Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli wrapped up his pre-season racing on Sunday at the third and final round of the Internazionale d’Italia Motocross, leaving the Ottobiano circuit with both the MX1 and the Elite class championship titles and more silverware to add to his trophy collection.
Ahead of the opening round of the 2015 MXGP World Championship in Qatar on February 28 it was also a good outing for Cairoli’s factory teammates, Tommy Searle (GBR) and Belgian rider Ken de Dycker.
This three race series was excellent preparation for the MXGP championship. Cairoli was the eventual winner of the MX1 race on the sandy Italian circuit but it was one that was dominated by de Dycker who led right up to the final lap but then retired with a technical problem in the last lap. Searle also made a good recovery from tenth at the start to eventual fourth at the flag.
Cairoli raced a steady but cautious Elite race in the late afternoon to be sure to seal the title. He finished in a comfortable third to give him the required points for the prize, while Searle was fourth and De Dycker finished sixth.
In MX2 action, Red Bull KTM’s young Dutch factory rider Davy Pootjes, who is scheduled to race European Championships and selected MX2 GPs this year in his first with the factory team, finished fifth to be seventh in the standings. He raced in two of the three rounds. Red Bull KTM’s MXZ2 factory rider Pauls Jonass was ranked sixth overall after riding in only one round. Jonass also had a comfortable victory in the MX2 race of the Valence International in France on Sunday to complete his pre-season race practice. Jonass and Pootjes are on the KTM 250 SX-F factory bike.
Speaking after the races in Ottobiano Cairoli said he was happy with his pre-season preparation and winning the two titles at home in Italy where he has the support of a very enthusiastic fan base. “I had three good races on three different and very difficult tracks, which is very good preparation for the World Championship. It starts early this year so I am not one hundred percent in shape but that’s no problem. We will be ready,” he said.
Tommy Searle was also satisfied with his pre-season races, which he said had given him confidence. “I feel more ready coming in the season. I have a good feeling with the team and with the bike. I’ve made a few good races and I think I can improve. Every week I feel more confident. With this bike I have now, it gives me everything I need to be up front.” Searle, like Cairoli is riding the KTM 350 SX-F.
De Dycker, who missed most of last season through a series of injuries but looked very impressive on the track in Ottobiano on Sunday said he is also gaining in confidence. “I feel much better with the speed and with my riding and I am getting better and better. I had some small crashes in this series but they were only small.” De Dycker now returns to Belgium to train and have some physiotherapy and is looking forward to the challenge of the season. The Belgian is riding the KTM 450SX-F.
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Internazionali d’Italia Motocross – Ottobiano Round 3
MX1 Results
1, Tony Cairoli, ITA, KTM, 30:09.890
2, Jeremy van Horebeek, BEL, Yamaha, 30:25.909
3, Romain Febvre, FRA, Yamaha, 31:15.283
4, Tommy Searle, GBR, KTM, 31:28.489
5, Rui Goncalves, POR, Husqvarna, 31:29.811
…
10, Ken de Dycker, BEL, KTM, 28:02.805
MX1 Standings after final round
1, Cairoli, 280 (MX1 Champion)
2, Van Horebeek, 260
3, Febvre, 205
4, Searle, 170
5, Max Nagl, GER, Husqvarna, 165
…
8, De Dycker, 125
**
MX2 Results
1, Nick Kouwenberg, NED, Honda, 31:05.487
2, Tim Gajser, SLO, Honda, 31:11.959
3, Jens Getteman, BEL, Honda, 31:19.598
4, Anton Lundgren, SWE, Husqvarna, 31:28.068
5, Davy Pootjes, NED, KTM, 31:47.956
…
10, Ivo Monticelli, ITA, KTM, 32:41.045
MX2 Standings after Rd. 3
1, Gajser, 285
2, Getteman, 180
3, Kouwenberg, 154
4, Zecchina, 147
5, Alessandro D’Angelo, ITA, KTM, 138
6, Pauls Jonass, LAT, KTM, 120
7, Pootjes, 115
**
MX Elite Results
1, Jeremy van Horebeek, BEL, Yamaha, 30:24.588
2, Romain Febvre, FRA, Yamaha, 30:34.700
3, Tony Cairoli, ITA, KTM, 30:43.865
4, Tommy Searle, GBR, KTM, 30:48.344
5, Max Nagl, GER, Husqvarna, 30:53.068
6, Ken de Dycker, BEL, KTM, 31:15.830
MX Elite Standings after Rd. 3
1, Cairoli, 200 (Elite Champion)
2, Searle, 180
3, Nagl, 180
4, Febvre, 165
5, Van Horebeek, 152
6, Jose Butron, ESP, KTM, 105
…
8, De Dycker, 87
**
Motocross International Valence in France
MX1 Results
1, Clement Desalle, BEL, Suzuki, 24:24.391
2, Kevin Strijbos, BEL, Suzuki, 24:30.526
3, Xavier Boog, FRA, Kawasaki, 24:35.875
4, Shaun Simpson, GBR, KTM, 25:29.134
5, Gautier Paulin, FRA, Honda, 25:29.783
MX2 Results
1, Pauls Jonass, LAT, KTM, 24:12.101
2, Dylan Ferrandis, FRA, Kawasaki, 24:45.694
3, Jordi Tixier, FRA, Kawasaki, 24:48.567
4, Jeremy Seewer, SUI, Suzuki, 24:55.090
5, Nicolas Dercourt, FRA, Kawasaki, 24:59.839