SUPERMOTO PREPARES FOR THE 3 FINAL SEASON RACES
05 October 2006 - Aprilia

“As always, we start out looking to win, it has always been, and will always be, our primary goal in all the races. There’s no strategy that favours one rider over another, not even in the last lap of the last race.”

This was the very clear message of Ennio Marchesin, director of Team Aprilia, on the eve of the last three races that will finish up the championship.

“I think it was right to make up the cancelled trial at Montecarlo – added Marchesin – even if the Busca track is not really the best for our standard motorcycle. We tried it for the first time last week with our riders, the asphalt is narrow, the trajectory unique. We hope the off-road will provide us with an edge in order to pass the others. Getting off to a good start will be more essential than ever because it’s definitely not a track that is adapted to our two-cylinders.”

After Busca, the skid specialists will stay in Italy to participate in the Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for the 14 and 15 in Latina. It’s a smoother track on which the Aprilia SXV 4.5 and SXV 5.5 will be able to demonstrate their potential without having to hit the breaks. The finale of the championship series will be held November 5 in Greece. It will take place on a brand new track that will be built in the large square opposite the port in Athens.

In the S2 class, there will be a family fight among the official riders from the Noale House, with Thierry van den Bosch (Aprilia SXV 4.5) who is leading the championship with 190 points versus the 167 of Jerome Giraudo (Aprilia SXV 4.5) and the 156 of Eddy Seel (Suzuki). Among those fighting for the throne, there is also the former motorcross champion Frederic Bolley (Aprilia SXV 4.5) who is ready to celebrate with his companions and competitors. In fact, the transalpine is in fifth place, with 152 points, just 4 points away from the podium.

In the S1 class, the German Gernad Hiemer (Ktm) is leading the dance with 231 points, followed by Christian Iddon with his factory Aprilia SXV 5.5 with 182 points. The Englishman, however, is not in top physical condition. In fact, his injury after hitting a bale of hay in the German GP cost Christian a lot. Tests show that he has torn the crossing and inner ligaments in his knee. He’ll race with a special knee brace then, after the season ends, he’ll undergo surgery.

In the meantime, on Sunday October 1 in Bishopscourt (Northern Ireland), the Supermoto of the Nations was won by Italy, followed by France. Although they have three riders at the top of the world S2, there wasn’t a single official Aprilia rider on the French team. In fact, a law of the French Motorcycle Federation prevents all riders not participating in all national championship events from participating. Therefore, neither VDB, Giraudo, and Bolley were able to participate, so France was forced to compete without its top riders. What a shame!
In third place, Great Britain, whose Christian Iddon (Aprilia SXV 5.5) put on an amazing performance. Christian demonstrated that, once the green light came on, his knee problems were put on hold, and he got third and fourth in the two heats in which he participated.

Current World Supermoto rankings
Class S1: 1. Bernd Hiemer (Ktm) 231 points; 2. Christian Iddon (Aprilia SXV 5.5) 182; 3. Ivan Lazzarini (Husqvarna) 175; 4. Gerald Delepine (Husqvarna) 173; 5. Marcel Goetz (Ktm) 12.

Class S2: 1. Thierry Van Den Bosch (Aprilia SXV 4.5) 190 points; 2. Jerome Giraudo (Aprilia SXV 4.5) 167; 3. Eddy Seel (Suzuki) 156; 4. Adrien Chareyre (Husqvarna) 156; 5. Frederic Bolley (Aprilia SXV 4.5) 152.

www.aprilia.com

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