2011 GP preview - MX1

MX1 GP Preview

It’s the start of the 2011 World Championship this weekend in Bulgaria- and what a series it promises to be. Multiple potential race winners  and the unkown factor that creates the excitement for any new season means this weekend is building up to one of the best races of the year. Let’s look at some  of the top contenders in MX1 and some dark horses.

With three World Champions in the class and a host of  GP winners, the MX1 class is an astounding mix of quality riders and should provide some fantastic racing.

Antonio Cairoli is undoubtedly the favourite, the four time World Champ is the total package in GP motocross combining raw talent with excellent race craft, style and a big heart. He will no doubt have his 350 KTM improved from last season and his confidence will be sky high, but if anyone can beat him it could be Clement Desalle.

The 21 year old Factory Suzuki star is beginning his second in a factory team. With one year’s experience in the team they communication and knowledge will have improved. Desalle has improved fitness regime and his never say die attitude mean that he has all the tools, and now the experience, to take the fight to Cairoli and give the Italian his toughest challenge in the MX1 class so far.

The factory teammates of these two title favourites will also be backing themselves to take the title this year, but both KTM’s Max Nagl and Suzuki’s Steve Ramon need to improve on their weaknesses to take the title.  

Nagl is moving to the 350 this season but he will be looking to keep his incredible starting ability that vaulted him to many holeshots in 2010. Nagl is smooth and fit, and if he can stay away from injuries he will be there or there a therebouts for the title, but does he have the mental strength and self belief to win a fight against Cairoli or Desalle when the title pressure is on?

Steve Ramon has won two World titles already, but both titles have been taken through consistency not through race wins, and with Cairoli consistently winning Ramon may need to step up his aggression in order to contend for wins and the championship. But the smoothest and maybe the most naturally talented rider in the class can never be counted out over a long series, Ramon may be the oldest rider in the class but he  will be in the top five every week ready to take advantage of other riders mistakes.

Rinaldi Yamaha have their strongest line up in many years, 2008 World Champ David Philipearts returns for another crack at the title. The consummate professional David is very determined, very fit, mentally strong and will fight for every position. Similar to Ramon he will be there every weekend, but he may need to find a touch more raw speed over the entire fifteen rounds to challenge for wins consistently. One thing is for certain if Phillipearts is in the hunt down the stretch he won’t be giving an inch to his rivals.

New teammate Steven Frossard is coming up from MX2 where he finished third in the 2010 championship. Frossard has been in blistering from already in 2011 winning the Italian National championship against Cairoli and Philippearts. His speed is not in question on the hard tracks, but can Frossard keep it together in the sand and find the consistency to challenge for the title in his first season?

The Kawasaki teams have already been hit by injury, pre season title favourite Ben Townley back in the GPs riding for the CLS/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team is not even going to be on the line in Bulgaria after suffering a concussion practicing at home in New Zealand... his return to racing is unclear, but when he comes back he will be expected to fight for podiums and wins. The Factory GPKR Kawasaki team have already lost Sebastian Pourcel who has broken his back just two weeks prior to the GPs starting. It is the third year in a row injury has derailed the talented Frenchman’s GP season. This leaves the consistent and improving Xavier Boog who will be looking for his first win in 2011. Jonathan Barragan will be the green teams main hope for a title. If he can stay in the free the tough Spaniard can make his presence felt at the front, but he has yet to prove he can bring the speed he had on his KTM to the Kawasaki, maybe this will be the year.

Team Honda come into this season looking stronger than they have for a few years. The Martin Factory squad comprises Portuguese rider Rui Goncalves and Russian Evgeny Bobryshev. Bobryshev was the revelation of the 2010 season, he finished ninth in the World in his first MX1 season with some podium finishes as well as some blistering speed. He also won the British Championship for CAS Honda and now is looking to take the next step in his career with a factory team. Extensive training has left him fitter than ever before and the young talented Russian could well be a threat to win some races in 2011 but the title may be a bit too far away for him this year. Rui Goncalves is in his second year in the MX1 class but after spending last season on the 350, the 2009 MX2 runner –up is having to learn a new riding style for the 450 and as yet has not shown great speed in 2011. Rui is a hard worker and he will get faster as the season goes on, just how fast he can get remains to be seen, he could surprise some people.

LS Honda has a very strong team this season, Ken De Dycker returns to ride for the manufacturer he has had most success on in GPs and with the team being based in Belgium and not a high pressure outfit, De Dycker may have all the pieces in the puzzle to reignite his enthusiasm and show the form he did two or three years ago. De Dycker should win races in 2011, but can he put it together the whole season and keep his determination and fitness strong every weekend?  Team mate Shaun Simpson has graduated to MX1 and fighting Scot is revelling in the low pressure environment and the torque of the 450 Honda that suits his riding style perfectly. Coming from two injury hit and high pressure years at factory KTM, the LS Honda set up could provide the ideal platform for Shaun to have fun with his racing and shock a few people at his speed on the 450.

Factory TM signing Tanel Leok has shown some impressive speed in the pre-season and the TM engine has been getting him out to great starts which has always been his weakness in seasons past. Another rider who has a lot of talent is Anthony Boissere, working with George Jobe the Yamaha rider will show flashes of brilliance in 2011 but needs to be more consistant when it isn’t his day. Added to that impressive list are guys like Marc De Reuver and Kevin Strijbos – both former GP winner and title contenders just need a healthy season and some good starts to rediscover their form and confidence of previous years.

The Brits are back MX1 for 2011 and it's not just Shaun Simpson. Jason Dougan in the form of his life in 2011 riding for Steve Dixon’s Wild Wolf Yamaha team and could have some good results, while young gun Graeme Irwin is campaigning the 350 KTM for Roger Magee’s HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK team. It will be a baptism of fire for the 19 year old Irishman in his first GP season but his heart is bigger than anyone else and he will find a way to climb the rankings.

Martin Barr is riding half the GPs for the Proppa.com KTM team. The 23 year old Irishman is in blistering form in the UK and if he can bring that speed to the GPs, a lot of teams will be shocked they haven’t signed the stylish rider for a full GP season.