MXGP

IMOLA (Italy) 30 September 2018 - Imola, Italy’s Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit is the venue for a hand full of racing this weekend and in addition to the always present MXGP and MX2 classes it also hosts the season finale of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. A hard fought season for the women concluded today with MXFONTA Racing Yamaha’s Kiara Fontanesi taking her 6th FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship title.

Both races of the Women’s final round were watched closely with the home crowd rooting for the Italian Fontanesi. Holding the championship leader’s red plate on her, Yamaha Fontanesi faced her closest competitor, Nancy Van de Ven, who came into race 1 with a 8 point deficit on the defending champion.

Van de Ven took the lead early yesterday and after tight racing with back and forth action Van de Ven took the win while Fontanesi took second and lost 3 points. The top five never shifted positions in any of the laps recorded and was rounded out by Larissa Papenmeier, KTM Silver Action’s Amandine Verstappen, and Stephanie Laier. The gap of Fontanesi was narrowed to only 5 points for today’s championship deciding race 2.

Today Papenmeier and her Suzuki led off the start and on the opening lap with Van de Ven in second and Fontanesi 3rd. However Fontanesi made quick moves and passed Van de Ven before the first official lap was complete then dove inside of Papenmeier at the finish to be marked the leader of the first official lap. The move stopped Fontanesi from making the jump and gave Papenmeier the lead back immediately.

Less than a lap later Fontanesi was back by the German as was Van de Ven who jumped her way into second. The race was then on between the two title contenders and a game of cat and mouse ensued.

Fontanesi’s lead grew to around 3 seconds by lap 5 but with 7 minutes and 2 laps to go Van de Ven was back applying pressure less then a second and a half behind. Fontanesi found relief though as Van de Ven came up short on the uphill triple bouncing and missing her line. Then only a section after the first mistake another missed line from Van de Ven allowed the gap to grow a full second.

With only 2 laps remaining Van de Ven had again chipped the lead of Fontanesi back down but the Italian stayed strong to take the race win, the overall, and most impressively her 6th WMX World Championship!

WMX Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 24:34.838; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:05.287; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:07.374; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +0:43.625; 5. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +0:44.968; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:34.274; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:36.777; 8. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +1:42.286; 9. Mathilde Denis (FRA, Yamaha), +1:45.675; 10. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:49.327.

WMX Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 23:52.229; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:01.873; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:30.222; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:38.200; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +0:38.601; 6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +0:58.056; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:22.743; 8. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), +1:26.310; 9. Line Dam (DEN, Honda), +1:27.492; 10. Mathilde Denis (FRA, Yamaha), +1:28.691.

WMX Overall Top Ten: 1. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 47 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 47 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 40 p.; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Mathilde Denis (FRA, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 20 p.; 10. Justine Charroux (FRA, YAM), 20 p.

WMX Championship Top Ten: 1. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 260 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 252 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 231 p.; 4. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 184 p.; 5. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 183 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 180 p.; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 150 p.; 8. Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 132 p.; 9. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 119 p.; 10. Line Dam (DEN, HON), 102 p.

WMX Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha, 297 points; 2. Suzuki, 231 p.; 3. KTM, 212 p.; 4. Honda, 152 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 49 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 18 p.

Main Photo: FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington, 2018 WMX Championship Podium, Youthstream Vice President David Luongo

Bottom Photos: 1. WMX Start; 2. Kiara Fontanesi

Watch the Best Moments of Kiara Fontanesi, 2018 WMX Champion HERE

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos from the MXGP of Italy will be available HERE!

MXGP of Italy – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1,500m

Type of ground: Hard

Temperature: 24°

Weather conditions: Sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 35,240

WMX was be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Italy

IMOLA (Italy) 30 September 2018 - The world famous Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola hosted the championship deciding races of EMX300 presented by FMF Racing where Verde Substance KTM’s Brad Anderson renewed his title and became the newest FIM Europe Champion.

Imola is known for its road racing circuit but its history in motocross goes back 70 years when the first Motocross International races were held on its grounds. This weekend a massive amount of soil was moved to create an epic motocross track where the returning sound of two strokes echoed of the hillsides.

GL12 Racing’s Mike Kras was 27 points behind Brad Anderson from Verde Substance KTM coming into the weekend. Saturday hosted the first race of the two were we saw Kras take the lead as Anderson struggled and dropped from 4th to 7th before finally rebounding to finish 5th.

