PIETRAMURATA (Trentino) 17 April 2023 – The second round of the EMX250 in Pietramurata came to an end. What a weekend for both classes as we witnessed some quality and skilful riding.

The EMX250 saw a podium completed by three young Italian riders with KTM Beddini Racing Team’s Valerio Lata winning in front of Red Plate holder Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi and VRT KTM Factory Juniors’ Ferruccio Zanchi.

The first race of the EMX250 class on Saturday saw a quick start with Valerio Lata taking the lead in front of Andrea Bonacorsi. Although Lata got under pressure pretty early by the Championship leader Bonacorsi, he still held his ground and defended very well. Lata even managed to get a 3,5 seconds cushion. However, Bonacorsi did what he does best, power through to get close and was too quick on lap 10 as he finally passed Lata. Lata was not ready to give up and made an attack in the last couple of turns of the race to give the public an intense finish. Bonacorsi held on his 3^rd race win in a row while Lata finished 2^nd.

Finishing 3^rd was another Italian, Ferruccio Zanchi who showed great skill and speed. Zanchi found himself 4^th behind BT Racing Team’s Kay Karssemakers after lap 1. Zanchi made a move on Karssemakers on lap 5 but there was a give and take between them for few turns. Zanchi finally made the pass stick and went 3^rd until the end setting the fastest lap of the race in the meantime.

Karssemakers had to concede a couple of positions following that as Marc-Antoine Rossi got him under pressure in thrilling battle. Karssemakers eventually went down in a turn on lap 8 to move down to 7^th. M-A.Rossi finished 4^th in the end after a good comeback from the 9^th place on lap 1. Karssemakers managed to get back up to 6^th position in the end.

Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Karlis Reisulis has been pretty consistent as he got 5^th on the first lap to finished 5^th in the end.

Behind them, two teammates from Fantic Factory Team Maddii, Alexis Fueri and Cas Valk lived the same kind of races getting to 6^th and 8^th on lap 1 respectively. Fueri moved down to 8^th to then get back up to 7^th with 4 laps to go to end in that position while Valk moved also down early in the race to 10th but showed good determination to make some good move to get back up to 8^th with 4 laps to go where he finished too.

Team VHR’s Saad Soulimani had a really good start to see himself 7 over the first 7 laps and even moved to 6^th when Karssemakers went down in lap 8. But the Frenchman made a mistake on lap 11 to go down to 9^th where he finished. It was still a good performance. Finally, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Ivano Van Erp rode a pretty solid race all throughout the race to be consistently in the top 10. Van Erp was 10th after one lap, and finished at the same position in the end.

Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Quentin Prugnieres went down early in the race to finish 19^th in the end.

In race 2, Lata went all in as he got the lead after the first corner and looked determined to stay in the lead. Bonacorsi who went 4^th in lap 1, quickly moved up as Zanchi in front of him went down on lap 2. Bonacorsi, also attacked his teammate Van Erp to pass him for 2^nd on lap 3. Bonacorsi went on to stay 2^nd the rest of the race although he tried for a last push to attack Lata but the gap stayed within safe distance for Lata.

Van Erp who had taken a very quick start and got behind Lata over the first couple of laps had some difficulties to maintain his pace and defend his position. Van Erp moved down to 8^th in the end. Maxime Grau showed really good riding in race 2 as the young French managed a solid start and got 5^th after the first lap. He benefitted from Zanchi’s fall to get to 4^th and then made a great move on Van Erp for 3^rd in lap 4. Grau eventually managed to keep his 3^rd place and hold his ground in front of Reisulis.

Reisulis got to 6^th in lap 2 while Zanchi picked up his bike after going down to 7^th. The two riders followed each other during the whole race and finished 5^th for Reisulis and 6^th for Zanchi.

Cas Valk showed a solid ride as he has been really reliable during the weekend with a good 8-6 which is encouraging for the rest of the championship as Valk gets 3^rd. M-A Rossi is another dependable rider so far as he displayed a strong pace in race 2.  He went from 6^th on lap 1 to 5^th on lap 2, only to make a mistake on lap 4 and dropped to 9^th. He picked up where he left off as to finished 7^th in the end.

Karssemakers stayed around the 9^th place throughout the whole race for a positive 6-9 over the weekend to stay 4^th and in touching distance to the first three in the Championship. Finally it was Cato Nickel who made it into the top 10 for the first time this season and this performance will be encouraging for the young German over the next rounds.

In the end, Valerio Lata clinched his first EMX250 win in front of the Red Plate holder Andrea Bonacorsi second and Ferruccio Zanchi third for an 100% Italian podium in Trentino.

Valerio Lata: “This was a really good weekend for me and I am so happy to have won. The sand is Sardinia was hard for me so I am very happy to come here and win the round. I want to thank my team and everyone supporting me”

Main Photo: Valerio Lata

Bottom Photos: 1. Andrea Bonacorsi; 2. Ferruccio Zanchi

MXGP OF TRENTINO QUICK FACTS:
 

Circuit length: 1570m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 18°

Weather conditions: Sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 31500