Your home Grand Prix is always the race that you want to win more than any other; riding in front of your fans, friends and family and finding them in front of the podium is a unique sensation and you would do anything to succeed. Unfortunately things don't always go as you hoped and sometimes you have to know when to give credit to those who have just beaten you, even if you have set the best lap times of both motos, and brought home an excellent amount of points from two wonderful races. Well this is what Antonio Cairoli did today in Pietramurata, in front of the many spectators who flocked from all over Italy and Europe to see the best Motocross riders in the world compete amid the splendid scenery of the Dolomites. The Grand Prix of Trentino confirmed itself to once again be one of the most amazing races of the season, after the epic battle, between Tony Cairoli and Tim Gajser earlier today. Second in Saturday's qualifying race, KTM Red Bull Factory Racing Team rider Cairoli started in front in the first moto, riding at a furious pace with Gajser, who took advantage of a small mistake to pass him four laps from the end. Determined not to give it up the Slovenian resisted the Sicilian's attacks right up to the checkered flag for a hard fought win. In the second heat Tony started behind Gajser and chased him aboard his KTM 450 SX-F for nine laps, when he launched a deadly attack, overcoming his rival at the bottom of the hill before the pit lane. After five laps, facilitated by some yellow flags and by the arrival of some lapped riders, the Slovenian passed again, taking the lead of the race. Cairoli took three laps to close the gap and once again overtake the rival, only to make a small mistake and crash shortly after, definitively ending any hopes of winning the Grand Prix as he remounted to cross the line in second. The day's second place overall, his fourth consecutive podium of the season, still earned him the red plate and a 16 point gap over second placed. Next round of the MXGP will be in five weeks, on the sandy track of Mantova.
Antonio Cairoli: "It was a very good GP, even though whenever I ride in Italy it’s always very demanding for me due to all the media and sponsor events. Even though this kind of ground is not my favourite I've always had good races here and this weekend I was fastest at all times during the weekend. Out on the track today both Tim and I were really fast in both races compared to the rest of the field and I think the level was very high. We were on the limit all the time, and my best lap time in race one was even faster than the best lap I did in the timed practice, even with a bumpier track, something that doesn't happen so often. I’m really happy that I didn’t get seriously injured in the crash I had in the second moto and I hope that my knee is ok, because I twisted it a little bit before crashing in the next corner. I’m a bit gutted that I made that mistake because I was trying to win the GP but it’s ok, congratulations to Tim, he deserved this victory. For the Championship it’s ok, because we are on the podium and it’s what we plan to do at every race.”
