Category: news-2021

Scharinger earns the #1 plate for the European Junior E-Motocross inaugural edition

27.10.2021 News news-2021

intu-Xanadù – ARROYOMOLINOS (Spain) 17 October – Having got to grips with the demands and characteristics of intu-Xanadú Arroyomolinos the previous day for round four, the 25 youngsters contesting the final round of the series were back making laps around a special section of the MXGP layout for their last spin of the season.

Hot sunshine beat down on the venue that was packed full of fans and spectators. The junior e-motocrossers loaded the gate with KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 electric machinery and the competition between Tobias Scharinger, Spaniard Eleu Jose and Austrian Elias Eder was particularly close.

In the first race of the day Scharinger, riding a Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5, was able to defeat French junior Timotei Cez by more than three seconds. Jordan Cadenel was 3rd after the initial 7 minutes and 1 lap chase. In the afternoon and through deeper and bumpier ruts, Austria’s Scharinger had his hands full with rapid Spanish KTM SX-E 5 racer Logan Liberal Rodas. The native rider was able to pull away in the final two laps to stretch a five-second margin over Scharinger who went 2-1 on the day and therefore earned the overall victory as well as ownership of the series.

Scharinger will receive a brand-new motorcycle as his prize, and all participants in the full schedule will have a testing and training opportunity this winter with an MXGP factory team. During the campaign the champion and Eleu Jose split the spoils between them: Scharinger was quickest in Italy and the Spanish double while Jose ruled in Germany and France.

“My bike is a lot of fun and I really liked being able to ride on the MXGP tracks,” Scharinger said. “It was great to win the series and I am really happy.”

As a showcase for the performance of KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS electric motocross machinery and a staging point for the raw ability and enthusiasm of junior racers in an elite environment, the European Junior e-Motocross Series has been a notable success. The first edition was initially oversubscribed and saw a spread of ages, nationalities and riders from both genders take part. Details for the 2022 edition will be released in the coming months.

David Luongo, Infront Moto Racing CEO: “We are very proud of the first season of the Junior e-Motocross series. The participation of riders has been very positive during all the Grand Prix where the series took place. I believe they all enjoyed to ride in front of thousands of fans during the MXGP weekend. It is the first step of a new journey for motocross. I want to thank KTM AG for their collaboration.”

Florian Burguet, Vice President KTM Global Marketing: “As we reach the conclusion of the first ever European Junior e-Motocross series season, we can reflect on what has been an exciting and successful project so far. We’ve witnessed some great racing from these young guns, but most importantly we’ve really seen everyone that has taken part grow and improve as riders over the five rounds. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tobias Scharinger on taking the overall victory. As expected, the level of interest from young riders all over Europe was already very high and we anticipate that next year we will see an even fuller gate. The benefits of our electric machines are very clear, not just for recreational riding, but also in a competitive environment, which has been clearly demonstrated in this series; the future of motocross is very bright. We would like to thank Infront Moto Racing  for their vision and partnership in creating this amazing experience for these youngsters, who I am sure have had an experience and made memories from here that will last a lifetime.” 

Scharinger flies on Spanish soil as European Junior E-Motocross nears the chequered flag

27.10.2021 News news-2021

intu-Xanadù – ARROYOMOLINOS (Spain) 16 October – The new circuit of intu Xanadú Arroyomolinos staged the thirteenth round of 2021 MXGP and counted upon the European Junior e-Motocross series as part of the support programme. As with the other events of the competition in Italy, Germany and France, the youngsters were able to fully immerse themselves in paddock life and enjoy close proximity to their Grand Prix heroes and the race teams.

Part of the European Junior e-Motocross series’ flavour is the chance to ride and race a section of the Grand Prix track and the 25 contenders on KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 equipment had to master the rough hard-pack of the Madrid layout. In Timed Practice it was native Logan Liberal Rodas who was able to find the fastest lines around the course. The Spaniard, with his KTM SX-E 5, was just over a second quicker than countryman Eleu Jose with Frenchman Jordan Cadenel also close.

In the first race of seven minutes and one lap duration it was Tobias Scharinger who excelled. The Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 rider took the lead on the second lap of seven and built-up an advantage over Liberal Rodas as Jose and Cadenel disputed 3rd position; the battle eventually won by the winner of German and French rounds Jose.

In the afternoon Scharinger fed his confidence into the second race. The Austrian rode to a comfortable victory over France’s Timotei Cez by almost three seconds. Another Austrian, Elias Eder, secured 3rd position.  The national anthem played for Scharinger as he walked the top of the podium for the first time. Cez and Cadenel took the next steps on the rostrum respectively as former series leader Jose missed out by just one point. There is also just one point separating new front-runner Scharinger from Jose with an exciting climax to 2021 European Junior e-Motocross ahead. Eder is also in play with 3rd place in the table and 10 points from the title.

