#6: MXGP of France

philG
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5/19/2026 12:12pm
DeStouwer wrote:
I know, but it's easy to point fingers. I bet he was very confident starting the season on his Triumph, until he wasn't. Last weekend he...

I know, but it's easy to point fingers. I bet he was very confident starting the season on his Triumph, until he wasn't. Last weekend he was still inconsistent, reliable Honda or not. Potential doesn't count anymore at a certain moment, results do. I get the feeling it's either bike issues or crashes with Brookes. It's been the case for the past five and a half seasons.

He was inconsistent in 2025 (on a Triumph) and he was inconsistent in 2024 and 2023 - on a KTM, probably the most reliable MX2-bike there is - aswell. I mean, he got 19th overall in the EMX250-championship two years ago. He's still in that class now and there's little to no improvement, in what's his fourth season. In 2022 and 2021 he raced EMX125 (KTM and Yamaha), and yep, inconsistent.

Do you understand why I get suspicions it's more on him than on his bike, regardless what brand he's on? He stagnates. Or, what I suspect, he's not the "youngster talent" people think / hope he is (which is no shame to be clear).

philG wrote:
I spent time talking to his mechanic at the weekend, they have been chasing stuff for the last year and a bit with the Triumph, and...

I spent time talking to his mechanic at the weekend, they have been chasing stuff for the last year and a bit with the Triumph, and have finally decided to move on, and i know he had a few injuries prior, which have taken him a while to get over, and i think almost made him quit. 

And your last sentence, i dont disagree, he isnt a youngster any more in EMX/MX2 terms, but seeing him ride , he is going well here, and has shown speed in EMX too, i dont think we are pinning hopes on him being the next big thing (i never did) but he is a good rider, doing a lot, without the team backing that other around him have.  

What kind of backing has Jamie Keith got, does he get any support from Dave Thorpe? From the videos I’ve seen he seems to be working...

What kind of backing has Jamie Keith got, does he get any support from Dave Thorpe? From the videos I’ve seen he seems to be working out of a camper van. 

Its him and his dad and a mechanic working out of a camper, under the Goswell Honda banner, bikes look good, they seem to be doing OK with what they have, no idea if they are getting help from DT , but i do know that Brookes' engines are done by Ryan Thorpe, so maybe his are too. 

I will say that the 'big rigs' have gone from the MXGB pits, Lexa's truck hasnt been seen in a while, Absolute KTM are working out of vans and EZ-Ups, only Phoenix Tools Fantic have a big set up, along with SC Husky, everyone is doing a bit 'less is more' but still making it look good, all the top teams have nice set ups, just dont have loads of money tied up in big stuff at the minute. It feels more like German type of vibe now. 

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DeStouwer
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5/20/2026 7:31am

According to the forecast, it's going to be a hot one!

3
Park Boys
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5/20/2026 10:38pm
pietjan wrote:

How much money do the top MXGP riders actually get for a GP win? (From the team ofcourse)

I want to say Lewis talked about how Jeffery at one point had higher deals where it was wins only and about 50k for a GP win in one of the MXGP review pods. 

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Elliot
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5/21/2026 5:20am
DeStouwer wrote:

According to the forecast, it's going to be a hot one!

A dry hard pack GP would be welcome.

2

The Shop

philG
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5/21/2026 5:43am
DeStouwer wrote:

According to the forecast, it's going to be a hot one!

Elliot wrote:

A dry hard pack GP would be welcome.

Yes, as long as they dont drown the track like they do normally so its a mudfest for everyone apart from MXGP. 

While i like the track, its a bit of a goat track.  Starts will be everything. 

 

1
Bearuno
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5/21/2026 6:29am Edited Date/Time 5/21/2026 8:20am
philG wrote:
Yes, as long as they dont drown the track like they do normally so its a mudfest for everyone apart from MXGP. While i like the track...

Yes, as long as they dont drown the track like they do normally so its a mudfest for everyone apart from MXGP. 

While i like the track, its a bit of a goat track.  Starts will be everything. 

 

I've been waiting for the philG "Goat Track" line this year.

I didn't see it brought out for Pietramurata / Trentino, which you usually do. 

I guess you'll bring it out for 'Cute Lil Teut'  ** , next week?      ** That's what 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' calls it - it was the first MXGP I got her to. 

I have to say Foxhills looks like a Bloody Goat Track - I don't thinks it's ever recovered, or they've tried to re-cover it, since the '98 MXDN that took most of the soil from it. Watching the VMXdN, does not inspire admiration for the track. The surface looks worse than my bloody fire trails in the Blue Mountains here. I really hope they will  do some Serious prep, but trading Foxhills for Matterley, WTF?

PS :  I haven't caught up with last weekends Brit round from Landrake , but some of the pictures I saw had it looking lovely. I think I went there many, many years ago. I'll keep my ear out listening for your  Uncouth ( almost as unintelligible as those Dastardly, Horrible Bloody  Kiwis!) Commentary when I find the time to watch it. 😁

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Nairb#70
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5/21/2026 7:14am
Cortami79 wrote:
Decent entry lists! I see that Gyan Doensen will make his GP debut. Same goes for Garcia and Cannon with their BUD racing Kawi's. Ernecker and...

