Recap: Preseason races before the MXGP of Argentina!

We`re almost there! Last weekend the International of Lierop was the last preseason race before riders pack their bags for the MXGP of Argentina will start in a week to kick off the World Championship. Those preseason races served as a first glimpse of speed or adaptation for some riders like fresh Kawasaki KRT Jeremy Seewer or the new factory recruits such as Honda HRC Ferruccio Zanchi.

The first race of the year took place in Spain, at the former MXGP track of Talavera de la Reina for the opening round of the Spanish Motocross Championship. There, Josh Gilbert of GabrielSS24 KTM took the overall in the MX1 class, while Neestan Husqvarna´s Lucas Coenen put a dominant performance in the MX2 class. At the same time, Talavera was the first-ever race for the new-brand Triumph ridden by Mikkel Haarup and Camden McLellan, who debuted the new TX-F250 with a double podium finish in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

That same weekend, but in the sand of Riola Sardo, took place the opening round of the Internazionali D´Italia featuring a competitive group of MXGP and MX2 riders. Tim Gajser was unstoppable as he won both motos over Maxime Renaux (3-2) and Romain Febvre (2-4). Glenn Coldenhoff and Wilvo Fantic made their debuts with a positive 4th overall ahead of MXGP rookie Jago Geerts and Gajser´s teammate Ruben Fernandez.

Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, Ferruccio Zanchi shocked everyone by taking his first win on his Honda HRC debut. Red Bull GasGas rider Simon Langenfelder (4-1) and WZ KTM Racing´s Oriol Oliver (3-2) were on the podium. On the other hand, Andrea Adamo was second in Race 1 but a crash at the start of Race 2 ruled out.

The second (and final) round of the Internazionali D´Italia took place in Mantova, which was the first race for Jeremy Seewer on Kawasaki. The Swiss finished 4th overall via 4-3 while Tim Gajser was crowned the MX1 champ with another 1-1 result. Febvre and Fernandez rounded the podium, but in the standings, it was Febvre who grabbed the silver medal over Fernandez.

As for the MX2 class, Liam Everts showed on his first race of the year and won the overall over Langenfelder, Adamo, and Lata, but it was Langenfelder who took the championship honors by 2 points over Spaniard Oriol Oliver.

Kawasaki KRT duo Jeremy Seewer and Romain Febve were the true dominants at the 57th edition of the International of Sommieres in France, as Seewer earned his first win on Kawasaki edging Febvre and Pauls Jonass. Thibault Benistant was the best MX2 after taking the overall win in his class and 3rd place in the Superfinal. Unfortunately, Mattia Guadagnini got injured by a fractured shoulder blade, and soft tissue injuries to his lower arm.

Lugo, home of the MXGP of Galicia for this season, also hosts the second round of the Spanish Motocross. It was the first motocross race for Jorge Prado after his adventure in the AMA Supercross series. The current MXGP champ took the overall in front of his home crowd after sharing moto wins with countrymen Ruben Fernandez. In the MX2 class, fresh Red Bull GasGas rider Marc-Antoine Rossi swept both motos.

The long-awaited return of Jeffrey Herlings took place that same weekend at the International of Hawkstone Park. The Red Bull KTM rider won two out of three motos, but it was Glenn Coldenhoff via 2-2 who grabbed the overall in the MX1 class on his first race for Wilvo Fantic. It was the first International win for Fantic too. Herlings went 4-1 and then won the Superfinal for 2nd overall, as Pauls Jonass rounded the podium with a solid 3-3. The current MX2 World Champ Andrea Adamo was unbeteable.

And finally, last weekend Lierop closed the preseason races with a dominant performance by Jeffrey Herlings, this time winning the overall over Monster Energy Yamaha´s duo Calvin Vlaanderen and Jago Geerts. Kay de Wolf, on his first race of the year, showed some good speed by winning both motos on his Neestan Husqvarna.

LIST: PRESEASON RACE WINNERS