Top Five Finish For Kevin Horgmo During MX2 GP of Argentina

Kevin Horgmo of F&H Racing had a top five finish during one of the heats of the Argentinian motocross GP at Neuquen. Horgmo claimed fifth spot in the first heat after a strong race. He finished 13th in a troubled second heat for tenth overall.

The race attracted many thousands of spectators, who enjoyed the spectacle on the technical track which offered high speeds and many jumps. The atmosphere around the track was one the riders really enjoyed.

Horgmo had his best wares on display during the first heat. He worked his way up to third, and held the spot for a long time. A mistake in the final lap cost him two spots, but nonetheless, a fifth place finish was a result that he and the team were pleased about. Horgmo had some problems in the second heat which kept him down to 13th position, but he still managed a top ten overall finish.

Jed Beaton was still in recovery mode after his heavy crash at Mantova, and it was uncertain as to how he would perform on the day. Alas, his woes were compounded when he crashed hard during the opening lap of the qualifying race. His bike was damaged to such an extend that he had to retire from the race, which meant an unfavourable start gate for the races. He made the best of the cards he was dealt with and finished 13th and 11th in the races respectively.

The F&H Racing team will tackle the long journey back home and line up for action at the next round of the world championships at Agueda in Portugal in two weeks’ time.

Overall MX2 Argentina:
1 Tom Vialle 47 Pnt
2 Jago Geerts 47 Pnt
3 Mikkel Haarup 38 Pnt
4 Mattia Guadagnini 38 Pnt
5 Conrad Mewse 27 Pnt
10 Kevin Horgmo 24 Pnt

World Championship Standings MX2:
1 Jago Geerts 137 Pnt
2 Tom Vialle 111 Pnt
3 Simon Laengenfelder 110 Pnt
4 Mikkel Haarup 92 Pnt
5 Andrea Adamo 85 Pnt
8 Kevin Horgmo 78 Pnt

Overall MXGP Argentina:
1 Tim Gajser 47 Pnt
2 Maxime Renaux 47 Pnt
3 Jorge Prado 36 Pnt
4 Pauls Jonass 31 Pnt
5 Glenn Coldenhoff 28 Pnt
13 Jed Beaton 18 Pnt

World Championship Standings MXGP:
1 Tim Gajser 141 Pnt
2 Maxime Renaux 124 Pnt
3 Jorge Prado 118 Pnt
4 Jeremy Seewer 94 Pnt
5 Jeremy Van Horebeek 76 Pnt
9 Jed Beaton 58 Pnt

3rd Rd MXGP 2022 MXGP OF PATAGONIA-ARGENTINA – VILLA LA ANGOSTURA

Kevin Horgmo in the top five at the Grand Prix MX2 in Mantova

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo bounced back from a fall to snatch a dramatic fifth in the second round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Mantova in northern Italy.

The Norwegian gated superbly in the first GP moto to eventually take the chequered flag sixth after a titanic struggle throughout the entire thirty-minute-plus-two-lap race with a continual exchange of positions, his final lunge for fifth coming up just inches short. Initially ninth in race two after his line was closed down entering turn one the enthusiastic youngster quickly advanced to seventh with a series of dramatic moves before a single error on the tortuous track cost seven seconds and six positions. He regrouped quickly to push back forward to eighth, the combined score from the two motos earning fifth overall on the day and seventh, just ten points shy of fourth, in the series standings.

Kevin Horgmo: “I made a really good start in the first race but I rode a little too careful through the first few laps and that cost me a few places. I felt I had the speed to be top three; I just need to concentrate on those early laps. I was on my way up the field in race two until I made mistake and crashed but I fought back to clinch fifth overall. It was easy to make mistakes today; there were a lot of square-edged bumps and they caught out a lot of us at some time of the day. But I’m really happy with how we are progressing; I feel really comfortable on my Kawasaki and we have a good set-up on the suspension from Technical Touch; I just need to avoid making those mistakes. I’m really looking forward to Argentina; I’ve never been overseas before so it will be a new experience for me.“

After his superb performance one week earlier in England F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jed Beaton started race day impressively as he quickly moved forward from ninth to seventh in the first moto but his relative inexperience on a 450 in this, his first season of MXGP racing, became evident as he was eventually restricted to eleventh at the finish of the moto and never recovered after being sandwiched at the first corner of race two. The Australian is now eleventh in the series points chase but is only eight behind seventh as the series heads to Argentina in two weeks’ time.

