Loket is a classic style track that embodies plenty of steep up-hills and as many daunting down-hills. The tracks’ surface is clay which, in dry conditions, puts a big emphasis on throttle control. Old school, hard-packed venues typically suit the high momentum riding style of Jeremy Seewer - a rider that has scored podium finishes at the venue in both MX2 and MXGP classes in the past. The Swiss sensation finished on the second step in MX2 in 2016 and ’17 and was third in MXGP in 2019.
The ’91’ is still sixth in the MXGP Championship Standings thanks to his heroic ride back to 10th after a heavy fall in the final race in Oss, The Netherlands, only three days ago. Teammate Glenn Coldenhoff also had a big crash in Race Two at the Dutch Grand Prix. As a result, the ‘259’ has been taking it easy over the past few days in effort to be back to 100% in Czech. Coldenhoff is seventh in the championship chase, 9-points behind Seewer.
Ben Watson is excited for another Grand Prix inside the premier class fresh off a season best, and career best, top-five finish in Oss. The 24-year-old Brit has been raising eyebrows since his premier class debut last month, where he has already made astonishing progress, bettering his result at every round. Always humble, the ‘919’ remains grateful to contest his first season in the hotly contested MXGP class on the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team and is keen to keep learning as he continues to establish his place at the front of the field.
Watson is currently the best-placed rookie in the MXGP class. He is 10th in the Championship Standings.
Entering the fifth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship on a high, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team hopes to keep up the momentum in the Czech Republic.
Carrying the red plate as the new MX2 Championship leader, Renaux remains focused and unfazed as his goal of two consistent results at every round remains the same. The ‘959’ knows that the season is long, and the main objective is to have the championship lead when it counts most – that will be at the end of the final race at the final round.
Fresh off the top step of the podium, following a convincing double moto Grand Prix win, Geerts has reignited his title run. Riding a wave of confidence, the ‘93’ is aims for more of the same at the next three Grands Prix. The Belgian’s perfect weekend in The Netherlands boosted him to sixth in the MX2 Championship Standings – he is only 2-points from a place inside the top-five and trails the leader, Renaux, by 24-points.
The teams’ MX2 rookie, Thibault Benistant, is also looking forward to racing in Loket, as the compound of the track is like what he grew up on in the south of France. The 18-year-old has the speed to threaten the podium and is currently ninth in the championship chase.
This weekend's circuit is located 130km west of the country's capital - Prague - and has been etched into the hillside of Loket - a quaint medieval village that has been made famous by its role in the blockbuster hit - James Bond 007 Casino Royale - back in 2006. Ahead of the MXGP and MX2 World Championship on Sunday 25th, the venue will host the opening round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, where Yamaha will be represented by two of the top-three female motocross racers in the world, Nancy van de Ven and Larissa Papenmeier.
