The 17th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is underway in Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, where riders are competing on an upgraded track as the MXGP Türkiye event enters its ninth edition.
Free practice and qualifying sessions began at the Afyonkarahisar Motor Sports Center for several classes, including the MXGP World Championship, MX2 World Championship, EMX250 European Championship and EMX125 European Championship.
This year's event features additional track elements designed to increase the technical difficulty of the course, according to Ogün Baysan, vice president of the Turkish Motorcycle Federation.
"The track has become a very challenging and ambitious course with the new features we added this year," Baysan told reporters. "We have been developing the championship continuously for nine years, always building on what we achieved the year before."
Baysan said the event has grown beyond a traditional racing competition, with its festival component becoming an increasingly important part of the program.
The organizers are already looking ahead to next year's 10th edition, which is expected to feature an expanded festival. Baysan said Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal has requested that the festival be extended to 10 days, while the Turkish federation has also asked the FIM to consider adding more races to the program.
Even without those additions, this year's event has expanded its racing schedule with the inclusion of the EMX125 and EMX250 European championships.
Baysan described MXGP Türkiye as more than a motorcycle racing event, saying it has become an important platform for promoting Afyonkarahisar and Türkiye internationally and supporting sports tourism.
"This is a motorcycle organization rather than just a race," he said. "Afyonkarahisar has become a gateway to the world. It is one of the best ways to promote Türkiye and Afyonkarahisar and one of the best forms of sports tourism."
He also highlighted the economic and cultural impact of hosting international visitors, saying the event gives local businesses, hotels and residents an opportunity to showcase the city and its character to a global audience.
"We are hosting this many foreign visitors in the best possible way," Baysan said. "It is not only about the race and the festival. We are showing the world our businesses, our hotels, our people and the fact that this is a very different Anatolian city."
Alongside the championship races, MXGP Türkiye is continuing its MXGP Academy program, which is designed to prepare promising young Turkish riders for careers on the international motocross circuit.
The academy brings together young riders who have performed well in Türkiye's national championships and provides them with specialized training aimed at developing their technical and competitive abilities.
The program focuses particularly on riders competing in the 65cc and 85cc categories. Participants receive instruction on riding technique, race preparation and the demands of competing at the level of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
The academy also places emphasis on the physical and mental development required to build a professional career, giving young riders an understanding of discipline, preparation and the responsibilities that come with competing at an international level.
Several activities were held at the start of this year's championship, including a parent information meeting, MXGP Academy rider training, MX-A certification and a parent workshop titled "Communicating With an MX Rider."
The first session of the MXGP Academy motorcycle training program was also completed as part of the event.
The academy's organizers have also made parents part of the training process, recognizing their influence on young athletes as they progress through the sport.
The parent workshop provides guidance on the demands of motocross, effective communication with young riders and ways families can provide constructive support during training and competition.
The goal is to create an environment in which young riders can develop both on and off the track while gaining the skills and discipline required for a professional career.
