What a magnificent season it has been in both the FIM championships and the AMA championships. A new star is born in Europe in Romain Febvre and the old guard in America of Ryan Dungey again proved too consistent for his rivals.
Amazing races all around the world, and even more to come in 2016. Countries like Qatar, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina, Mexico, America and all over Europe will once again awaken our love of motocross. Riders like Febvre, Herlings, Cairoli, Desalle, Paulin, Nagl and so many more will go into battle and we as fans will remember why this sport continues to grow.
Rider of the Year: A world title and 1-1 at the MXoN automatically gives you the top spot and Romain Febvre did that and more. He also beat the American riders at the USGP and on their home turf. It wouldn’t surprise me if the open practice and moto’s of the Qatar round of the MXGP series is as interesting to the public as it was this year with Ryan Villopoto racing. Can Febvre continue to win, or will it be MXGP legend Antonio Cairoli who takes the glory.
MX2 rider of the year: Going with Jeremy Martin on this one He beat Marvin Musquin for the AMA 250cc title and showed great resilience at the MXoN to finish second overall in the MX2 class behind Musquin. Two AMA 250cc titles in two years and beating guys like Musquin, Cooper Webb and all the best American riders shows he is a little special.
Rookie of the Year: Romain Febvre. That man again. Comes into the MXGP class as a rookie and walks away with the championship, beating home guys like Ryan Villopoto, Antonio Cairoli, Clement Desalle, Gautier Paulin and so many others. He kept out of trouble and his remount and win in France, with broken handlebars was just things legends are made of. His 2015 performance was Everts or Cairoli like, and that’s as big a compliment as I can give to a rookie.
Event of the Year: It’s going to get it every single season isn’t it, the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. A huge event, bigger than 2005 and this monster called MXoN just gets bigger and bigger. Have to wonder when it will hit its peak and we might get a year that it isn’t so special. The home victory by France, the massive crowd, the strong performance by Team USA made it special.
GP of the Season: Assen gets my vote hands down. This was a very special moment in the sports history as we went to a road racing facility and the event was miles better than an old school GP. Having attended my first ever motocross race in 1971 with names like De Coster, Robert, Aberg and many more I am as old school as it gets, but this Assen GP was massive. If the USGP at Charlotte Motor Speedway is anywhere near as good then we are in for a really exciting event.
Race of the Season: As it often does Matterley Basin produced the race of the season. The large British crowd were given an early present as Max Anstie led from Valentin Guillod and MX2 king-pin Jeffrey Herlings fighting through the pack. Anstie led nearly every lap before Guillod passed him and then Herlings passed both for the moto victory.
Toughest rider of the year: Antonio Cairoli without question. He might not have picked up his ninth world title, but the performances of the MXGP legend under serious pain showed the real character of the Italian rider.
Moment of the Season: Ryan Villopoto crashes out of the Grand Prix of Italy. You could nearly pick half a dozen RV moments as the moment of the season. Despite only lasting four and a half GPs the American champion brought a lot of respect to the MXGP class. Europe owes him a big dept for putting the Grand Prix back on top of World Motocross.
AMA vs FIM in 2016: The two series will always be locked in this debate. For decades the GP media tried to tell how we were the equal of the AMA series, but now that has been reversed as excuses like RV wasn’t fit, MXoN doesn’t count and hard pack isn’t real motocross. And let us not mention sand….The verdict once again goes to Grand Prix, although the two are so close now you could call it a draw.
Fightback of the season: Romain Febvre and his GP of France performance. Crashing hard and bending his handlebars he continued on to win the GP and it started his unthinkable chase for a world title in his debut MXGP season. Holding down fourth place in the championship and having won only a moto at the previous rounds British GP that French GP win started the fire to would eventually see him crowned World MXGP champion. He would win 13 of the next 20 moto’s and be seen as the new man in world motocross.
Disappointment of the year: The two young men who five years ago brought so much pleasure Jeffrey Herlings and Ken Roczen spend the 2015 season looking brilliant and brittle at the same time. Let’s hope 2016 is kinder to these two exciting talents.
Journalist of the Year: Adam Wheeler. Continues to be one of the most neutral media guys from both sides of the Atlantic. Professional and hard working. He works for a bunch of magazines throughout the world, runs his own e-magazine (OTOR) and can be seen on most weekends on MXGP.tv with his good mate Paul Malin.
Photographer of the Year: Massimo Zanzani. The Italian veteran works harder than just about anyone on a GP weekend. His images can be seen on MXGP.com and also in many magazines throughout Europe. He also works for Yamaha for decades.