2006 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FA –SICC –ICC - MURO LECCESE, 5-7TH MAY - ROUND 1

IT’S AN UPHILL STRUGGLE FOR BIREL’S DRIVERS

SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND A BIT OF BAD LUCK PENALISE BIREL’S MOST TRUSTWORTHY DRIVERS. BUT NEXT SUNDAY, ON THE SAME TRACK, (OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP) THEY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO REDEEM THEMSELVES.

The first round of the European Championship for the classes FA, SICC and ICC, which was held at Muro Leccese, saw Birel’s driver suffer some set-up problems, partly due to the new back fairings, which have become obligatory within Cik. And in these highly competitive races if the drivers are unable to express their full potential, everything becomes difficult. For the first time in his career Jon Lancaster could not qualify for the Final; after an accident during the first leg, Birel Motorsport’s British driver was barred from the two subsequent trials by the stewards because of two contacts and fouls, which were mainly caused by the tension arising from the emerging situation. Despite various problems, both Cesetti and Risitano managed to reach the Final without, however, standing out: the two drivers will have to postpone their ambitions for the top of the table to the next round at Varenne, when the Birel team will hopefully recover the performance standards shown at the beginning of the season. The races were won by Ardigò and Covers. In the Super cc bad luck compromised the weekend for Laudato, the title-holder for this category. After qualifying in sixth place, the driver from Cava dei Tirreni had a few problems during the 1st leg and subsequently ended the following two trials in 6th and 2nd place. In Race 1, Laudato had to leave the scene straight away due to an accident, whereas in Race 2 he arrived 9th after having managed to climb up several positions. Manuel Cozzaglio’s performance was better that Laudato’s as, after obtaining the 3rd best time in the qualification race, he won three 3rd places in the trials. The driver from Brescia was also the first among Birel’s drivers in race 1, where he obtained 4th place. In Race 2 on the other hand he climbed the podium in 3rd place, only to be demoted to 4th place (5” penalty) by the stewards because of a contact that occurred during the race. In the top class of 125 cc, the performance of Van Deven (6th in Race 1 and 8th in Race 2) and Mich, who ended Race 2 in 6th place, after having also scored 12th place in Race 1 should also be emphasised. Victory went to Toninelli in Race 1 and Piccini in Race 2. As far as the 125 cc is concerned, Martin Frasnelli (New Team Birel) could have had his day of glory; after having lead in the trials, the driver ended in 2nd place in Race 1, behind Behrens. Race 2 saw the onset of wet conditions and the Italian driver had to make do with 15th place. But the odds are that, as the season progresses, Frasnelli will be one of the drivers to beat.