MXGP of Switzerland 2025 calls for continuation

 

The MXGP of Switzerland powered by IXS 2025 was a success across the board. The best racing weather on both days of the event (Easter Saturday and Easter Monday), very well-packed spectator stands with a first-class atmosphere and outstanding racing action from the world's best motocross riders ensured an MX festival in Frauenfeld-Gachnang that will live long in the memory. The reward was a great podium finish for Jeremy Seewer from Bülach in the top MXGP class. This was also the historic first motocross podium for his employer Ducati.

 

 

MXG debut win for Lucas Coenen - Jeremy Seewer with first Ducati podium

The two races in the top class of the Motocross World Championship, the MXGP, were both a sure thing for Belgian rider Lucas Coenen at this year's MXGP of Switzerland in Frauenfeld-Gachnang today (Easter Monday). The newcomer from the "small" MX2 world championship class won the first heat by just under six seconds ahead of five-time world champion and world championship leader Tim Gajser from Slovenia and his team-mate Ruben Fernandez from Spain. In the second heat, Tim Gajser retired in second place after a crash on the third lap, making it easier for Lucas Coenen to win again and celebrate his first Grand Prix victory in the top category. Frenchman Romain Febvre crossed the finish line just five seconds behind the winner and was also called to the podium ceremony after finishing sixth overall in the first heat.

 

 

The biggest cheers from the predominantly Swiss fans, however, came from Jeremy Seewer. The 30-year-old from Bülach had finished seventh in the first heat and sensed the morning air in the turbulent second heat, which was characterized by many retirements, when he gradually moved up from eighth position at the start to fourth place behind five-time world champion Jeffrey Herlings. This would have been too little for the day's podium, so Jeremy Seewer, driven by the fans, launched the decisive attack on the last lap and finished third overall in heat three. This not only gave him another home podium, but also the historic first for his employer Ducati since they entered motocross racing in 2024. "That was simply incredible," said Jeremy Seewer shortly after the race. He then described his feelings of happiness with the following words: "I heard the fans and the announcer so loud, that definitely helped. Then the overtaking maneuver in front of the fans, that was just perfect. I've already finished second on the podium here twice in MX2, but this was my first time in MXGP, which is an incredible feeling. Now to get the first podium for Ducati from this position, it couldn't be better. We do a lot of races, and in France and Italy the fans are also pretty crazy, but I think we are also very, very strong in Switzerland. When I went up on the podium, I got goosebumps."

 

 

The MXGP of Switzerland was the third and, for the time being, the last MXGP on the classic Schollenholz race track under contract with MXGP rights holder Infront Moto Racing, but with all its great moments it was crying out for a sequel. Jeremy Seewer commented on this as follows: "I think that motocross is very attractive in Switzerland and the MXGP in Frauenfeld is very good for the sport here overall. I hope that the financial balance sheet is positive this year and that it will hopefully continue."

 

The second-best Swiss rider in the MXGP, Valentin Guilod from Fribourg, was convincing in eleventh place in the first race and was reaching for the stars in fifth place in the second. However, a crash also knocked him out of the race, in which he even suffered a broken left collarbone.

 

 

Instead, veteran Arnaud Tonus from Geneva and young Kevin Brumann from Ehrendingen finished both races and scored points. Tonus finished 15th and 19th, which put him 20th overall. Brumann finished 20th and 15th in the daily standings, one position behind Tonus in 21st place.

 

 

There were no world championship points for the other Swiss riders Loris Freidig, Nicolas Bender, Robin Scheiben, Ramon Keller and Xylian Ramella.

 

Längenfelder wins MX2 - Mike Gwerder among the world championship elite

In the "small" MX2 World Championship class for up to 23-year-olds, German rider Simon Längenfelder scored two clean start-finish victories to celebrate the fourth Grand Prix win of his career. Second and third place went to the world champion's son and grandson Liam Everts from Belgium and Kay de Wolf from the Netherlands, who had arrived as the leader of the standings.

 

 

Among the permanent World Championship starters, Mike Gwerder from Stadel put in two strong performances and finished 17th and 15th overall in the heat.

 

 

Although they didn't score any points, the twins Samuel and Thomas Oechslin and their older brother Matthias did just as well as Remo Schudel.

 

Home podium for Nico Greutmann

In addition to the two World Championship classes, two European Championship classes were also on the program again. August Frisk took a somewhat surprising win in the EMX250 on Saturday. The young Swede had arrived in ninth place at the European Championships and had not yet finished on the podium in the three previous races. He made up for this "deficiency" today in superior style by also winning the second race in Frauenfeld with aplomb and waving from the top step of the podium at the subsequent award ceremony. To the delight of the local fans, Nico Greutmann was also beaming into the crowd from there. After a modest start, the rider from Merishausen was unable to repeat his second place from Saturday, but after moving up from twelfth place at the start to sixth place, he was called to the podium ceremony in third place overall behind Spaniard Francisco Garcia.

 

 

The performances of the other Swiss representatives Arthur Steffen, Noryn Pulsini and Noe Zumstein should at least have helped their development.

 

Class newcomer Ryan Oppliger finished a good eighth overall

After his third place in the first race of the EMX125 class on Saturday, Hungarian rider Aron Katona won the second race with a commanding lead of over 20 seconds and thus also won the overall standings for both races. Second overall was Saturday's winner Nicolo Alvisi from Italy, who finished sixth today after a disastrous starting lap. Dany Heitink from the Netherlands secured bronze with second and eighth place in the heat.

The only Swiss finalist, Ryan Oppliger from Forel in the canton of Fribourg, experienced two completely different races. On Saturday, the up-and-comer from the 85cc class managed the holeshot and finished a strong sixth. Today, Easter Monday, he went down on the starting curve and had to chase after the field. With another good performance, he bounced up from 25th position at the end of the starting lap to 13th place, which meant eighth place in the final standings.

 

 

At the end of a great motocross festival with officially 40,500 spectators, the President and CEO of MXGP Suisse, Willy Läderach, drew the following conclusion: "I believe that we have once again put on a great MXGP with our entire team. In terms of spectators, it was okay, although we would of course have liked a few more fans. But we are reasonably satisfied. We have spoken to all the sponsors and they are all enthusiastic and satisfied with the event. We can also imagine that they will continue to be involved. If we could land one or two new sponsors, things would look a lot better. It's not all glitz and glamor, but it didn't go badly either. In addition to the sponsors, I would like to thank all the helpers, partners, service providers and, above all, the fans for coming. Special thanks also go to the authorities. District President Walter Schönholzer was with us for the first time and was totally enthusiastic. He wants to take this to the government, so we hope for continued good support from this side too."