There will be little time for respite and recovery for the junior participants of ‘MXE’. The last outing takes place on Sunday at Intu Xanadú Arroyomolinos where the winner of European Junior e-Motocross will be presented with their trophy and a brand-new motorcycle. All riders crossing the finish line Sunday afternoon to complete the full campaign will have access to a special training day provided by one of the Grand Prix factory teams.

European Junior E-Motocross series gets fast in France as Eleu Jose stars

11.10.2021 News news-2021

LACAPELLE MARIVAL (France) 10 October 2021 –  KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 machinery faced a different challenge to the fast and rutty hard-pack in Germany as LaCapelle Marival welcomed the FIM Motocross World Championship for the first time this century. The French venue was rough, twisty and demanding for the youngsters attempting European Junior e-Motocross for the third occasion this year.

Spaniard Eleu Jose was confident heading into the weekend. The Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 rider had celebrated overall victory at Teutschenthal (Germany) seven days earlier and was just four hundredths of a second slower than Pole Position holder and principal rival Timotei Cez; the French junior had been one of the main protagonists through the Italian sand of Mantova for the opening fixture, a race winner in Germany and again marked the pace with his KTM SX-E 5 on home soil.

Race one took place under bright sunshine and with a packed attendance and the fans flocked to the close fences to also watch and hear the hum of the electric mini motocrossers. Jose triumphed through the first seven minute and 1 lap race. He tracked Cez until the KTM racer made a mistake and dropped to 17th. Jose was then free to escape with an eleven second advantage over Jordan Cadenel and Elias Eder. In the second sprint (that started after the initial MXGP and MX2 races and therefore on a rougher terrain) Jose was again the standout. He passed both Eder and Cez to take the flag by more than three seconds. Italian Giacomo Donde was third for his first top-three classification of the year. Jose, Eder and Cadenel climbed the overall podium.

At the halfway point of 2021 ‘MXE’, Jose is the leader in the standings by 15 points from Eder and Austrian Tobias Scharinger in 3rd spot. The junior participants have clearly progressed and gained valuable education so far thanks to the ease of their race technology and the elite level spec of the world championship tracks. A double-header of races at the intu Xanadú Arroyomolinos circuit southwest of Madrid and for the Grand Prix of Spain represents the finale of the inaugural season of European Junior e-Motocross.

Calendar

Round 4, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 16

Round 5, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 17

MXGP of Germany gets busy with round two of the 2021 European Junior e-Motocross series

07.10.2021 News news-2021

TEUTSCHENTHAL (Germany) 3 October 2021 – After launching on the biggest stage for the sport – the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations – the freshly-charged European Junior e-Motocross series journeyed north to join MXGP for round eleven of the current world championship campaign. The hard-packed Talkessel circuit in Teutschenthal, close to the city of Halle, staged its first Grand Prix since 2019 and also welcomed European Junior e-Motocross series for the second outing of the innovative platform for both ambitious youngsters and the latest electric mini motocross bike tech.

In contrast to the time trial nature of the first event in Mantova last week, the junior riders of KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 bikes this time embarked on a Time Practice period and then two 7-minute and 1 lap races around a section of the historic Grand Prix track. As well as showing off their talents the kids were able to experience the weekend in an MXGP paddock surrounded by the fastest athletes in the MXGP and MX2 classes. They could also tackle elements of a world championship spec race circuit to help advance their learning and potency of the electric machinery.

French youngster Timoteï Cez bonded with the German dirt during Time Practice to take the fastest lap with his KTM SX-E 5. He was almost two seconds quicker than countryman Jordan Cadenel with a Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the form boded well for the race on Sunday morning.

Cez was unstoppable in the first race. He defeated Austrian Maurice Heidegger, steering a distinctive GASGAS MC-E 5, by a staggering 16.5 seconds. Heidegger had a comfortable distance over Eleu Jose who guided his Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 to 3rd spot.

The second race saw an intense battle between Jose and fellow Husqvarna Motorcycles rider Tobias Scharinger. The Austrian pushed the Spaniard all the way to the flag and less than half a second split the rivals at the finish with Eleu Jose taking the win and making sure of the ‘overall’ on combined scores. Elias Eder gassed his KTM SX-E 5 to the third step of the rostrum.

In the fledgling series standings Eleu Jose holds a slender 7-point lead over Eder with Heidegger, Scharinger and Cez closely grouped. There’s little time to re-plenish for the European Junior e-Motocross series as the contest follows MXGP west to LaCapelle Marival, north of Toulouse, for the Grand Prix of France next weekend and the third round of five.   

Calendar

Round 3, Grand Prix of France, LaCapelle Marival – October 9-10

Round 4, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 16

Round 5, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 17

More information can be found here

European Junior E-Motocross series primed for the biggest stage in Motocross

22.09.2021 News news-2021

MANTOVA (Italy) 24 September 2021 – The biggest, historic, and most prestigious annual event for off-road motorcycle circuit racing will embrace the newest shoots of technology and the first waves of fresh junior talent. The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations has been a battle of the ‘best of the best’ for more than seven decades and will now welcome and highlight the potential heroes for years to come.

