Having recovered from two wet and wild rounds of racing in Spain and France, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are back on the road and gearing up for round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship that will take place in Sardinia, a small Island west off the coast of Italy, this weekend.

Riola-Sardo is the circuit hosting the Motocross Grand Prix of Sardegna. It is a relatively new venue to the MXGP calendar, having hosted only four Grands Prix prior to this weekend. It is, however, a popular destination for the majority of European motocross riders during the off-season. With its deep sand surface and dry climate, Riola is like a second home for the teams in January, offering ideal conditions for physical fitness training and bike testing.

The MXGP of Sardinia will mark the first deep sand race of the season, which is an exciting prospect for all six Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 riders, all of whom enjoy riding in sandy conditions. With 1020 points left to race for 2025, Yamaha's factory squad is heading into Riola with renewed energy and focus.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's Maxime Renaux dominated the opening round in Argentina but suffered a setback when he broke his right hand prior to the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, round two. After an operation and a few weeks of swelling, Renaux knows his preparation for a sand race this weekend hasn't been ideal, but his extensive winter training at various sand tracks during the off-season has given him a mental edge heading into race day. The former MX2 World Champion knows he is fast at Riola and looks forward to seeing where he stacks up.

At the same time, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's Calvin Vlaanderen returns to Riola Sardo with fond memories, having claimed his first-ever MXGP victory there in 2022. The South African-born Dutchman is eager to tackle the physically demanding track where he etched his name in the record books with that breakthrough premier class victory. His proven prowess in deep sand conditions and special connection with this particular track make him a serious threat to the podium once again as he looks to recapture the magic of his flawless 2022 performance.

Rounding out the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team’s efforts this weekend, Jago Geerts is excited to tackle a sand Grand Prix at a venue where he's enjoyed previous success. The Belgian ace, known for his speed in the sand, has a particular affinity for these conditions and appreciates both the challenging nature of the track and its flowing layout. Having dominated at Riola during his MX2 career, including a Grand Prix win in 2023 and multiple race wins in previous years, Geerts aims to translate that success to the premier class. His focus remains on enjoying his riding while continuing to progress each time he takes to the track.

Spearheading Yamaha's charge in MX2, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2's Thibault Benistant is embracing his return to the sand, after a winter that was focused on refining his hard-pack speed. The talented Frenchman recognizes Riola as one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar but feels confident in his physical preparation from the off-season. Drawing on past successes at the venue, including multiple holeshots and podium finishes, Benistant aims to battle at the front once again and is approaching the weekend with optimism.

For Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2's Rick Elzinga, the Sardinian round represents a welcome return to sand racing after a challenging start to the year. The Dutchman brings impressive credentials to Riola, having secured one of his best-ever Qualifying Race results there last season with a strong third-place finish, alongside an EMX250 race victory at the venue in 2022. These past successes should inject some confidence into the number 4’s approach as he looks to turn his 2025 campaign around.

Completing the team’s lineup of sand warriors is Karlis Reisulis. Reisulis knows the tough and demanding nature of a deep sand race but looks forward to fighting to the finish and simply enjoying the experience.

The MXGP of Sardegna will also host the opening round of the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, where all eyes will be on the defending WMX World Champion Lotte van Drunen. The Debaets Yamaha Supported MX rider brings a natural advantage to the opening round, having honed her skills on the demanding sand tracks of her home country, The Netherlands, throughout her career. Given her exceptional prowess in sandy conditions, van Drunen stands as the clear favourite to mount the podium at Riola Sardo as she begins her title defence.

Last but not least, the EMX125 Championship will continue with its third round of 2025 this weekend. The MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team arrives at Riola Sardo with its same strong lineup of Mano Faure, Jarne Bervoets, Dani Heitink, and Levi Townley. All four riders have shown promising form recently and are well-prepared for their first sand race of the season.

“First race of the season in the sand this weekend. I’ve obviously not had the best preparation for the sand coming into this race. I haven’t been able to train in the sand at all since my injury before Cozar. It will be okay, it is a track I did a lot of training on in the winter, and I know it very well, so it should be good. The track is nice. The biggest challenge this weekend will be the physical toll it takes. Riding it is one thing, but the physical demand is another, and that is what makes it super tough. I am normally fast there, so I am looking forward to racing to see where we end up.”

— Maxime Renaux, 3rd MXGP Championship Standings, 121-points

"I’m excited to get back in the deep sand and see where we stack up. ⁠Riola is a nice track, physically it’s one of the toughest on the body and I enjoy that. I’ve had one of my best ever racing memories there. My win in 2022, winning the Qualifying Race and both motos. That was a special one being my first victory on the 450. This weekend, the goal is to get good starts and fight at the front.”

— Calvin Vlaanderen, 12th MXGP Championship Standings, 57-points

“I’m looking forward to the first sand GP of the year. I love riding in the sand so it’s always a bit special. The track is good, it always gets super rough, and the layout is fun to ride. I won the GP there in MX2 in 2023 and have had some moto wins in the years before. My goal is to have fun on the bike and keep getting better every time I go on the track.”

— Jago Geerts, 18th MXGP Championship Standings, 28-points

“I am happy to be back in the sand. I didn’t do too much work in the sand this winter, so I am really looking forward to being back. Riola is one of the toughest tracks on the calendar, so we need to be ready for it. We worked hard all winter, physically, so it will be fine. I’ve had some good memories there. I’ve had holeshots and podium finishes, so I hope to do the same and to fight up front again. Let’s go for it!”

— Thibault Benistant, 5th MX2 Championship Standings, 111-points

“I’m excited to be having the first sand race of the season, it’s something new. The track is tough and demanding but I think it will be fun. ⁠⁠My ⁠⁠goal is to fight through all motos and give everything I can.”

— Karlis Reisulis, 11th MX2 Championship Standings, 58-points

“The first sand race of the season will be a fun one. I am happy I can race in the sand again because it has been a long time. I like Riola, it’s a fun track. I finished third in the quali race last year and won a race in EMX250 there too, so I have some good memories. This weekend, I will focus on getting comfortable on the bike.”

— Rick Elzinga, 18th MX2 Championship Standings, 42-points

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