Overall Grand Prix Italy:
1 Jago Geerts 50 Pnt
2 Andrea Adamo 38 Pnt
3 Kay de Wolf 38 Pnt
4 Simon Laengenfelder 36 Put
5 Kevin Horgmo 28 Pnt

World Championship Standings MX2:
1 Jago Geerts 90 Pnt
2 Simon Laengenfelder 86 Put
3 Kay de Wolf 74 Pnt
4 Tom Vialle 64 Pnt
5 Andrea Adamo 60 Pnt
7 Kevin Horgmo 54 Pnt

Overall MXGP Italy:
1 Tim Gajser 47 Pnt
2 Maxime Renaux 42 Pnt
3 Jorge Prado 39 Pnt
4 Jorge Prado 34 Pnt
5 Jeremy Seewer 34 Int
19 Jed Beaton 11 Pnt

World Championship Standings MXGP:
1 Tim Gajser 94 Pnt
2 Jorge Prado 82 Pnt
3 Maxime Renaux 77 Pnt
4 Jeremy Seewer 74 Int
5 Brian Bogers 57 Int
11 Jed Beaton 40 Pnt

A strong start of the world championship season for F&H Racing

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jed Beaton made an impressive start to his career in the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship as he clinched sixth place in the British GP which opened the series.

The Matterley Basin arena was in prime condition as the Australian rounded the first turn seventh in race one and within ten minutes he had advanced smoothly into the top six. With ten minutes remaining he had bridged the gap to the rider ahead of him to move into fifth, a superb performance on his debut in the premier MXGP class. He was again impressive in race two, quickly making a couple of significant passes to already move into the top six again on the opening lap. Concentrating on riding consistently as the low late-afternoon sun cast dramatic shadows over the deeply-rutted terrain he surrendered one position mid-moto but his sixth place in the overall GP classification was never in danger.

Jed Beaton: “Obviously I’m pretty happy with my day. I didn’t know what to expect coming here so it’s been pretty crazy to finish sixth first-time in MXGP. I think everyone always likes riding this track and I felt relaxed all day, got two good starts, rode my own race each time and tried to stay solid for fifth and seventh. For me I actually feel a lot more comfortable on the 450 and am really enjoying riding it; it’s more to handle but I’m a big guy and the little bit more power is good for me.“

Horgmo made a superb start in the opening moto of the MX2 class to round turn one fourth and within two laps he had moved forward to third, where he looked comfortable for ten minutes before a missed shift cost him two positions. A further mistake as he spun out exiting a right-hander put him down to seventh, a position he then held to the chequered flag. Again hugging an immaculate tight line through turn one in race two the Norwegian cleverly defended third place through the first four laps before two slight errors in the space of half a lap; first he lost traction through an over-optimistic line-choice and then he was thrown over the bars when he cross-threaded in deep ruts. Remounting eleventh he quickly regained his composure to pull back two places before the finish and ended the day eighth overall.

Kevin Horgmo: “I got two great starts, rode a really good first turn both motos and had a solid fifteen minutes each time but then I made too many mistakes. First I stalled the bike and then I crashed in race one for seventh. I was third for a long time in the second race but then I crashed again. Working with Marc has been good for me mentally, and we have been making big steps with the entire team. I feel really comfortable on the Kawasaki and both the bike and the team have helped me to improve my riding so much this year; for sure we can build even further step-by-step from here. I feel so confident on the bike that I can push more than ever before. Maybe I pushed a little too much at times today, and I’m a little angry with myself about that, but we will learn from it. “

