Preview: 2 MX2022 World Championship
The 48th MX2 World Championship starts this weekend in Matterley Basin. The first match always has something special, but it was canceled at the last minute by Eunice last weekend. We are looking ahead and are going to take an advance on the title fight. A battle that we believe will be between Tom Vialle and Jago Geerts. Those who can join this battle are Mattia Guadagnini, Kay De Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk.
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As a former world champion, Tom Vialle obviously needs no introduction. The Frenchman managed to win six Grand Prix, but he also had tough races due to an injury sustained during training in Lelystad. Vialle is a particularly good starter and that is of course very important. That is a point that Geerts can improve, but he obviously did not stop last winter. With the help of Star Racing-Yamaha, improvements have been made that will also be used in the World Championship. Yamaha is doing everything it can to extend the world title won by Maxime Renaux. Both riders have to do it without a teammate. Thibault Benistant is still recovering from an operation and hopes to be able to return to action in Argentina. During the first race in England, Andrea Bonacorsi will compete for the Yamaha factory team. The sad story of Rene Hofer is known, KTM has decided not to appoint a replacement for him.
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In his first GP season, Guadagnini already won two races and even conquered the 'redplate'. He is unable to really participate in the title battle, but once he becomes more regular he will certainly be a contender for gold. With the combination of De Wolf and Van de Moosdijk, Negaan-Husqvarna Factory Racing is, in our opinion, the only tandem that can compete for the world title. The 17-year-old De Wolf has made a big impression in his first GP season. He has worked his way up from the 85cc to the MX2 World Championship in just two seasons. Van de Moosdijk won the EMX250 title in 2019, but there has been no real breakthrough in the World Championship yet. Can the switch to Husqvarna revive him?
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Apart from the podium place during the first GP of 2020, Mikkel Haarup has shown minimal performance over the past two seasons. However, the Dane will remain a Kawasaki rider, he will ride for Steve Dixon's team. It will be important for Haarup to become a permanent fixture in the top eight, otherwise he will remain far behind expectations after a strong youth career in which he won relatively few titles. Simon Langenfelder is the hope for Germany who are waiting for a top match in the World Cup after Ken Roczen and Maxi Nagl. The GasGas rider will start his third full GP season, but now in the colors of DeCarli Racing. It is also an important year for Conrad Mewse because he decided at the last minute to set up his own team. This is the Brit's last season in the MX2 World Championship. The last rider we will give a star for the coming season is Isak Gifting. The Swede made a very strong transition to the World Cup in 2020, but his results last season were disappointing. Can he make the step to the World Cup top?
Belgium Netherlands:
In addition to the aforementioned Geerts, De Wolf and Van de Moosdijk, both countries have compatriots in this championship. Liam Everts will make an appearance, the 17-year-old rider will compete for the Team Diga Procross, which has used GasGas engines in recent seasons. The German team is now switching to KTM with Everts at the wheel. Kay Karssemakers is going to make a big step from the EMX125 to the GP. The Boxtel native finished fourth in the EMX125 last year, but the switch to the EMX250 could not be made. He couldn't ignore an offer from Team Hitachi KTM UK Fueled by Milwaukee. This is a multi-year deal, which gives him the opportunity to see this season primarily as a learning experience. The third Belgian in this starting field is Julien vander Auwera who will try to score his first GP points. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to do that last year.
When Geerts takes the title, it will be the eleventh time for Belgium in the 125cc and MX2 World Championship. If one of the Husqvarna riders succeeds, it will be the seventh world title for the Netherlands.
Past Champions:
2007 Antonio Cairoli
2008 Tyla Rattray
2009 Marvin Musquin
2010 Marvin Musquin
2011 Ken Roczen
2012 Jeffrey Herlings
2013 Jeffrey Herlings
2014 Jordi Tixier
2015 Tim Gajser
2016 Jeffrey Herlings
2017 Paul's Jonass
2018 Jorge Prado-Garcia
2019 Jorge Prado-Garcia
2020 Tom Vialle
2021 Maxime Renaux
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
GALLERY: Archive
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