Yamaha Armed with Podium Challengers at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations in Assen

26-09-2019

Yamaha Armed with Podium Challengers at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations in Assen

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP’s Gautier Paulin are set to line-up for the final event on the 2019 calendar. Both riders will proudly represent their nations at the biggest and most exciting event of the year, the Monster Energy Motocross of Nation which will take place at the iconic Dutch TT Circuit in Assen, The Netherlands, this weekend. Seewer will spearhead Team Switzerland’s efforts, while Paulin is determined to take Team France to a sixth consecutive MXoN crown with the support of fellow Frenchman SM Action M.C. Migliori Yamaha’s Maxime Renaux who will wear the French colours for the first time in his young career. YZ450F mounted Kevin Strijbos will represent Team Belgium alongside Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2’s Belgian star Jago Geerts. Joining the five European riders, Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha Yamalube’s Justin Cooper will make his MXoN debut as the MX2 rider for the most successful team in history, Team USA.

After many hours spent in the sand testing and preparing for this year's Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, Gautier Paulin has made some positive changes to the suspension on his YZ450F and feels ready to represent Team France for the 11th time in his career. As the defending champion and gunning for a sixth consecutive MXoN victory, Paulin will be running the number 1 plate this weekend, while fellow Frenchman Maxime Renaux will be making his MXoN debut with the number 2 stuck firmly to his YZ250F.

The Motocross of Nations in Assen will also be a brand-new experience for Monster Energy Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha's Justin Cooper who has received the honor to represent the most successful team in 'Nations history - Team USA. He will be racing as the number 14.

After an incredible MX2 season where he clinched the bronze medal, Jago Geerts has been chosen to wear the Black, Yellow and Red colours of Team Belgium for a second consecutive year. Riding for a team that is based in Belgium with a Belgian owner and mechanics, this year's Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is an extremely exciting prospect, which has been enhanced by the addition of MXoN veteran and fellow Yamaha rider Kevin Strijbos. Geerts and Strijbos will run numbers 17 and 18 on the YZ250F and YZ450F machines.

Despite being only 25-years-old, the newly dubbed vice MXGP World Champion Jeremy Seewer has swapped his familiar number 91 for number 55 as he represents Team Switzerland for a ninth consecutive year.

Yamaha will be well represented at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, an illustrious event that is often referred to as the Olympics of motocross as it is a team race - the only one of its kind - where riders with the same nationality are put into teams of three. Each rider will compete in two races, which will give each team a total of six race results at the end of the day. Only the five best results will contribute to the overall score.

Joining our six MXGP and MX2 stars, 100 of Europe's top performing YZ 125cc, 85cc and 65cc riders will also race alongside their heroes this weekend with the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale also taking place. Coming from 23 different nations, the promising young riders have qualified for the SuperFinale through their results in their national championships, and as Yamaha Motor Europe is all about giving talented youngsters an opportunity to take a small step towards an eventual career in Grand Prix racing, the SuperFinale has been designed to work as a bridge between national and international level racing. This years' YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale in Assen, The Netherlands will be free to view LIVE on www.MXGP-TV.com. Gates will drop for the YZ65 race on Saturday 28thSeptember at 13:10, followed by the YZ85 race at 13:40. Gates will drop for the YZ125 race on Sunday 29thSeptember at 09:10. All times are local, Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Gautier Paulin

I’m prepared for Assen, I feel good, we have been working hard to prepare the bike and we have made some changes to the suspension and the team have been working hard to give me the best bike they can. We haven’t stopped since it’s the end of the World Championship season, we have kept pushing to be good in Assen in such tough sand conditions. This weekend is a unique event, we don’t just ride for ourselves, we ride for the team. We will do our best to be up front.

Jago Geerts

I'm really looking forward to the MxON this year because it's close to home so it's almost a home race for Team Belgium. Assen is always a pretty fun track, its deep sand and it gets pretty rough so I think it will suit me and the Team well. My goal for this year is to ride two solid moto's and try to help Team Belgium get on the podium.

Justin Cooper

I love the sand, I have grown up riding it a lot as a kid so I’m excited to line up at Assen this weekend. As far as personal expectations, I expect to be giving it my all for the motos and helping my team as much as I can. I want to be the best MX2 rider and help the USA bring home the win. Everyone will be giving it their all so I’m excited to see how it goes!

Jeremy Seewer

Assen is not my favourite track, but they have made some changes for this year and there is new layout so we will just have to see. This season has been great so far, so I just need to try to enjoy this weekend, which might be difficult on that track but I will definitely try to have fun and will give it 100% for the last race of the year.