Third in the championship was A1M Husqvarna’s Andero Lusbo and he was also up in third early in the race but then had a bike issue and was unable to finish. Running 4th in the points was Vaclav Kovar but he too had issues when the chain derailed off his Gas Gas. The result of the pair going out of the race along with a strong second place ride moved Erik Willems from 5th to 3rd in the championship.

Kras ended up taking the first race win with Willems 2nd and Team Maddi Racing Husqvarna’s Mattia Guadagnini 3rd. The championship lead of Anderson dropped to 18 from 27 coming into today’s Race 2.

Today the 300cc 2-strokes were the second group on the prepped track and off the start Kras took the Holeshot and lead with Kovar back in second chased by Willems and Lusbo while Anderson was 7th. On the opening laps Lusbo made an aggressive but clean move to take third from Willems just as the pair came out of the final turn.

Meanwhile Kras led Kovar by just over a second as Anderson dropped back to 9th in a fight to keep the points lead. Willems and Lusbo were back at it not long after the first pass in a fight not only for third in the race but also the championship. Willems made his way back by Lusbo just in front of Pit Lane but the pair swapped positions countless more times before Lusbo finally broke free and started to pull away from the Belgian.

As Lusbo worked to catch Kovar it was Willems who was coming under pressure from Guadagnini for 4th. No passes were made however and Kras took the race win and overall with the maximum possible 50 points. Kovar took 2nd while Lusbo was 3rd, Willems 4th, and Guadagnini 5th. The celebrations were all Anderson’s however as cross the finish in 9th for 6th overall but successfully defended his EMX300 presented by FMF Racing title.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Race 1 Top 10: 1. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 30:19.612; 2. Erik Willems (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:04.570; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:13.167; 4. Manuel Iacopi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:18.887; 5. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), +0:28.435; 6. Yuri Pasqualini (ITA, KTM), +0:28.872; 7. Marco Lolli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:46.309; 8. Manuel Beconcini (ITA, KTM), +0:55.802; 9. Mario Tamai (ITA, KTM), +0:56.253; 10. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), +1:04.715.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Race 2 Top 10: 1. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 29:24.443; 2. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, Gas Gas), +0:04.703; 3. Andero Lusbo (EST, Husqvarna), +0:06.000; 4. Erik Willems (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:11.074; 5. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:13.941; 6. Yuri Pasqualini (ITA, KTM), +0:14.857; 7. Manuel Iacopi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:34.369; 8. Marco Lolli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:38.788; 9. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), +0:42.544; 10. Youri van t Ende (NED, KTM), +0:43.909.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Overall Top 10: 1. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Erik Willems (BEL, HUS), 40 p.; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 36 p.; 4. Manuel Iacopi (ITA, YAM), 32 p.; 5. Yuri Pasqualini (ITA, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Marco Lolli (ITA, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, GAS), 22 p.; 9. Andero Lusbo (EST, HUS), 20 p.; 10. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 20 p

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Championship Top 10: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, KTM), 279 points; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 274 p.; 3. Erik Willems (BEL, HUS), 223 p.; 4. Andero Lusbo (EST, HUS), 221 p.; 5. Vaclav Kovar (CZE, GAS), 210 p.; 6. Greg Smets (BEL, KTM), 196 p.; 7. Manuel Iacopi (ITA, YAM), 180 p.; 8. Youri van t Ende (NED, KTM), 106 p.; 9. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 78 p.; 10. Tim Louis (BEL, HUS), 68 p.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 342 points; 2. Husqvarna, 263 p.; 3. Yamaha, 217 p.; 4. Gas Gas, 210 p.; 5. TM, 72 p.; 6. Honda, 15 p.

EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Photos:

Main Photo: Brad Anderson Celebration

Bottom Photos: 1. Brad Anderson; 2. EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing Podium

Watch Brad Anderson, EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing, Best Moments HERE

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos from the MXGP of Italy will be available HERE!

MXGP of Italy – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1,500m

Type of ground: Hard

Temperature: 24°

Weather conditions: Sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 35,240

MXGP was be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

MXGP of Italy

This weekend at the MXGP of Italy in Imola a new and special guest is present in the paddock. The PKT Centro Fisioterapia, an Italian Physiotherapy provider has made its way to MXGP. The new center is onsite this weekend in the medical center area of the MXGP paddock and providing service for the riders, mechanics, team crew, media, and MXGP staff all free of charge!

