CIV, MONZA: AT THE TEMPLE OF SPEED WITH WORLD-CLASS WILDCARDS Monza The ‘Autodromo di Monza’ is legendary. As you enter the paddock of this historic Italian track you inhale the atmosphere, of duels that go to the wire, of the spectacular Parabolica, of record breaking speed along the straightway but also the slow chicanes and the ‘hiss’ of brake pads that comes from violent braking. It’s the world’s fastest track and it provides endless excitement. This weekend is no different, as the track prepares to host the CIV circus. The Dellorto CIV Monza is an important round, the third of the season, after which the championship standings will start to reveal which riders will be fighting for the titles across the seven categories. There will be many ‘special guests’ racing this weekend, as they prepare for the world championship round to be held the following week at the same track. CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND-UP OF THE SEVEN CLASSES In the 125Gp, the favourite is once again Riccardo Moretti (fortified by two wins on board the Mahindra) but attention will also be on the two youngsters Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Aprilia O.R. by 2B Corse Zack M.) and Andrea Mantovani (Aprilia). Simone Mazzola and Cristiano Carpi, who just missed on the podium at IMola, are also worth watching. The Moto3 class is currently an even playing field with only four points separating Matteo Ferrari (Honda), race winner at Mugello, and Andrea Locatelli (Honda), who finished first at Imola. Kevin Calia (Honda Elle2 Ciatti) will also try to get into the mix as he fights for his first win, as will the two young riders of the Gabrielli Team Italia, Rinaldi and Pagliani. Even more gripping is the Supersport category, in which six riders are within nine points of each other. Russian rider Vladimir Leonov, who dominated at a wet Imola on board the Yamaha of team Yakhnich MS, currently leads, but current champion Ilario Dionisi (Honda Scuderia Improve) will also be there, along with Mirko Giansanti and Stefano Cruciani (with the Kawasakis of Puccetti Racing). Raffaele De Rosa will take part as a wildcard, riding a Honda with Team Lorini. Luca Marconi (Yamaha) will also race, alongside a former CIV competitor, Andrea Boscoscuro, who will take to the track with the Kawasaki of MV Racing. Over in Moto2, after its historic win at Imola, Bimota will once again aim for the top with Danish rider Robbin Harms (Edo Racing). Fighting it out with him will be current champion Alessandro Andreozzi (Andreozzi R.C.) and Ferruccio Lamborghini, who has scored two second places with Quarantaquattro Racing thus far. There promises to be an exciting duel in Superbike, since Tuscan rider Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati Grandi Corse) and current champion Matteo Baiocco (Ducati Team Barni) are tying for first position with the same points: Each has taken a win and a second place finish but, as well as battling each other, they will both need to watch out for Luca Conforti (Team Barni) and Fabrizio Lai (Althea Racing by Echo) who are both riding at “home” this weekend. Riccardo Russo, on the other hand, will be aiming for his third consecutive win in the Stock 600. Riding the Yamaha with Team Italia FMI, he has thus far proved to be the absolute protagonist of this category, dedicated to young riders, dominating round one before making an amazing recovery, in the wet, to win round 2. His rivals will include his team-mate Luca Vitali and a group consisting of Menchetti, Cassani, Monti, Morrentino, Morbidelli, Oppedisano and Mamola. Wildcards include Frenchman Christophe Ponsson (Kawasaki) but also one of the top riders of the European championship, Spaniard Nacho Calero (Yamaha Team Trasimeno). In the Stock 1000, championship leader Ivan Goi (Ducati Team Barni) will try to extend his lead, making the most of the fact that he’s racing at his home track, but he will be chased by Alessio Corradi (Aprilia Nuova M2 Racing), Alessio Velini (BMW 2R Antonellini by Bargy) and Simone Saltarelli (Ducati Team Barni). The permanent entries will not have an easy time of it this weekend as the four main players of the European championship, Team Italia’s Lorenzo Savadori, Eddi La Marra (Ducati Team Barni) and the BMW Motorrad Italia pairing of Lorenzo Baroni and Sylvain Barrier, will participate as wildcards. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE PADDOCK: EVENTS The weekend will begin in the press room where, on Friday 27th at 10.30, a workshop on the social responsibility of youth motorcycling will take place. The appointment is aimed at the media and interested companies. Over at the Pirelli CIVillage, the heart of the paddock, the Dellorto pole position prize-giving will take place after qualifying and Carlo Ubbiali, nine times world champion, will be welcomed into the CIV Hall of Fame. On Sunday, at about 1pm, the PitWalk will give the public the opportunity to get close to the action and see what goes on in the garages minutes before a race. On Saturday and Sunday (at the Ascari corner) the Demo Ride Suzuki initiative will give fans the chance to book a test ride on the bike that they’d most like to buy. LIVE TV, INTERNET AND SOCIAL NETWORKS On Sunday live TV coverage will began at 11.30am on Nuvolari (ch. 144 Sky and Digital Terrestrial) with the Stock 600 and Stock 1000 races while on Sportitalia 2 (ch. 226 Sky and Digital Terrestrial) the Superbike, 125 Gp/Moto3 and Supersport/Moto2 races will kick off from 1.50pm. The Monza round will also have good coverage abroad thanks to Motors TV (with coverage of the event across Europe) and TenSports, an Indian television channel that will broadcast the 125/Moto3 category. Moto TV (ch. 237 Sky) will repeat the races next week. The racing is also broadcast on the Internet, in live streaming on the CIV website in collaboration with Sportube.tv. Videos will be available on YouTube at www. youtube.com/civmoto while you can also follow CIV on FB (www.facebook.com/civ.tv) and on Twitter (@Civ.tv). RACES, TIMINGS AND TICKETS Free practice sessions get underway on Friday from 10.05am (tickets cost 5 euros) while the first qualifying sessions begin later that same day, at 2.50pm. On Saturday, at the end of the second free practice (from 10am) the race grids will be established in the final qualifying sessions, taking place from 2.40pm. The first race, Stock 600, will kick off at 11.45am on Sunday, followed by the other races. On Saturday one can visti the track to watch qualifying (10 euros or 8 euros for the under 18’s and FMI card holders) while on Sunday a combined grandstand-paddock ticket will cost 19 euros (reduced rate 15 euros).