Kawasaki Domination in Montevarchi

The stars of MXGP are beginning to surface with the first round of the FIM Motocross World Championship right around the corner. With a mega star-studded line up this weekend in Montevarchi, Italy, for the third round of the Italian Motocross Championship, excitement levels went through the roof.

Making his first race appearance this year, and looking flawless, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin proved he’s a force to be reckoned with this year winning both races. In the MX2, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Arnaud Tonus made his second Italian Championship appearance and won the MX2 yet again, while his CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy teammate Dylan Ferrandis finished eighth in the Elite as the best placed MX2 rider.

When the gates dropped in the main class, everyone was hooked. Both Kawasaki Racing Team riders Gautier Paulin and Steven Frossard were on the gas with Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek hot on their heels. Paulin managed to lead every lap, while Van Horebeek and Frossard duked it out for second. But as the trio crossed the finish line, it was Paulin who took the win narrowly ahead of Van Horebeek and Frossard respectively. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, who had dominated the previous two rounds, came in contact with Frossard on the first turn injuring his ankle and forcing him to DNF.

In the MX2 it was CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Arnaud Tonus who got off to a great start and went on to lead the race unchallenged from start to finish while his teammate Dylan Ferrandis recovered from a average start to pass Yamaha Factory Racing’s Christophe Charlier mid-race for second place, leaving his fellow Frenchman Charlier to finish third.

Rounding out the day with “Elite” race it was the trio Gautier Paulin, Steven Frossard and Jeremy Van Horebeek who took control yet again. Kawasaki Racing Team riders Paulin and Frossard went one/two around turn one and remained in these positions until the checkered flag. Meanwhile Yamaha Factory Racings Jeremy Van Horebeek remained in striking distance but not quite close enough to make a move, finishing a comfortable third ahead of the Antonio Cairoli who nursed his swollen ankle to a remarkable fourth.