Recharged after a weekend off, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 teams are back on the road and ready for round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship, which will take place in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, this weekend.

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Buoyed by a strong double podium performance at round three in Switzerland, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s star duo of Maxime Renaux and Tim Gajser arrive in Sardinia with genuine momentum and belief in the work they’ve put in. Both riders spent the pre-season in Sardinia, using Riola’s deep sand to log countless laps, test different setups and sharpen their physical conditioning. That preseason work — combined with the positive feedback of recent testing in Belgium — means both riders feel physically sharp, energised, confident and determined to translate that progress into more podium results this weekend.

In MX2, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team arrives fresh from a productive weekend of training, and an Easter Monday race in the Netherlands that resulted in an overall win for the eldest of the Reisulis brothers, Karlis. Both promising young Latvians arrive in Sardinia with complementary strengths, particularly in the sand, and clear intent. While the rookie, Janis, hasn’t raced in Riola since his 85cc days, he has clocked laps at the track in the pre-season, and tends to enjoy the way the circuit develops. The aim for the recently turned 18-year-old is to connect everything he has learned so far, to show his true potential. At the same time, Karlis brings more experience and a steady head, arriving confident that rhythm and consistency will deliver results.

Joining the MX2 line-up is Lotte van Drunen, the two-time and reigning FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion and the only female in the current era to go bar-to-bar with the men. This is her third MX2 appearance of the year; rather than contesting the championship, she’s using these wildcard starts to build race craft and fine-tune her form for her WMX title defense, which begins in Lacapelle Marival, France, on the weekend of May 24th.

And last but not least, the MXGP of Sardegna will also host the third round of the EMX250 and EMX125 Championships. VHR Yamaha Official EMX250’s rookie sensation, Mano Faure, sits fourth in EMX250 Championship Standings as he continues to find his feet in the class, while MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Sleny Goyer is fourth in EMX125 series standings — just one point off third and 17 points from the lead. Both arrive focused on turning pace into podiums and closing the championship gaps.

“I had a nice weekend off. I spent some time with my family and friends, which was nice. This weekend, we have Riola. It’s a really physically demanding track, but it is also quite demanding on the bike as well. I like tracks that test both bike and body, so I am looking forward to it. The goal for this weekend is to fight up front and continue putting good points on the board to build into the championship. Being consistent is important, so this is what we’re aiming for and hopefully we end the weekend on the box.”

— Maxime Renaux, 4th MXGP Championship Standings, 117-points

“After Switzerland, I went to the team’s base in Belgium. I spent a week there training and testing, and I would say it was a really productive week. We’re moving in the right direction, so I am happy. I’m looking forward to Riola. We spend a lot of time in Sardinia in the winter, so I have made a lot of laps around that track, it’s a place I know well, and a track I like to ride. This weekend, I really want to get good starts and just enjoy riding. I know that when I am happy and having fun, I am fast, so that’s the plan.”

— Tim Gajser, 5th MXGP Championship Standings, 116-points

“I spent the weekend doing some physical training, and on Monday, I raced at the Dutch Masters in Heerde, the Netherlands, which was really nice because it was like a home race for the team. Honestly, Riola is one of my favorite sand tracks on the calendar. I really like the flow of the track and the big, long acceleration bumps. The only race I’ve done there was 5 years ago when it was the EMX85 final. I remember going for the win then, but ended up in 2nd. My goal is to put everything together and connect with the track to reach my full potential this weekend!”

— Janis Reisulis, 6th MX2 Championship Standings, 105-points

“I spent the weekend off training and had a nice race in the Netherlands on Easter Monday. It's a good track, although very tough. No memorable results there, but I'm willing to change that. My goal is to maintain rhythm throughout the whole weekend."

— Karlis Reisulis, 9th MX2 Championship Standings, 88-points