At the moment there is without question a magnificent seven in the MXGP championship. While the injury to Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has really put a sad note on this years championship, it is important to also look at the other six men who have shown amazing resilience and determination in 2020.
Looking through the MXGP championship points, racer winners and GP winners last night it still amazes me that Red bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli is leading the championship, but then again, Cairoli just continues to surprise us at the grand old age of 35.
The nine-time World motocross champion is the master of doing just enough. Damn, he did it time and time again against he likes of Gautier Paulin, Clement Desalle and Jeremy Van Horebeek, where he didn’t need to ride 100%, but still walked away with GP wins and championships, while his competition walked away with little more than the odd GP victory and a big contract for the following season.
Again, this year, Cairoli after eight rounds of the championship holds a seven-point lead over defending MXGP champion Tim Gajser, despite the fact Gajser has won six motos to Cairoli’s one. Sure, Tony has two GP wins, and Gajser has zero in that department, but if you watched the action from those first eight rounds, you would think Gajser would have a sizeable lead over the Italian.
Of course, with Jeffrey Herlings out of the picture with his back injury, behind Cairoli and Gajser are a short list of riders who have also shown a lot in 2020. Those are Glenn Coldenhoff, Jeremy Seewer, Arminas Jasikonis and Jorge Prado. `
The 24-year-old Gajser has been unlucky and lucky all at the same time. His crash reel will be legendary once he retires, but what many should remember is his speed, and resilience. Remember Mantova in 2019, where he was bouncing of just about anything within 100 metres of the track, went 10-6 and looked done. Well, he then went into a GP victory run that handed him his third World title. It is hard not to like Gajser, and he is for me the favourite to win the championship, crashes and all. The bike failure in Latvia and a DNF could cost him a title more than any of his crashes, and let us hope that isn't the case.
We figured at the start of the year the big five were Gajser, Herlings, Cairoli, Prado and Coldenhoff, but what we didn't consider was how much Jasikonis and Seewer would improve and join that group.
29-year-old Glenn Coldenhoff of the GasGas factory team showed us when we returned in Latvia that he is the real deal, adding yet another GP win to his other four victories, and of course let’s not forget his massive 1-1-1-1 from the last two MXoN.
I still can’t get my head around people who think he isn’t the real deal. Small injuries have damaged his current progress, but don’t be surprised if he picked up another GP win or more in 2020 and ends the season a top five guy. He is currently equal points with Jasikonis and four behind Prado, so talk highly about them, then talk about the Dutchman.
No doubt Jeremy Seewer and Arminas Jasikonis are on it, and proving they had improved in lockdown, and while they don’t have the same credentials as Coldenhoff, they do have more momentum at the moment and I think both get their first MXGP victory in 2020, at some point.
Monster Energy Yamaha rider Seewer at 26-years-old has seen the biggest improvement, and while older than Herlings and Gajser, he seems like a late bloomer as is Coldenhoff. You won’t meet a nicer guy in the paddock, well brought up and into more than just motocross and that is always refreshing, plus the guy wants it big time.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Jasikonis is not only the giant of the class, but also one of the youngsters at 23 years old. His sand skills are evident and race wins and GP wins should come in his career, when and where, it is hard to say, but with another year in the Husqvarna factory line-up will help him a lot. All the success stories in MXGP come from riders who have a long term deal with their current team, or long relationship. Husky believe in Arminas and I think at some point he will reward them.
Finally, there is the next big thing, Jorge Prado. It is no secret everyone has him as the guy who can take over the sport once Cairoli, Gajser and Herlings are done, and he might even do it while these three legends are still at the front of the pack. A GP win already and after his terrible preparation due to a couple of injuries, he is looking stronger and stronger. A long way behind Cairoli and Gajser in the points, he will need a serious momentum swing to catch these two, but he seems solid to be the third guy in the championship.
GP WINS
Herlings 4
Cairoli 2
Prado 1
Coldenhoff 1