The center has two brick and mortar locations in Italy but has been working towards helping riders and their crews on race day. The mobile treatment area has made its way to various motorcycle racing events in Italy already but is now expanding to provide treatment to MXGP riders across Europe. The center will and already has helped riders at various levels whose teams may not already have a physiotherapist in an effort to keep all the athletes at top shape and continue to keep the racing at the most competitive levels. For more information about the center you can visit their website HERE http://www.centrifisioterapia.com/

This afternoon during the MXGP of Italy at Imola’s Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit former Italian motocross champions were honored and given certificates from FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb, FMI President Giovanni Copioli and President of Formula Imola Uberto Selvatico Estense.

Dr. Wolfgang Srb spent time congratulating the riders with the certificates that acknowledged the great significance of their impressive careers combined with the occasion of this GP and the 70-year anniversary of motocross at Imola.

Various Italian riders were present and awarded and among the others we remember Emilio Ostorero, 16-time Italian Champion in both 250cc and 500cc during 1950, 1960, and 1970, Canzio Tosi 5-time Motocross Italian champion in 250cc and 500cc and Italo Forni (Italy), 500cc Motocross Italian Champion in 1974 and part of the Fiamme Oro group.

IMOLA (Italy) 29 September 2018 – Imola’s Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit host the MXGP season finale this weekend and today was the final qualifying day of the year. Starting of their race like countless other Saturdays this year was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado as they took dominant Qualifying wins.

The famous Imola circuit has hosted racing events in nearly all forms and while this weekend was the first MXGP race in its history the track first hosted Motocross International races 70 years ago! The world renowned road circuit was transformed into to a FIM Motocross World Championship track with over 25,000 cubic meters of soil brought in. With the natural elevation change of the venue as an advantage the track has already hosted great racing.

In addition to the always present MXGP and MX2 classes this weekend also hosts the season finale of both the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing. The first race of the Women’s final round was watched closely with Italian Kiara Fontanesi holding the championship leaders red plate on her MXFONTA Racing Yamaha. Fontanesi’s closest competitor Nancy Van de Ven came into the race with a 8 point deficit on the defending champion from Italy but took the lead early today and after tight racing Van de Ven took the win. Fontanesi took second and lost 3 points narrowing her gap to only 5 points for tomorrow’s championship deciding race 2.

The EMX300 presented FMF Racing championship was not nearly as close as the Women’s but is still far from decided. GL12 Racing’s Mike Kras was 27 points behind the championship leader Brad Anderson from Verde Substance KTM coming into the weekend. Race 1 saw Kras take the lead as Anderson struggled and dropped from 4th to 7th before finally rebounding to finish 5th. Kras took the win with Erik Willems 2nd and Team Maddi Racing Husqvarna’s Mattia Guadagnini 3rd. The championship lead of Anderson is now down to 18 from 27 and will be decided tomorrow morning.

With the championship already decided Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings could have simply just taken the weekend easy but the “Bullet” is no dud and was on fire today. Starting from the Free Practice through to the Qualifying race with Time Practice between Herlings was the fastest. Taking the lead off the start and out of the first turn Herlings led the race from start to finish.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser was second but lost track of Herlings quickly while the Italian hero, Antonio Cairoli from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, was back in 10th. Another Italian was impressing the crowd at the front however as Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki’s Alessandro Lupino was 3rd ahead Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Julien Lieber.

Following the 3 Kawasakis were the Yamaha triplets of Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team’s Shaun Simpson, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, and another Wilvo Yamaha ridden by Jeremy Seewer. Desalle took 3rd from Lupino on lap 3 and at the same time Seewer made his way by Van Horebeek as did Cairoli.

One lap later Cairoli was also past Seewer as Lupino fought Desalle to take 3rd back. Cairoli however went off track on the following lap and hit the ground hard. Slow to get up Cairoli decided to pull out of the remainder of the race but has since confirmed that he will race tomorrow.

Fellow Italian and friend of Cairoli, Lupino, lost positions on the following laps to Desalle and Lieber while Seewer worked his way past Simpson to take 6th. At the finish it was a massive win for Herlings finalizing his total number of 2018 pole positions to 13. Desalle took second after passing Gajser on the final laps while Lieber was 4th and Lupino took 5th.

