With Pauls Jonass and Janis Reisulis sidelined due to injuries, the Latvian team had to search for the best riders at the domestic level but also with some international experience. However, they have a great ace in the MX2 class.
Mairus Pumpurs will lead the team in the MXGP class. He is versatile, even taking part in international motocross stages, has shown good and notable results. He looked very good on the track also in the Madona round of the Latvian Championship finishing 3rd overall on his first MX1 race.
Edvards Bidzans is the current MX1 Baltic champion. The KMP Honda rider also has been collected good results in the ADAC MX Masters. Fresh form his MX2 career-best result (4th) Karlis Reisulis will take that spot for the team.
Last year finished 12th overall last year in France.
Latvian 2024 MXoN Team:
- MXGP: Mairus Pumpurs #34
- MX2: Karlis Reisulis #35
- Edvards Bidzans #36
Latvia’s 2024 Valdis Seratinskis, the head of the National Team of the Year:
This year, we have selected this year’s strongest motocross riders in the National Team – Mairus Pumpurs, who is versatile, even taking part in international motocross stages, has shown good and notable results. He looked very good on the track also in the Madona round of the Latvian Championship. Karlis Albert Reisulis is our current World Championship TOP rider in MX2 class. Edvards Bidzans is strong on the big motorcycle, as we also saw, in the final stage of the Latvian Championship in Madona, Edvards Bidzans showed a very good result – 1. a place in the MX1 class. As well as in international European stages, he rides very well and stable. Pauls Jonas will not start this year due to an injury sustained in the Latvian team. This is the composition of our team this year, the main task is to qualify for the A final and wish our athletes success this year!
Roberts Justs, the coach of the Latvian National Team:
Unfortunately, Paul Jonass will not be able to participate in the Latvian National Team due to injury. Wishing him a successful recovery. In terms of age, we have a relatively young lineup of riders. I think this is a good one. Starting with Karlis Reisulis who is showing very good performance in MX2 class. He also did well on this Matterley Basin track. Edward Bidzans, who has successfully switched to a 450cc motorcycle and is progressing very well every weekend. I think Edward will also continue his progress and will be even better on a motorcycle by the time of Motocross of Nations, as he is now.
The third rider – Mairis Pumpurs, who showed good performance in the European Championship stages, where he fought for the TOP10 places. He has also now stepped on a 450cc motorcycle and we saw that he can show good speed.
All athletes have another month to prepare, so I think it is only positive for the Latvian team. Both Edward and Mairis will be able to prepare well and also Karlis, I think, will keep good form until then. The track may not be the most handy for Latvian athletes. Last time – 2017. in the year when the Motocross of Nations took place in England at the Matterley Basin motocross, the Latvian team was unable to qualify. It is with deep “spurs”, big jumps. England will be rainy in October, mud. I think A final is real for our national team and this task should be accomplished. Then you have to fight for each place further. Mairis has also ridden this track. Last year showed good performance in the European Championship EMX250 class. The positive thing for the Latvian team is that Karls and Mairis already know this track. ”
