ADAMO WINS 2023 MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AT EMOTIONAL HOME GRAND PRIXMXGP 2023 Round 18 of 19, Maggiora Park, Italy

Andrea Adamo finished 3rd overall at Maggiora Park for the Grand Prix of Italy, the penultimate round of the calendar, and clinched the 2023 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship. The Italian capped a consistent first season as a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider by bringing the team a fifteenth title in 20 years and is the tenth different racer to earn the gold plate with the KTM 250 SX-F.

• Adamo goes 3-3 for a 10th podium finish of 2023 and from 18 events at a rough and slick Maggiora Park north of Milan. Adamo is the first Italian MX2 champion since Red Bull KTM Team Manager Tony Cairoli in 2007.
• Red Bull KTM Factory Racing are MX2 world champions for the second year in succession and two decades after earning the inaugural crown in 2004.
• Liam Everts rues a second moto crash to finish 12th overall and will head to the final round in the UK next week as part of an intense three-rider fight for P2 in 2023. Sacha Coenen was 14th overall.
• Jeffrey Herlings is recovering well from his fractured collarbone but will not make the gate for the season-ending British Grand Prix nor the Motocross of Nations at Ernee. Sights are set on 2024.
• MXGP closes with the trip to the popular Matterley Basin circuit in southern England, one of the best motocross tracks in Europe, for the nineteenth and final date on the world championship slate.

A rainy climate in northern regions of the country created a soft, wet and muddy first day of the Grand Prix of Italy at the historic Maggiora Park Circuit. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came to the steep hillside venue with Andrea Adamo and Liam Everts in 1st and 2nd positions in the MX2 championship and with chances to confirm the title in round 18 of 19.

Adamo, cheered on by a noisy supportive home crowd, took 4th position in the RAM Qualification Heat on Saturday while Everts was 17th. Sunday was sunny, and the improved weather helped to dry a rough and slippery course. Despite the risks, the pressure and the near misses, Adamo was able to ride to 3rd position in the opening race just ahead of Everts in 4th. The Italian had carried a 48-point lead to Maggiora. He made a gain on Saturday and again after the first moto. Everts didn’t have the best start in the second outing while Adamo was able to move up from 5th to occupy another top three slot. When Liam crashed out of 5th just before the finish line with three laps to go then Adamo mathematically secured the MX2 crown in this third full season in the class and his first with the potent KTM 250 SX-F.

Everts was unhurt but failed to finish and is now 3rd in the standings but tied on points with Simon Laengenfelder and only 4 points behind Maggiora winner Jago Geerts. Elsewhere rookie Sacha Coenen went 15-15 in the tricky conditions for 14th overall and can still break into the top 13 of the championship table.

The British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin will draw an orange curtain across the MX2 campaign and the MXGP calendar. Adamo and Everts will not be able to rest too much. Both will represent their countries at Ernee, France for the Motocross of Nations on October 8th.

Andrea Adamo, 3rd and 3rd for 3rd overall in MX2: “I cannot believe it. This really is like a dream. Thank you to everyone. I came to Maggiora not thinking about the GP win and mainly about the first chance to take the title. I’m really happy with my motos. They were very consistent even though I didn’t have the best starts. It wasn’t easy but I wasn’t thinking about the bigger picture too much and just wanted to enjoy the races. I saw Liam when I came through to start the last lap and that wasn’t so nice but this is part of the sport. I hope he is fine. An unbelievable day for me. Maybe I got lucky at times this season but every single race I tried to do the maximum I could: sometimes it is P2, sometimes P5 and sometimes P1. Nothing more. I can accept when someone is faster than me and I held this strategy all season; now I’m world champion!”

Tony Cairoli, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “We finally did it! Andrea took his first title in what was a surprising season because we didn’t have this expectation at the beginning of 2023, but he rode well from the start of the year and showed that he could be a contender. He made good results and also some wins and was the strongest all the way through.”

Results MXGP Italy 2023

1. Jeremy Seewer (SUI), Yamaha, 2-4

2. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 1-6

3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 5-3

4. Alberto Forato (ITA) KTM 3-5

5. Tim Gajser (SLO) Honda, 9-2

Standings MXGP 2023 after 18 of 19 rounds

1. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 890 points – Champion

2. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 807

3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI), Yamaha, 719

4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED) Yamaha 655

5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP), Honda, 612

8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 456

Results MX2 Italy 2023

1. Jago Geerts (BEL) Yamaha 2-1

2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), GASGAS 1-2

3. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 3-3

4. Kay de Wolf (NED) Husqvarna 9-4

5. Thibault Benistant (FRA) Yamaha 7-5

12. Liam Everts (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 4-DNF

14. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 15-15

Standings MX2 2023 after 18 of 19 rounds

1. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 779 points – Champion

2. Jago Geerts (BEL), Yamaha, 706

3. Liam Everts (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 702

4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER) GASGAS, 702

5. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Husqvarna, 558

16. Sacha Coenen (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 244

JORGE PRADO CROWNED 2023 MXGP WORLD CHAMPION ON MC 450F

RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING COMPLETE HISTORIC DAY WITH DOUBLE PODIUM.