Overall MXGP GREAT BRITAIN:
1 Tim Gajser 47 Pnt
2 Jorge Prado 43 Pnt
3 Jeremy Seewer 40 Pnt
4 Maxime Renaux 35 Pnt
5 Glenn Coldenhoff 32 Pnt
6 Jed Beaton 30 Pnt

Overall Grand Prix MX2 Great Britain:
1 Simon Laengenfelder 50 Pnt
2 Tom Vialle 42 Pnt
3 Jago Geerts 40 Pnt
4 Kay de Wolf 36 Pnt
5 Roan van de Moosdijk 33 Pnt
8 Kevin Horgmo 26 Pnt

A new chapter for F&H Kawasaki

F&H Kawasaki enters a new chapter this season as, for the first time since its creation seven years ago, the team will contest both MX2 and MXGP classes of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

The Dutch-based team has enjoyed success in the MX2 class, claiming the European title in 2019 and GP podiums every year since they entered the World Championship in 2018. For the first time this season the team will have one rider in each of the MX2 and the MXGP series, a new development which is welcomed by everyone in the team. Norwegian Kevin Horgmo joins the team for the first time in MX2, while Australian Jed Beaton returns for his rookie year in MXGP.

“The entire family took the decision to race two classes; we feel it will bring a fresh wind and new opportunities and we are really looking forward to the challenge. We had a great off-season; Jed is back with us and we are very optimistic, together with Kawasaki, that we can give him the opportunity to race up-front on the KX450 because he is a very talented rider. We achieved MX2 podiums with him, and we are happy to give him this chance,” explained team manager Nathalie Fase, who runs the team alongside her father Harry and is enthusiastic after the short winter break.

“With riders in two classes it will be different. We will need a new approach but we have less riders, going from three to two, so we can still focus on both; maybe it will be even better than with all riders in one class,” she added.

Marc de Reuver, a former GP winner who has been coach to the F&H team riders for several seasons, is happy about the preparation with both riders: “It’s going well; it’s even been a little less hectic than in previous years because we now have one MX2 and one MXGP rider so the focus is a little different. When we came back from Turkey last year we had a team meeting, and Harry the team owner suggested the idea to have one MXGP rider and one MX2 rider in 2022. We have had several really good years in the MX2 class and achieved good results but I prefer this solution; it’s a lot less stress. Marc has already been acquainted with both riders for several years: “I have known Kevin already for a long time; in 2016 he was racing the EMX125 while I was also involved in a team racing that series so I saw him riding. Like most of the guys who are racing at the front in the EMX classes he has the talent to get good results and just needs everything around him to be in the right place. I’m confident for him; it’s coming, as we could see in the pre-season races. I like to work with riders who deserve a chance, and he really deserves it.” Marc is also enjoying working again with Jed Beaton, the man who secured the team’s first GP podium in 2018. “Me and Jed are good friends and I like to work with him. He has a good character; he never complains, he’s a hard worker and it’s good to have him back with us. I’m really happy.”

For Harry and Nathalie Fase, who have both been highly enthusiastic about motocross for many years and who also run their own business outside the sport, a new exciting era commences this weekend when the gate drops at Matterley Basin for the first of twenty rounds of the 2022 FIM World Motocross Championship. After two tough seasons due to the pandemic GP racing returns to the two-day schedule this year and the F&H Kawasaki Racing Team will be present with all of their long-term partners. “We keep the same partners; we have a strong and solid base which we have built since day one of the team. We have so many loyal partners and we don’t like to change; If it clicks it clicks and, even with the obstacles created by Covid, everybody continued to have faith in us and everyone has been really loyal on both sides during this difficult time. Now we can’t wait for the new season to start; to meet and work again with our partners at the races,” concluded Nathalie, who was pleased to see both of her riders battling for podiums during the pre-season races.

Kevin Horgmo: ” It was a short offseason this year, but we had 4 good weeks on Sardinia and 2 preseason races which was good. It’s a good group of people working together in the team, and made me comfy on the Kawasaki already after some weeks of riding. Really eager to get to the GP’s!”

