CIV MUGELLO, GRID IS ESTABLISHED: TOMORROW 130 RIDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN OPENING ROUND Scarperia, 24th March 2012 the starting grid for the first races of the 2012 Campionato Italiano Velocita’ were established this afternoon during qualifying at the Tuscan track of Mugello. Only three of the seven categories were able to make the most of the double qualifying session, with rain falling this afternoon that conditioned the 2nd session of Moto3, 125 Gp, Supersport and Moto2. STARTING GRID In the Stock 600 today’s protagonist was Team Italia FMI and its two riders Riccardo Russo and Luca Vitali. The first, from Campania, recorded the overall fastest time (1m56.193) while his team mate closed just three hundredths of a second behind him. The front row of the grid, which is this year comprised of three riders in every category, is completed by Yuri Menchetti (Yamaha) from Barberino del Mugello. With a text-book lap, Emilian rider Alessio Corradi (former World SBK and Supersport rider) set the fastest time in the Stock 1000. Riding the Aprilia for Team Nuova M2, he recorded a best of 1m53.408, four tenths faster than yesterday’s fastest time. Four tenths behind him was Umbrian rider Alessio Velini (BMW 2R Antonellini by Bargy) and Fabrizio Perotti (BMW Play Racing) from Lombardia. Another Lombardian rider, Fabrizio Lai, snatched pole in the Superbike category. Riding the Ducati for team Althea Racing by Echo, the Milanese rider registered an impressive 1m51.619 that assured him of first position ahead of current champion Matteo Baiocco (Ducati Team Barni) and Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati Team Grandi Corse), who missed the morning’s session due to technical problems but, thanks to the hard work of his time, will start tomorrow’s race from the front row. As rain started to fall at 4pm, the results of the other four categories remain unchanged from yesterday. Yesterday’s qualifying session therefore sets the grid positions. In the 125 Gp, it is Riccardo Moretti (2m01.413 riding the Indian machine Mahindra) on pole, ahead of youngster Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Aprilia – O.R. by 2B Corse-Zack M.) and the KTM ridden by German rider Max Enderlein. The first ever pole of the Italian Moto3 category goes to Kevin Calia (Honda Elle 2 Ciatti) from Imola, who with a best time of 2m04.529 took first place ahead of Matteo Ferrari (Honda) and Manuel Pagliani (Oral Gabrielli Team), who both nonetheless did a good job to reach the top of the timesheets so quickly. Over in Supersport, current Italian champion Ilario Dionisi will start from pole tomorrow. Riding the Honda for Scuderia Improve he set a best of 1’54″980, two tenths quicker that his 2011 rival Roberto Tamburini, who is a wild-card entry this weekend on the Honda. Third place goes to Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki Puccetti. In Moto2 it was Bolognese rider Ferruccio Lamborghini (Quarantaquattro Racing, 1m56.028) who set pole, followed by Alessandro Andreozzi (Andreozzi R.C) and Danish Robbin Harms (Bimota by Edo Racing). XAUS AT CIV: “I WANT TO COME AND RACE IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP” Following on from Cadalora, who was at the track yesterday to support Dakota Mamola (Randy’s son), another big name from the world of motorcycling paid a visit today. The special guest was a certain Ruben Xaus, runner up in the World SBK championship in 2003, and one of the mainplayers throughout the last decade of SBK racing, having clocked up 11 wins and 35 podium finishes. Ruben has recently joined Bimota, working closely with the team to relaunch the historic Italian brand. “I have thrown myself into this new challenge and I’m really enjoying it”, said Ruben. “We want to get back to winning ways and I won’t deny that I would like to come back and race in the CIV as a wild-card on board the Superbike DB8 Bimota, which I am helping to develop. I like this championship and have strong ties to it, having raced here on several occasions in the past.” CIV PRESS CONFERENCE: 2013 PLANNING UNDERWAY During this morning’s press conference, held in Mugello’s press room, FMI President Paolo Sesti and Road Racing Coordinator, Alfredo Mastropasqua updated those in attendance, outlining some of the innovations planned for the 2013 season. “Last season we made some important choices with regard to the support systems for these young riders and this year we are seeing the first results”, said Sesti. “Despite this delicate moment and our obligation to contain costs, we will continue to support our riders, right from the promotional categories through to the world championships.” Mastropasqua went on to explain something of next year’s CIV. “For 2013 we are working to come up with a shorter race schedule, so that team’s spend less time in the paddock and costs are contained to an even greater extent. We are speaking to the manufacturers and tyre suppliers with regard to the sporting programme and I can say that changes will probably be made to the Superbike category we hope to provide more information at the next CIV round.” A change in costs is one possible path, as is a change in race formula or the total cancellation of the category from the championship. We also need to evaluate carefully the Moto2 category, another one of those in difficulty. “CIV has to become more of an antechamber for MotoGP and Superbike, the trampoline that launches our young riders from the minimoto classes to the world series. For us it is very important that many youngsters come here and that the championship is manageable in terms of cost.” LIVE RACING ON TV AND INTERNET On Sunday live 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 1.45pm. The Mugello round will also have good coverage abroad thanks to Motors TV (coverage of the event across Europe) and with TenSports, Indian television that will broadcast the 125/Moto3 category. Moto Tv (ch. 237 Sky) will also show repeats of the races next week. The racing is also broadcast on the Internet, in live streaming on the CIV website in collaboration with Sportube.tv. The videos will also be available on Youtube at www.youtube.com/civmoto while you can also follow the CIV on FB (www.facebook.com/civ.tv) and on Twitter (@Civ.tv). USEFUL INFORMATION – Racing will get underway on Sunday, with the Stock 600 at 11.45, followed by the other categories. Tickets for tomorrow’s races cost 20 euros (15 for concessions). The under 14’s and residents of Scarperia town enter free.