With a few days are left to the official opening of the FIM Motocross World Championship on the very sandy track of Zolder in Belgium on April 3rd, we can take a look at the major players.
MX1 Class
(Equivalent to AMA 250 Class)
Simply put, the man to beat is Stefan Everts. With his record eight titles, many are wondering if he is going to find incentives to win that ninth number one plate. However, judging from the pre-championship races, the Belgian has proven himself exceptionally strong and motivated heading into the season, confident that he has the best support with Team Rinaldi and the infallible race weapon, the YZ450FM. Alongside Everts is Danish rider, Brian Jorgensen. Although his 2004 race effort was plagued by a series of accidents, leaving him to finish eighth, Jorgensen continues to show excellent potential in the MX1 class.
Mickael Pichon has been Everts' main antagonist for the last several years. In 2004 he wound up second, but had been gaining momentum throughout the series, stepping up his performance during the final races. [His second place finish is put further into perspective by the fact that it was Pichon's first year racing a four-stroke.] It was likely a year-in-training for Pichon, who had never raced a 4-stroke. In 2005 he will be racing for the Martin Team again and they will receive further support from Hondawhich includes receiving Honda HRC parts. Eager to show his capabilities after the misleading race effort with Aprilia's innovative V-Twin 4-stroke last year, Spaniard Javier Garcia Vico will be joining Pichon. Vico only raced a few GPs aboard the V-twin before he and Aprilia made a mutual mid-season separation.
This year could be the last season for 35-year-old Joel Smets. The strong Belgian rider who, after winning five world titles, had a 2004 he'd rather forget. He tore ligaments in his right knee and went on to suffer a life-threatening blood infection from the subsequent surgery. Now that he seems back to 100%, Smets is sure to be one of the main protagonists in the MX1 class aboard his factory Suzuki RM-Z450. His teammate, fellow Belgian Kevin Strijbos, might not start the seaon in peak physical condition after an accident during a training session at the Suzuki track in California. Strijbos caught his right foot in the rear wheel of his Suzuki, resulting in strained ankle ligaments.
Speaking of crashing, we have to mention New Zealander Joshua Coppins who sprained his shoulder during a pre-championship race in England three weeks ago. It was an unfortunate accident for the Honda CAS rider who was showing such a great rhythm during the pre-season races. But luckily, it appears Coppins will be fully-healed by the beginning of the Championship (April 3rd).
Reigning 2004 MX2 Champion Ben Townley (another Kiwi) will be a threat to the title as well. The factory KTM rider elected to make the move to the MX1 class for 2005, and thanks to his spectacular and reckless riding style, he'll most-likely be making appearances on the podium this year. His teammates, Steve Ramon and Kenneth Gundersen, are both racing KTM's new 250 4-stroke motocrosser.
Aboard the all-new factory Kawasaki KX450F will be Estonian Tanel Leok. Factory Kawasaki team manager, Jan De Groot, expects we will see great things from himand Kawasaki's new green machinethis season.
Class MX2
(Equivalent to AMA 125 Class)
A great battle of orange and blue is expected in this class. In one corner is KTM with last year's number two finisher, Tyla Rattray, on the KTM 250 4-stroke (Marc De Reuver was slated to be his teammate, but unfortunately the 25-year-old rider tore his ACL during a pre-season race in Ducht and will spend at least six months in recovery). In the other corner is Yamaha, and they're tired of watg KTM dominate the MX2 class. They will support Belgian rider Cédric Melotte's bid for the title together with the Rinaldi Team.
Antonio "Young Goblin" Ca...
Antonio "Young Goblin" Cairoli
Adding to the heat is last year's third place finisher Antonio Cairoli on the De Carli Team again. Not to be counted out, the Italian vet Alessio Chiodi, already with three world titles to his name, and Australian Andrew Mc Farline, are both riding Yamahas for the Italian Ricci Team. England's Stephen Sword, aboard a factory Kawasaki, will be looking to mix things up as well.
And finally the American riders:
In preparation for the AMA Motocross Nationals, Mike Alessi will be contesting the first of the GP races aboard a Red Bull KTM 250 SX-F. Mike Brown is marking his return to the GP circuit after a four-year absence (he was third in the MX1 class in '99 and '00), aboard a RWJ Team Honda.
Tyla Rattray | 
Marc De Reuver | 
Stephen Sword |