Circuit ‘Il Ciclamino’ in Pietramurata hosted the Grand Prix of Trentino, the fourth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship 2023, on a weekend characterised by spring-like weather and an enthusiastic crowd.
Ben Watson (Beta RX450) set the sixteenth fastest time in time practice. In the qualification session the English rider was forced to make a difficult comeback to finish in nineteenth position. Ben was very good at the start of race one and held third position in the first laps. In the race he suffered the return of some rivals, but crossed the finish line in an encouraging eleventh position. In the final race Watson was forced to fight back after a less brilliant start than the previous one, but finished in thirteenth position. Ben has now recovered one position in the Championship and occupies twelfth position, on sixty-nine points.
Fourteenth in timed practice, Alessandro Lupino (Beta RX450) was unable to get a good start in qualification and finished in eighteenth position. Unfortunately, the rider from Viterbo at the start of the first race missed a good start, but thanks to an excellent comeback he finished in fifteenth position. In the second race, the good pace that Alessandro kept throughout the race allowed him to finish in fourteenth position. A placement that he also confirmed in the Overall of the day, allowing him to maintain 17th position in the Championship.
In a couple of weeks MRT Racing Team-Beta will take to the track at the spectacular Agueda circuit for the Grand Prix of Portugal, the fifth round of the season.
Ben Watson: “It’s hard not to be disappointed after a race like that. I had a great opportunity and unfortunately did not take full advantage of it. In the Race 1 I got a very good start and for a few laps I drove really well, holding third position. I was not as loose as I would have liked, also because it had been a long time since I had been in the top group, so I started to lose positions. In Race two I had a small setback just before the start, I didn’t get a good start from the gate and it took me a few laps to get into a rhythm. At the end I was lapping much better and managed to recover some positions. I finished the GP in 12th place and the positive thing is that together with the team we are continuing to improve.”
Alessandro Lupino: “The weekend of the Grand Prix of Trentino ended in a positive way for me. On Saturday I struggled to take ” the measurements” of the track, but on Sunday I managed to take another step forward towards the placings I believe I am capable of aiming for. In the first race I made a mistake at the start and started practically last, but I made a good comeback. In Race 2 instead my speed was better, working on the starts we can aim to be in the Top Ten.”