Decent entry lists! I see that Gyan Doensen will make his GP debut. Same goes for Garcia and Cannon with their BUD racing Kawi's. Ernecker and Askew will also make their debut. 

Guadagnini will be out with a broken collarbone for the most of the season

Cas Valk latest rumours are that he is out with a broken femur. His crash circulates on Instagram and Facebook. That was a nasty hit in Markelo.. shame because I really would have loved to see him do well on the KTM

rym wrote:
i think there are 10 riders making their GP debut in MX2:Francisco GarciaJake CannonMax ErneckerBilly AskewGyan DoensenAlve CallemoSandro SoolsGiovanni MeneghelloAlessandro TraversiniIacopo FabbriCant remember the last time...

i think there are 10 riders making their GP debut in MX2:

Francisco Garcia
Jake Cannon
Max Ernecker
Billy Askew
Gyan Doensen
Alve Callemo
Sandro Sools
Giovanni Meneghello
Alessandro Traversini
Iacopo Fabbri

Cant remember the last time whe had so many debutants at a GP that is not the first of the year (and isnt a flyaway with a bunch of locals). 

Is Allesandro Traversini any relation to Thomas Traversini from the late '90's early 2000's? 

Elliot
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5/22/2026 3:35am
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philG
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5/22/2026 3:50am
Bearuno wrote:
I've been waiting for the philG "Goat Track" line this year.I didn't see it brought out for Pietramurata / Trentino, which you usually do. I guess you'll...

I've been waiting for the philG "Goat Track" line this year.

I didn't see it brought out for Pietramurata / Trentino, which you usually do. 

I guess you'll bring it out for 'Cute Lil Teut'  ** , next week?      ** That's what 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' calls it - it was the first MXGP I got her to. 

I have to say Foxhills looks like a Bloody Goat Track - I don't thinks it's ever recovered, or they've tried to re-cover it, since the '98 MXDN that took most of the soil from it. Watching the VMXdN, does not inspire admiration for the track. The surface looks worse than my bloody fire trails in the Blue Mountains here. I really hope they will  do some Serious prep, but trading Foxhills for Matterley, WTF?

PS :  I haven't caught up with last weekends Brit round from Landrake , but some of the pictures I saw had it looking lovely. I think I went there many, many years ago. I'll keep my ear out listening for your  Uncouth ( almost as unintelligible as those Dastardly, Horrible Bloody  Kiwis!) Commentary when I find the time to watch it. 😁

Trentino has been better since they reversed the direction of it, by miles IMO , to the point where it has provided great racing . 

So the work at Foxhills has been going on , they have done loads, changed the start back to how it was instead of the stupid 1 post hairpin, and moved other things enough to retain the spirit of that end of the track, while improving safety .  

Not gonna lie, they have a big job ahead of them, but the politics of Matterley is was stopped that happening, this is the only alternative, and those calling for a return to traditional venues for the last 15 years should get behind it.  

 

Landrake was really good, the MXGB crew and the landowner down there do a great job, and it looked great from the spectator and camera side of it, the racing was decent, and the crew did a great job of covering it with just 4 cameras.  Me and Jeff had some cool guests in too, which always helps.  MX2 deffo the best class right now , entertainment wise. 

2
philG
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5/22/2026 3:52am
Nairb#70 wrote:

Is Allesandro Traversini any relation to Thomas Traversini from the late '90's early 2000's? 

90% sure its his son. 

1
Bearuno
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5/22/2026 4:31am
philG wrote:
Trentino has been better since they reversed the direction of it, by miles IMO , to the point where it has provided great racing . So the...

Trentino has been better since they reversed the direction of it, by miles IMO , to the point where it has provided great racing . 

So the work at Foxhills has been going on , they have done loads, changed the start back to how it was instead of the stupid 1 post hairpin, and moved other things enough to retain the spirit of that end of the track, while improving safety .  

Not gonna lie, they have a big job ahead of them, but the politics of Matterley is was stopped that happening, this is the only alternative, and those calling for a return to traditional venues for the last 15 years should get behind it.  

 

Landrake was really good, the MXGB crew and the landowner down there do a great job, and it looked great from the spectator and camera side of it, the racing was decent, and the crew did a great job of covering it with just 4 cameras.  Me and Jeff had some cool guests in too, which always helps.  MX2 deffo the best class right now , entertainment wise. 

So, is Matterley 'gone', as a Race Circuit?

If so, Bugger, Bum, Poop...... 😭

Council / Access / Noise, etc etc problems?

