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.

It's early February and only three weeks before the European Motocross season begins. Hard to believe how quickly this off-season has passed. We finally have some snow on the ground and, while only a thin layer, it's enough to give that winter feel. I'm sure with temperatures around -2 degrees tracks are rock hard and you've really got to feel for the GP riders trying to prepare for the 2012 season.

Some like Jake Nicholls or Tommy Searle have headed to New Zealand and America. In fact a bunch of GP riders travel to America each December and January to practice in warm and dry conditions; Jeffrey Herlings, Zach Osborne and Max Anstie to name a few.

I was speaking to Antonio Cairoli a while ago and he mentioned that he didn't really like training in America because the tracks in California are not like the tracks in Europe, and that was also a problem Herlings had this year (when he was there in November and December).

Many of the Californian circuits are over used, with a massive amount of riders practicing every single day. What Herlings and Cairoli also told me is the circuits in southern California are under prepared and turn into a complete mess. Seems like guys like Herlings and Cairoli can better use their time at their local circuit; with less less travel time and riding circuits that are similar to the Grand Prix tracks.

Great Britain's Tommy Searle on the other hand has a house in California, a girlfriend and he also has friends there. Having raced there in 2009 and 2010 he probably has a few circuits up his sleeve that'll match the Euro tracks.

As for another young British rider, Nicholls, he spends the European winter in New Zealand with Ben Townley. You couldn't ask for a better training partner than BT, who works hard and knows a lot about pre-season preparation - although bad luck has often sent his season into a spiral but his work ethic is unquestionable.

Nicholls has also trained with Josh Coppins and the Jacky Martens KTM sponsored rider has slowly worked his way into the MX2 top ten and many see him chasing a top five spot in 2012.

While December is often a time to relax for many of the Grand Prix riders, January and February is really a time to test their bikes, bodies and minds. Being prepared for a 16 round series means that they have to peak at the right time and in all fairness when the season starts in Valkenswaard, Holland, on Easter Monday most will only be 70% or 80% ready.

What will be interesting when the season does start is who has done their homework; be it in Europe, America, New Zealand or Spain. Has Searle made the right decision staying in America? Or will Herlings have the right preparation from spending time in America in November and December and then enjoying his local facilities in January and February. We'll see come round one.