Jed Beaton: “The off season went well; we headed to Sardinia which was a first for me. I really enjoyed it there was a nice little island with many tracks, its feels good to be back on the F&H Kawasaki. I think the bike suits me really well and I’m adapting to the 450 nicely, I’m looking forward to the season ahead with goals of improving every round on my results and staying healthy all year!”

Kevin Horgmo joins F&H Kawasaki Racing Team

The F&H Kawasaki Racing Team has secured its first new signing for the 2022 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship as Norwegian Kevin Horgmo, this year’s EMX250 series runner-up, moves up to the GPs.

For the fifth year in succession Team F&H will be officially representing Kawasaki in the MX2 World championship next season and the exciting Norwegian talent joins the Dutch squad with high expectations from both team and rider. One of most talented riders from Scandinavia, Kevin was at the sharp end of a tense battle for the FIM Europe EMX250 title this summer, eventually ending the series as runner-up with two overall victories, three moto wins and six podiums. The MX2 World Championship will not be an entirely new experience for Kevin as he already raced a few GPs this season, with a twelfth position as best result in Czech Republic. After battling for race wins, podiums and the title he now moves to the GPs more experienced and mature. Kevin has already started working with Marc De Reuver, who will again be the coach to the F&H riders next season.

Kevin Horgmo: “I’m really excited to join F&H Kawasaki Racing Team; the KX250 is a completely new bike for me but already after the first test I feel so comfortable on it. To be a member of a team like this is what I feel I’ve been missing in the past; the team has everything I need to succeed so now it’s up to me to perform! It will also be good to work with Marc as a trainer; for sure I will learn a lot from him!”

Nathalie Fase (F&H Kawasaki team manager): “We look forward to working with Kevin. He has shown in the past what he is capable of as a rider and, with the full package that we can offer him and a good winter, we believe he can make a big step towards success in the MX2 GPs. The first tests are done and everything looks good; he has adapted quickly to the bike and shows a lot of promise! We are already working hard with each other and look forward with optimism to some great times together!”

Beaton Back with F&H Kawasaki Racing Team

Jed Beaton returns to the F&H Kawasaki Racing Team next year as he moves up to contest the premier MXGP class of the FIM Motocross World Championships for the first time.

Having already shown his potential in 2016 when he travelled from his native Tasmania to Europe to replace an injured rider in the European championships, Jed joined the F&H Kawasaki Racing Team two years later to contest the MX2 World Championship for the first time. After regularly posting top eight results during the early rounds of his rookie season Jed claimed the team’s first-ever World Championship podium with a third position in the Portuguese GP at Agueda. Holding fifth in the series after eight rounds he unfortunately suffered a broken leg at the British GP and was forced to miss the remainder of the season. Ranked top-five in the MX2 World Championship in each of the last two seasons after scoring a further six GP podiums the Australian opens another chapter in his career in 2022 as, having reached the age-related cut-off of twenty-three, he transfers to the MXGP class with the Dutch F&H Kawasaki Racing Team based in Moordrecht.

Jed Beaton: ” I am really excited to sign again with F&H Kawasaki Racing Team. We have achieved great things together in the past and I feel like we can now do the same in the MXGP class; it’s a big step for both myself and the team but we are both excited and ready for it.”

Nathalie Fase (team manager): “We are very much looking forward to our renewed collaboration with Jed as he has always been part of our family. The fact that Jed returns to us says something about our mutual trust and the bond we have with each other. In 2018 we achieved our first MX2 podium with him, and we hope to take on this exciting challenge together in the MXGP class. We are confident that it will once again be a great collaboration with each other. We all can’t wait to get started!”

Steve Guttridge (Racing Manager – Kawasaki Motors Europe): “Adding Jed to the MXGP line up on our KX450 inside the F&H Kawasaki Racing Team is an exciting prospect! The team continue to gain big experience and learn quickly each season and so for KME to add more green back into the MXGP start line, inside a top team and with talented rider combination, was the way forward for the 2022 season.”