ON THE GAS FOR MXGP: RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING
Defending 2023 MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado has taken an unconventional yet effective approach to his off-season, focusing on the US-based Supercross series before returning to Europe to fine-tune his MXGP setup. After successfully competing in four stateside races, Jorge’s attention is now fully on MXGP 2024, with a comprehensive bike testing schedule, as well as a planned race before the season opener in Argentina on March 10th. Better still, Jorge's peak fitness and fired-up attitude signal that the reigning world champ is all set to pick up from where he left off in 2023.
In MX2, 20-year-old Simon Längenfelder enters his third year with the team. The phenomenally talented German rider has competed in GASGAS colors since the manufacturer debuted in the Grand Prix series in 2020; after which, he signed to the elite Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing awning for the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. '516' made an immediate splash by dominating the season-opening Grand Prix of Great Britain, and then went on to secure third in the championship standings. In 2023, Längenfelder scored a phenomenal 13 top-five finishes, nine podiums, and two wins, resulting in another third-place overall finish in the standings. Now with a solid off-season behind him, all eyes are now on Längenfelder as he aims to improve on his already impressive back-to-back 3rd place overall championship finishes.
Newcomer to the team, and a widely tipped breakout talent of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, is Marc-Antoine Rossi. The young Frenchman stated it is a dream come true to have joined the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team. Rossi's winter training in Belgium and Italy, under the guidance of team manager and coach Davide De Carli, has focused on enhancing his performance across different terrains. Living in Rome has brought Rossi closer to his team, creating a supportive family atmosphere. Rossi raced in EMX250 last year and secured his maiden win in the class in Germany. Then at the Grand Prix of France, where he debuted in the MX2 class as a wildcard, he underlined his potential at the highest level with 8-6 scores, also proving that he will be a source of confidence as he enters his first full season.
With the season set to go live on March 10 for the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina, the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing squad is looking forward to showcasing their hard work, talent, and determination on the global stage, aiming to add more victories and titles to their already impressive record. Let battle commence!
Jorge Prado : “This off-season has been completely different from the others, as I have been preparing myself for Supercross. I have been in California for a couple of months and have completed four races. But now that I am back in Europe, my focus is on getting the bike dialed for the upcoming MXGP season. We were testing as soon as I got back and are putting everything together for the season now. I think we have a great package. I plan to complete one race before the first GP of the year in Argentina. For the moment, I’m feeling really good - I’m healthy and really looking forward to more training and testing in the run-up to the first race!”
Simon Längenfelder : “Now it’s my third year with the Red Bull GASGAS Factory team. We know each other really well and we know how to work together and how to get the best out of the bike. I’m really happy and looking forward to the start of the 2024 season. I’ve had a great off-season, and to be honest, I have learned a lot from the past few years, so I think I can improve this year. My goals are to stay healthy all season long, keep a cool head, and show everyone what I can do. Then hopefully we will see where we end up - hopefully far out front!”
Marc-Antoine Rossi : I can finally say that I am a factory rider for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing - and it’s a dream come true! I made a big change at the end of 2023 when I moved to Rome - living far from my parents. But in this team, I found an Italian family, so I’m very happy with the whole situation. I have worked hard since day one during the winter, and I spent more than one month in Belgium, improving on my soft pack performance. Now I have headed back to Italy to continue training on hard pack surfaces. Davide is not only my team manager; he’s my coach too. He's following me step by step. I can’t thank the De Carli family enough! Having the MXGP world champion as a teammate is a real honor for me, and it pushes me to improve even faster. Now my goal in 2024 is to reach the top five, and I’ll do my best for that!
Davide De Carli (Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing Team Manager): Looking ahead to the 2024 season, the feeling within the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team is very good. Having Jorge, our defending MXGP champion, alongside the incredible talent of Simon Längenfelder in MX2, and welcoming the fresh energy of our new signing, Marc-Antoine Rossi, in MX2, we are excited for an extraordinary year. Each rider brings a unique strength and determination to the team, and together, we share a single goal: to bring the speed, defend our titles, and reach new heights. We've prepared very thoroughly, everyone is feeling in top condition. For sure, the competition is tough, but we are more than ready.
Words and Images by GasGas.