Monster Energy Kawasaki

Ryan Villopoto | #2 | United States | 2014: Raced in US
You know the drill here: this is probably RV’s last season of professional racing; he’s trying to become the first American to win a world title since Bobby Moore in 1994; and… he’s trying to dethrone eight-time world champion Antonio Cairoli.

Tyla Rattray |  #28 | South Africa | 2014: 17th
Rattray, who is close friends with RV, was brought on to help him adjust to life in Europe. In his first season back in the GPs last year (he won the MX2 Championship back in 2008), Rattray dealt with a myriad of injuries and only contested seven rounds. 

Team HRC

Gautier Paulin | #21 | France | 2014: 8th
He won the opening round in Qatar a year ago, and ended the year in dominant fashion at the Motocross of Nations. In between, Paulin missed seven rounds with injury while racing with Monster Energy Kawasaki (RV’s current team). In the ten rounds he raced, Paulin had five moto wins and four moto podiums. Honda has revamped their GP efforts, and the legendary Jean-Michel Bayle will be by Paulin’s side all season.

Evgeny Bobryshev | #777 | Russia | 2014: 14th
When healthy, Russian Bob can win races. But injuries cost him eight rounds last year, including the final seven. His best moto finish last year was a fifth. Are you noting how often you hear about riders getting hurt? That’s what makes Cairoli’s consistency so remarkable, and key.

Yamaha Factory

Jeremy van Horebeek | #22 | Belgium | 2014: 2nd
Van Horebeek only won one moto last year, but was on the podium a remarkable twenty-one times. This is another title contender to watch for this weekend.

Romain Febvre | #461 | France | 2014: 3rd in MX2
Febvre was forced to move up due to the GPs age rule. He was strong in MX2 a season ago, podiuming in eight motos and winning one moto.

Rockstar Suzuki World MXGP

Clement Desalle | #25 | Belgium | 2014: 4th
Cairoli’s long-time rival. Speed and determination are never a question with Desalle, but injuries have thwarted each title drive. A shoulder problem ruined his chances last year. 

Kevin Strijbos | #22  | Belgium | 2014: 3rd
An ever-steady presence in the championship, Strijbos has been there and done that. He might not be the fastest rider every weekend, but he’s solid.

Rockstar Energy Racing Europe

Glenn Coldenhoff | #259 | Netherlands | 2014: 13th in MX2
Another product of the MX2 age rule, this will be the first year in MXGP for Coldenhoff. He broke two toes in a warm-up race earlier this year, but should be good to go this weekend. 

Wilvo Forkrent KTM

Steve Frossard | #183 | France | 2014: 5th
The veteran had eight moto podiums with Kawasaki last season. This is the former race winner’s first year with KTM.

Jake Nicholls | #45 | Great Britain | 2014:22nd
Nicholls broke his arm last weekend in a warm-up race and will miss the opener. There is no timetable on his return.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM

Shaun Simpson | #24 | Great Britain | 2014:7^th
Simpson is now known as a sand master after a surprising overall win at Lommel in 2013. He had two moto podiums in 2014—both at Lommel.

Marchetti Racing KTM

Jose Butron | #17 | Spain | 2014: 9th in MX2

24MX Honda

Christophe Charlier | #23 | France | 2014: 15th in MX2

Filip Bengtsson | #11 | Sweden | 2014: 26th

JK Racing Yamaha

Paul Coates | #177 | Great Britain | 2014: Raced in U.S.

Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory

Dean Ferris | #111 | Australia | 2014: 24^th
Ferris, who raced Monster Energy Supercross for Red Bull KTM last year before returning to the GPs, is returning from a broken femur in Brazil last year.

Ricci Racing Husqvarna

Rui Goncalves | #999 | Portugal | 2014: 11th

DP19 Racing Yamaha

David Philippaerts | #19 | Italy | 2014: 10^th
The former champion is still a contender on the right day.

