MOTOCROSS TEAMFIGHT
MOTOCROSS TEAMFIGHT THROUGH TO THE LAST ROUND Photo:© S. Taglioni VS. MX2 JORDI TIXIER CLINCHES THE MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN A DRAMATIC FINAL RACE The MX2 Motocross World Championship in Leon, Mexico, produced a season finale that offered unbeatable edge-of-seat action and drama. The key players were two-times world champion and title defender Jeffrey Herlings from the Netherlands and his French challenger and team colleague Jordi Tixier. Jeffrey Herlings dominated the MX2 season, taking the victory of the day in all the races he entered. He was unable to take part in the third Grand Prix of the year in Brazil due to injury but quickly went on to regain leadership in the World Championship, consolidating this to a terrific lead of one hundred and forty-five points. He was therefore all set in Loket, Czech Republic, to clinch his third successive World Championship title early on. But things turned out differently: the 20-year-old broke his femur in a charity race and it looked as if his title dreams had been dashed. Nonetheless, the Red Bull KTM factory rider performed the incredible feat of fighting his way back for the big showdown against his team colleague Jordi Tixier. With enormous fighting spirit, the Frenchman had minimised the gap during Herlings‘ absence in the three Grand Prix prior to the season finale and was the only challenger left. In a finale that offered unbeatable edge-of-seat action and drama, Jordi Tixier eventually came out on top against the less-than-100% title defender and won by the slimmest possible margin of just six World Championship points. It was the 21-year-old‘s biggest triumph of his career since winning the Junior World Championship title in 2010. For the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team this meant another double World Championship win in the MX2 category. 8
MOTOCROSS MXGP CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR SHAUN SIMPSON AND DENNIS ULLRICH Shaun Simpson (Hitachi Construction KTM UK) and Dennis Ullrich (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) both put in excellent performances during the course of the 2014 season. At national level in particular the two KTM riders were almost unbeatable and their dominance allowed them to clinch the championship titles. Simpson won the British Motocross Championship while Ullrich successfully defended his title at the ADAC MX Masters in Germany. The two also put in an impressive showing at the Motocross World Championship. Simpson, 26, the last Grand Prix winner in the MX1 category in Lierop (Holland) in the previous season, demonstrated his capabilities in the MXGP with three top-three placements, even climbing the day‘s podium in the deep sand at Lommel, Belgium. Photos:© R. Archer As one of the youngest riders in the MXGP at just twenty-one years of age, Dennis Ullrich‘s highlight of the season was at the Czech Grand Prix in Loket. He had previously attracted some attention with the occasional top ten placement, but in Loket he finished a sensational fourth place up against the world‘s best. At the MX of Nations in Kegums, Latvia, Simpson put in a fine support performance for the British team, while Dennis Ullrich likewise did an excellent job. Originally from Swabia but now based in the Saarland, Ullrich achieved an impressive fifth place in the overall rankings along with his 17-year-old team mate Henry Jacobi (KTM Sarholz Racing) and Max Nagl. MOTOCROSS / SUPERMOTO SWITZERLAND HOME GAME IN SWITZERLAND MOTOREX is also active in the world of motor sports in Switzerland, providing support for both competition organisers and teams. As official partners of KTM and Husqvarna, the 2014 motocross season was a great success with no fewer than 4 national titles. While the experienced rider from western Switzerland, Killian Auberson, took his 3rd title as Swiss champion in the Inter MX2 category at the age of only 22, KTM Switzerland is always particularly interested in unearthing new talent. With another 3 titles, the work of Philippe Dupasquier and his team was richly rewarded. In the Kid 65cc category, Joel Elsener won the national title while in the Minis 85cc category, Maurice Chanton took 1st place. The resounding success was completed by Cyrille Flury’s victory in the Junior 2-T category and there is no doubt that in the coming years, these riders will continue to be in the spotlight in the MX Open and MX2 categories. © Photo: Stephan Bögli In the Supermoto category, Husqvarna is highly prominent. In the Supermoto Prestige category, Philippe Dupasquier became Vice-Champion of Switzerland while his son Jason claimed victory in the Youngster 85 category. 9
