Busca (Italy) 28 April 2023 – The 2023 SuperMoto World Championship will kick off at the prestigious Kart Planet track of Busca, a historic track which has hosted World Championship races for several years. The 1800-meter-long Piedmontese circuit features two paved off-road sections and will be the setting of the first appointment of 2023.
The grid of the S1GP is complete with 34 enrolled riders, coming from 12 nations; reigning World Champion Marc Reiner Schmidt (L30 Racing) is ready to defend, on his TM factory, the title conquered in 2022. Rivals Lukas Hollbacker (KTM MTR Racing) and Thomas Chareyre (TC4R1 Racing) will give him a hard time. News of this year is that the multiple-time World Champion will be supported by his own team and will ride a TM factory machinery.
Behind the trio that was the protagonist of the past season, there will be several riders who could battle it out for the podium. First of all, the Italian Elia Sammartin (L30 Racing), who will definitely try to improve his performance after last year’s fourth position.
Let’s not forget Czech rider Milan Sitniansky (TMS Tuning Motorsport) and the very young French riders who were the protagonists of an astonishing battle last year in the Rookie, Youry Catherine on a Honda (Gazza Racing) and Steve Bonnal, the favorite of the Chareyre’s Team. Furthermore, there will be veteran and home rider Giovanni Bussei who will stir up the crowd at the Kart Planet of Busca thanks to his unique riding style.
Next weekend will host not only the World Championship but also the S4 European Championship, which last season saw a phenomenal battle between the two riders of the L30 Racing, Alex Ruiz and Kevin Vandi, former 2017 European Champion. At the end of the season, the two had a two-point gap with the Spanish rider at the lead.
The two lead riders will be followed by emerging Antonino Navarria, Gazza Racing, who demonstrated a tremendous improvement, despite his young age, at the first race of the Italian Championship.
The very young riders of the SM Junior will get to the track as well. Czech rider Matej Kokes was second overall last year and this one he will try to become the new champion. Three Italian riders will take part in this first appointment: Daniele Cornolti (TM), Anfrea Benvenuti (KTM) and Piergiorgio Nicoli (TM).
SATURDAY: 9.40 S4 Free Practice1;10.10 SM Junior Free Practice1; 10.35 S1GP Free Practice 1; 11.10 S4 Free Practice2;11.40 SM Junior Free Practice 2; 12.05 S1GP Free Practice 2; 13.30 S4 Time Practice; 14.00 SM Junior Time Practice; 14.30 S1GP Time Practice; 15.10 S1GP Superpole; 16.45 S1GP Race 1
SUNDAY: 11.00 S4 Race1; 12.00 SM Junior Race1; 12.45 S1GP Fast Race; 14.00 S4 Race2; 14.45 SM Junior Race2; 15.30 S1GP Super Final
In the photo: Busca International Circuit
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