2022 FIM Motocross World Championship - RND #02, GP Of Lombardia, Mantova

FIM Motocross World Championship went to Mantua for its second round. Adamo was with no doubt one of the heroes in MX2, as he conquered his first career podium and gained the “top 5” of the series. Forato finished in the “top 10” of MXGP Race 1 but he was unlucky in Race 2. Weekend to be forgotten for Tuani, while Ruffini did not qualify.

FIM Motocross World Championship, for its second round of the season, moved to Italy on the historical circuit of Mantua: this appointment was the opening of the 2022 season of the EMX250 Championship too. Accordingly, SM Action GasGas Racing Team Yuasa Battery, other than Andrea Adamo #80 and Alberto Forato #303, also deployed Federico Tuani #3 and Luca Ruffini #669.

In Free Practice Federico made it to the 14th place of group 2, while in the following Timed Practice he kept a position in the “top 20” but he was in P19, a placement that gave him a suffering qualification to the race. Luca, instead, struggled in both sessions and he made it nothing better than P26 in Free and Timed Practice, so he lost the chance to qualify for the races.

In the EMX250 Race 1, Federico did not have a good start, as he took place in the back of the group. After 3 laps only he made contact with another rider while he was recovering, and that caused him a broken drive chain and he was forced to retire his GasGas. In Race 2 bad luck did not leave Federico who, just after the start, happened to fall off. From the back of the group, Tuani came back to the 33rd pl which is not a satisfying result. He ended the weekend in 35th position Overall.

 

After the 7th fastest lap time in Timed Practice, Andrea made a good start in the MX2 Qualifying Race. The Sicilian was in P7 straight away, but after a useful series of events, he was in P4 at the end of lap 1. From that moment Andrea continued the sensational race that he finished in 4th place, which became P3 after that the rider ahead of him was penalized. Alberto, after the 8th position in Timed Practice, made an excellent start of MXGP Qualifying Race, which allowed him to quickly gain P4. During the chaotic initial moments, the rider from Veneto gave up a couple of places, but he then had a lot of duels in the central part of the race that eventually ended with a little slip. Forato jumped back on his bike in 9th place and he finished the race in P8.

Andrea was one of the protagonists of MX2 Race 1 from the first moments. The Sicilian made an excellent start and he positioned in 3rd place straight away. He moved one position back at lap 3, but he rode with authority until the finish line and he ended in P4. In Race 2 Andrea had a great start once again and he gained P2 immediately. After two laps only, the rider in 1st place made a crash and Andrea found himself leading the race. He led for 7 laps but, after that, he gave it everything, the GasGas rider had to slow down, and even though he fought a lot, he moved back 3 places. When there were a few corners to the end, the duel between the riders fighting for P2 gave an advantage to Andrea who finished the race in 3rd place. With a P3 and a P4, Andrea conquered his first career podium in MX2, ranking P2 Overall. In the General Classification Adamo gained five places and he is now in the “top 5” in 5th position.

 

Alberto was 14th after the first lap of MXGP Race 1. After 3 laps the GasGas rider was in P11 and he was ready to enter in the “top 10”. In the central part of the race, Alberto continued his comeback and at lap 9 he was in 8th place, which was also his position at the checkered flag. Alberto’s Race 2, unfortunately, lasted only 3 laps. After a discrete start he was in 11th place, but then Alberto had to give up a few places and he had to go to the box for a technical issue. At the end of the day, Forato classified 14th Overall, while he moved back three places in the General Classification and he is now in P10.

FIM Motocross World Championship is going to pause for a week to allow teams and riders to organize for the trip to Argentina. After two years, the Motocross circus will go back to the awesome track of Villa La Angostura, in Patagonia-Argentina, for its third round of the season.

Andrea Adamo #80: “I believe that it was the best day of my life! I started well in Race 2; I was 2nd when Tom crashed and I found myself in P1. I led the race for more or less than 15 minutes but then I started to feel some fatigue, but I’m so happy for the final result. I’m grateful to my team and to all the people that keep supporting me!”.

 

Federico Tuani #3: “It was a hard weekend. Free Practice was the only positive moment. From Timed Practice I started to struggle and I made a bad Quali. With the bad starting gate placement, I didn’t start the races well and I collected nothing between contacts and mistakes. I’m disappointed with my performance and I was hoping for more after all the hard work that I put in to be prepared. This race is over and I will concentrate for the first round of the Italian Championship at Maggiora. Thank you and bye.”

 

Alberto Forato # 303: "It was a positive weekend, except for the second heat! Saturday both in the timed and the qualifying race went well with 8th place. On Sunday in race 1 I got off to a good start and after contact with another rider who relegated me, I recovered to finish 8th. In race 2, unfortunately, I retired due to a technical problem. See you in Argentina. "

Luca Ruffini # 699: "Let's say that with the track and the bike set up by the team I had an excellent 'feeling' but I still have to work on speed and endurance. I hope I can do better in Portugal in the second round. "

Source : https://mailchi.mp/572275f57744/sm-action-gasgas-racing-team-yuasa-battery-press-release?e=7734f3af1b