News Sunday 19th February 2012  www.mxlarge.com

As expected World number one Antonio Cairoli and his biggest rival Clement Desalle have won their respective pre-season races this weekend. Cairoli won in Mantova, Italy and Desalle in Valence, France. Here is a short report from Mantova and more on Valence later tonight.

Fantastic opening 2012 season day for the world motocross in Mantova. Antonio Cairoli, Mr.Messina Express, the legend of the new motocross era had dominated this edition of classical Airoh Mantova Starcross. It is the five center for the KTM rider after the success on GP of Italia 2007 and 2008, GP Lombardia 2010 and Mantova Starcross 2010.

In the first race, Cairoli, after a strong battle with David Philippaerts at lap 1, obtaining the front position and winning in solitude. Second place for excellent Jeffrey Herlings on KTM 250cc machine. Positive third for Russian Evgeni Bobryshev surpassing in final effort DP 19 David Philippaerts. Hard crashing for Italians Guarneri and Zecchina without physical problems.

In second race Philippaerts and Herlings starting very well followed by Italian Guarneri. Antonio Cairoli had started to the middle pack, but with this perfect physical condition organizing a fantastic remount, finishing second only 4" to excellent Jeff Herlings, third consistent Philippaerts.

In final race, Cairoli starting again in front, followed by Bobryshev. The ice man of Martin Honda overtaking Cairoli on the tenth lap, and finish on the lead in photofinish with the Italian. Third place for Herlings again on podium with his 250cc KTM machine.

Antonio Cairoli (RedBull KTM/ITA) winner of 29°Airoh Mantova Starcross: "It is a fantastic winter day, to start the new season. People explained me that I'm the new legend of Mantova, with 5 success in Starcross and GP edition. Regarding races, I have pushed very hard in the first and second heat because my physical condition coming to the perfectness and the fusion with my 350cc KTM very advanced. On the third race I have little problem with the goggle roll off but the second place permitting to me to obtain this important first seasonal success".

29° Airoh Mantova Starcross results

Race 1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (RedBull KTM/ITA) after 14 laps; 2. Herlings (RedBull KTM/NED) +11"262; 3. Bobryshev (Honda/Rus) +19"289 ; 4. Philippaerts (Monster Yamaha/ITA) +32"703; 5. Boissiere (TM/FRA) +42"538

Race 2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (RedBull KTM/NED) after 13 laps; 2. Cairoli (RedBull KTM/ITA)+4"290; 3. Philippaerts (Monster Yamaha/ITA)+29 .517 ; 4.Bobryshev (Honda/RUS)+37"253; 5. Guarneri (KTM/ITA) +43"501

Race 3: Evgeni Bobryshev (Honda/RUS) after 13 laps; 2. Cairoli (KTM/ITA)+1"059; 3. Herlings (KTM/NED) +03"261; 4. Philippaerts (Monster Yamaha/ITA)+47"570; 5. van Horebeek (Red Bull KTM/BEL)+1'09"526 .

In Valence Desalle went 1-1-1 for an easy overall, while Anaud Tonus won the MX2 class. Here are the result from Valence.

Valence International results

Moto 1 MX1 : 1.Desalle (BEL, Suzuki) ; 2.Leok (EST, Suzuki) ; 3.Frossard (FRA, Yamaha) ; 4.Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki) ; 5.Schiffer (GER, Suzuki) ; 6.Potisek (FRA, Honda) ; 7.Boog (FRA, Kawasaki) ; 8.Kojima (JAP, Suzuki) ; 9.Bill (SUI, Honda) ; 10.De Dycker (BEL, Honda) ; 11.Pichon (FRA, Honda) ; 12.Simpson (GBR, Yamaha) ; etc…

Moto 2 MX1 : 1.Desalle ; 2.Paulin ; 3.Boog ; 4.Leok ; 5.Frossard ; 6.Schiffer ; 7.De Dycker ; 8.Bill ; 9.Soubeyras ; 10.Simpson ; 11.Potisek ; 12.Pichon ; etc…

Moto 1 MX2 : 1.Tonus (SUI, Yamaha) ; 2.Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki) ; 3.Nicholls (GBR, KTM) ; 4.Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna) ; 5.Aubin (FRA, KTM) ; 6.Meo (FRA, Husqvarna) ; 7.Kullas (FIN, Suzuki) ; 8.Guillod (SUI, KTM) ; 9.Petrov (BUL, Suzuki) ; 10.Getteman (BEL, Yamaha) ; 11.Paturel (FRA, Kawasaki) ; 12.Clermont (FRA, Honda) ; etc…

Moto 2 MX2 : 1. Tonus ; 2. Charlier (FRA – Yam) ; 3. Teillet ; 4. Nicholls ; 5. Kullas ; 6. Lupino ; 7. Petrov ; 8. Guillod ; 9. Méo ; 10. Larsen (DEN -Suz) ; 11. Paturel ; 12. Clermont ; etc …

Super Finale : 1.Desalle ; 2.Frossard ; 3.Paulin ; 4.Boog ; 5.Schiffer ; 6.Tonus ; 7.Soubeyras ; 8.Potisek ; 9.Simpson ; 10.Leok ; 11.Nicholls ; 12.Kojima ; etc….

Overall MX2 : 1.Tonus, 64 pts ; 2.Teillet, 49 ; 3.Nicholls, 37 ; 4.Lupino, 32 ; 5.Kullas, 30 ; 6.Guillod, 29 ; 7.Meo, 27 ; 8.Charlier, 24 ; 9.Petrov, 24 ; 10.Paturel (FRA, Kawasaki), 18 ; etc…

Overall MX1 : 1.Desalle, 75 pts ; 2.Paulin, 60 ; 3.Frossard, 58 ; 4.Boog, 51 ; 5.Leok, 50 ; 6.Schiffer, 46 ; 7.Potisek, 35 ; 8.Soubeyras, 30 ; 9.Simpson, 29 ; 10.Kojima, 27 ; etc…