The 2012 season is still a winter away, but already it is shaping up as a huge season. With the recent news that Christophe Pourcel will be joined by his brother Sebastien in the Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki Pro Circuit team and with MX2 riders Tommy Searle and Joel Roelants forming a very strong looking effort for Kawasaki in the MX2 class, it looks like it might be a battle of the Energy drink sponsored riders as Kawasaki try and steal the FIM World MX1 and MX2 Championships away from the Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing team.
Obviously the most exciting point of the 2012 season will be the fight for the MX1 title, with Antonio Cairoli having to be at his very best to be able to battle the likes of Clement Desalle, Pourcel brothers, Steven Frossard, Evgeny Bobryshev, Gautier Paulin and David Philippaerts.
I can’t think of a more exciting lineup in years, as youth and experience will clash for the biggest prize in the sport.
Then to back up this list, you still have names like Max Nagl, Tanel Leok, Rui Gonçalves, Ken De Dycker, Jonathan Barragan, Kevin Strijbos, Shaun Simpson and Davide Guarneri.
In the MX2 class it will also be the Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki Pro Circuit team trying to take the World MX2 number one plate from KTM. While Jeffrey Herlings will be a slight favorite going into the 2012 season, it might just be Tommy Searle who walks away with the title of World Champion. These two had great battles this season and it was only the brilliance of Ken Roczen that stopped them being the stars of the MX2 class.
Searle and Herlings ended the 2011 season with great results at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, although in that event both rode the bigger 350cc and 450cc machines. One thing is for sure, when Searle and Herlings do move up to the MX1 class, there will be fireworks.
Also set to shine in the MX2 class will be names such as Arnaud Tonus, Zach Osborne, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Jake Nicholls, Harri Kullas, and so many more.
Whatever happens in 2012 is seem like the domination of the Red Bull Teka KTM Factory team will be tested to the maximum.
By Geoff Meyer