Jorge Prado has been the class of the MXGP pack since the first round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship and cemented that position earlier on – he was crowned world champion with three motos to spare. The championship was the first for GASGAS’ MC 450F. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing finished the historic day with another double podium.

• Jorge Prado crowned MXGP world champion.
• GASGAS’ MC 450F claims maiden world title.
• Simon Längenfelder tied for MX2 overall win.

Jorge Prado clinched his world title via a brilliant victory in the first moto – the power within his MC 450F helped him jump into the early lead and he controlled proceedings from that point on. A minor fall in the second moto robbed him off the overall victory – he eventually ended sixth and lost the win via a tiebreak – but the grand prize was firmly within his grasp. 10 pole positions, 219 laps led, 16 Grand Prix podiums and 14 moto wins underline the dominant campaign that resulted in him being crowned champion. The statistics that Prado compiled will become a benchmark for years to come.

Jorge Prado: « I am so happy! It is a pity about that mistake in the second moto, but I am the new world champion. So much hard work has gone into this, from myself and the team, and I knew that I could make this happen. I have held the red plate since round one – I cannot ask for anything better. This is a dream.« 

Simon Längenfelder operated on top form once again – he was on the gas all day and gave his team even more to celebrate. A dominant win in moto one took his tally of victories to seven, the second highest in MX2, and put him in a brilliant position to contend for the overall. Unfortunately, he just missed out on a tiebreak via a second in the final moto. 1-2 scores put him second overall at the Grand Prix of Italy and kept him in contention for a silver medal in the final championship standings.

Mattia Guadagnini continued to make some progress in just the second race since he returned from injury. Eleventh was a solid start to the Grand Prix, after starting fourteenth, and he followed that with a thirteenth in moto two. 11-13 scores put him twelfth in the overall classification.

Simon Längenfelder: « It was almost a perfect weekend! I won the qualification race and had two holeshots today. I won the first race with a nice gap! I had a hard fight in the second moto – it went all the way to the end! I ended up going 1-2 for second. It was still a great weekend! I am looking forward to the finale. »

There is a single fixture left on the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar. The Grand Prix of Great Britain, round nineteen, will be held on September 24. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing will attempt to finish their title-winning term in fine form.

Results – 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Eighteen

MXGP – Overall

1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 40pts

2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 40pts

3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 36pts

12. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS) 18pts

MXGP – Moto One

1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)

2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha)

3. Alberto Forato (KTM)

11. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)

MXGP – Moto Two

1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki)

2. Tim Gajser (Honda)

3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda)

6. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)

13. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)

MXGP – Standings

1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 890pts

2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 807pts

3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 719pts

12. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS) 249pts

MX2 – Overall

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts

2. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 47pts

3. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 40pts

MX2 – Moto One

1. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)

2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha)

3. Andrea Adamo (KTM)

MX2 – Moto Two

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha)

2. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)

3. Andrea Adamo (KTM)

MX2 – Standings

1. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 779pts

2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 706pts

3. Liam Everts (KTM) 702pts

4. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 702pts

Geerts Celebrates Sensational Grand Prix Win in Italy 

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Jago Geerts powered his YZ250FM to a remarkable Grand Prix win at the 18th round of the MX2 World Championship in Maggiora, Italy. Despite the challenging conditions caused by the inclement weather in the days leading up to the event, the Yamaha ace demonstrated impressive determination and skill as he charged to a 2-1 finish to secure his seventh Grand Prix win of the season. As a result, the Belgian has moved up to second in the Championship Standings. 

At the same time, Thibault Benistant made an extraordinary comeback from injury, delivering a solid 7-5 for fifth overall, while Rick Elzinga showed good speed but was classified 11th after a costly fall in Race Two.  

In the opening race, Benistant and Geerts chased the poleman Simon Laengenfelder around the first turn, with Benistant initially holding the advantage. Benistant, however, made a costly off-track excursion on the opening lap, which cost him four positions, gifting second to Geerts. Once in second, Geerts never looked back. The Belgian showed his incredible speed and maturity to secure the position.

Benistant, however, had to recover more positions after a fall on lap three. The tenacious Frenchman showed determination and fought back from outside the top 10 to finish seventh. At the same time, Elzinga started on the cusp of the top 10 and impressively climbed up as high as sixth, but due to some minor health issues, ultimately finished eighth.

Geerts got off to a solid start in Race Two and quickly took the lead on the opening lap. Once in the top spot, the Yamaha ace controlled the race and eventually won by 2.5 seconds over Laengenfelder. 

