GP Bits: 2022 MXGP of Great Britain

s1600 GPBitsGreatBritainTitleImage 528882

Photos by JP Acevedo

There was a tribute to the late Rene Hofer who tragically passed away in the off-season in a skiing accident. Too young and too soon. R.IP.

With Jeffrey Herlings out with injury, Mathys Boisrame, who recently jumped up to the MXGP class was his fill in rider. Unfortunately, as you'll see below, he didn't make it to the main motos.

Maxime Renaux, the 2021 MX2 Champion moved straight to the big boy class and is racing a YZ450F for the factory Yamaha team. He got third in his first MXGP moto and was 4th overall on the day. Let's take a closer look of his bike.

Overall, the Monster Energy Yamaha MXGP team bikes look pretty close to the Star racing bikes here in the US, but use a whole list of different brands for parts.

Still lots of black on there.

They run Hinson clutches and Akrapovic exhaust compared to Rekluse and FMF stateside.

As with a lot of the Euro teams, they are running Pirelli rubber. The lugs are stock shape but billet aluminum on works suspension.

Looks to be some welding on the bottom of the swingarm.

They shave some weight and time with cut out graphics but then opt to keep the lower section of the numberplate that the US teams cut off. There are two zip-ties running through it most likely securing some heat guard to buffer the Akro pipe.

Could be plastic or a new carbon weave, but the Yamaha team is serious abut fork and clamp protection. They run Xtrig clamps where the US team is on Neken.

A much smaller carbon guard is on the rear caliper to just protect the hose connection point. Also, interestingly they run a sight glass on the rear master cylinder.

Hydraulic clutch (rather than cable with the US team) and the same GYTR ignition cover.

The kill switch has a custom carbon mount that is harder to accidentally push and like most pro Yamaha teams, the gas tank vent hose is routed through and out the front of the air box, rather than the front of the seat.

Data acquisition is all important. And, no extra venting on the airbox. High pressure radiator cap as well, GYTR 2.0.

Same shock as the US team but missing the funny photos on the reservoir.

Carbon disc guard with plastic edge protection. The axle has threading to accept a different single-bolt-mounted disc guard.

They take the rad. hose protection up a notch with custom carbon pieces and gold heat reflector tape. Plus the cases are coated, unlike the Star bikes.

As always, a custom Red Bull lid for Jorge. He's also running the Scott Fury goggles instead of the top-tier Prospects.

For the first time, the F&H Kawasaki is fielding a 450 rider, MXGP rookie Jed Beaton who was on the Factory Husqvarna MX2 team last year. Lets look at his machine.

They have eliminated some of the wiring but we can't see the details with the mud foam in the way.

CRM guard with two mount bolts and custom etching on the black front brake caliper.

The ever-popular ROCS clamps and a carbon shroud extension to help boots not to get caught up.

More CRM carbon with the flush gas cap for maximum forward butt placement.

Some Pro Circuit parts on the bike.

Open design ti pegs.

Technical Touch over in Europe handles the suspension tuning.

HGS exhaust with the custom laser-etched exhaust can.

The latest HGS exhaust header and resonator.

More PC parts on there.

Simon and his teammate in the MX2 class, Mattia Guadagnini are on what look like the same GASGAS MC 250s we have over here, but thats just the plastics and bodywork. Just like Prado in the MXGP class, these guys have the same nearly all-new motorcycles that the Factory KTM guys have over here.

It is plain to see behind the Akro header that this is the same new cylinder and head design as the 2022 KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition.

Billet ignition cover is drool-worthy.

With the newest frame, they get the newest WP XACT PRO shock.

Now to a MC 125, as a support team they are not on the latest frame, but it is not clear if or when the GASGAS stock bikes will share the new gen. KTM/Husky frame/engine design.

Stock GGs have this clutch cover which is a design nod to the previous, Spanish GG brand.

A shiny billet, high-comp head is a must for racing a two-stroke.

While not the latest, this XACT PRO shock is what the GG teams in the US are running.

HGS can.

Other than the VHM head, this guy is pretty stock.

Cone valve forks and 'factory' split clamps.

Here we have the Fantic XX 125 ridden by Alexis Fueri in the EMX125 class. He was second overall on the day.

As we've said before Fantic motorcycles start life as Yamaha's and then get modified by Fantic Motors. Here we can see the CRM tank that looks so sick.

There are Fantic branded split triple clamps. Not sure if someone is making those for them or the race team has the capabilities of making those themselves. Plus a GET ignition.

Cool gripper material on the air box cover.

Last year was the first year we saw a factory Beta team in the MXGP series. This year they've kept Jeremy van Horebeek and added Alessandro Lupino.

As you'll see the theme of the Beta 450 is 'MORE HOLES!' Not only are they for air flow, but to lighten the bike as well.

Holes, more holes.

Even structural plastic, more holes.

And the skid plate! More!

We are awaiting the official US debut of the 450 stateside. Since there isn't a stock Beta 450 to compare it to, hard not sure we can say anything is necessarily factory or not.

Yet another team running HGS exhaust.

Tom Vialle is a favorite in the MX2 class this year. Because of injury, he didn't race the full season last year. As you can see he's on the new KTM machine.

He went 2 - 3 for second overall.

Ben Watson has moved from Factory Yamaha to the new KRT Team (Kawasaki Racing Team) sans Monster energy. Kawi is really pushing that new corporate logo you can see on his jersey.