RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING MAKE STRONG START TO THE NEW SEASON!
JORGE PRADO AND SIMON LANGENFELDER SECURE PODIUM FINISHES IN THE BOTTOMLESS SAND OF RIOLA SARDO.
We are back! Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing riders completed their first competitive outing as a trio in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, over the weekend. Jorge Prado, Mattia Guadagnini, and Simon Langenfelder tackled the final stop of the Internazionali D’Italia series in an attempt to gather valuable information ahead of the opening round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship.
Completing his first race since the final Grand Prix of the 2021 season, Prado used the two motos in the power-sapping sand to adapt to his MC 450F in race conditions. Chasing the race leader for the duration of moto one, following a top-three start in his new colours, the GASGAS rider was able to finish second. Prado managed to secure the same ranking in the final moto, which consisted of the strongest MX1 and MX2 riders.
Jorge Prado:“It was a good day! The first race of the season is done. I am happy that we could race here in Riola Sardo. We could test the new bike and it was a good experience – everything worked well. I am happy with the set-up that we have at the moment! It is good that we came to race here, because this brings a little more intensity to our training. We will go back to Rome and train at Malagrotta now, as always. I think that we are going in the right way. We are all very, very motivated and especially with the change to GASGAS!”
Simon Langenfelder continued to impress in pre-season appearances and came so close to a maiden victory in Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing colours. Langenfelder was just minutes away from the win in moto one; he collided with a fallen backmarker on the last lap and could only salvage second when the chequered flag waved. Langenfelder successfully completed his final pre-season event by taking seventh in the mixed MX1 and MX2 moto.
For Mattia Guadagnini, it was a productive day of competition. Guadagnini fell in the first turn in the MX2 moto and charged from the back of the pack to sixth at the finish line, despite a small mistake on the final lap that cost him a top-five ranking. The final moto featured another impressive charge, as he was able to move from 10th on lap one to fourth whilst battling against the bigger machines.
The Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing trio will now return to their base in Italy, to make more progress before the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship kicks off on February 20. The Grand Prix of Great Britain, held at the spectacular circuit of Matterley Basin, will act as the opening round of the series.
Simon Langenfelder:“I had quite a good start in the first moto, then I took the lead after 10 minutes. I was managing the gap quite well, even though I had arm pump, but lapped riders crashed in front of me on the last lap and caused me to fall. I was still second in the race and overall, so I am quite happy. I have had some great pre-season training here. Now it is back to Rome, where we will train on some hard-pack and then we will be ready for Matterley Basin.”
Mattia Guadagnini:“Riola Sardo was pretty good for me in the end! I had a pretty good start in the first race, but I lost the front in the first corner and had a small crash. My riding was not bad and I had some fast lap times – it was a good comeback! Finishing fourth in the final moto was really good, considering that it was against the 450F riders as well. We will be doing some more training in the next two weeks, then we will be ready for the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. The bike is really good and a step forward for this year.”
Results: 2022 Internazionali D’Italia Round Two
MX2
1. Cornelius Tondel (Fantic)
2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS)
3. Hakon Osterhagen (Fantic)
6. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)
MX1
1. Tim Gajser (Honda)
2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BETA)
Supercampione (MX2 & MX1)
1. Tim Gajser (Honda)
2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
3. Cornelius Tondel (Fantic)
4. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)
7. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS)
Text/Bild: GasGas