While the Spanish championship opener next weekend will start the European pre-season, we always love to see the French races also come into life and it is on the former Grand Prix circuit, Lacapelle Marival that the French Motocross season will open on February 15 and 16, with the first of the six rounds of the France Elite Championship. The best French riders will be there, since the club has secured the participation of our Grand Prix drivers who will come to battle two weeks before the opening of the World Championships in Argentina.

The World Championships, we have always liked it at Lacapelle Marival – many remember the MXGP organized in 2021, but also the MX3 GPs in 2009 and 2011 or the sidecar in 1999 and 2002 – and if it is indeed a France championship that the club will organize this year, it will have a little taste of Grand Prix.

"As the Federation has changed the rules of the championship, clubs can hire French or foreign drivers as guests," says President Vincent Ayroles, who jumped at the opportunity. "There will be a little taste of the Motocross Masters since several high-level riders have already confirmed their participation, including our four best representatives in the World Championships," continues Vincent, who will have the pleasure of welcoming Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux, Thibault Bénistant and Mathis Valin with his team.

These Frenchmen who will come with their respective teammates and will give an international feel to the event, since the Latvian Pauls Jonass (Kawasaki 450), the Belgian Jago Geerts (Yamaha 450) and the Dutchman Rick Elzinga (Yamaha 250) will be there to represent the 'factory' Kawasaki and Yamaha teams.

All these drivers know Lacapelle Marival from having ridden there during the 2021 France Grand Prix, it is however a new track that they will discover in February. A 'facelift' necessary to take into account the evolution of the discipline.

"About 30% of the route has been modified, and this work has been completed while we will have other work to do 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 visibility and comfort conditions," explains President Ayroles.

Although the regulations have evolved and now leave the club the possibility of hosting only two categories, it is a big poster that Lacapelle presents with no less than four categories: MX1 (450cc), MX2 (250cc), Juniors (125cc) and Espoirs (85cc). The succession to Maxime Desprey (Elite MX1), Mathis Valin (Elite MX2), Tom Brunet (Juniors) and Leo Diss Fenard (Espoirs) is therefore open, with only Maxime putting his title on the line in his category.

While it is still too early to know the lists of participants since the opening date of entries is set for January 13th, the 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 the Spaniard Francisco Garcia) have already confirmed their participation in the set of the championship.

And in the coming days and weeks, other teams will not fail to confirm their participation in the Lacapelle Marival event, which should bring together nearly 200 drivers. The program is therefore very busy with tests starting at 8:00 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 practice and races on Saturday, that the Juniors' qualifying will take place on Saturday, but that the Junior races will be held on Sunday where the MX1 and MX2 riders will make their debut with their practice sessions in the morning and their races in the afternoon.

For those who don't like to waste time at the entrances, note that tickets are already on sale on the club's website: https://www.motoclub-lacapelle.com

Prices: €35 adult weekend, €15 on Saturday only; €20 weekend from 12 to under 16 years old, and VIP seats are also available.

Pascal Haudiquert image

LACAPELLE-MARIVAL SCHEDULE

08:00 08:15 Free Practice MX2

08:20 08:35 Free Practice MX2

08:40 08:55 Free Practice ELITE MX1

09:00 09:10 JUNIOR

09:20 09:40 Timed Test ELITE MX2

09:50 10:10 Timed Test ELITE MX2

10:20 10:40 Timed Test ELITE MX1

11:00 11:30 1st JUNIOR Heat 25'+2T

11:45 12:05 Repechage ELITE MX2

13:40 14:10 MX2 1st Heat 25'+2T

14:35 15:05 MX1 1st Heat 25'+2T

15:25 15:55 2nd Heat JUNIOR 25'+2T

16:15 16:45 MX2 2nd Heat 25'+2T

17:10 17:40 MX1 2nd Heat 25'+2T