The 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship kicks off in Argentina this Saturday and Sunday. Most notably, Jeffrey Herlings, the 2018 MXGP World Champion, is out for the opener.
Qualifying begins Saturday at 1:15 p.m. EST with the MX2 Class. MXGP follows at 2:00 p.m. EST. Racing kicks off Sunday with MX2 Race 1 at 10:00 a.m. You can watch it all live on MXGP-TV.com.
Check out what the landscape in 2019 will look like in Europe.
Red Bull KTM
#84—Jeffrey Herlings | 2018: World Champion
The defending MXGP World Champion is out for the opener due to a foot injury suffered in a training crash in January. Herlings will undergo a check-up on March 11 to change from a full cast to a lighter support and doctors will then evaluate his recovery process. The second round of the series is set for March 24 at Matterley Basin in Great Britain.
#222—Antonio Cairoli | 2018: 2nd
The nine-time world champion finished a distant second to Herlings in 2018, but he was still the closest challenger, winning six motos. Although he’s 33, AC is a favorite for a tenth world title, which would tie him for most all-time with Stefan Everts.
Honda HRC
#243—Tim Gajser | 2018: 4th
The two-time world champion missed the opening round last year due to a jaw injury, which affected him for much of the beginning of the season. He performed much better at the end of the season and took fourth overall. Can he take advantage of Herlings’ injury to start the season?
#189—Brian Bogers | 2018: Injured
Bogers missed all of his rookie MXGP season due to a foot injury. He’s finally healthy and ready for 2019.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP
#461—Romain Febvre | 2018: 6th
The 2015 world champion wasn’t in a factor in the title chase last year and missed the final three rounds due to injury.
#91—Jeremy Seewer | 2018: 8th
Seewer, a title contender in MX2 for several years, moves over from The Wilvo Yamaha team, where he raced his debut MXGP season, to the factory squad.
Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha
#21—Gautier Paulin | 2018: 5th
The Motocross of Nations stalwart for team France moves over from the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna squad.
#4—Arnaud Tonus | 2018: Injured
Tonus missed all over last year due to shoulder injuries.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
#25—Clement Desalle | 2018: 3rd
Desalle is back with Kawasaki. Last year he was the only rider not named Herlings or Carioli to win a moto when he took the first moto in Indonesia.
#33—Julien Lieber | 2018: 11th
This year will mark Lieber’s second in MXGP and second with Kawasaki.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
#41—Pauls Jonass | 2018: 2nd in MX2
The 2017 MX2 World Champion moves to MXGP in 2019. He underwent knee surgery in September but will race the opener.
#27—Arminas Jasikonis | 2018: 19th
The former factory Suzuki rider spent last year with RedMotor Assomotor. He moved to factory Husqvarna for 2019.
Standing Construct KTM
#259—Glenn Coldenhoff | 2018: 7th
The 2018 MXoN standout moves over from Red Bull KTM.
#99—Max Anstie | 2018: 10th
Anstie moves over from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna.
#128—Ivo Monticelli | 2018: 23rd
First year with the KTM squad.
KTM Sarholz Racing Team
#12—Max Nagl | 2018: 16th
The veteran spent last year with TM Racing. He moves to KTM for 2019.
#226—Tom Koch | 2018: 30th in MX2
Moves to MXGP in 2019.
Team Gerben Van Venrooy Kawasaki Racing
#77—Alessandro Lupino | 2018: 13th
The Italian finished 13th in the championship in 2018.
#6—Benoit Paturel | 2018: 27th
Only competed in six rounds in his MXGP rookie season in 2018.
Team VHR KTM
#911—Jordi Tixier | 2018: 28th
Only raced three rounds in 2018.
BOS GP
#777—Evgeny Bobryshev | 2018: 12th
Spent last year with the team.
#100—Tommy Searle | 2018: 17th
Moves over from the Bike It DTR Kawasaki team.
RFX KTM
#24—Shaun Simpson | 2018: 15th
Moves over from Wilvo Yamaha.
JWR Yamaha Racing
#22—Kevin Strijbos | 2018: 14th
The veteran will miss the start of the season due to an elbow injury.
#18—Vsevolod Brylyakov | 2018: 22nd in MX2
Missed most of last season due to injury. Moves up to MXGP in 2019.
#297—Anton Gole | 2018: 38th in MX2
Moves to MXGP in 2019.
Full MXGP entry list for the opener.
MX2
Red Bull KTM
#61—Jorge Prado | 2018: World Champion
Prado won his first world title in 2018 and is the favorite again in 2019, especially with Jonass moving up.
#28—Tom Vialle | Rookie
2019 will mark Vialle’s rookie season in MX2.
Honda HRC
#10—Calvin Vlaanderen | 2018: 6th
Returns for another year with Honda HRC.
Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha
#919—Ben Watson | 2018: 4th
The Brit had a breakout year in MX2 in 2018 and returns for another year with the team.
#193—Jago Geerts | 2018: 8th
Geerts had a promising MX2 rookie campaign in 2018 and is back for another year with the team.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
#19—Thomas Kjer Olsen | 2018: 3rd
Kjer Olsen is back for another year with Husqvarna and could be a threat to Prado.
#14—Jed Beaton | 2018: 16th
The Australian landed a two-year deal with Husqvarna this off-season despite missing most of 2018 due to injury. He is out for the opener after fracturing his vertebrae at LaCapelle Marival last weekend.
Bike It DRT Kawasaki
#57—Darian Sanayei | 2018: 25th
The American is back for another year with the Bike It DRT Kawasaki team. He missed most of last year with a knee injury, competing in just four rounds.
#56—Gustavo Pessoa | 35th
The Brazilian filled-in for Sanayei on the team in 2018 and competed in five rounds. He returns for a full year in 2019.
Hitachi KTM Fuelled By Milwaukee
#426—Conrad Mewse | 2018: 12th
The former Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider is back for a second year with the team.
#98—Bas Vaessen | 17th
Spent last year with Honda 111 Motorsports.
Honda 111 Motorsports
#101—Zach Pichon | 2018: 34th
The son of two-time 250SX East Region Champion and two-time FIM Motocross World Champion Mickael Pichon, Zach joins the Honda 111 Motorsports team for 2019.
#43—Mitch Evans | roOKIE
The Australian moves to MX2 for 2019. This will be his rookie season in Europe.
Bud Racing Kawasaki
#225—Brian Moreau | 2018: 7th in EMX250
The French rider moves to MX2 for 2019.
#81—Brian Hsu | 2018: Injured
Missed last year due to injury.
F&H Racing Team
#29—Henry Jacobi | 2018: 10th
Signed with the team this off-season.
#811—Adam Sterry | 2018: 13th
Is back for a second year with the team.
Full MX2 entry list.
