Dunlop looks ahead to ultra-competitive MXGP season

• Motocross World Championship season begins in Russia
• Three key teams choose Dunlop in MXGP
• Leading Kawasaki operation selects Dunlop in MX2

This Sunday marks the start of the FIM Motocross World Championship season, which starts with the MXGP of Russia in Orlyonok. Dunlop is supplying tyres to a number of high-profile teams with race-winning potential in both the MXGP and MX2 classes.

In the top MXGP category, Dunlop will once again support three key factory teams: Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing Team and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. 

All three teams have new rider lineups for the 2021 season. Ivo Monticelli joins Romain Febvre at Kawasaki; Pauls Jonass and Brian Bogers are racing for GasGas; and Arminas Jasikonis and Thomas Kjær Olsen for Husqvarna. All six riders will race with Dunlop Geomax motocross tyres throughout the season, including the MX12 for soft and sandy conditions; the versatile MX33 for mixed terrain and the MX53 for medium and hard-packed conditions.

Beginning this weekend at Orlyonok, near Russia’s Black Sea coast, the championship is currently planning 19 rounds in Europe, Asia and South America. After the Russian round begins a packed European schedule starting with eight events in two months. The calendar includes iconic motocross tracks and fan favourites like Matterley Basin, Lommel, Oss and Maggiora. 

F&H Kawasaki joins Dunlop for MX2 attack

Dunlop has also been chosen by a key team in the second tier of international motocross racing. F&H Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team, a Dutch operation running Kawasaki bikes, has trusted Dunlop for its three riders: Roan van de Moosdijk, Mathys Boisramé and Mikkel Haarup. Between them, the three riders notched 15 podium finishes in last year’s heats, and they’ll be hungry to improve that result in 2021. 

F&H Kawasaki Team Manager Nathalie Fasé explains her team’s decision to choose Dunlop: “F&H Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team is proud to be working with Dunlop for the upcoming season. With Dunlop we have a partner who thinks along with us on a high technical level. Together, we will proudly compete for GP podiums. We have done extensive testing throughout the winter in Spain, France and the Netherlands, and it has been a great delight for our riders, trainers and mechanics.”

In MX2, Dunlop tyres have also been chosen by Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee riders Conrad Mewse and Bas Vaessen, and Bike It MTX Kawasaki’s Wilson Todd. 

Wim Van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop adds: “We’re very happy to get MXGP going again after this long off-season break. We’ve spent the last few months working hard and preparing for the season to make sure we can support our partner teams in the best way possible. We’re happy to have F&H Kawasaki join us in MX2 and we’re looking forward to them getting good results this year. In MXGP, we’re glad to continue working with all our partners, including Kawasaki, Husqvarna and GasGas, who will be fighting for race wins.”

The MXGP of Russia will take place on Sunday, 13 June. MXGP and MX2 classes will both have a separate Free Practice session followed by two races. The MXGP races are scheduled for 13:15 and 16:10 local time.