Vital MX Pit Bits: 2018 MXGP of France

St Jean d'Angley offers up a visually epic track each year, mixed in with some great racing and tricks parts from around the paddock, what more could you ask for? This is Pit Bits from the MXGP of France.

Things got a little heated when Cairoli through some attitude and nearly a rear wheel into Glenn Coldenhoff's face after spending a bit of time behind him.

After missing the beginning round and starting the season quite roughly, Tim Gajser is clawing his way up the points and sits one behind Gautier Paulin for fifth overall.

Fox went all out for Gautier Paulin's home race, with custom one-off gear and boots for the Frenchman.

100% also stepped up with some flair for Paulin.

Some of Geico Honda's ownership was on hand to check out the GP and spent time under the 114 Honda Motorsports tent, as they have Hunter Lawrence signed for 2019 and on.

HRC's Calvin Vlaanderen and 114's Hunter Lawrence battled it out in both motos, trading moto scores...finishing ninth and tenth overall each, respectively.

On the 114 Hondas, we were surprised to see a few things untouched...like the engine mounts and all the hardware (no titanium here).

A few rounds back, Larence was running a Factory Connection link arm but since has reverted to the stock length.

Would you want to play Russian Roulette with The Bullet?

Jeffrey Herlings is one of the few factory level KTM riders we see use Renthal Twinwalls these days, as many have swapped over to the Fatbars.

Jeffrey's control layout is pretty basic, sticking with just a starter and kill switch, no launch or map controls.

Antonio Cairoli however uses Renthal Fatbars.

He has a bit more going on though, with a starter and launch mode button on the left side and some material to separate the two.

Cairoli has his kill and start button swapped from the usual sides they're found on.

Another one-one performance allowed Jeffrey Herlings to stretch his points gap over Antonio Cairoli by 60 points.

Can you buy Akrapovic carbon parts? Sadly, no. But they sure look good on the Red Bull KTMs.

KTM's billet factory axle blocks sure offer more adjustment marks then we've seen. Seriously, look at them all.

KTM's RPM start counter aboard their 450 SX-Fs. 8,000 PRM, 8,500 RPM, 9,000 RPM, etc.

Romain Febvre being the other popular French rider in the MXGP field, was also sporting some one-off gear.

Along with mix-match boots to better sort the gear and cause.

Just like we've seen in the US, factory Yamaha (Rinaldi in MXGP) has gone away from works Yamaha hubs and over to Kite.

Thomas Covington cranked out a holeshot over the weekend and followed it up with a moto win...then a third in moto two for third overall.

While the engine mount may look stock, it's not. Different materials and thicknesses are found on the KRT KX450F-SRs.

A small peek at the CRM carbon subframe and airbox aboard the KRT 450s.

KRT in MXGP uses the Magnesium Nissin brake claiper like the US team, although the coatings are stripped off. So it's a bit more low-key to spot.

Jago Geerts just finished off the MX2 podium with a third in moto two, and fourth overall.

Thomas Covington is coming home, as he announced over the weekend he will return to the US in 2019 with the Rockstar Husqvarna team.

BUD Racing Kawasaki no longer compete in MX2, instead focusing on the Europe leg with the EMX250 class. Per usual, their bikes are covered in house brand parts.