Geoff Meyer

Welcome to our new weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto's MXGP Insider presented by KTM. Written by World Motocross fanatic, Transmoto's European correspondent Geoff Meyer. He's seen more MXGP pit paddocks than most and in his early days use to hitch a ride from event to event. The veteran Aussie runs MX Large and MX Illustrated magazine so he is well versed in the Euro motocross and supercross scene. Get your Euro fix here.

What makes the FIM World Motocross Championships so popular is the fact that the circuits in Europe are very different to those found in the rest of the world. Unlike in America where the circuits are often groomed the same, and no matter what type of design or elevation, the dirt is often tacky and loaded with grip, Europe has various types of dirt. In fact, nearly every circuit on the GP series is different from the next.

Hard pack with its blue groove in Spain and Italy, or deep sand in Belgium or Holland. Then there's the Grand Prix of Portugal where it's more of a clay type of dirt, or how about the British GP at Matterly Basin with its American-styled design and well prepared tacky, grippy dirt.

Obviously due to the severe winter weather in Europe many of the tracks are either laying under a thick coat of snow or have suffered a lot of water damage from rain. Before Youthstream came along and started really preparing the circuits, the World MX Championships would arrive and the water damage from the previous winter was still evident on the circuit. Even more surprising was the fact those water lines that ran down the hillsides were not even cleaned up, making for a dangerous and adventurous time for the GP riders.

While Youthstream have addressed this situation and do prepare the circuits better, the weather still plays a major part in how the track is. While the dirt is often turned over and given a fresh look, it's still old dirt and quickly returns to being rock hard and very slippery. Circuits in Spain, Italy and Bulgaria have this problem and it continues to remind me of the old days.

On the other hand you have circuits in Great Britain that are very moist, due to the amount of water that goes down and the flat nature of the tracks. Luckily in recent years track designers like Johnny Douglas Hamilton have put extra effort into making the circuits and using the lay of the land. Douglas designed and prepared the Matterly Basin circuit, which has run two Grand Prix's and one Motocross of Nations and in many people's eyes it's the best circuit on the GP calendar.

Then you head over to Holland or Belgium where many of the tracks are deep sand. Holland in particular is riddled with Manjimup-type sand, with deep and long ruts that test riders to the limit. Jeffrey Herlings, the riders many say is the best sand rider in the world, had hardly ridden hard pack when he was growing up, yet the importance of racing in sand circuits has helped him develop a great hard pack style, as was shown at the 2011 Motocross of Nations when he beat American Ryan Villopoto in a moto.

What has really improved the Grand Prix riders' techniques over the last few years is the Supercross-style obstacles that Youthstream have included in their GP tracks. Long wave sections, and tight chicanes, not to mention bigger jumps. When you add the fact that sand circuits improve riders technical skills, then you can see why more and more Grand Prix riders can match the likes of Chad Reed, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey when the Motocross of Nations arrives.