders in the motocross world going head to head, and unlike the annual Monster Energy Motocross of Nations each year this time the playing field in many cases will be level.
Sure Cairoli knows some of the tracks better than Villopoto, but unlike the MXoN this is a championship for the individual and both riders will be going out to be the most consistent winner in the season. They will meet more than 50 times in the season with qualification races and two moto’s on the Sunday.
In the MXoN battles they have met just a handful of times and only really raced handlebar to handlebar once, at the 2006 MXoN at Matterley Basin. But it’s not just about these two riders and I seriously think that HRC rider Gautier Paulin will pull off the win and dominate in Qatar. Everyone talks about Villopoto and his supercross skills and there is no doubt the night-time event will suit him more than most, but the circuit isn’t a difficult circuit and for somebody like Paulin, with his skills and his motivation, it’s perfect. All the limelight has been on the American and the Italian and its little secret guys like Paulin and Belgian Clement Desalle will be looking to make a name for themselves.
The city of Doha is a spectacle as old and new collide and blend in a melting pot of experiences and sights where, since 2013, the MXGP of Qatar has held pride of place as the curtain raiser for the World Championship and, situated just 25km outside of the city, the world class Losail International Circuit has so far offered up spectacular opening action on both occasions.
The White Line
It’s back again this year. For the second year in a row, one of motocross’s most iconic labels in sports apparel and accessories, FOX, are sponsoring the holeshot award. The FOX Holeshot award will run across all eighteen rounds of the FIM Motocross MXGP and MX2 World Championships. The way it works is that 1 point is awarded per MXGP or MX2 championship pointed race holeshot, therefore qualifying races are not included.
A white line will be painted on the ground at the exit of the first corner and will be surrounded by GoPro camera’s for 100% certainty of the holeshot winner. He who crosses the line first, is awarded 1 point. At the end of the season, the rider with the most holeshot points will win the mega prize purse of €10,000 in MXGP and €5,000 in MX2.
Brazil Round 15 Cancelled
Round 15 of the 2015 FIM World Motocross Championship in Brazil has been cancelled, the FIM announced today. According to the FIM, the event was cancelled due to “very difficult financial situation in Brazil.”
Youthstream announced that the Brazilian round scheduled for Trindade on August 15 and 16, will be replaced by an event in either Brazil or Europe. The 2015 season kicks off this weekend in Qatar. Below is an updated schedule.
Schedule
Round 1 | Feb 28 | Losail | Qatar |
Round 2 | March 8 | Nakhonchaisri | Thailand |
Round 3 | March 29 | Neuquen | Argentina |
Round 4 | April 19 | Arco di Trento | Italy |
Round 5 | April 26 | Valkenswaard | Netherlands |
Round 6 | May 10 | Talavera | Spain |
Round 7 | May 24 | Matterley Basin | Great Britain |
Round 8 | May 31 | Villars-sous-Ecot | France |
Round 9 | June 14 | Maggiora | Italy |
Round 10 | June 21 | Teutschenthal | Germany |
Round 11 | July 5 | Uddevalla | Sweden |
Round 12 | July 12 | Kegums | Latvia |
Round 13 | July 26 | Loket | Czech Republic |
Round 14 | Aug 2 | Lommel | Belgium |
Round 15 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Round 16 | Aug 30 | Assen | Netherlands |
Round 17 | Sept. 13 | Leon | Mexico |
Round 18 | Sept. 20 | Glen Helen | United States |