The 2024 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, set to be held in Heerde, The Netherlands on the 13th and 14th of July.
This prestigious event will gather young motocross talents from 38 nations, all competing to bring glory to their countries. Competitors will race in three distinct classes, battling for the titles of Junior World Champion in the 125cc and 85cc categories, as well as the World Cup Winner in the 65cc class.
The Junior Motocross World Championship has been held since 2004. Last year´s edition took place in Bucharest, Romania. Mathis Valin, who is today the French MX2 champion and one of the top riders in the EMX250 class was the champion in 125cc.
Like Valin, there are several riders who are already taking their first steps on the 250 bikes, although others will have another chance to fight for the 125cc title.
It is never easy to choose favorites in the 125cc class, although, we have the 125cc European Championship as a reference. For example, Noel Zanocz who is the current EMX125 leader, or his Fantic Racing teamamte, Italian Simone Mancini who won the bronze medal last year in Rumania.
Dutchman Gyan Doensen is the current 2nd in EMX125 and undoubtedly one of the favorites to shine in the sand of Heerde. Others who will also have a home advantage will be Jayson Van Drunen, Dex Kooiker, and Dani Heitink. The latter is a Factory Yamaha rider and 85cc World Champion in 2023.
Last week the Belgian duo Jarne Bervoets and Douwe Van Mechgelen, factory Yamaha and Fantic riders respectively, were on the podium at the 125cc Dutch National in Heerde.
Austrian Maximilian Ernecker has been quite irregular so far in the EMX125, but a win in the second moto in Latvia shows how good he can be in the sand.
Salvador Perez and Francisco Garcia Ocaña have been the last Spaniards to reach podiums in EMX125 and EMX250 rounds, and even Perez has two Moto wins this year.
Chance Lawton, Patrick Shipley and Brennon Harrison will represent the United States,all three winners at the amateur level, but is to see how good they are at sand tracks.
Australia will have a very strong profile in the form of Ky Wood. Australian 125cc champion in 2023 and winner of a round in the MX3 (250) class this year. On the other hand, France has lost one of its best assets, factory Yamaha rider Mano Faure suffered a broken femur a week ago; in his place is Tom Brunet of the Jezyk Racing Team.
