FUNCHAL (PORTUGAL), 28 April 2010 – The winter break is finally finished and the 2010 FIM SuperMoto World Championship is about to kick off on the Italian race track of Castelletto di Branduzzo, a superb venue featuring the sky section covered in asphalt. This season will see just the S1 class (up to 450cc engine, three heat races) and promises to deliver exciting racing also through the adoption of the new GoldenTyre rubbers.
Being all in one class, SuperMoto masters such as Thierry Van Den Bosch, Adrien and Thomas Chareyre, Davide Gozzini, Ivan Lazzarini, Bernd Hiemer and several more promise to battle it out for the World Title throughout the whole GP campaign.
The UEM series will continue being held together with the Grand Prix series with the S3 and Open classes, offering youngsters the chance to approach the high profile Grand Prix racing.
S1
The off season brought some news to the FIM SuperMoto World Championship collective other than the establishment of a single S1 class with motorcycles up to 450cc and the new partnership with tyre manufacturer GoldenTyre, now the only tyre supplier of the FIM SuperMoto World Championship.
Last year’s S1 World Title winner Van Den Bosch moved back to Aprilia as he entered the PMR H2O Aprilia Racing team. The French seemed to have got to grips with the bike already as he dominated the Italian Championship round in Castelletto and goes into the first GP with a winning mentality. With 28 GP wins and four World Titles to his credit, VDB is a living legend of SuperMoto.
Husqvarna CH Racing will line up again Finn Hermunen and three time World Champion Adrien Chareyre, the latter having won the S2 World Title last year. Having the chance to challenge countryman Van Den Bosch will be a further motivation for the 24 year old.
After an impressive season last year, Thomas Chareyre instead has joined the 747 Motorsport TM Racing Factory squad to team up with GP winner Gozzini of Italy. The duo will seek victory at round one to make the Italian manufacturer proud as this looks like one of the strongest teams in the paddock.
Two time World Champion Hiemer has remained on a KTM but moved into the Motoracing awning for the 2010 season. An injury plagued 2009 did not let the German express his talent as he took part to one Grand Prix only – he ended third overall in Greece.
Italian Lazzarini of HM Honda Racing is another potential candidate for the 2010 Title after taking third in last year’s series, behind VDB and Thomas Chareyre.
Belgian Veterans Seel (Suzuki) and Delepine (Kawasaki) are also ready to start the 2010 season to show they are still up for winning GP’s.
A threat for those aiming at the Title can come from Englishmen Winstanley and Hodgson while Bussei hopes in a stronger season than 2009.
Photos available at www.supermotos1.com/gallery
UEM
With almost 50 riders lining up for the start of this year’s UEM SuperMoto series, defending Open class Champion Porfiri is back to business together with team mate and last year’s runner up Monticelli. Names like Dall’Era, Sconfietti, Vorlicek and Tognaccini will also be at Castelletto after having been solid contenders last year.
Photos available at www.supermotos1.com/gallery
TIMETABLE
Saturday: ECSM Free Practice 1 11:00; S1GP Free Practice 1 11:40; ECSM Free Practice 2 13:00; S1GP Free Practice 2 13:40; ECSM Time Practice 1 15:00; S1GP Time Practice 1 15:40;
Sunday: ECSM Warm Up 09:00; S1GP Warm Up 09:30; ECSM Race 1 11:15; S1GP Race 1 12:15; ECSM Race 2 13:15; S1GP Race 2 14:15; ECSM Race 3 15:15; S1GP Race 3 16:15.
LINKS
Youthstream
FIM
Grand Prix of Italy
Photo: Hiemer at Castelletto
