ITALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Ugento (Lecce) – Round 5

LAUDATO IS THE 125 ICC CHAMPION

AN EXCELLENT RACING SEASON CONTINUES FOR BIREL MOTORSPORT AND FRANCESCO LAUDATO WITH THE CONQUER OF THE OPEN TITLE IN UGENTO.

Francesco Laudato, recently crowned European champion of the 125 Sicc class, on the Ugento track has also conquered the National Open title. For the Campania-born driver and for the Motorsport team, this additional success confirms a total dominance in the gearbox class, which has gone undisputed for years. This success also confirms the Lissone-based manufacturer as the absolute favourite in the appointment to be held in Sarno on 5 September. Laudato won the Open title in the spirit of a true champion, with his attempt to obtain a victory also in the decisive race. It should be mentioned, nonetheless, that Piccini was the first to take the flag, but was penalised, like Sferrella, for a false start. The second step of the podium was occupied by another excellent Birel driver, Francesco Principe. Cozzaglio ranked 3rd, before Piccini, Behrens and Albertini. The celebrations in the Birel clan could have also extended to the Junior class, where a victory of French driver Charles Pic, who came to Ugento as the championship leader, was expected. But races are unpredictable and the young Frenchman did not have his best day in the decisive race. After having conquered the pole position during the trials, his race was compromised by problems that relegated him to the 14th final position. His main rival Costa, however, had better luck with his first place ahead of Peter Antonfeld and Zdenek. The Spaniard was therefore crowned the new champion with a 9 point advantage over Pic. Consolation for the Birel team was found with the brilliant 2nd position by the official driver Antonfeld who, in view of the European Championships in Sarno, leaves much hope for prominent results. Sauro Cesetti had yet another off day in Fa, when he was forced to withdraw in the final. The Marches-born driver nonetheless made a name for himself in the qualifiers and in the heats where he used various technical solutions that will quite possibly be developed for the last round of the European championships scheduled for 20 August in Muro Leccese. On the other hand, Rodriguez (Birel –Parilla) gave a great performance, ranking first ahead of Mortara and Thonon. The Fa title went to Marco Ardigò in spite of the fact that this Tony Kart driver, who has never won a race, had an accident that knocked him out at the first bend. As for the championship, Birel was unlucky in the 100 Ica class too: Nicholas Risitano was forced to a withdrawal, leaving the door open for the Portuguese driver Parente, who won the title despite ranking just 4th. The final victory went to Alguersuari, followed by Calado and Bressan. The drivers of the 100 Ica class, too, will soon be back on track for the highlight of the season, running for the European title in a single trial, at the same time as the final race of the FA European Championship in Muro Leccese. And this time, Risitano will undoubtedly be up to the challenge.