Arco is a track that tends to suit the Yamaha and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory riders Glenn Coldenhoff, Jeremy Seewer, Maxime Renaux, Jago Geerts and Thibault Benistant. All five riders have sprayed podium champagne at the venue in the past in celebration of some of their best memories in racing.
Coldenhoff enters Trentino confident to challenge the top step of the podium. After breaking inside the top-five in the MXGP Championship Standings, and after a strong performance in Portugal, the ‘259’ looks to build on the same form that took him to a qualifying race victory and near podium finish just days ago. The Dutch rider also carries fond memories from Trentino, which includes his most recent podium finish at the MXGP of Trentino in October last year and his second-ever MX2 race win back in 2014.
For Seewer, it was at the MXGP of Trentino back in 2014 that the young '91' started to gain momentum in the MX2 class. The Swiss talent recorded his first-ever top-five race finish as a 'pro rider.' That result quickly became the first of many as he challenged the MX2 crown in 2016 and 2017, and he ended up second overall in both seasons. It was also in 'Arco' that he celebrated his most recent race win and Grand Prix victory – at the MXGP of Garda on October 31st, 2021.
After another week of recovery from his fall in Argentina, Seewer expects to be close to 100% this weekend as he looks to inch closer to the top three in the championship. He is currently fourth in the standings.
Out for redemption after a challenging weekend in Portugal, Renaux feels physically and mentally ready to move past the frustration. The Frenchman arrives with a flurry of good vibrations as it was at the Italian venue that he was crowned 2021 MX2 World Champion. He also cherishes the memory of his first-ever EMX125 round win back in 2015. This weekend, he aims to build on his third position in the MXGP Championship Standings while whittling down the gap of the championship leaders.
In MX2, Geerts carries the red plate for the fourth consecutive Grand Prix as the championship leader. The Belgian is currently the primary title challenger, having won half the races this season, two more than any other rider. With a 16-point lead in the championship, he hopes for good starts and more podium success. Last year, the ‘93’ won two Grands Prix in Pietramurata and will line up this weekend ready to maintain his 100% podium streak in 2022.
Determined to return to his race-winning form, Benistant will line up for his second Grand Prix this season after a successful debut in Portugal. Although the Frenchman is taking a calm and calculated approach to his return, he will line up quietly confident with the memory of his first-ever MX2 top-three race finish, which came during his third appearance in the pro-grade category as a wildcard rider in 2020. After missing the first three rounds of the 2022 season due to a left knee injury sustained last year and repaired at the start of November, he has already jumped up the leader board to the 18th position.
Joining the MXGP and MX2 classes at the MXGP of Trentino, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team and its trio of youngsters, Ivano van Erp, Ferruccio Zanchi and Karlis Reisulis, will be lining up in contention for the second round of the EMX125 Championship.
The circuit in 'Arco' is very familiar to MXGP, having staged 17 Grands Prix since its inception in 1985. The track, which is hard clay and stony with some elevation and plenty of narrow sections, has undergone some significant changes to switch things up this season and will be run in the opposite direction.
