HRC at full strength for MXGP Opener
Photo by Bavo
Team HRC riders Tim Gajser, Ruben Fernandez and Ferruccio Zanchi are making their way down to the Patagonia region of Argentina, for the first round of the 2024 MXGP World Championship at the picturesque track in Villa La Angostura.
All three riders have had different off-seasons, but are all fully-prepared for the challenges that await them as 20-round series gets underway on March 9-10, with qualifying races on Saturday scoring points, before the GP-scoring motos on Sunday.
2022 World Champion Gajser, missed a lot of the 2023 campaign, but finished strongly by taking victory at two of the last three rounds and as such, has been raring to go for this first race. He was also in pretty dominant form in the pre-season Italian Internationals in Riola Sardo and Mantova, winning both those events and so comes into Villa La Angostura full of confidence and hoping to start the 2024 campaign off right.
Teammate Fernandez was victorious in Argentina at the first-round last year, so he is also coming in really excited to start the new season. He’s had a good off-season, having a little break after the intense 2023 championship where he finished fifth, but now he’s had a good amount of time on the new Honda CRF450R and has found a lot of speed across the pre-season races he’s competed in. Due to the Spanish-speaking locals in Argentina, he is very much a fan-favourite and will be getting a lot of support over the course of the weekend where he’ll be trying his best to replicate 2023.
Joining the MXGP duo is rookie Zanchi, who is heading up the renewed MX2 programme onboard the Honda CRF250R. The young Italian has risen through the ranks, competing in the EMX250 class last year but after a number of impressive performances, signed for Team HRC for this 2024 season. Already he has impressed a lot of people with his character and his speed on the bike and while there isn’t anything expected from him in terms of results, he has shown that he is capable of battling with some of the best MX2 riders in the pre-season events.
All in all, it will be a very exciting for everyone at Team HRC, and with the event taking place at one of the best motocross tracks on the planet, Gajser, Fernandez and Zanchi will all be hoping to make a strong impression at this first round of the 2024 motocross world championships.
Photo by Bavo.
“I’m really happy with how everything has gone over the off-season. I’ve ridden well and although we’ve had to overcome some adversity, I’ve enjoyed the whole challenge so far. Of course, now the battle really begins but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself and instead try and enjoy everything. It’ll be my first time going down there and I’ve heard great things about it, so I’m looking forward to the whole trip immensely.” Ferruccio Zanchi
Photo by Bavo.
“I like going to Argentina for round one. Obviously winning last year was an amazing achievement and one I will never forget, and it’s nice to be there with all the Spanish speaking fans and everyone and it just feels like a really cool event for me, like a home GP. Of course it won’t be easy to replicate a victory again this year, but I’ve had a good off-season and I feel like I have improved since last year in a number of areas and now this race is the first chance to show that properly. I want to enjoy the occasion and try to start 2024 strongly.” Ruben Fernandez
Photo by Bavo.
“It is great to be back in Argentina, because that is already an improvement on 2023. It was really a shame to miss out last year, but I feel really good this time around and I’m excited to get down there and see everyone again. It is a fun track, with a lot of fans and they are all so passionate that it is always enjoyable to race there. Of course, I want to go and win but I know not to push too hard early-on because it is a long season with a lot of races and I want to stay consistent. We have a new Honda CRF450R which I really enjoy riding and I’m excited for that gate-drop to show everyone what it can do. We have an awesome team around me, and with Ruben and Ferruccio as well, everyone is working very hard so I want to do well for the whole of Team HRC.” Tim Gajser
“It’s good to be finally getting the season started. We’ve had a very hectic off-season, with the addition of the 250 programme, so it’s nice to be heading to Argentina and getting behind that start gate for real. All three riders have had very good pre-season races and training and are coming in feeling good, and now it’s time to put it all together over this weekend. It’s a long way to come, but it’s a beautiful country, with a great track and awesome fans so we can’t wait to get started. A big thanks to everyone in Team HRC for all their hard-work!”
Marcus Pereira de Freitas - HRC General Manager - MXGP
Words by Honda Racing Corporation.