ARCO DI TRENTO (Italy), 9 April 2014 – Arco di Trento is typically known for its beauty, peace and serenity, surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs and snowy peaked mountains, the location is quite literally a breath of fresh air. While the town, situated in the North East of Italy in the province of Trentino, usually attracts nature enthusiasts, rock climbers, snowboarders and skiers as well as families that want to camp by the lake and absorb the crisp, refreshing air of Trentino, this weekend the main attraction will be round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship, which is extra special as it is Europe’s first round of the 2014 MXGP season.
Also in attendance along side the premier MXGP and MX2 classes this weekend, the EMX125 European Championship series will kick off while the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championshipwill also be gracing the grid for their second round this year with Meghan Rutledge flying in from Australia to defend the WMX red plate on her Bud Racing Kawasaki KXF250.
MXGP
Everyone knows the Italians love their Italian athletes, but none more than their very own Antonio Cairoli who was voted late last year as the 2013 Sportsman of the year, even against the likes of other Italian greats such as Valentino Rossi, Francesco Totti, Mario Balotelli, just to name a few. With the unconditional love and support of his fans, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli won MXGPs round of Trentino last year ahead of his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Ken De Dycker who will be sitting it out this year as he recovers from injury.
After winning the last four MXGP races in Thailand and Brazil, Tony will be the hot favourite here in Arco, which raises the question “who can stop the wrath of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli as he storms his way to FIM Motocross World title number eight?”
The early red plate holder Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin will be one of the first riders to put his hand up and say, “I’ll stop him”. Anything is possible, especially if the Frenchman can put together some consistent results from here on out.
Tied with Paulin for second in the MXGP championship, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek has been the surprise of the season, throwing his name into the hat as a guy who is capable of winning. After winning the opening round of the Belgian Championship last weekend, Van Horebeek is carrying some wicked momentum and has gone on the record to say he believes he is in the best condition of his career.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World’s Clement Desalle has been picking up steam recently and is currently stalking his prey as he sits fourth in the championship only one point back from Paulin and Van Horebeek in second.
Meanwhile Team HRC’s Max Nagl is playing the consistent card since coming out firing on all cylinders in Qatar. It’s no secret that Nagl prefers to be 100% in routine, meaning he can eat his own food and train as he normally would. Now with the championship returning to European turf, it will be interesting to see what the German can pull out of the bag.
CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MXGP has expanded. One of the fan favourites of MX2, Alessandro Lupino has moved up to the MXGP class as of this weekend, and will be making his 450cc racing debut. Jean Jacques Luisetti, owner of CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy, said, “we offered Alessandro the possibility to already start riding a 450; it’s a good opportunity for him to show what he can do in this class and I’m sure that his smooth riding style will suit our KXF450 perfectly”.
A couple of other Italians in MXGP that will be keeping the flags waving and the horns hooting this weekend; the 2008 FIM Motocross World Champion David Philippaerts who is back on Yamaha riding this year for his own team DP19 Racing Yamaha and TM Ricci Racing’s Davide Guarneri who put in a fantastic ride at round two in Thailand where he crossed the line eighth in both races for eighth overall.
2013 MX1 Podium
1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Ken De Dycker
3. Gautier Paulin
2013 MX1 POLEMAN: Ken De Dycker
MX2
Getting ready to pierce the peace in Arco, and looking extremely odd without red plates on his number 84 KTM 250SX-F, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings will be riding extra determined after missing the Grand Prix of Brazil due to a shoulder injury. Herlings is now fourth in the points, trailing the points leader Arnaud Tonus by fifteen.
CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Arnaud Tonus has joined the very very exclusive MX2 winners circle after round three of the MX2 world championship in Beto Carrero, Brazil. Now carrying the red plate as the MX2 Championship points leader, the target is on the back of the Swiss star as he has to deal with a very fired up Jeffrey Herlings, as well as two eager championship contenders, Coldenhoff and Ferrandis who have that coveted red plate right in their sites.
Another one with a fire in his belly this year, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff has been showing excellent form. Although his game plan didn’t go exactly to plan in race one in Brazil, the young Dutchman bounced back in moto two to take home his first MX2 race victory of the year as well as the first of his career. With only two points separating him and the MX2 championship point’s leader, Tonus, one race could hand him his first ever FIM MX2 World Championship red plate.
First impressions last forever, which is great news for CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis, who won the opening race of the 2014 MX2 World Championship in Losail, Qatar fair and square. Ferrandis has proved he can win, and after his amazing performance in race one in Brazil where he moved from outside the top five to cross the line in second place, there is no counting out the flying Frenchman who sits only five points back from the championship lead.
CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy have made a new recruit! In the form of another young star AmericanThomas Covington. Covington is mostly recognized for his remarkable third place in race two at the season opener in Qatar. Although the last few rounds have been a learning curve, the rookie Covington is a star student, willing to learn and do what it takes to progress.
Meanwhile Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s team of young guns Romain Febvre andAleksandr Tonkov are inseparable, with some of the biggest battles throughout the MX2 race being between these two teammates. Currently the duo, Febvre and Tonkov are sitting fifth and sixth in the championship respectively.
2013 MX2 Podium
1. Jeffrey Herlings
2. Jordi Tixier
3. José Butrón
2013 MX1 POLEMAN: Jordi Tixier
All the photos of the MXGP of Trentino will be available here
TIMETABLE
SATURDAY: EMX125 Group 1 Free/Timed practice 08:00; EMX125 Group 2 Free/Timed practice 08:35; WMX Free practice 09:15; MX2 Free practice 10:15; MXGP Free practice 10:45; WMX Time practice 11:15; EMX125 last chance Qualifying race 12:20; MX2 Time practice 14:00; MXGP Time practice 14:35; WMX Race 1 15:20, MX2 Qualifying race 16:10; MXGP Qualifying race 17:00; EMX 125 Race 1 17:40.
SUNDAY: WMX Warm-up 08:15; EMX125 Warm-up 08:30; MX2 Warm-up 09:15; MXGP Warm-up 09:40; WMX Race 2 11:10; EMX125 Race 2 12:00; MX2 Race 1 13:10; MXGP Race 1 14:10; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.
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