Jeffrey Herlings: “The main goal is to win the championship and we have done that in Assen but I don't want to just come here and ride around. I still want to go and prove myself. I will do my best to get some good starts. It would be nice to finish out a great year like this with my 84th career GP win, so that is the goal for tomorrow."

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:37.982; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:23.909; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:26.654; 4. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:29.770; 5. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:33.970; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:34.981; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:35.982; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:37.879; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:45.519; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:48.658.

MXGP Photos

Main Photo: Jeffrey Herlings

Bottom Photos: 1. Clement Desalle; 2. Tim Gajser

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado came to Imola this weekend as the MX2 World Champion after learning his main competitor Pauls Jonass, also from Red Bull KTM, would be unable to race after having knee surgery. With a weekend similar to that of Herlings in the sense that he doesn’t need to push for the win Prado went out and took an impressive win today regardless.

At the start of qualifying however it was Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Ben Watson taking the first advantage and lead. The Brit and his teammate Anthony Rodriguez put Prado in a Yamaha sandwich for the opening lap but the young Spaniard was into the lead by the completion of the first official lap.

Chasing down Watson and Rodriguez was Honda 114 Motorsport’s Hunter Lawrence and Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori’s Michele Cervellin. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen closed in fast though taking 5th from Cervellin on lap 2 and 4th from Lawrence 2 laps later.

Rodriguez was the next to fall victim to the speed of the tall Dane as he dropped to 4th while Lawrence lost momentum and dropped to back to 7th. The Aussie rebound well though and made a handful of passes to get back up to 4th.

Olsen tried to get by Watson and the two touched on the final lap sending Watson off track and slowing Olsen but the two finished 2nd and 3rd nevertheless. Prado’s win was by over a 12 second margin and sets him up perfectly to take a pair of good starts tomorrow.

Jorge Prado: “Coming into this GP I am for sure happy after the news earlier this week. This is kind of like a second home GP with team De Carli being from Italy and for all the guys it is important and a really special GP plus it is the last one of the season. I am feeling good with my Qualifying Race today I am ready for tomorrow."

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 23:38.441; 2. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:12.012; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:15.022; 4. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Honda), +0:19.087; 5. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, Yamaha), +0:22.926; 6. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +0:26.372; 7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +0:28.018; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:31.592; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), +0:36.033; 10. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), +0:46.045

MX2 Photos

Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1. Ben Watson; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos from the MXGP of Italy will be available HERE!

MXGP of Italy – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1,500m

Type of ground: Hard

Temperature: 25°

Weather conditions: Sunny

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

TIMETABLE 

Sunday: Sunday: 08h50 YZ125 bLUcRU Race 2, 09h45 EMX300 Race 2, 10h25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10h45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11h30 WMX Race 2, 13h15 MX2 Race 1, 14h15 MXGP Race 1, 16h10 MX2 Race 2, 17h10 MXGP Race 2 

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

FIM Europe

MXGP of Italy

IMOLA (Italy) 28 September 2018 - Today in Imola at the MXGP of Italy, Youthstream and Monster Energy proudly hosted the announcement of their freshly renewed partnership.

The press gathering saw Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo and Monster Energy’s Senior Director of Motorsport David Gowland highlight the key elements of the extended partnership between the MXGP series and its most prominent sponsor.

Associated with Youthstream and MXGP since 2011 Monster Energy has now agreed to another 5-year term for both the Prime Sponsor and the Exclusive Energy Drink Sponsor categories of the series. In addition, Monster Energy has also been renewed as the Title Sponsor of the FIM Motocross of Nations and future MXGPs of the USA. The partnership also expands with the significant addition, each year, of Monster Energy as a Title Sponsor of one European round of the championship.

The extension of its involvement with MXGP provides Monster Energy with the current trackside branding in various key locations, also including the successful starting gate and starting straight signage implemented in 2018.

This new multi-year contract renewal is the best statement for a solidly established partnership. Both Youthstream and Monster Energy have a deep passion for motocross racing and have the shared vision of promoting together the sport, and MXGP in particular, around the world.

Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo: “The work done together with Monster Energy to develop MXGP and Motocross in general since 2011 has been tremendous and we are delighted to renew our collaboration together so that this work can continue.  Since the beginning of our partnership the FIM Motocross World Championship and the FIM-E Motocross European Championship have made mighty steps forward and we would like to thank Monster Energy for all they do for our sport and for pursuing this adventure together into the future.”

