First 2009 appearance for team CLS in Mantova (Italy)

Posted by Ray | 12 February 2009 | Comment

The 2009 team Kawasaki CLS did its first official appearance this week end during the Starcross of Mantova, two weeks prior the next International meeting in Valence (France). This first event was a ‘live’ training for the team, who took this opportunity to finalize their organization.

After weeks of intensive rains the track was seriously damaged when the teams arrived in Mantova, but hopefully except a strong storm on Saturday night the weather was pretty good during the week-end. Of course the sand was wet and heavy, and the track came rougher than a Dutch one according to Steven Frossard who said that ‘the racing conditions were worst than in Valkenswaard last year’ on Sunday evening. As both riders and bikes are not ready yet for the World Championship which will only start in seven weeks, the races were tough for all of them as the track was demanding with a lot of deep ruts.

With only one class mixing both categories, the MX2 riders had a big disadvantage on the starts and several of them were involved in pile-ups in the first corners. Steven lost time at the first start, but then came in the top twelve; crashing twice during the opening lap of race two, he will then retired in the last heat with technical troubles. Loic Rombaut had to start racing from the waiting zone, a strange decision coming from the organizer who entered too many riders. Starting so far Loic did three consistent come-backs and ended the event in tenth position overall, just followed by Steven. On the 450 Gregory Aranda didn’t finished the opening race after a crash, but then took interesting 10th and 11th positions to get a 13th position overall.

Jean Jacques Luisetti : ‘We were waiting this first race since weeks, without any real sportive goal but we wanted to be back in action and work in racing conditions. We have many new members in the team, and the race is the best way to discover each other’s and works together. We learnt a lot during the week-end, for sure good results would have been appreciated but that was not the case. We’ll have more ambitions in two weeks time in Valence’

Steven Frossard : ‘On Saturday I had pumped arms, as always every year during the first races, but on Sunday I felt better. When the classes are mixed the start is always a problem as we can’t do anything with a 250, and after the first start I was stopped by riders who just collided. I was in the top twelve of the second race when I went twice during the opening lap on a wet part of the track and crashed. My last start was not too bad, but I retired with a technical problem. That’s also the interest of these International races; you can ride in racing conditions and see how it’s going. For sure these problems will be solved soon, and in Valence the 250 and 450 will be separated so it will be better for us’

Gregory Aranda : ‘This event is really early in the season, we are not ready but it’s a good opportunity to ride against our rivals and see what are our respective level. I missed the three starts, but I was able to come back in the top twelve; unfortunately I crashed when I was right behind Swanepoel, and then hurt another bike in the middle of the track. I’m pleased with my tenth and eleventh positions in the other races, especially on this sandy and wet track’

Loic Rombaut : ‘Saturday was not so bad, I qualified sixteenth despite a crash during the opening lap. But the organizer didn’t take in consideration my result for the positions on the grid, and I started the races from the waiting zone. It was huge disadvantage as I started so far from the pack but I did consistent races and I’m pretty satisfied with my tenth place overall. Physically I had no problems, except pumped arms during the first practice session and then more the track was damaged better I felt.