The first race of the 2024 Motocross World Championship took place over the weekend in Villa La Angostura, in Patagonia-Argentina, and both of the MRT Racing Team Beta Factory riders came out in great shape for this first World Event.
Ben Watson, on Beta RX 450 4T, also immediately showed his good performance, finishing 11th in qualifying, close to the top ten, after a good comeback. The rider kept racing close to the top ten in the first heat as well, which he finished in 10th position. In the second heat he made the most of the first laps to bring himself close to the top ten, but a crash on the third lap caused him to lose a few positions, and once he got back on the bike he was able to make a comeback to 12th position. Ben, confirms his 12th position both in the Overall and in the Championship.
Ivo Monticelli, on Beta RX 450 4T, made the most of the start among the front riders and finished Qualifying in 8th position. The rider also made a good start in the first heat, but a crash forced him to make a comeback, ending in 13th position, which he maintained in the second heat as well. Ivo finished the first round in 13th position both in the Overall and in the Championship.
Ben Watson
“The first World Championship Race of the season got me a little confused. I was feeling good on Saturday. In qualifying I was a little tied up, but that’s normal at this time of the season. I finished 11th, ensuring a good start at the gate for the titled heats. In the first heat I felt really good, my speed was good and I finished 10th. In the second one I didn’t get off to a great start but in the first two laps I made up several positions. Unfortunately in an attempt to move up to 7th position I forced the entry into the corner and slipped on the ground, getting back on the saddle I lost a few laps to get back on the pace but I climbed back up to 12th position. The feeling on the bike is good and I am confident about the results we could get in Spain.”
Ivo Monticelli
“The race went very well on Saturday. In qualifying, after holding onto 6th position for most of the time, I finished 8th. In the first heat I still had a great start, 5th. At the end of the first lap, however, I slipped and when I got back up I was way behind. My pace was really good and I am sure that without that slip I could have done better than 13th position. In the second heat I started 12th and kept the position for almost the whole race, just in the final I was overtaken by my teammate, and I finished 13th. The final result is good because we are not far from the top ten and, step by step, we will soon be able to play with the top riders.”
Having archived the long South American Tour, the MRT Racing Team Beta Factory will be competing in the Grand Prix of Spain over the weekend of March 24th, the second round of the 2024 Motocross World Championship, hosted at the Arroyomolinos circuit near Madrid, Spain.
