The second meeting of the MXGP season, held in Castilla-La Mancha, left a mixed impression. The track, already criticized last year, didn't convince this season either, and the weather conditions turned the event into a muddy challenge for the riders. Between absences due to injury and sporting surprises, here's a look back at the final weekend of Motocross racing.
MXGP: Tim Gajser begins his mission (and harvest) of reconquest?
He had the opportunity toequal Joel Robert's record of 50 Grand Prix victories. Tim Gajser brilliantly rose to the challenge with an authoritative double. After being beaten in Argentina by Maxime Renaux and Romain Febvre, the Slovenian set the pace this time. In the first heat, a collision at the start involving Lucas Coenen and Maxime Renaux enabled Gajser to quickly take the lead. He won by a comfortable margin ahead of teammate Rubén Fernández, who secured a Honda double, and Calvin Vlaanderen. Glenn Coldenhoff, Kevin Horgmo and Isaak Gifting completed the top six, while Febvre finished seventh.
Gajser started from tenth position in the second heat and had to work hard to climb the Circuito Moto Ranch de Cózar. Without ever panicking, he took advantage of a mistake by Lucas Coenen to seize the lead and never relinquished it. Glenn Coldenhoff and Andrea Bonacorsi gave Fantic a historic podium, with Brian Bogers finishing fourth. Romain Febvre finished fifth, while Maxime Renaux, in difficulty, finished eleventh. Halfway between the two Frenchmen, rookie Lucas Coenen took 8th place.
MXGP 2025 provisional overall standings :
As he says himself, "it's only the beginning", but Gajser is already leading the championship by 20 points over Febvre and 21 over Renaux. The Slovenian is in search of a 5th MXGP title since his last one in 2022. And following the departure of Jorge Prado, he intends to reassert himself as the undisputed champion.
Liam Everts, king of the mud in MX2
In the MX2 class, Thibault Benistant set the ball rolling by winning the qualifying heat, but it was Liam Everts who came out on top in the race. The first heat saw Ferruccio Zanchi spring a surprise by taking victory after a perfect holeshot. Liam Everts took second place ahead of Kay de Wolf. Benistant finished fourth, followed by Simon Längenfelder and Cas Valk. Quentin Prugnières and Julius Mikula put in a fine performance, finishing seventh and eighth. Mathis Valin got off to a good start, but crashed and finished 19th, before withdrawing from the second round with a wrist injury.
Liam Everts then got off to an excellent start and never looked back, winning solo. Kay de Wolf finished second, followed by Andrea Adamo and Simon Längenfelder in a fierce battle. Cas Valk closed the top 5 ahead of Guillem Farres. Zanchi, winner of the first heat, finishes tenth, but takes his first MX2 podium.
Liam Everts confirms that a career is never really linear, and that victory is all the more delicious at certain points in one's career:
I'm absolutely speechless. Just six months ago, I was sitting on my sofa, not knowing if I'd ever race again. But I've worked hard for this moment; I didn't do it alone, and I'm grateful to the people who supported me along the way. (statements to be found on the MXGP website)
MX2 2025 provisional overall standings:
In the championship, Kay de Wolf retains the red plate with a six-point lead over Everts and 19 over Längenfelder.
MXGP Castilla La Mancha: high-profile absentees and a controversial track
Even before the weekend got underway, the list of absentees grew longer. Marc-Antoine Rossi and Alberto Forato were forced to withdraw from the event, while the track, deemed unwelcoming by many riders, was the cause of much gnashing of teeth. The impression of a deserted field, due to the lack of crowds, reinforced the feeling of a sadly missed GP. But we're not going to complain: unlike the MotoGP race weekend in Argentina, there was still plenty of suspense.
MXGP and MX2 2025 race schedule and winners :
Our Moto-Station colleagues reported on the number of injured riders before the start of the race, and we hope to find a few more by the next deadline. Starting with Mathis Valin, who has a sore wrist. The next meeting will be at Saint-Jean-d'Angély, starting this weekend!
1. MXGP Argentina, Córdoba circuit, March 2. Winners: Maxime Renaux (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
2. MXGP de Castilla-La Mancha, Cozar circuit, March 16 Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Liam Everts (MX2)
3. MXGP d'Europe, St Jean d'Angely circuit, March 23
4. MXGP Sardinia (Italy), Riola Sardo circuit, April 6
5. MXGP Trentino (Italy), Pietramurata circuit, April 13
6. MXGP of Switzerland, Frauenfeld circuit, April 21
7. MXGP Portugal, Agueda circuit, May 4
8. MXGP Spain, Lugo circuit, May 11
9. MXGP France, Ernée circuit, May 25
10. MXGP Germany, Teutschenthal circuit, June 1
11. MXGP Latvia, Kegums circuit, June 8
12. MXGP Great Britain, Matterley Basin circuit, June 22
13. MXGP Indonesia, venue to be confirmed, July 6
14. MXGP Czech Republic, Loket circuit, July 27
15. MXGP Flanders (Belgium), Lommel circuit, August 3
16. MXGP Sweden, Uddevalla circuit, August 10.
17. MXGP Netherlands, Arnhem circuit, August 24
18. MXGP Turkey, Afyonkarahisar circuit, September 7
19. MXGP China, Shanghai circuit, September 14
20. MXGP Australia, Darwin circuit, September 21
Motocross des Nations 2025: Monster Energy FIM MXoN, Crawfordsville circuit (USA), October 5.
Photo and video credits : MXGP
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