Assomotor Honda

Alessandro Lupino | #77 | Italy | 2014: 33rd

Kei Yamamoto | #400 | Japan | 2014: 26th in MX2

TM Racing

Davide Guarneri | #39 | Italy | 2014: 9th

MX2 Teams

Red Bull KTM

Jeffrey Herlings | #84 | Netherlands | 2014: 2nd
Herlings won twenty-two motos a year ago, but didn’t win the championship. The two-time MX2 world champion broke his femur on an 85cc at the Everts and Friends Charity race in July. He returned at the final round in Mexico in September to try and salvage the championship, but fell short. After a lengthy off-season recovery process, he might be behind at the opener. He said in a recent video: “If it’s going to be a win, it’s going to be more than beautiful. If it’s going to be third, it’s great. If it’s going to be fifth, I’m happy. Whatever the result will be, I’m going to be a happy guy because I undergo surgery just a little bit over two months ago and I’m already back on the bike.” 

Pauls Jonass | #41 | Latvia | 2014: 24th
Last year KTM signed the 2013 125cc Junior World Motocross Champion to a five-year deal. This will be his first full-time season in MX2. He spilt time last year between the European Motocross Championship (EMX250) and MX2, racing seven rounds in MX2 with a season high of fifth. 

Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team

Jordi Tixier | #1 | France | 2014: 1st
The defending MX2 world champion moves over from Red Bull KTM to Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki. Last year, Tixier had twelve moto podiums to go with three moto wins. Racer X’s Eric Johnson recently asked Jordi if he could beat Herlings this year. “I hope so,” he said. “That’s my goal, you know? The last few years he was faster than us, but he also got injured two times—like last year he was injured and the year before. Last year was my time to be world champion and I did it.

Dylan Ferrandis | #4 | France | 2014: 4th
Ferrandis won the opening moto in Qatar last year—and then didn’t win another one. He did, however, have twelve moto podiums, including seven runner-ups. Life is tough when you’re pitted against Herlings. 

Thomas Covington | #64 | United States | 2014: 17th
Covington struggled in his first season abroad. After a third in moto 1 in Qatar, he’s best finish was a eleventh (twice). He hopes year two will be better.

Monster Energy Dixon Racing Team Kawasaki

Max Anstie | #99 | Great Britain | 2014: 12th
Anstie, who spent a lot of his career racing in America, is back for another season with Dixon Racing. The team is switching from Yamaha to Kawasaki in 2015. Anstie won his first career MX2 overall last year in Lommel. 

Mel Pocock | #119 | Great Britain | 2014: 16th

Rockstar Energy Racing Europe

Jeremy Seewer | #91 | Switzerland | 2014: 10th
Another fast Swiss rider that has followed in Arnaud Tonus’ footsteps. He finished tenth in his rookie season a year ago, with his best finish of fifth (twice). Could be one to watch.

Gariboldi Honda

Tim Gajser | #243 | Slovenia | 2014: 5th
Honda signed Gajser to a two-year extension last year. Gajser is considered one of the brightest young prospects in MX2. He was on the podium eight times last year, and won his first career motos in Brazil and Mexico.  

Jorge Zaragoza | #101 | Spain | 2014: DNC
This is the Spaniard’s first season in MX2, after contesting the European Motocross Championship (EMX250) the past two years. 

Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM

Ben Watson | #919 | Great Britain | 2014: DNC

Petar Petrov | #119 | Bulgaria | 2014: 14th

Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory

Aleksandr Tonkov | #59 | Russia | 2014: 8th

Ricci Racing Husqvarna

Christopher Valente | #71 | Switzerland | 2014: 45th

Standing Construct Yamaha

Julien Lieber | #33 | Belgium | 2014: 11th

Valentin Guillod | #92 | Switzerland | 2014: 7th

2014 Qatar Motos

If you’re not familiar with the circuit in Qatar, you can check out full motos (MXGP Race 1 and MX2 Race 1 and 2) from the opener in 2014.

MXGP - Race 1

MX2 - Race 1

MX2 - Race 2