2022 FIM Motocross World Championship - RND #08, GP Of Sardegna, Riola Sardo (OR)

The 8^th round of the Motocross World Championship went to the sandy dunes of Riola Sardo. Two solid races gave Adamo 7^th place overall and the General Classification in the MX2. In the MXGP Forato ended in P12 after ups and downs. In the EMX250 Tuani entered the “top 20”, while it was an unlucky weekend for Ruffini.
  
After the round at Maggiora, FIM Motocross World Championship moved directly to Sardinia for the eighth round of the season. The event also hosted the 4^th round of the EMX250 Championship.
 
The GP of Sardinia is hosted by one of the most famous and difficult tracks, which challenge riders and bikes, the Riola Sardo circuit in Oristano province. It is featured by thin and soft sand, placed in the dunes of the West Coast of Sardinia in a typical Mediterranean overview.
 
SM Action GasGas Racing Team Yuasa Battery deployed its four riders: Andrea Adamo #80 (MX2), Alberto Forato #303 (MXGP), Federico Tuani #3 (EMX250) and Luca Ruffini #669 (EMX250).


 
In the eighth litre class, Andrea finished Free Practice in P8, while he ranked 11^th in Timed Practice. In the Qualifying Race, the Sicilian was 7^th after the start and he made a solid and convincing race, which was only ruined by a slip during the last lap as he moved back from P5 to P7. In Race 1 Andrea made a high-level performance, as he showed that he can fight for the top places round after round. He started in P7, gained P5 in the second half of the race and he finished in 7^th position. In Race 2 he made a similar performance. After another excellent start that saw him moving to 3^rd place straight away, the SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery rider stabilized in P6 and he kept it until the checkered flag. Adamo ranked 7^th Overall, while he moved up and continued his rise in the General Classification as he is now in P7.
 
In the Top Class Alberto made the 8^th fastest lap time in both Free and Timed Practice. His Qualifying Race, though, started in the worst way possible, as he crashed at turn 1 and was forced to restart from the last place. His comeback continued positively until lap 10 when he slipped again and he moved from P15 to P21. In Race 1 he made contact and fell off during lap 1, so he moved from the 10^th to the last place. He made his comeback but he couldn’t do any better than P15. In Race 2 Forato stayed away from the crowd at turn 1 and he positioned 10^th straight away. The circuit was rutted, hard and insidious, but the rider from Veneto kept a regular pace and he finished the race in P11. With the two results gained, he was ranked in 12th place Overall, he lost a place in the General Classification and is now 11^th.


 
In the EMX250 Federico made the 13^th and the 16^th fastest lap time in Free and Timed Practice respectively. In Race 1 Federico had a good start: the Tuscan rider was in P7 at the first intermediate. He was quickly sucked back to the group, though, and at the end of lap 1, he was 13^th. During the following lap, Tuani made a mistake and moved back to P20, but he made a proud comeback and he finished the race in P15. On Sunday morning the riders went on track for Race 2. The start of the GasGas #3 rider was very good, but during the first few corners Federico was not able to find a good way to escape and he was 17^th. During the 15 remaining laps of the race, he only managed to recover one place and he finished in 16^th position. At the end of the day, he was ranked P15 Overall, while he moved up one place in the General Classification as he is now in P22.
 
Luca started his round at Riola Sardo with the 27^th fastest lap time in both Free and Timed Practice.  During the morning, though, Ruffini started to feel his body in pain, as he contracted a virus. He was forced to retire from the start of Race 1, giving some hope for Sunday. Unfortunately was not ok again and he was forced not to participate in Race 2.


 
FIM Motocross World Championship will continue its way with the GP of Spain, which will take place in two weeks at Intu - Xanadu Arroyomolinos. Next weekend, instead, the riders of SM Action GasGas Racing Team Yuasa Battery will move to Faenza for the 3^rd  round of the Prestige Italian MX1-MX2 Championship.
 
Andrea Adamo #80: “It was a solid weekend. I’m happy I finished the day on this track with a P7 and a P6, which are not bad placements. I made a few little mistakes but I’m after all satisfied with my performance”.
 
Alberto Forato # 303: “It was not an easy weekend, which started with a retirement in the qualifying heat. In the race, the last place on the starting grid didn't help me. In race 1 I also crashed twice! Let's take the positive sides of this GP and already think about Spain. "

Luca Ruffini #669: “Unluckily, after Quali, I was hit by an intestinal virus which caused my absence from the races. I’m sorry, see you at Faenza”.
 
Federico Tuani # 3: “We knew Riola would be a difficult race because we don't often train on the sand. I took home a few points, there were some good things and others to review but all in all it was a weekend of growth. Thanks to the team, my family and Jacky Vimond. "

Source : https://mailchi.mp/9e15693ef2e7/sm-action-gasgas-racing-team-yuasa-battery-press-release?e=7734f3af1b