Motocross

Cairoli and Prado Open 2019 MX Accounts With Sardinia Victory

Posted:

Monday, January 28th, 2019

10:44 PM

Many of MXGP's heavy hitters were out in force at the opening round of the Italian Championship. Photo: S. Taglioni

Red Bull KTM‰Ûªs Tony Cairoli took the initial step to an eleventh Italian title today by celebrating a comfortable win in his first race of 2019 at the Internazionali D‰ÛªItalia Motocross Rnd1 ‰ÛÒ Riola Sardo (Sardinia).

Regining MX2 World Champion Jorge Prado also walked the top of the MX2 podium at the the customary opener for the Internazionali D‰ÛªItalia and the traditional first fixture of the racing year.

Cairoli was second fastest in practice through bright and temperate conditions and just two tenths of a second behind HRC Honda's Tim Gajser. The ten times World MX Champion took control of the MX1 moto from the Slovenian to secure the chequered flag. Later in the day the 33 year old also claimed the ‰Û÷Supercampione‰Ûª moto by leading from start to finish and almost completed a 1-2 with his teammate.

Toni Cairoli is gunning for an 11th World MX Title and is in good form heading into the season with a win at round one of the Italian championships. Photo: S. Taglioni

‰ÛÏIt is always good to race in Riola," Cairoli said. "We spend a lot of time testing around here. I‰Ûªm really happy with how the bike is working at the moment and my feeling with it. This is just the first race of the year and we have another two to prepare ourselves before we are ready. It also means we have three races in the sand so we cannot test too much on hard-pack but overall I think we have a good bike.‰Û

MX2 World Champion Jorge Prado is already in top form and looks like the one to beat again in 2019. Photo: S. Taglioni

‰ÛÏA very good first race and I felt great from the timed practice," Prado explained. "We made a great bike this winter and it worked really well for me all-day; better than we expected. In the first moto I had a decent start and took seven laps to get to the front as a struggled a bit with my rhythm. Coming into the Superfinal I knew the start was super-important. I didn't have the best jump but I made a good pass into the first corners and was second behind Tony. He was pushing a lot and I tried to keep his rhythm. With three laps to go I made a mistake through the lappers and Tim came past me. I finished third and I‰Ûªm very happy. This is all good preparation for the world championship.‰Û

Cairoli and Prado on the podium Photo: S. Taglioni

Internazionali D‰ÛªItalia Motocross - Riola Sardo Results

MX1
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)
2. Romain Febvre (Yamaha)
3. Tim Gajser (Honda)
4. Gautier Paulin (Yamaha)
5. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna)

MX2
1. Jorge Prado (KTM)
2. Mikkel Haarup (Husqvarna)
3. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna)
4. Ben Watson (Yamaha)
5. Michele Cervellin (Yamaha)

Supercampione
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)
2. Tim Gajser (Honda)
3. Jorge Prado (KTM)
3. Romain Febvre (Yamaha)
5. Gautier Paulin (Yamaha)