Marking the start of the 2016 international MX season, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team riders Max Nagl, Max Anstie, Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse were among a strong line-up of riders competing in the Internazionali d’ Italia Motocross series in Alghero.
MX2 class rider Max Anstie delivered a convincing performance to finish third in the MX2 race. Anstie’s first official outing on his new Husqvarna FC 250 was made even more memorable as the Englishman was sat 22nd at the end of the first lap after hitting the start gate. Anstie wrapped up the day with a 13th place result in the combined MX1/MX2 Elite final.
Hoping to return to the speed that saw him dominate the first half of the 2015 MXGP season, Max Nagl focused on riding at his own pace while avoiding mistakes in Alghero. The German worked his way from ninth in the beginning of the MX1 race to an eventual fourth place finish. Despite being pushed off the track midway through the combined MX1/MX2 Elite final Nagl managed to stay on two wheels and cross the line in ninth place.
The opening round of the Internazionali d’ Italia Motocross series also marked Thomas Covington’s first outing in Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team colours. The American had a great start in the MX2 race and followed leader Jeffrey Herlings for the greatest part of the race. With the sandy Sardinian track testing the riders’ strength and fitness Covington ended the MX2 race in sixth position.
Set to compete in the 2016 EMX 250 championship with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Conrad Mewse successfully mixed it up with the MX2 riders in Sardinia. The 2013 EMX85 Champion earned a seventh place result in the MX2 race to start the season on a high note.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders return to action on February 7 for the Hawkstone International MX in Great Britain and for the second round of the Internazionali d’Italia in Lamezia Terme.
Max Nagl: “All went ok today. The opening race of the season is always a tricky one for me, so I didn’t take any big risks. The day was about getting race laps under my belt, and getting back into the grove of racing. I felt that my riding was good. Not as fast as the guys out front, but I was pleased that I didn’t make any mistakes. The sandy track was quite tricky in places, so it was easy to make mistakes. I got a great start in the Super Final, then got used as a wall and run off the track when someone braked way too late for the first turn. After that I rode consistently and finished off a good day.”
Max Anstie: “It’s nice to be back in the swing of things, getting everything ready for the new season. Our goal for the weekend was to come to the Italian Championship to learn and see where we’re at against the competition. It’s still early to take risks and try to push for results. I hit the start gate in my first MX2 race and lost a lot of time. But I gave a good fight until the end and it was really positive to finish my first race with Husqvarna on the podium. Overall it was a good day, we learned a lot and collected data that we’ll use to get better.”
Results – Internazionali d’Italia Motocross 2016, Round 1
MX1
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 18 laps, 30:03.580; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 30:11.640; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 30:13.597; 4. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 30:29.736… 13. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 31:41.745… 20, Thomas Marini (Husqvarna) 17 laps, 31:45.259… 23. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 31:24.136
MX2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 18 laps, 29:25.852; 2. Michele Cervellin (Honda) 30:45.433; 3. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 30:45.838… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 17 laps, 29:29.660; 7. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 29:30.150… 10. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 29:43.428… 21. Gabriele Arbini (Husqvarna) 31:11.791… 25. Tomaso Isdraele Romano (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 30:32.071
Elite
1. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 18 laps, 29:33.442; 2. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 29:34.934; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 30:08.292… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 31:00.343… 13. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 31:07.609… 23. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 17 laps, 30:07.556; 24. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 30:20.320… 26. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 30:33.642… 36. Thomas Marini (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 30:58.747; 37. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 22:28.212
Championship Standings (After Rnd1)
MX1
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 120pts; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 100pts; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 80pts; 4. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 65pts… 13. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 30pts… 20, Thomas Marini (Husqvarna) 21pts… 23. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 18pts
MX2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 120pts; 2. Michele Cervellin (Honda) 100pts; 3. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 80pts… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 55pts; 7. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 50pts… 10. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 36pts… 21. Gabriele Arbini (Husqvarna) 20pts… 25. Tomaso Isdraele Romano (Husqvarna) 16pts
Elite
1. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 120pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 100pts; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 80pts… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 40pts… 13. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 30pts… 23. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 18pts; 24. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 17pts… 26. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 15pts… 36. Thomas Marini (Husqvarna) 5pts; 37. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 4pts
