Busca – 29 June – The second round of the S4 European Cup kicked off at the Busca Kart Planet. Those riders also enrolled in Road Racing championships led the way. Alberto Surra (KTM) won the first race with Mattia Rato (TM) second and Rafael Alex Gourdon (Husqvarana) third. In the Junior class the pole position went to defending Champion Andrea Benvenuti (KTM MTR Racing).
S4 European Cup Time Practice:
The official practices kicked off under a light rain, so riders decided to get to the track with slick tyres. The decision did not reward them in the first part of the session, but when the rain stopped track conditions became ideal for riders to fight for the pole position. The battle for the best time went on between Italy and Spain with the Gourdon brothers protagonists of the first part. When the Italian riders improved their performances Alberto Surra (KTM) and Mattia Rato (TM) started to battle it out for the victory, with the first one eventually achieving the pole position. Third place went to Rafele Theo Gourdon (Husqvarna) and another excellent performance was achieved by young Antonino Navarria (Team Gazza Racing), who finished fourth.
S4 European Cup Free Practice Top Ten:
SURRA Alberto (ITA, KTM) 1:08.454; 2. RATO Mattia (ITA, TM) 1:08.495; 3. GOURDON RAFAEL Theo (ESP, Husqvarna) 1:09.272; 4. NAVARRIA Antonino Achille (ITA, Honda) 1:09.499; 5. GOURDON RAFAEL Alex (ESP, Husqvarna) 1:09.614; 6. CONTE Paolo (ITA, TM) 1:10.574; 7. FORD DUNN Loris (GBR, Husqvarna) 1:10.907; 8. KOVALOV Maksym (UKR, Husqvarna) 1:10.999; 9. GENTILI Giorgio (ITA, TM) 1:11.615; 10. BERTOLA Edoardo (ITA, Honda) 1:18.551
S4 European Cup Race 1:
A few minutes before the start, race directors called out a wet race and all the riders mounted rain tyres. As the red lights blinked off Alberto Surra (KTM) did not make the best out of his pole position losing several positions. The Gourdon brothers took the lead of the race but in the first lap Mattia Rato (TM) took the lead of the operations chased by Alex Rafael Gourdon (Husqvarna). Behind them Alberto Surra started to increase his phenomenal race pace and after a few laps moved up to the front. Surra and Rato opened a gap on their chasers and battled it out till the chequered flag. Alex Rafael Gourdon crossed the finish line in third position.
S4 European Cup Race 1 Top Ten:
SURRA Alberto (ITA, KTM) 18 laps in 23:26.680; 2. RATO Mattia (ITA, TM) +00.357; 3. GOURDON RAFAEL Alex (ESP, Husqvarna) +05.014; 4. GOURDON RAFAEL Theo (ESP, Husqvarna) +21.061; 5. CONTE Paolo (ITA, TM) +41.349; 6. NAVARRIA Antonino Achille (ITA, Honda) +44.944; 7. BERTOLA Edoardo (ITA, Honda) +46.858; 8. KOVALOV Maksym (UKR, Husqvarna) +47.934; 9. FORD DUNN Loris (GBR, Husqvarna) +1:02.846; 10. GENTILI Giorgio (ITA, TM) +1 Lap
SM Junior Free Practices
Championship leader Andrea Benvenuti (KTM MTR Racing) was the fastest rider of the free practices, chased by Nathan Terraneo (KTM). Third place went to Daniele Cornolti (GasGas).
SM Junior Free Practice Top Ten:
BENVENUTI Andrea (ITA, KTM) 1:24.107; 2. TERRANEO Nathan (SUI, KTM) 1:24.254; 3. CORNOLTI Daniele (ITA, GasGas) 1:24.616; 4. KOVALYOV Yevsevii (UKR, Husqvarna) 1:24.661; 5. LAPADULA Leonardo (ITA, TM) 1:24.997; 6. BERECZKI David Zsolt (HUN, Husqvarna) 1:25.798; 7. BANG Lorenz (GER, KTM) 1:26.682; 8. MAIMONTE Mattia (BEL, TM) 1:29.285; 9. MUHERINA Lean (GER, KTM) 1:29.896; 10. IRZYK Liliana (POL, KTM) 1:37.160
SM Junior Time practice:
The SM Junior riders were also affected by the rain but this did not change the situation on track. Andrea Benvenuti (KTM MTR Racing) was the fastest and found the best rhythm only close to the end of the session. Nathan Terraneo (KTM) led the standings for most of the time but did not have time to move back to the top. The front row of the Junior class was rounded off by Ukrainian Yevsevii Kovalyov (Husqvarna), currently second in the Championship standings.
SM Junior Time Practice Top Ten:
BENVENUTI Andrea (ITA, KTM) 1:23.643; 2. TERRANEO Nathan (SUI, KTM) 1:23.700; 3. KOVALYOV Yevsevii (UKR, Husqvarna) 1:24.318; 4. CORNOLTI Daniele (ITA, GasGas) 1:24.384; 5. LAPADULA Leonardo (ITA, TM) 1:24.833; 6. BERECZKI David Zsolt (HUN, Husqvarna) 1:26.161; 7. BANG Lorenz (GER, KTM) 1:26.593; 8. MAIMONTE Mattia (BEL, TM) 1:29.820; 9. MUHERINA Lean (GER, KTM) 1:30.165; 10. IRZYK Liliana (POL, KTM) 1:38.480
Time Table:
SUNDAY: 08:55 Warm Up S4-09.35 Warm Up Junior-11:15 Race 2 S4-12:00 Race 1 Junior-14.30 Race 3 S4-15:15 Race 2 Junior
Complete results available HERE.
In the photo: Alberto Surra S4
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