ZANNI GAINS MORE POINTS
24 July 2006 - Aprilia

Rain was the main feature of the first day of the USA Grand Prix Enduro, and it did not let up on the second day, leaving the race track more difficult and full of hidden dangers which immediately took Alessandro Botturi out of the race.

The leader for Team Aprilia Enduro, enrolled in the E2 class in his RXV 4.5, after finishing the first two specials in twelfth position, he was once again on the ground in the third.

During the fall he hit his right hand, just like on Saturday, and he decided to throw in the towel. Despite the swelling, the first diagnosis seems to exclude a fracture, allowing “Bottu” to take a flight from New York back to Italy Monday evening so he can begin training for the Xtreme at Lumezzane taking place next Sunday.
The rest of the team’s components, however, will leave from Canada Tuesday morning, departing from Toronto and arriving in Italy in the evening.

Alex Zanni was able to improve upon his 11th place finish on Saturday, finishing up in 9th Sunday in the E3, where he was racing in the saddle of the official Aprilia RXV 5.5. The rider from Veneto really gritted his teeth Sunday; he went immediately on the attack despite the rain, and gained fifth and seventh place in the first two specials. Then a couple of falls caused him to slow it down a bit, so he could finish the race without risking too much.

Overall, this GP in America can be considered positive for Team Aprilia. Even on the other side of the ocean it was able to bring home points in its first season in the World Championship. Of course it goes without saying that if the conditions and the track had not been so extreme due to the rain, the team from Noale would have been able to get more points, without a doubt.

In august, the schedule for the world championship slows down, and offers the riders a month of vacation; it will start up again with the Grand Prix in Slovakia, September 2 and 3 in Krompachy.

Hancock - Grand Prix USA, 6th leg of the World Enduro

FIRST DAY
Class E2: 1. Samuli Aro (Ktm); 2. Mika Ahola (Honda); 3. Johnny Aubert (Yamaha); 12. Alex Botturi (Aprilia RXV 4.5).
Class E3: 1. David Knight (Ktm); 2. Sebastien Guillaume (Gas Gas); 3. Marko Tarkkala (Ktm); 11. Alex Zanni (Aprilia RXV 5.5).

SECOND DAY
Class E2: 1. Mika Ahola (Honda); 2. Samuli Aro (Ktm); 3. Johnny Aubert (Yamaha); withdrawn during the third special Alex Botturi (Aprilia RXV 4.5).
Class E3: 1. David Knight (Ktm); 2. Sebastien Guillaume (Gas Gas); 3. Marko Tarkkala (Ktm); 9. Alex Zanni (Aprilia RXV 5.5).

www.aprilia.com

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