When the gate drops, the talking stops and with the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship fast approaching, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team is revved up and ready to get the new season underway. Back with a familiar yet strong line-up in 2022, the team is looking fit, fast and motivated for the new MXGP season, which will kick off at the spectacular Matterley Basin venue in Winchester, England, next weekend.
Last year was one for the history books for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team, as they enter their 25th year in blue this season. The team won their first-ever MX2 World Championship with Maxime Renaux in 2021 and became the first-ever Yamaha team to secure the gold and silver medals inside the MX2 World Championship in the same season. As a result, Yamaha also successfully defended the Manufacturers' world title.
Back for more in 2022, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team has retained its young stars Jago Geerts and Thibault Benistant. As one of the most decorated riders in the lower capacity class, MX2, with 53 top-three race finishes, 20 races wins and 27 podiums to his credit, Geerts enters his fifth season with Yamaha and the team determined to achieve the goal of winning the World Championship. "I'm really determined to do well this season," he reaffirmed, "I'm in really good shape physically and I feel good on the bike, so I'm looking forward to the new season. I was second in 2020 and second in 2021, so for sure, I want a little bit more this year and hopefully I can make it happen."
Completing Yamaha's Factory line-up after an impressive rookie season where he celebrated a maiden podium finish and two race wins, Benistant is excited to keep progressing up the ranks in MX2. "I feel really good on the YZ250FM" he expressed, "the more I ride with this bike more I feel good so it's nice. In 2022, my goal for this season is to be more consistent, more on the box and to take some good starts."
Motocross fans don't have long to wait for racing action to commence; the MXGP and MX2 riders will line up for the first Grand Prix of 2022 next weekend. Each class will have two practice sessions and a qualifying race on Saturday 19th February, followed by two championship races on Sunday 20th.