2022 FIM Motocross World Championship - RND #010 GP Of France, Ernée

Motocross World Championship completed its tenth round at Ernée with the GP of France. The weekend was heavily conditioned by the weather, and the only positives come with Adamo’s performance, who ranked 7^th Overall in the MX2. Forato crashed at the start of Race 1 and got injured. Not a profitable weekend for Tuani and Ruffini in the EMX250.

FIM Motocross World Championship continued its way without a stop, and from warm Spain, it moved to the North of France, in colder and less predictable weather. The 10^th round of the 2022 Championship was hosted at the historical circuit of Ernée.

The French weekend saw the comeback of the EMX250 Championship too, so the SM Action GasGas Racing Team Yuasa Battery hosted all four riders under the IRS tent: Andrea Adamo #80 (MX2), Alberto Forato #303 (MXGP), Federico Tuani #3 and Luca Ruffini #699 (EMX250).

On Saturday morning EMX250 Timed Practice ended with the 23^rd fastest lap time for Tuani and the 31^st for Ruffini. In the MX2 Adamo finished 10^th. In the Top Class, Forato closed the session with an excellent P4.



The weekend got to the heart with EMX250 Race 1. The GasGas riders were not lucky with the starting gate and they were out of the “top 20” at the end of lap 1. During the first moments of the race, both Tuani and Ruffini overtook a few other riders but they were far away from the points area. After 8 laps Federico was 22^nd and Luca 27^th. When the race director waved the checkered flag both riders could not improve their position. In Sunday morning’s Race 2, despite the track surface being in better conditions, Tuani and Ruffini could not make a good start again. Federico’s race lasted only one lap, as the Tuscan rider had to retire after a crash. Luca, very busy in his comeback, finished the race in 28^th place. With no points gained, Federico ended the weekend with a loss of two positions in the General Classification, as he is now in P24.

When the MX2 riders went onto the track for the Qualifying Race, the surface was in very bad conditions due to the sudden heavy rain that dropped a few moments earlier: mud, puddles, ruts and holes made it a real hell. Andrea made a good jump from the starting gate; the Sicilian was straight away in the top positions but before the end of lap 1 he made a mistake and he was forced to retire. In the MXGP, the Qualifying Race was delayed due to a discussion between the Race Direction and the riders: as a result of that, a few riders decided not to start the race. Alberto was one of those riders, so he did not take part in the race.



MX2 Race 1 saw Andrea out of the “top 20”, but the Sicilian’s first lap was so remarkable that he was in P9 after a few moments. Once he was in the “top 10”, Adamo tried to make up more places, but before the end of the race he was overtaken and he finished 10^th. At the start of Race 2 the Sicilian made a good jump and after turn 1 he was already in P6, preparing his way to enter the “top 5”. The whole race was intense, and Andrea kept the pace of the best riders, making duels until the end. At the checkered flag, he was in 6^th place, so he once again showed his qualities in terms of speed and determination. The GP of France, for him, ended with the 7^th place Overall; he also confirmed his P6 in the General Classification.

In the MXGP, Alberto’s GP of France ended well in advance. At the start of Race 1, the rider from Veneto was involved in a group crash at turn 1 and got injured. Consequently, he did not take part in Race 2. Despite the double zero, he stayed in 11^th position in the General Classification.

FIM Motocross World Championship’s next round is scheduled for the weekend of the 11^th and the 12^th of June at the German circuit of Teutschenthal. During that weekend, aside from the World Championship classes, the EMX250 Championship riders will be there too.

Alberto Forato #303: “Unfortunately the race started very well but it ended so badly. On Saturday I was very fast I was 4^th at the end of Timed Practice. On Sunday, though, I was involved in a group crash at the start of Race 1 and I suffered a broken fibula. We will now go back to Italy to decide what to do next”.

Federico Tuani # 3: "It was a really difficult weekend. Already from qualifying, I was unable to set a good time and then also in race 1 I suffered. In race 2, on the other hand, I got a good start but I had contact with another rider and I crashed. From the last position,n I recovered to enter the 'top 20' but then a technical problem that arose forced me to retire. Unfortunately,ely I didn't earn any points this weekend so it was a disastrous weekend. "

Luca Ruffini #669: “On Saturday morning, in Free Practice, the circuit was muddy but beautiful. The In Qualifying race, I didn’t find a good pace and I finished in P31. In Race 1 I started in 33^rd place after a poor start, and I finished 28^th. In Race 2 I started around the middle of the group but I made two mistakes during lap 1, and I moved back to P37. I made a comeback and I finished in 28^th position. It was tough, but it’s all experience that will be needed at such a high level. We will now concentrate on the next round in Germany to make a better result”.

Source : https://mailchi.mp/0e682bbc7b97/sm-action-gasgas-racing-team-yuasa-battery-press-release?e=7734f3af1b