The European Junior E-Motocross Series, created in conjunction between Infront Moto Racing and KTM, is a ground-breaking five-round series that will endorse e-powered motorsport and showcase the capabilities of e-technology to a global audience. The series opens at Mantova for a first invitational event, before heading to the next four rounds of the 2021 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship in Germany, France, and Spain. With over 50 applications received, the top young riders across Europe will be steering one of KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 models.

The European Junior E-Motocross series will give small riders the ideal initiation and taste of elite level events. The paddock environment and the proximity to the Motocross World Championship teams provides just one advantage, they will also be able get a feel for a section of a Grand Prix spec circuit. At the end of the season all riders taking part in the full series will be able to enjoy a three-day training camp with either a KTM/Husqvarna Motorcycles/GASGAS Factory team, and the winner of the series can take his or her pick from the range of offroad bikes from the brands’ respective catalogues.

The electric-based machinery of KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 was seen as the perfect platform for the ‘EMXE Junior series’. The combination of easy but potent power delivery, sufficient range and benchmark handling for the product sector means it is not only a fierce learning aid for mini riders making their first outings and laps on two wheels but also for those eying progression into more serious racing. As well as better sustainability another prominent benefit is the low maintenance level of the electric mini motocross bikes.

David Luongo, Infront Motor Racing CEO: “When we talked with Pierer Mobility about establishing the European Junior E-Motocross championship we were excited to be able to bring this proven electric technology to MXGP and then being able to make the international launch at Mantova. It doesn’t get much bigger or better than the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. With KTM we know the series will be first-class in terms of organisation, and ensuring the best and safest learning experiences for the kids. It’s an important and novel addition to our racing structure and a very welcome one. We can’t wait to see the bikes and the kids in the sand in Italy.” 

Florian Burguet, KTM Global Marketing Vice President: “The European Junior E-Motocross is not only a fabulous opportunity to allow youngsters to see and feel what it’s like to be part of a top level championship but also to show what our electric mini motocross bikes can do. It’s amazing that we can give the riders the chance to take it to the track at Mantova and be part of an occasion like the Motocross of Nations and then really get stuck into the championship during the Grands Prix. We love racing and EMXE Junior is about welcoming new kids and names and faces into this special world. It’s a big deal for the Group, and we hope that riders and their families can have fun, can learn and experience something that’s new and unique in international motocross.”  

Calendar

Round 1, launch/initiation event: Motocross of Nations, Mantova, Italy – September 25-26

Round 2, Grand Prix of Germany, Teutschenthal – October 2-3

Round 3, Grand Prix of France, LaCapelle Marival – October 9-10

Round 4, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 16

Round 5, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 17

All results from round one of the European Junior-E Motocross Series can be found here

More information can be found here

European Junior e-Motocross gets moving with a buzz at Mantova

22.09.2021 News news-2021

MANTOVA (Italy) 26 September 2021 – The plugs were pulled on KTM SX-E 5, Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 and the GASGAS MC-E 5 bikes for the eager young riders of the European Junior e-Motocross series as the first ‘round’ of five zipped into life around a hefty section of the Tazio Nuvolari circuit at Mantova this weekend.

Nearly 40 junior racers have been especially selected for the introductory and educational initial meeting as part of the support card at the prestigious Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. The group lapped the Mantova sand in what was an incredible and unforgettable experience for the juniors as the very first riders aboard electric motocrossers within the MXGP framework. Following this weekend’s sessions, where the youngsters were able to learn whilst being in the same environment as the professionals for the first time, the series heads to race events planned in Germany, France and Spain alongside the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship.

Under hot sunshine on Saturday it was Austria’s Tobias Scharinger who clocked the fastest circulation on the Husqvarna Motorcycles EE 5 in the very first ten-minute Free Practice session. In the afternoon the youngster marked the 3rd best time on a track surface that was rougher and more technical in the wake of the qualification heats for the main classes. It was the turn of fellow Husqvarna rider and Italian Achille Esposito to set the pace.

Before the final outing on Sunday morning, the participants had tours of the factory Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, GASGAS Factory Racing, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rigs. Once they’d seen the works machinery up close and met heroes like nine-times world champion, Team Italy’s Tony Cairoli, then the second ‘chrono’ took place just before the three Nations races.

Under cloudy skies and rainfall it was Scharinger who mastered the wet Italian sand. His rapid effort was just under 2.5 seconds ahead of French rider Timotei Cez who was 2nd on his KTM SX-E 5 and the Austrian is now the first ‘red plate’ holder’.

European Junior e-Motocross will re-charge for round two around a section of the famous Talkessel hard-pack in Teutschenthal and the Grand Prix of Germany next weekend.

Calendar

Round 1, launch/initiation event: Motocross of Nations, Mantova, Italy – September 25-26

Round 2, Grand Prix of Germany, Teutschenthal – October 2-3

Round 3, Grand Prix of France, LaCapelle Marival – October 9-10

Round 4, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 16

Round 5, Grand Prix of Spain, Arroyomolinos – October 17 More information can be found here and here