Promising start for Simpson in Italy

Shaun Simpson Britain’s sole rider at this years season opener in Mantova shot straight to the front of today’s MX2 qualifying race. After two laps the Scottish Red Bull factory KTM star looked in control but a tiny error on lap 3 in the back rhythm section cost him the lead to team mate Marvin Musquin. Musquin went on to win from hard chasing Ken Roczen who seemed to follow the Frenchman for the entire race watching his lines in preparation for tomorrows main event. Simpson came home third but joked afterwards that he let them go.

Can Simpson improve by a couple of places tomorrow, lets hope so.

In MX1 all sorts of mishaps were happening right the way through the race. Cairoli took the lead from Strijbos and went onto blitz everyone with a comprehensive victory. Marc De Reuver battled on and managed to pass Strijbos on the final lap to finish second much to the amazement of the crowd.

Strijbos gets the holeshot this time but lost the lead to Cairoli within a few laps

Other news from the race included Mike Alessi pulling out and looking a bit glum to say the least while riding off out of the mechanics area, bike problems possibly or is the pace getting to him?

More from Mantova tomorrow…

MX1
CAIROLI Tony 222 1 3 KTM . 9 19:55.646 02:08.927 – - MX1 ITA Red Bull Ktm
DE REUVER Marc 14 2 4 SUZ . 9 20:11.612 02:10.767 15.966 15.966 MX1 NED Bo Racing
STRIJBOS Kevin 4 3 4 KTM . 9 20:15.915 02:10.573 20.269 04.303 MX1 BEL Bo Racing
DESALLE Clement 25 4 3 SUZ . 9 20:21.322 02:13.411 25.676 05.407 MX1 BEL Teka Wmxgp
NAGL Maximilian 2 5 3 KTM . 9 20:25.600 02:08.636 29.954 04.278 MX1 GER Red Bull Ktm
ALBERTSON Jimmy 702 6 3 HON . 9 20:29.747 02:12.963 34.101 04.147 MX1 USA Martin Racing
PHILIPPAERTS David 19 7 3 YAM . 9 20:44.742 02:14.998 49.096 14.995 MX1 ITA Yamaha Monster
BOISSIERE Antony 10 8 2 KTM . 9 20:50.383 02:16.438 54.737 05.641 MX1 FRA Bo Racing
LEOK Tanel 40 9 3 HON . 9 20:55.003 02:15.965 59.357 04.620 MX1 EST Ls Motor
MONNI Manuel 13 10 2 YAM . 9 20:59.728 02:16.998 01:04.082 04.725

MX2
MUSQUIN Marvin 1 1 2 KTM . 9 19:49.198 02:10.247 – - MX2 FRA Red Bull Ktm
ROCZEN Ken 94 2 5 SUZ . 9 19:50.729 02:10.181 01.531 01.531 MX2 GER Teka Suzuki
SIMPSON Shaun 11 3 2 KTM . 9 20:32.484 02:09.951 43.286 41.755 MX2 UK Red Bull Ktm
TONUS Arnaud 23 4 5 SUZ . 9 20:35.082 02:15.225 45.884 02.598 MX2 CH Teka Suzuki
BRAKKE Herjan 24 5 3 YAM . 9 20:52.899 02:17.169 01:03.701 17.817 MX2 NL .
MARTINI Gianluca 29 6 4 HON . 9 21:07.996 02:18.522 01:18.798 15.097 MX2 ITA Team A Team
SCHIFFER Marcus 27 7 7 KTM . 9 21:17.190 02:18.129 01:27.992 09.194 MX2 GER Axo Silver Action
BUTRON Jose 71 8 2 SUZ . 9 21:35.503 02:20.579 01:46.305 18.313 MX2 ESP Beursfoon
D’ANGELO Alessandro 32 9 4 KTM . 9 21:55.306 02:24.496 02:06.108 19.803 MX2 ITA Axo Silver Action
STEVANINI Cristian 17 10 8 SUZ . 9 21:56.925 02:22.571 02:07.727 01.619

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