With limited line choice at the tight and hilly Maggiora circuit, a good start was a crucial element in the result of the Grand Prix. Benistant got another great start but struggled to find his rhythm and was shuffled back to fifth, which is where he finished. In contrast, Elzinga collided with another rider at turn one and had to fight back from last position to finish 14th. 

After a positive weekend in Italy, the team now looks forward to the 19th and final round of the MX2 World Championship, which will take place next weekend, September 23-24, in Matterley Basin, Great Britain.

Jago Geerts

MX2 Grand Prix of Italy winner, 47-points

2nd MX2 Championship Standings, 706-points

“I’m really proud of what I achieved today. To win the GP here in Italy today after two injuries this year, it feels good, and I’m proud to bounce back like this. I am happy with how the whole day went. Simon (Laengenfelder) didn’t make it easy for me, but I managed to get it done, and it’s a good sign I am back in good shape.” 

Thibault Benistant

5th MX2 Grand Prix of Italy, 30-points

9th MX2 Championship Standings, 493-points

“I showed some good things this weekend. I had really good starts, even though I didn’t practice any this week, and I was happy with that. I made two mistakes in the race and had to return from that. I came back quite good with good speed. In Race Two, I had another good start, but I was feeling some pressure from behind and tightened up. I missed a little bit of ‘flow’ on the track today, but it will get better for the next one.”

Rick Elzinga

11th MX2 Grand Prix of Italy, 20-points

10th MX2 Championship Standings, 377-points 

“I had a sinus infection coming into this. That didn’t help. I didn’t have a great start in the first race but had a good first lap and fought back to sixth. After 20 minutes, I was shaking because I had no energy, but still finished eighth, which was decent. In the second race, I was wiped out by another rider in the first corner and had to come back from last. But the track was so fast that it was hard to make a difference and I only got back to 14th, but overall, I am happy with my performance. »

Seewer Secures MXGP Bronze Medal with Stunning Grand Prix Win in Italy

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer emerged victorious at the 18th and penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Maggiora, Italy. As a result, the Swiss sensation, who started his 110th consecutive Grand Prix inside the premier class this weekend, has secured this year’s bronze medal. Teammates Glenn Coldenhoff and Maxime Renaux were classified eighth and 16th, respectively.

The MXGP of Italy got off to an exceptional start for Seewer. The Swiss star ran a phenomenal pace around the hard and slick hillside of Maggiora as he pursued the newly crowned World Champion, Jorge Prado, in a challenge of the victory in Race One. Despite pushing the Spaniard to the flag, an opportunity to pass never materialized, which forced the ‘91’ to settle for second.

At the same time, Coldenhoff was squeezed at turn one and had to fight back from 10th to seventh, while Renaux finished 18th after a fall on the opening lap.

In the second and final race of the day, Seewer started outside of the top-five but kept fighting forward and eventually finished fourth, which was enough to secure the Grand Prix win.

Heavy rain throughout the week made the Maggiora circuit trickier than usual. With limited line choice at the tight and hilly Maggiora circuit, a good start was a crucial element in the result of the Grand Prix. After a midpack start in Race Two, Coldenhoff and Renaux both struggled to make inroads. Coldenhoff battled to ninth, while Renaux only moved as far up as 12th.

With only 60 points left to race for in 2023, the top-three positions in the MXGP World Championship were finalized at the Italian Grand Prix. Seewer aims to carry his winning momentum into the final round, which will take place in Matterley Basin, Great Britain, next weekend, September 23 – 24, while Coldenhoff and Renaux are eager to bounce back and finish the season strong.

Jeremy Seewer

MXGP of Italy winner, 40-points

3rd MXGP World Championship Standings, 719-points

“This one was special. I didn’t even know I won the GP. Things fell in my favour for once, which was nice. I feel like it was my turn to have some luck after so many stints of bad luck this season. I was super happy with my riding today, which was actually nothing special because the track did not have too many lines. But, when you win the GP, you can’t say much about the track; you’ll happily take that bonus. The top-three positions in the championship are decided now, so I can enjoy the last round in Matterley Basin and then do something cool at ‘The Nations’.”

Glenn Coldenhoff

8th MXGP of Italy, 26-points

4th MXGP Championship Standings, 655-points

“Physically, I am feeling good. I can finish the moto’s strong, pushing all the way to the end. Today, I was riding well, I just missed good starts and then I had to come through the pack. I made some good passes in both races. Riding wise, I am happy, but my starts are terrible at the moment, and with that part, I am disappointed.” 

Maxime Renaux

16th MXGP of Italy, 12-points

10th MXGP Championship Standings, 314-points

“Starting from behind, I had to push really hard to pass riders, and I struggled with that today. I cannot say that it was not possible to pass, and perhaps my mind was not clear enough to find the best lines, but I really struggled to find places to make up time. Starting from last did not help, but I also did not feel the best on the track today as well. So, back to work.”