Jonathan McCready: It is a very open MXoN field this year in what should be an all-time MXoN with an all-star cast of legendary champions lining up to face-off for individual and country honours on one of the best tracks in the world.
France, Australia, Netherlands, USA, even Germany have a shot at winning with Spain, Belgium, Italy and even GB a shot at a podium.
The MX2 class will be fascinating with De Wolf and Lucas Coenen back on track together again with no world title pressure for either. Simon Laengenfelder can always produce and then there are the AMA boys, can Tom Vialle run the pace of Coenen and De Wolf and the big wildcard is Cooper Webb, what can he do with two weeks on probably the best 250 in the world – can he top five or better in his class and top ten in moto? That would really help put USA amongst it. Don’t forget the likes of Mikkel Haarup and home favourite Max Anstie, both very capable on their day as Anstie proved the last time a MXoN was held at this very track and he has that Star Yamaha to power him around the circuit. And how will Kyle Webster do for Australia? His result could be key in helping the Lawrence brothers to get to the top step as a team.
For me Lucas Coenen might win the overall with other two most likely, De Wolf and Vialle, maybe having to play the team role in a certain moto with France and Netherlands up there as favourites, Coenen will be free to go all out as Belgium aren’t expected to win – but a podium isn’t out of reach if Coenen rides like he can, gets a start and puts that 250 up with the 450s.
MXGP is nuts! Jett,….er not anymore, its Hunter Lawrence, Jorge Prado, Jeffrey Herlings, Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen (he won the overall last year), Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser will all face-off. All champions and all legends of the sport they will all head to head three times against each other this weekend, and that’s before you add in the likes of Jeremy Seewer, Brent Van Doninck, Alberto Forato, Dylan Wright, Kevin Horgmo and Tommy Searle! Stacked is an understatement!
Who wins? Very difficult to say! The first seven names could all win a moto and three won a moto last year with Febvre, Prado and Jett while Roczen won the class! If Jeffrey Herlings gets a start, maybe the Dutchman comes put on top. Tomac can’t be counted out if beast mode is engaged, but with Prado, you have one of the two best executers of a race from start to finish in the game (along with Jett Lawrence), and with the speed of everyone else to match.
The Open class in intriguing and maybe deeper than prevous years! Jett is now in and the overwhelming favourite but when you add Ruben Fernandez, Maxime Renaux, Glenn Coldenhoff, Andrea Bonacorsi, Max Nagl, Valentin Guillod, Aaron Plessinger, a flying Jan Pancar, Jago Geerts and Britain’s flyer, Conrad Mewse. It is a strong field with eleven rapid riders before you even get to Harri Kullas and Canada’s Jess Pettis. But will Australia’s tactic to put Jett in Open, and not against Herlings, Prado, Tomac, Gajser, Febvre and Roczen, work? Hunter now gets the break between races but a tough class to race in.
The biggest wildcards for me are Conrad Mewse and Jago Geerts, Conrad can run up front in this class and be top three overall, the speed is there, we saw that all year in the British championship. Jago Geerts really should be a two-time world MX2 champ but crashes and injury ruined his last couple of seasons and he hasn’t got to show his potential ona 450 this year, will he be back on his game this weekend? Both riders could really put the cat amongst the pigeons if it clicks! For the class win it’s hard to look past Lawrence and Renaux as well as Plessinger and Glenn Coldenhoff, the Dutch rider usually rides very well at Matterley. Right now, Lawrence would be the big favourite given his form – but you can’t count out the rest mentioned, especially Renaux who has the elite talent when fully healthy.
For the team overall it’s also difficult, it’s very hard to count the USA out, they have three champions on their team and I expect them all to rise to the occassion, but to beat the French? That’s tough with Febvre, Renaux and Vialle, on paper they are the strongest trio but Netherlands with Herlings back,de Wolf the MX2 world champ and a fast Coldenhoff who is good at Matterley, they could take it to the French IF all three get the starts they need – that’s the biggest question mark.
There are no question marks over Jett and Hunter Lawrence, who could win their respective classes. Really, it is where does Webster fit in in MX2, that will determine how Austrlia do, if he’s fast and up in a top five overall spot, Australia can be victorious for the first time ever!
But everytime you think about someone else winning, the margins are smaller, it’s just so hard to bet against France with their three world champs, there is no real weakness in the team.
Team overall:
- France
- Netherlands
- USA
Class overall:
MXGP: Jorge Prado
MX2: Lucas Coenen
Open: Jett Lawrence
Andy McKinstry: Not much more for me to add other than this MXoN is going to be epic – I cannot wait! France are amazing at this event and you just can’t over look them provided we get normal conditions – if it ends up being a mudder who knows what might happen. Australia, Netherlands and USA will certainly be knocking on the door but France are just so solid. Everyone seems to be sleeping on Germany as well, I think they’ll be in the top five.
In MXGP, I am going with Herlings although it is a close call between him and Prado, especially with the Spaniard’s good starts. It is a shame Jett isn’t in the MXGP class, it would have been good to see him battle with them twice on Sunday instead of once.
MX2 is a tough one to call. Coenen, de Wolf and Vialle will be the fastest but racing against the 450cc machines makes things difficult for them, it only takes them to get stuck behind one good MXGP rider and there’s not much they can do. I am going for Vialle for the win provided the track gets technical – that’s when he’s at his best but De Wolf and Coenen will certainly have the pace. Langenfelder loves Matterley Basin too so watch out for him as well as the likes of Adamo, Webb, Anstie, Haarup etc.
It’s hard to bet against Jett for the open class – the kid is a superstar! Renaux will also be one to watch – he always finds away at the MXoN but it’ll be difficult for him up against Jett.
One thing for sure we are going to get fireworks this weekend.
Team overall:
- France
- Australia
- Netherlands
Class overall:
MXGP: Jeffrey Herlings
MX2: Tom Vialle
Open: Jett Lawrence
