WATCH: Inside MXGP with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP

Breaking away from the polished façade of podium celebrations, this rad new YouTube series “Inside MXGP” delves deep into the inner workings of the MXGP paddock. It promises a raw, unfiltered, all-access look behind the scenes, revealing the mud, sweat and tears that are part and parcel of life in racing.

The first episode, titled “No Pain, No Gain,” sheds light on the brutal challenges faced by the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams at the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season opener in Villa La Angostura, Argentina.

Jago Geerts appeared set for a strong debut in his MXGP career, having clocked the seventh-fastest time in Timed Practice. Yet fate had other plans, and during the Qualifying Race on Saturday afternoon, Geerts was cleaned out in a racing incident at turn one before casing a jump and going over the ‘bars on lap two. This heavy blow underscored the unpredictable nature and physical demands of racing at an elite level, resulting in the 23-year-old Belgian sustaining a broken right collarbone and a fractured left elbow.

While setbacks are a tough pill to swallow, these gnarly challenges often serve as an opportunity for growth and character development. Maxime Renaux is proof of this, having faced numerous injuries throughout his career, including an insane foot injury in 2023. While the phrase “no pain, no gain” may sound cliché, for those in MXGP it is their way of life. Renaux’s mind-blowing fifth-place finish in Argentina showed a glimpse of his lionheart and underscores a gritty narrative shared by teammate Calvin Vlaanderen, who returned from injury with ninth overall.

“It was a really tough weekend in Argentina,” Renaux explained. ”We weren’t 100% coming in, and this track has a lot of G-force, which puts a lot of pressure on our feet. For me, it was not easy with my right foot still not 100%, but I dug deep and gave everything I had.”

At the same time, Thibault Benistant, Rick Elzinga, and Andrea Bonacorsi in MX2 faced trials and tribulations of their own. Although each of their challenges differed, their conviction was the same: without struggle, there would be no strength, growth, or glory.

“I was already happy to make it to Argentina,” Elzinga said, “I’ve only had three-weeks on the bike, so the fact that I made it there and could race on a high level, I am happy about. I had some arm-pump, which was expected, but throughout the weekend, I felt better and better. I had three good starts and put in some consistent laps, which is a good place to start under the circumstances.”

Watch the highs and lows of the MXGP season opener, including GoPro footage from Geerts’ crash that forced him out of round one, here. (https://youtu.be/p53OZQ_aF4A)

Keep an eye out for the next episode of “Inside MXGP,” which will be posted after EVERY round of MXGP in 2024 on Yamaha Racing’s YouTube channel. (www.youtube.com/channel/UCD-JNBXfy-cjlmljsLrJ3nA?sub_confirmation=1)

Photo Credit: YAMAHA