Red Bull KTM rider Searle, who finished runner up last year, will undoubtedly try his very best to dethrone Cairoli. The Brit is at his second season with the squad, and last in the world championship before heading to the AMA, so the 17-year-old will be giving his all.
Team-mate Tyla Rattray will be another rider on fire this year, after a 2007 campaign that earlier than expected after a knee injury. The South African finished a bitter fourth in the 2007 championship, but has the necessary consistency and experience to finally collect a title.
On the other hand countryman Gareth Swanepoel, riding for Molson Kawasaki Racing and having finished fifth last year, is expected to undergo a wrist operation and will therefore miss the opening rounds.
However, Molson can still count on Stephen Sword, now back to full fitness after a difficult comeback in 2007 - he returned to the GP scene at Uddevalla, Sweden, but was injured again at Namur, Belgium - and Paulin Gautier, who has joined the team after winning last year's European MX2 Championship. This will be the Frenchman’s first full season in grand prix racing.
Fellow Frenchmen Nicolas Aubin (Ricci Racing Yamaha) and Pascal Leuret (Suzuki Swift Motocross) will be aiming high this year; as will solid Finn Matti Seistola of SRS Racing ST, Champ KTM’s young gun Jeremy Van Horebeek and KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson, who has starred in several pre-season races.
2008 will also mark the debut of a handful of riders from the UEM series, including NGS’ Marvin Musquin, 3C Racing’s Deny Philippaerts, Champ KTM’s Joel Roelants, Bud Racing Kawasaki PSM Pastorello’s Khounsith Vongsana. The latter team’s line up will be completed by Australian newcomer Brenden Harrison.
Valkenswaard will be a tough challenge for them, battling with lots of experienced riders including GP winners Davide Guarneri of Ricci Racing, Erik Eggens of Suzuki Beursfoon and Carl Nunn of Suso MVR-D Suzuki, Jeremy Tarroux of AXO KTM Silver Action and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rui Goncalves.
