MX1 and MX2 Qualifying from Fermo, Italy  MX1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cairoli arrives in Italy as the leader of the series with nine points difference over his closest pursuer Gautier Paulin. For Cairoli it is very special coming to Fermo this weekend, not only because he will be riding home, but also because he had missed the Grand Prix of Italy the previous two years. The Italian has been working a lot on hard pack this week in order to do his best to hand his home crowd the so expected overall victory of their Italian hero. Second in the point standings is Kawasaki Racing Team’s Paulin, who is also one of the favourites to be on the top of the rostrum on Sunday. The French has admitted that he feels better than ever and a proof of that is the GP victory obtained in Sevlievo last weekend. Besides, last year Paulin won the Italian GP on the 450cc on his first attempt in the main class, so he is quite confident for the weekend. Rockstar Energy Suzuki World’s Desalle missed the podium last weekend, but he is still third in the point standings. The Belgian crashed in the second heat of the Bulgarian GP and now he has a slightly sore ankle, but it will not be an obstacle to fight among the top riders to claim the overall victory. The fourth position of the FIM MX1 World Championship is for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s De Dycker, who is just four points behind Desalle. De Dycker has been the big surprise of the season so far on his new KTM machine and being able to obtain very solid results in the previous GP. In fact, the Belgian impressed the entire paddock last weekend when he was battling against Cairoli and Desalle for the third position during the second heat. Christophe Pourcel was second last weekend in Sevlievo, result which made him claim the fifth position of the point standings. Last year, the CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit rider was on the second step of the podium, so Fermo it’s a track that suits the French rider and it might be the weekend where Pourcel claims his first overall victory of the season. Strijbos is in the sixth position of the championship, followed by Boog and Simpson. Home rider Philippaerts is looking forward to this weekend, as he was touched by bad lack in Bulgaria, he crashed in the second heat and he could only finish seventh overall. His teammate Frossard, who could not take part in the Bulgarian GP as he injured his knee during the qualifying race, will enter the Italian GP after having been operated earlier this week.   MX2 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Herlings missed the overall victory last weekend in Bulgaria, but he is landing in Italy with confidence, as he claimed the overall victory last year in Fermo. However, Herlings is aware of the fact that Searle will be very strong this weekend, as he had already proved in Sevlievo last weekend. Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Searle is second in the point standings, seven points behind Herlings, so his result in Fermo might be decisive to close up the gap with the leader. The British rider obtained the overall victory last weekend in Sevlievo, which has given him extra motivation to face the Italian round this weekend. His teammate Roelants is just two points behind Searle and last weekend in Sevleivo obtained his first race victory of the season. The Belgian rider has improved significantly his riding skills on the hard pack and, although he does not feel like one of the favourites to fight for the Title, he might be able to be on the top step of the podium. Other Belgian Van Horebeek is fourth in the MX2 Championship; the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has ridden four solid motos so far and he is looking forward to racing this weekend in Fermo. Last year Van Horebeek was not able to take part in the Italian GP, as he was nursing a shoulder injury, so he will have to adapt himself quickly to the hard track of Fermo if he wants to fight for a podium finish this weekend. The Honda Gariboldi Esta’s Anstie is at the moment completing the top five in the point standings, but he can easily move up if he rides as he did last weekend in Sevlievo. Anstie is finding himself at ease with his new Honda machine and GP by GP he is improving his performance. Lupino, who is tenth in the championship, is riding home this weekend, so he is focused in doing well in front of his home crowd. While Christophe Charlier will enter the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, after having had an injury on his foot and having missed the first two round of the series. The presence of Valentin Teillet at the Italian GP is still doubtful due to the heavy crash he suffered last weekend in Bulgaria during the first heat of the GP.  UEM EMX125 Last weekend in Bulgaria the young motocross talents took part in the first round of the UEM EMX125, and Tim Gajser dominated both heats with authority. However, Davide Bonini rides at home this weekend and he will be extra motivated to do well in front of his crowd, and Jorge Zaragoza, who had to fight from the back of the pack last weekend in Sevlievo to finish third, might also be able to battle for the victory this weekend. Copy, images and results courtesy of Youthstream. |