an XXL Elite French Championship in Lacapelle-Marival on a new motocross circuit

The French season of motocross will open in the Lot on February 15 and 16, 2025, on the circuit of Lacapelle-Marivalwith the first of the six tests of French Elite Championship. Pilots will discover a whole new circuit.

Lacapelle-Marival Motorcycle Club

The best French riders will be there, since the Lacapelle-Marival Motoclub has ensured the participation of the Grand Prix riders who will come to battle two weeks before the opening of the World Championships in Argentina.

We have always loved the World Championships at Lacapelle-Marival – many remember the MXGP organized in 2021, but also the MX3 GPs in 2009 and 2011 or even sidecar in 1999 and 2002 – and if it is indeed a French championship that the club will organize this year, it will have a little taste of Grand Prix. “The Federation having changed the regulations of the championship, the clubs can hire French or foreign drivers as guests” confides the President Vincent Ayroles who therefore jumped at the opportunity. “There will therefore be a little taste of Motocross Masters since several high-level riders have already confirmed their participation, including in particular our four best representatives in the World Cup. »

THE drivers Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux, Thibault Bénistant and Mathis Valin will therefore be present in the Lot with their respective teammates. And will give an international connotation to the event, since the Latvian Pauls Jonass (Kawasaki 450), the Belgian Jago Geerts (Yamaha 450) and the Dutch Rick Elzinga (Yamaha 250) will also be there to represent the Kawasaki and Yamaha “factory” teams .

Un circuit new-look

If all these drivers know Lacapelle-Marival having driven there during the 2021 French Grand Prix, it is however a new track that they will discover on February 15 and 16. A “facelift” necessary to take into account the evolution of the discipline.

“Approximately 30% of the route has been modified, and this work is completed although we will have other work to carry out after the event. These mainly concern the runners' park and the spectator enclosure, because one of our objectives is to improve the comfort of the public who will benefit from better conditions of visibility and comfort” explains President Ayroles who was able to count on the precious support communities to carry out all this work.

Four categories at the start

Although the regulations have evolved and now allow the club the possibility of only hosting two categories, it is a big poster that Lacapelle presents with no less than four categories: MX1 (450cc), MX2 (250cc), Juniors (125cc). ) and Hopes (85cc).

The succession to Maxime Desprey (Elite MX1), Mathis Valin (Elite MX2), Tom Brunet (Juniors) and Leo Diss Fenard (Espoirs) is therefore open. Only Maxime Desprey puts his title back on the line in his category.

While it is still too early to know the final list of participants, the teams Yamaha GSM (Maxime Desprey and Bogdan Krajewski), Honda SR Motoblouz (with the Norwegian Kevin Horgmo and the Italian Alberto Forato), Husqvarna 737 Performance (Mathys Boisrame), Suzuki France (Nicolas Dercourt) and Kawasaki Bud Racing (with the Australian Jake Cannon and Spaniard Francisco Garcia) have already confirmed their participation in the entire championship. And in the days and weeks to come, other teams will not fail to confirm their participation in the Lacapelle-Marival event, which should bring together close to 200 drivers.

The program is therefore very busy with tests which will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday for the Espoirs and Juniors categories, and at the same time on Sunday for MX2; note that the Espoirs will compete in tests and races on Saturday, that the qualifications of the Juniors will take place on Saturday, but that the Junior races will take place on Sunday, the day when the MX1 and MX2 drivers will enter the track with their morning tests and their races in the afternoon.

Prices: €35 adult weekend, €15 Saturday only; €20 weekend for 12-16 year olds. VIP seats are also available. Places are already on sale on the club website: https://www.motoclub-lacapelle.com

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