Thai motocross stars rev up to face world's best in Chon Buri
Five Thai riders led by Honda's talented Anont Theplip will feature at the upcoming ThaiMXGP, the second race of the World Motocross Championship 2014, in Si Racha, Chon Buri next weekend.
Anont plus the other four riders – Yamaha’s Chaiyan Roamphan, Kawasaki’s Thanarat Penchan, Wattana Kanlaya of Suzuki and KTM’s Trakan Tangthong – earned wild cards for the world event to be held for the second successive year at the Pin Thong3 track between March 7 and 9.
The Thais won the entry slots with their performances at the recent MXA Thailand Motocross, where they also got tips from former world champion Jan Postema.
But they face a star-studded field at the Bt80-million World Championship, led by MX1 world champion Antonio Cairoli of KTM and Dutchman Jeffrey Herlings, winner of the MX2 world championship.
Other top riders gunning for success over Chon Buri’s jumps are Suzuki’s Clement Desalle, “Flying Man” Gautier Paulin and high-profile racers from Honda, Maximilan Nagl and Evgeny Bobryshev.
Jeremy Van Horebeek, who helped Belgium win the team event at the Motocross of Nations last year, will race under the banner of Yamaha.
Tickets are available at Bt500 for March 7, Bt700 for March 8 and Bt1,000 for March 9. A three-day pass costs Bt1,500, while a Grandstand ticket for the whole event is Bt5,000. Visit Thaiticketmajor.com.
