One week after his maiden podium result in his rookie MX2 season, Mattia Guadagnini was not over-awed by the prospect of his home Grand Prix and rode to a strong and steady 2nd position behind Thibault Benistant in the first moto. The rookie was faultless in the second race to lead from the first lap to the last and reached a new career highlight. As well as his superiority on the day the Italian was also able to seize the red plate as the new world championship leader.
Rene Hofer started the first race among the leaders but was hit and then swamped through the opening twisty corners. He then spent the rest of the 30 minute and 2 lap distance trying to enter the top ten, managing 11th by the flag. In the second moto the Austrian was more competitive thanks to a more effective launch. Reaching 6th ensured 10th place overall.
MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle tried returning to competitive action after missing the British Grand Prix the previous weekend. The Frenchman’s fractured right hand had improved but was still too painful for the downhill descents and long ruts of Maggiora and he could not complete more than a few laps of the first moto. With a one-week break between races in Italy and Holland Vialle should be more confident of entering round four in better condition.
Mattia Guadagnini: “This is crazy. I don’t know what to say. It feels really good. I made two good starts and I didn’t want to take too many risks in the first moto. Staying calm and taking 2nd place was enough, although I did wait to see if I could pass Thibault in the last part of the race but he was too fast. I pushed hard to take the lead on the first lap of the second moto and then just rode my race and had fun. I made a gap and enjoyed the last few laps. It’s amazing to win here in Italy and it was also a surprise to take the red plate. Oss is next and I’m pretty good in the sand, we’ll train and be ready to go again.”
Rene Hofer: “Pretty average I would say. I had a decent start in the first race but made a mistake in the first corner and was 15th I think. I struggled a bit and finished 11th. The second was much better and I was 3rd and battling for that position for most of the race; I just couldn’t pass Jago [Geerts]. I almost went through but couldn’t quite execute the move and the two F&H boys went through from the back. Still, it wasn’t a bad race and we finish another GP with an improvement in the riding. I need to deliver two good starts and put two good races together. For sure we can improve on this during the year.”
Tom Vialle: “I had a lot of pain in the practice session. When I was riding quite slowly it was OK but after a few laps of the race it was too much. We will have to see how the hand will be for Holland.”
Words: KTM
Image: Ray Archer
