Nineteen gruelling rounds of intense racing have brought us to Darwin, Australia, for the final stop of the FIM Motocross World Championship. In the MX2 class, the red plate has been on a rollercoaster journey, passing between de Wolf, Coenen, Everts, Langenfelder, Adamo, and then back to Langenfelder, who has held the championship lead since round eleven in Latvia. After that Latvian GP, Langenfelder cemented his place in the title fight, leaving the British Grand Prix 52 points ahead of Adamo and 72 clear of de Wolf, having dominated the weekend with a maximum 60 points while his rivals struggled.

Nestaan Husqvarna’s Kay de Wolf targeted the sandy circuits as key opportunities to claw back his deficit, and he has done so nearly to perfection. Scoring maximum 60 point hauls in both Finland and Belgium, along with 54 points in Arnhem, allowed the Dutchman to leapfrog Adamo in the standings and close in on Langenfelder. The final two GPs proved pivotal for the German, as he surrendered just three points in Turkey and gained four in China. Now, with 60 points still on the table, only 16 separate Langenfelder and de Wolf in the title chase.

The qualifying race in Darwin will play a major role heading into Sunday’s title decider. If de Wolf can gain a noticeable advantage, it will certainly put pressure on Langenfelder and swing some momentum toward the reigning champion. However, if Simon can earn a point or two, or at least limit his losses, he will head into Sunday in a much more comfortable position. Should de Wolf overhaul Langenfelder for the crown, he will move up to the MXGP class next season, although that step may come regardless of the championship outcome.

Feature Image: JP Acevedo