The winter draught is finally over, at least for those that lined up today in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, Italy, for the first round of the Italian International motocross series ‘Internazionale d’Italia’. Taking the first victory of the pre-season was none other than the seven-time world champ Antonio Cairoli, who won both MX1 and Elite class races for a perfect start to the new year, while CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Arnaud Tonus made his return from injury extra special, winning MX2 and finishing sixth in the Elite (MX1 and MX2 combined) as the best placed MX2 rider.

In the first MX1 race of the pre-season, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli rode off into the sunset winning a massive thirty-seven seconds over HRC Teams’ Evgeny Bobryshev who finished five seconds ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek in third. Meanwhile DP19 Racing’s David Philippaerts and Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray rounded out the top five.

MX2 saw CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Arnaud Tonus and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Christophe Charlier go head-to-head from start to finish, with Tonus taking the win by a fraction of a second over Charlier. A further fourteen seconds back, MX2 rookie Marchetti Racing KTM’s Pauls Jonass gapped Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier for third with Marchetti Racing KTM’s Ivo Monticelli rounding out the top five.

In the Elite (MX1 and MX2 combined ‘super-final’) it was again ‘the champ’ Antonio Cairoli to take the win ahead of Jeremy Van Horebeek (who has to be happy with his Yamaha Factory Racing debut) in second. Taking third was HRC Team’s Evgeny ‘Bobby’ Bobryshev ahead of Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray and HRC Team’s Max Nagl.

Read the next news: FIM MXGP and Snowcross World Championships on CBS Sports Network in United States and Canada (30 Jan 2014)

Back to the latest news