Over the weekend just gone, our riders and team were welcomed by a summer-like weather on the challenging track of Riola Sardo, which hosted the Grand Prix of Sardinia, the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship 2024.
Ben Watson (Beta RX450) finished the time trials in 11th position, just a few hundredths of a second from the top ten. In qualifying the rider was the author of an excellent comeback that led him to finish 12th. In the first heat, Watson moved into the top ten within a few laps and crossed the finish line in an excellent 9th position. In the second heat he again confirmed his good feeling for soft terrain by finishing 12th after another good comeback. Thanks to the 21 points gained at Riola, by far the best result of the season, Ben finished 11th in the Day and confirmed 12th in the Championship Standings.
Things didn’t start in the best of ways for Ivo Monticelli (Beta RX450) at Riola. He had to deal with a health problem, which prevented him from finishing the qualifying session, wiping out an excellent start in seventh place. Forced to line up among the last at the gate in both heats, Ivo finished 19th and 21st in the two titled heats, finishing 21st in the day’s overall and 15th in the Championship Standings.
Ben Watson: “The weekend in Riola was not easy. The track is physically very demanding and the extreme heat did not help. On Saturday I had a good feeling and was able to lap fast. I didn’t get a good start in qualifying, but I made a good comeback that allowed me to finish 12th. Thanks to this placing I was able to start from a good position at the gate in the qualifying heats. In the first heat I started in the middle of the group, I knew the race would be long and challenging, but thanks to my speed I finished 9th. In the second heat the start was not as good and I was involved in a crash in the first corner. It was not easy to catch up because I often found myself fighting with other riders. I finished 12th, still a satisfying position. In this first part of the Championship I have always been consistent in my results and I aim to return to the top ten in the next races.”
Ivo Monticelli: “I had quite a turbulent weekend. The lack of training on a specific terrain like that of Riola did not help me and on Saturday, in qualifying, I also suffered a physical problem that did not allow me to finish the qualifying heat. In the first heat I had a good start and was in the points zone. I tried to keep my pace and not make any mistakes and finished in 19th position. Nothing remarkable but still two important points for my mood. In the second one it was much worse and I finished 21st. In the end we took advantage of this race to improve on the sand and we will make the most of it for the next appointments. Next week we will race in Arco and we will definitely be able to score better results.”
Next weekend the MRT Racing Team Beta Factory will get on track in Pietramurata in the Grand Prix of Trentino, the 4th round of the 2024 edition of the Motocross World Championship and the 2nd consecutive GP held in Italy.
Words and Images by MRT Racing Team Beta Factory