Or (and) has Steve Dixon just got 'jack' of it - the whole nightmare ( as I assume it would be) of organizing it. I seriously doubt he's got  (any)rich(er) from holding the GPs. The bloke's put a hell of a lot into MX over many years, and, I hope he's done, at least, well from it. 

pietjan
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5/22/2026 8:27am

Accoriding to Gatedrop Elzinga left beta?? Where is he going?

Elliot
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5/22/2026 8:33am
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Elliot
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5/22/2026 8:34am
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themrtoad
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5/22/2026 10:53am
pietjan wrote:

Accoriding to Gatedrop Elzinga left beta?? Where is he going?

Can’t find anything on their site?

Elliot
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5/22/2026 11:34am
703776648 1569906921170134 1576678344740667217 n.jpg?VersionId=JkHcXMYTZHj1X5fdrBOUU704287591 1569907154503444 2209554131461400017 n.jpg?VersionId=gC1w95vL4M2HZx3gLoiE704487204 1569907464503413 6606670462592819517 n705729538 1569907364503423 5603429340454193656 n.jpg?VersionId=e1706629429 1569907274503432 3690121249456403442 n706744428 1569907557836737 3468091440572811371 n.jpg?VersionId=GJyI
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tek14
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5/22/2026 12:45pm
pietjan wrote:

Accoriding to Gatedrop Elzinga left beta?? Where is he going?

Where did you find info? He has been out long time with injury. 

pietjan
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5/22/2026 1:04pm Edited Date/Time 5/22/2026 1:06pm
pietjan wrote:

Accoriding to Gatedrop Elzinga left beta?? Where is he going?

tek14 wrote:

Where did you find info? He has been out long time with injury. 

Gatedropmx on X. He is going to Van Venrooy KTM, from what I read.

1
runic121
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Fantasy
5/22/2026 1:27pm

Tracks looks mint. 

Elliot
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5/22/2026 9:17pm
Elliot
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5/23/2026 2:28am

Jason Thomas is in the booth.

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CPR
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5/23/2026 3:07am
Elliot wrote:

Jason Thomas is in the booth.

I'll take Malin calling a race any day over anyone else,  but adding JT in is a bonus. 

9
Bearuno
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5/23/2026 4:53am Edited Date/Time 5/23/2026 8:40am

Well, 250 Timed practice at  La Piste des Chevres ( C/R philG ) in France, has just started.

Cripes, when I saw the Grey section in front of the Club House (?), I thought it was gravel..... or, even Road Base.

Jackie Vimond was great in the Studio show - A Pink Panther for Lisa, a '96 World Championships poster for Paul - the one where he got 2nd In The World 125 Championships, and, as he said, 2nd on the day that picture was taken at Foxhills - he took it well. A a side note, Fred Vialle got 3rd in the WC that year, and his boy is in the 450 Hunt there, this year

JT was on as well - with No Pressies! What a Cad!

At least he apologized for committing such a faux pas .............

 Malin and he Do make a great Announcing Team. 

Should be good!

 

1
Cortami79
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5/23/2026 5:46am

Riders seem to enjoy the track. Kay de Wolf going for pole!

1
5/23/2026 6:16am

sketchy stuff happening on the finish jump in this wmx race 1.

Both Duncan and Van Drunen went down on it and now a 3rd rider also...

1
Elliot
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5/23/2026 6:32am
rym wrote:
i think there are 10 riders making their GP debut in MX2:Francisco GarciaJake CannonMax ErneckerBilly AskewGyan DoensenAlve CallemoSandro SoolsGiovanni MeneghelloAlessandro TraversiniIacopo FabbriCant remember the last time...

i think there are 10 riders making their GP debut in MX2:

Francisco Garcia
Jake Cannon
Max Ernecker
Billy Askew
Gyan Doensen
Alve Callemo
Sandro Sools
Giovanni Meneghello
Alessandro Traversini
Iacopo Fabbri

Cant remember the last time whe had so many debutants at a GP that is not the first of the year (and isnt a flyaway with a bunch of locals). 

The weird thing is, even with a load of riders from EMX250 boosting the MX2 numbers, there's still more riders in WMX. What does that say?

cesar_rc4
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5/23/2026 7:18am

Coenen brother to race Sx paris

5
Mavetism
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5/23/2026 7:27am
cesar_rc4 wrote:

Coenen brother to race Sx paris

Holy shit their schedule is absolutely packed this year considering they'd actually move to the US right after MXGP ends. They barely have any free weekends from now on until next year, crazy. 

7
5/23/2026 7:31am

time for some main classes and championship points now! mx2 quali race about to start

cesar_rc4
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5/23/2026 7:59am Edited Date/Time 5/23/2026 8:00am
Mavetism wrote:
Holy shit their schedule is absolutely packed this year considering they'd actually move to the US right after MXGP ends. They barely have any free weekends...

Holy shit their schedule is absolutely packed this year considering they'd actually move to the US right after MXGP ends. They barely have any free weekends from now on until next year, crazy. 

Yeah... When i saw my jaw dropped.

Ktm is doing whatever it takes to retain the brothers IMO

2

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