For the tenth time in his long history as they organised for the first time in 1953, the Moto Club of Lacapelle Marival will launch the season in France this weekend with the Masters of Motocross. Seventeen riders and five World Champions will be on track, racing the MX1 or the MX2 class on Sunday.
After a successful MXGP of France in October 2021, the club had a short break to prepare the 2022 Masters of Motocross but never give up. “We had to cancel the 2021 Masters due to the Covid, so for us it’s important to organize in 2022 even if there was only four months to recover from the MXGP. It has been really demanding for all the volunteers to prepare the MXGP, even if we had some experience with Sidecar and MX3 World Championship, but we were all proud to run this GP and we prepare the Masters with the same enthusiasm and interest,” explains president Vincent Ayroles, himself former Elite rider in the French series.
Seven factory teams
Year after year Lacapelle attract more and more top teams and riders, and this weekend no less than seven factory teams will be there: Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Team MX2 and MXGP, KTM Factory in both classes, Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory MXGP and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory MX2. Add to this prestigious list JM Honda Racing, Gebben Yamaha Van Venrooy Racing, F&H Racing team, Diga Procross KTM, JWR Honda Racing, Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz, Bud Racing Kawasaki, Hitachi KTM and you have there a mini GP paddock two weeks’ prior the first GP in UK!
Seewer and Geerts favourites?
It seems that Jeffrey Herlings will not be able to defend his title – he won the Masters 2020 and the 2022 MXGP – due to his recent foot injury, unfortunately. The MX1 class looks more open than ever, even if after his strong performance in Sardinia last weekend Jeremy Seewer could be “the man to beat” on this track where he got podiums in 2019 and 2020. Apart Ben Watson, Brian Bogers and Jed Beaton, all his opponents will do at Lacapelle their first race of the season: Maxime Renaux, Glenn Coldenhoff, Pauls Jonass, Thomas Kjer Olsen, Arminas Jasikonis, Jordi Tixier, Mathys Boisrame, Calvin Vlaanderen, Shaun Simpson and Henri Jacobi will race the two MX1 motos (20 mn + 2 laps each) and probably the super final (the top fifteen of each class after two motos will qualify for it). In the M2 class Tom Vialle will also do his first race, and in this class also there’s a strong line up; fighting with the 450 last week in Sardinia Jago Geerts show that he’s ready for the season, and he will try to stop Vialle who won the 2020 Masters and the 2022 MX2 GP of France ! The factory Husqvarna of Kay de Wolf and Roan Van de Moosdijk, the F&H Kawasaki of Kevin Horgmo, the Honda of Stephen Rubini and the KTM of Liam Everts and Isaak Gifting will all race for a podium result.
Five races and a support class
Action will start at 8.05 on Sunday morning for the 125 support class, and then we’ll have the MX2 and MXGP practice sessions. All races (2 for each class, 125, MX2 and MX1) including the SuperFinal will take place on Sunday afternoon. Fans must show a proof of vaccination to enter on site, and the ticket will cost 40€ per adult.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/motoclub.lacapellemarival/