Photo by: Ray Archer
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli burst back to his best with a 1-5 result to take the overall at the Grand Prix of Switzerland. The Italian legend proved that he is still capable of winning a Grand Prix against the young guns in Tim Gajser and Romain Febvre.
The new circuit of Frauenfeld hosted the fifteenth round of the MXGP 2016. The track, set in a wide valley, bordered on one side by the grandstands packed with massive crowds since Saturday morning, was the scene of one of the most beautiful races of the year. Under the eyes of the more than 25,000 spectators, that came from all over Europe, Tony Cairoli won his seventy-seventh Grand Prix of his career, consolidating its second position in the standings, reducing the gap from the top by four points.
With a good speed already during the practice, with his KTM 450 SX-F he won the second qualifying race of the year, picking the first gate for the two Sunday’s races. Coming well in to the first corner, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team rider took the lead at the second corner, pulling away immediately from the rivals with some really fast laps.
Briefly the gap has become unbridgeable and after eighteen laps Sicilian crossed the finish line first. At the second start Tony again got away well, taking the lead after one corner, exciting the public with his perfect style. Reached after three laps, he upped the pace, with a prudent race that would ensure the victory. In third with a few corners from the finish line he crashed with a lapped rider, finishing in fifth place, winning the Grand Prix of Switzerland, a race that was not in the calendar for the last fifteen years.
You decided to go with the 450 instead of the 350, what changed you mind about the bike?
Actually, it wasn’t a change of mind, we are testing a lot of stuff lately, and I know what is missing from the 350 but we are missing some parts and maybe you see me on the 350 more often this year. There is no better testing than races, to compare the two.
Did you like the track?
I think the track was very good, the only thing missing is the natural track, but this is the future, it isn’t an old style track and the facility is good and I think we need that more, also for the fans to see the whole track. The did good work on the track.
What did you think of your Sunday?
Everything went well, the weekend I cannot complain. We went back to the 450 and we only went testing one time and changing bike is not as easy as you might think. My goal was to choose which bike is better for next year, so maybe you see me again on the 350. The season is getting better, this year I couldn’t find my speed back. I took a good start in the first one and controlled the race. The track was very deep in some places and very technical. It was very nice. The second moto I had another good start, but Tim was riding very fast and passed me. I tried to stay close, but also my fitness isn’t there and I couldn’t find my rhythm. Then Romain passed me, but for the podium the finish was perfect. Normally I shouldn’t make the mistake I made. A lapped rider had some troubles and I lost time when I crashed and my leg was caught under the bike. I was a bit angry because I was riding conservative and I wanted the overall. I was being careful, but then I crashed. We still got the overall and that is most important.
What will be your preparation for Assen?
We have time off and we can test more parts, and we will be ready for Assen, and hopefully it will be a better sand race than Lommel.
What more can you say about your first Grand Prix in Switzerland?
It was amazing, the public was many and they were cheering a lot for the other Italians, and also the Swiss people were cheering for me. I have never raced in Switzerland in my whole career, so it was very nice. I hope we can come back next year, because the track was very good, many lines, many ruts, it was one of the best of the season.
