Fantic shines at the season opener. Extraordinary victory for Noel Zanocz in the 125 class and historical 4 place in MX1 for the highly anticipated first race of Glenn Coldenhoff with the new Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Team.
The first race of the season took place in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, and it marked the kickoff of the Italian International MX Championship.
In the MX1 class the Fantic Factory Racing team lined up Glenn Coldenhoff while Roan Van de Mossdijk, who still has not fully recovered his physical shape, will attend the second race scheduled next week in Mantova. In the 125, all three riders lined up at the starting gate and were the protagonists of a thrilling race with Noel Zanocz crowned winner of the day. Simone Mancini was fourth overall and Douwe Van Mechgelen qualified tenth.
MX1
In the time practice Glenn Coldenhoff found a great feeling with the track of Riola Sardo and set a solid fifth time, this allowed him to pick a good position at the gate for the two races.
Excellent start of Race1 for the Dutch rider who put his best foot forward and was third after the first corner.
Coldenhoff kept the position for several laps showing a solid race pace despite the fact that the track conditions were not ideal, but in the final part of the race Glenn had to speed up and lost ground. Considering the preparation for the start of the World Championship, Glenn did not want to push too much and tried to avoid mistakes, eventually ending up with the sixth place.
The start of the second race was a masterpiece. Glenn pulled away at the start and took the lead on his Fantic XXF 450. Coldenhoff led the race for several laps and thanks to an excellent performance finished with the third position.
The rider was fourth overall thanks to the two results.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“The day started well with fifth place in the time practice. It was the first time here and we did not have the chance to train so it took us some time before we could find the right set up for the bike. I struggled a lot in the first moto but we then made some changes for moto2 and it worked out, in fact I got the hole shot. I felt good during the race, where I chased Gajser from a little distance, then Renaux overtook me but I managed to stay in front of Febvre. The day was fine overall. It was a good start and I’ve a positive feeling for next week”.
125
Young riders of the 125 class proved their speed and strength. In the time practice there was an excellent performance by Noel Zanocz who set the second fastest time. Simone Mancini was fifth and young Douwe Van Mechgelen was 14th.
Solid start of Race1 for Mancini who was the protagonist of a thrilling start and conquered the second spot. Simone kept the position for some laps but lost ground and dropped to sixth place. Noel Zanocz struggled at the start and was fifth after the first lap, but the rider worked his way up and took the finish line in third place. Van Mechgelen, who was back from an injury which kept him far from races for a long time, rode a phenomenal race and came home with the fifth place.
The protagonists of Race2 were once again Mancini and Zanocz, who moved to the front after the start of the race. Zanocz lost ground in the first lap but did not lose hope and worked his way up; at the sixth lap the rider took the lead of the race and held it till the chequered flag when he won the race. Simone Mancini kept the third place for almost the entire race but lost it in the final lap and finished in fourth. Van Mechgelen crashed twice and could not do any better than the 17th place.
Thanks to the two excellent results, Noel Zanocz came home with the victory of the Italian International Championship first round.
Daniele Marchese:
“We’re very happy with the results reached here in Riola Sardo considering this track is very demanding and our team stood out among the other riders. Excellent performance for Noel Zanocz, who came home with the very first victory thanks to two amazing results and the success in Race2. Simone Mancini was very fast. Too bad for the first heat where he had a physical decline which affected him. Van Mechgelen got back to racing after a 4-month break caused by an injury; the rider was just phenomenal in the first moto and would have doubled his performance if it wasn’t for that crash”.
