Monster Energy Yamaha were proud to throw off the covers of their works YZ450FM and YZ250FM factory motorcycles in front of the international press and invited guests at Valkenswaard on the eve of the Grand Prix of the Netherlands, the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
In a packed Monster Energy rig riders Steven Frossard, David Philippaerts, Shaun Simpson and Christophe Charlier were joined by the fetching Monster Energy girls and Team Managers Michele Rinaldi and Steve Dixon in revealing the black, green and blue machinery.
The sextet – also with Chiara Fontanesi present as part of opening meeting of the Women’s World Championship – then spoke about the season ahead their hopes and expectations and were accompanied by Yamaha Motor Europe’s Laurens Klein Koerkamp in explaining further the breakdown of the squad and priorities of the sport for Yamaha.
“Clearly it is a not an easy time at the moment but the off-road market is stabilising so motocross and Grand Prix is important for Yamaha, also very much for development of our technology and prototypes and we are thrilled that we can count on the image and profile again of a title sponsor such as Monster Energy,” he said. “We have three riders again in MX1 and MX2 with factory bikes in both classes and some special developments to both the YZ450FM and YZ250FM. We’ve had some bad luck with the injuries to Arnaud, Christophe and Zach in the last two weeks and it has been hard to take but it is part of the sport and we wish the best and quickest recovery for the guys as soon as possible.”
Practice and qualification begins tomorrow (Sunday) at the sandy circuit with the Grand Prix motos taking place on holiday Monday. Events in Bulgaria and Italy follow in April.
