Vital MX GP Bits: 2022 MXGP of Spain 6

The latest from the pits and tracks of MXGP.

ML512

5/31/2022 6:47pm

Check out the latest goodies from around the MXGP of Spain in this edition of the GP Bits.

Like the US, Honda HRC's MXGP effort went all in for the 50th Anniversary of Honda motocross bikes. Similar to the US, gold rims and bars, mixed with an old school blue seat and different graphics gave it that mid 80's vibe.

Renthal doesn't sell a Twinwall bar in gold, so these had to be anodized for the special occasion.

Drool...

The team used their standard wheelsets and just opted in for the gold hoops.

This year, Talon has struct up a deal with the HRC team to produce their works clamp for them. It does seem to be changed a bit from the normal design, notably the bar mount rubber system.

Little lever makes for easy compression adjustments.

Welp, still running the ole fake two piece sprocket. For years now, the HRC squad has ran an aluminum Supersprox sprocket that is designed to look like a hybrid sprocket.

Works Nissin calipers are truly beautiful. It's paired with a standard sized 260mm rotor.

Electronics on the factory level motocross bikes keep getting a little crazier every year.

Better look a the MXGP's 50th Anniversary look.

Would love to get our hand on this perforated side plate. It looks so much cleaner than drilling one out.

Reservoir side of the BRFC shock, which Chase Sexton is now using in the US.

The MXGP team usually has a slightly different spec Yoshimura exhaust than the US team, to suit their different engine and mapping combination.

While the US side had all their riders in matching retro gear, the MXGP HRC team riders were in regular gear for the race weekend.

Ruben Fernandez is technically under the 114 Motorsports tent but is riding a 2022 spec HRC bike, as the team is supported by Gariboldi, the owner of the HRC team.

It seems the MXGP pits at Spain were packaged a little tightly.

Another look over the factory efforts.

It's still a little odd to see the newest generation Austrian machine, stuffed under older generation GasGas plastic, since this bike technically doesn't exist.

With DeCarli Racing, the prior KTM MXGP effort, moving over to GasGas for 2022...Red Bull made the move with them. Between their effort and TLD in the US, Red Bull is beginning to become as associated with the GasGas brand as it is with KTM.

It's interesting how natural the old bodywork looks on the latest chassis.

Jorge Prado had a fresh helmet to commemorate his home GP in style.

The detail on this helmet is pretty impressive.

Again, impressive.

Ben Watson suffered a very weird injury in Spain, as an off-track excursion during qualifying, ended with major rope burns from rigging equipment near the track side.

Maxime Renaux continues to impress in his maiden MXGP season, taking a solid win in Spain!

Time to take a look at Glenn Coldenhoff's Monster Energy / Wilvo Yamaha MXGP Factory YZ450F

The Wilvo Yamaha team, runs a set of standard-coated fork tubes.

Rumor is that Coldenhoff is running an engine spec for MXGP that was provided by Yamaha USA / Star Racing and is the only member of the team on it.

In the US, this fork cap design is used by Christian Craig and Eli Tomac. Those two are running KYB's LSF fork, which is a spring and air hybrid system. So we'd suspect, that's what Coldenhoff is on as well.

Tech inspection pass for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Similar to the US team, the Wilvo group uses a Kite hub that is paired to blue Excel rims.

Akrapovic does some amazing work, period. We can't imagine the work that goes into this resonance chamber at the bend it's at.

Wilvo Yamaha is one of many factory efforts that run the more common Pirellis in MXGP.

Coldenhoff runs a slightly taller seat and this leaves a bit of a drop onto the fuel cover part of his seat. We'd imagine he can lock into this position on starts if needed.

It's interesting to see how long the MXGP Yamaha teams have used a hydraulic clutch but the US team is still staying cable. Especially when you gear Tomac's comments on the matter.

While many of Yamaha USA's riders are taking the lower part of their side panels off, Coldenhoff looks to have a different approach by adding a panel in the gap to create a more consistent grip area.