Molson Kawasaki triggered their 2008 racing campaign last weekend with an appearance at the 25th Mantova Starcross International. The Italian venue has become the traditional curtain-raiser on the European off-road racing schedule in recent years. New team recruit Gautier Paulin took decent second place overall in his ’euro’ debut for the British crew.
The new-look Rinaldi Yamaha Team completed their first competitive outing at the Mantova Starcross International yesterday as Josh Coppins scored second position overall and Marc de Reuver placed seventh in the final MX1 classification. The Mantova sand was divided by a stellar entry list as the cream of the Grand Prix motocross paddock cranked into life after the winter slumber.The race was the first proper introduction into a ‘new era’ with Coppins and De Reuver for the defending MX1 World Champion Team.
The Mantova Starcross International bade farewell to the winter months and the Motocross off-season yesterday as a host of World Championship teams travelled to the Italian circuit near Bologna for the first of several ‘warm-up’ events prior to the start of the FIM Grand Prix series on April 1st. Kawasaki Racing Team, Team GPKR and Molson Kawasaki were present at the traditional curtain-raiser and displayed some decent speed and promising signs for the six weeks of testing and racing remaining before the first round of the World Championship commences in Holland.