Bikes and riders are revving up for the 2017 Motocross of European Nations held in Gdansk, Poland, one of the oldest Polish cities. With a history in Europe going back over a thousand years, Gdansk makes the perfect event host.
The city of Gdansk is located on the Baltic coast and it is the Polish maritime capital with a population of half a million bringing in many spectators to see the best European riders competing for national pride.
The Gdansk Circuit has been around since 2004 hosting numerous National, European Junior, Quad, and FIM World Sidecar Championships but It was in 2005 that the racetrack in Gdansk last hosted the Motocross of European Nations. Authorities of the city are very supportive of the motocross events, including the Major of Gdansk Mr. Pawel Adamowicz.
The Motocross of European Nations is composed of 3 classes, 250cc, 125cc and 85cc, and each team has four riders: one 250cc rider, one 125cc rider, and two 85cc riders. The teams are planned to be presented Saturday at 18:00 to fans and media but many eyes will be on reigning champions, Team Italy. The 2017 Italian team will led by Alberto Forato and Gianluca Facchetti.
Forato has been racing the EMX250 championship all season scoring a race win in France and sits third in the points championship. Meanwhile Facchetti was an EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing title contender before a crash took his chance away in Sweden plus he took the 2017 125cc Junior World Champion title with impressive double victories.
Rounding out the team is the two 85cc riders of Pietro Razzini and Andrea Roncoli Plus the strong women’s team of 4 time Women’s Motocross World Champion Kiara Fontanesi who is also a 2017 title contender and Francesca Nocera who is in the top ten of the 2017 championship.
Other top riders to watch for are EMX250 riders France’s Mathys Boisrame and Latvia’s Karlis Sabulisplus 125cc rider Mikkel Harrup from Team Denmark. Boisrame has shown serious speed so far this season in EMX250 with 2 race wins and 1 overall. The Frenchman missed the early part of the season but he has come back with a vengeance and holds down 9th in the point even with 3 scoreless rounds. Sabulis has also had top 5 results in EMX250 but missed the middle of the season. Coming back not long ago he will be looking to prove that he is still fit and ready to compete. The 125cc rider from Denmark, Mikkel Harrup, is a likely winner of his division. Harrup has taken 7 EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing race wins this season including 3 overall wins via a 1-1 score.
A combined 14 nations will head to the starting gate this weekend on the track of Gdansk each with the goal of winning the 2017 MXoEN crown and in addition the 2017 Women’s Motocross of European Nations will also take place.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday:
Free Practice EMX125/250: 10.00 – 10.30
Free Practice EMX85: 11.00 – 11.30
Free Practice WMX: 12.00 – 12.30
Qualifying Heat MX125/EMX250: 14.30
Qualifying Heat EMX85: 15.30
Qualifying Heat WMX: 16.30
Sunday:
WMX of European Nations Race 1: 11.45
MX of European Nations EMX85 Race 1: 12.45
MX of European Nations EMX125/250 Race 1: 13.45
WMX of European Nations Race 2: 15.00
MX of European Nations EMX85 Race 2: 16.00
MX of European Nations EMX125/250 Race 2: 17.00