Monster Energy’s Senior Director of Motorsport David Gowland: “Monster Energy is very happy with the announcement of a five-year extension of our sponsorship with Youthstream. Being a part of a World Class Series like MXGP is something we at Monster Energy are very honored and proud of. Monster Energy’s core DNA is motorsports and over the years we have grown our partnership with the series to great success. Both parties have worked very well together understanding the sport and sharing the massive passion for world class motocross racing which is in our genes. Monster Energy looks forward to the next five years as it did to all the years since we started this project together in 2011. I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who has played a part in all of our current and future successes.”

Monster Energy’s agreement with Youthstream was then followed by another announcement with Yamaha Motor Europe where Monster Energy increase their commitment to all Factory and Official Yamaha Racing MXGP, MX2, EMX250 and EMX125 teams through to 2021, to learn more about the Monster Energy and Yamaha Racing agreement click HERE

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Monster Energy

This weekend, Imola’s Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari, hosts the final round of the 2018 MXGP season but today the circuit inaugurated the “50 Years of Motocross” gallery in a media event organized by Luciano Costa together with the Italian Federation, the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, and CRAME (Romagna Old Auto and Moto Club).

The event was hosted by Boris Casadio, speaker of the Imola circuit, and opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony involving Youthstream Vice President David Luongo, FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington, Imola Circuit Director Roberto Marazzi and the Assessor of Sport and Events for the City of Imola Maurizio Lelli among others.

This weekend marked the 5^th edition of the gallery but the first at the Imola Autodromo to coincide with the 70th anniversary of motocross at the circuit. The Parco delle Acque Minerali of Imola first hosted Motocross International racing in 1948 where Hennie Rietman from the Netherlands made history as the first winner. The event today was full of current and former racers including, Pieter and Istry Rietman, the grandchildren of Hennie Rietman.

80 bikes from all corners of the world were on display with most of them in original condition. The original bikes were complimented by former World and European Championship winning machines owned from both private Italian and international collectors. Focused on the “Golden Era” of motocross the selection is one of the biggest and most impressive in the world. Former top riders or family in attendance included: Jeffrey Vincent Smith MBA (Jeff) (GB/USA), 500cc World Champion in 1964 and 1965, Jeff Nilsson (Sweden), 125cc Enduro World Champion in 1991, 1992 and son of  World Champion Bill Nilsson from 1957 and 1960 who os also the winner of 3 GP’s in Imola (1956, ’57, ’60), Kenneth Lundin (Sweden), Swedish Champion 500cc and son of 500cc World Champion Sten Lundin in 1959 and 1961, brother of Derek Rickman and Donald Rickman (GB), multi-time Motocross of Nations winners, Alan Clough (GB), British 250cc Champion, Freddie Mayes from Great Britain, Peter and Istry Rietman (Netherlands) grand sons of Hennie Rietman, winner of the first international motocross race in Imola in 1948, René Baeten Jr. (Belgium), son of René Baeten, 500cc World Champion in 1958, Sylvia and Paul Bickers, widow and son of the 250cc European champion Dave Bickers in 1960 and ’61 whose winning bike was also on display in the gallery, Otto Walz (Germany), German Motocross Champion and multi time participant in Imola motocross racing, Triss Sharp (GB), British Champion of Motocross and Enduro in 250 and 500cc during 1950 and 1960. Also a participant in the 1957 international races at Imola, Emilio Ostorero (Italy), 16-time Italian Champion in both 250cc and 500cc during 1950, 1960, and 1970, Canzio Tosi (Italy), 5-time Motocross Italian champion in 250cc and 500cc, Italo Forni (Italy), 500cc Motocross Italian Champion in 1974 and part of the Fiamme Oro group. All these old Champions will take part at the Parade around the city of Imola taking place tomorrow, Saturday at 11:00. 

Adding to the massive list of motocross history makers at the event are the current top motocross athletes such as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Glenn Coldenhoff, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin, Max Anstie and Thomas Covington, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, TM Racing Factory Team’s Max Nagl, Standing Construct KTM’s Valentin Guillod, Gebben Ven Venrooy Kawasaki Racing’s Alessandro Lupino, and MXFonta Racing Yamaha’s Kiara Fontanesi.

Riders both young and old mingled then took photos together before signing autographs on the official “50 Years of Motocross” poster. The event was a massive success and reminded all of the history of our amazing sport.