Arnhem provides fresh challenge after tough stretch of races

Arnhem in the Netherlands provides the venue for the 16^th round of the 2023 World Motocross Championships, with the location being brand new to the MXGP calendar, even if riders have ridden it before to test out their sand skills.

Following on from the MXGP of Sweden last weekend, Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez and Tim Gajser both hope that things will go a bit better in the Dutch terrain, after what proved to be a testing pair of races in the Uddevalla rain.

Thankfully the weather forecast is much better for Arnhem, located in the east of the country, meaning that everyone can concentrate on tackling what will be the last sand race of the year. For Fernandez, it gives him another chance to show that his ability in the soft stuff is greatly improved, after managing a sixth in the second moto at Lommel. However, he is still recovering from the after-effects of his get-off in Finland and is a little behind where he’d want to be in terms of track time these past few weeks and as such must temper any expectations as the season enters its final few rounds.

Reigning world champion Gajser is in a slightly different position as he is hoping to step up his level in these last four rounds and get himself nearer the podium by the end of the season. Each round since his return from his broken femur has had some minor aspects go against him, but as always, he is staying in a positive frame of mind and approaching this new track with fresh enthusiasm that he will get back to his GP-winning form from last year.

With two support classes also riding this weekend, the MXGP schedule is in its familiar timeslots, with the free practice at 11am, followed by timed practice at 14:15 which gives the gate-picks for the Saturday qualification race at 17:25. They then have the Sunday morning warm-up at 10:45 before the two GP-scoring motos at 14:15 and 17:10 with the combined results hopefully giving both riders enough points to be standing on the podium.