2007 INTERNATIONAL OPEN MASTERS

SUNDAY THE 1ST ROUND AT SARNO

THE ITALIAN CATEGORY WITH OVER 250 DRIVERS AT THE START FROM 32 DIFFERENT NATIONS, REPRESENTS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL, AGONISTIC EVENT OF THE CIK COMPETITIONS.

The International circuit in Naples on Sunday 25th March will see the baptism of the 2007 edition of the Open Championship, the Category based on the five competitions organised by the Italian ASN. Thanks to the presence of the main construction companies in Italy, the championship, in the last few years, has become one of the most important events in Cik-Fia racing. In fact, for many drivers the Open Championship represents a huge opportunity to demonstrate their skill before the major construction companies who, in turn, have the possibility use this particular category to test, during competition, all solutions foreseeable during continental races and world championships. But the high level of confrontation, realistically guaranteed by the presence of all major constructors, is a prerogative which has made a success of this championship. High enough to tempt many foreign drivers, who make up for more than 60% of the total number of entrants.
With the first race programmed to be run in Sarno on 25th March, 32 countries will be competing: Italy, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bolivia, Brazil, Switzerland, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Finland, England, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Holland, Portugal, Argentina, Indonesia, Rumania, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Thailand, United States of America.
One of this year’s innovations will be the new125cc “KF-Long-Life” motorisation which, because of the limited time available to sustain the development programmes between the “approval” date and the start of the agonistic season, will represent a noticeable variability. All the motor-engineering companies have been forced to work at a tight schedule to obtain, over a short period, performance and reliability. To this purpose Birel, only a few days ago, modified the setting of the Motorsport team, by choosing to link the historic collaboration with TM, a programme with Iame who will supply their engines to Cesetti (KF1) and to Turchetto (KF2). The official team from the Lissone firm will have at the start of the series their entire team of drivers: : Cesetti, Croxford, Wittmann and Hattory on KF1, Turchetto and Antonfield on KF2, besides Laudato and Cozzaglio on KZ1. An interesting innovation for the latter will be the use, during the race, of new Monza frames. There will be no lack of motive in interest connected to the Open Championship starting with the KF3 where, among other things, the drivers chosen for the Easykart programme will debut with the Birel colours: Agostini will be racing with the Gandolfi team, Francescon with the Bew team and Midria with Emilia Kart still on KF3 which will have at the start 84 entrants, to watch out for is Matteo Viganò (MGM-Birel) already well placed last year, as well as Matteo Beretta best driver in the Margutti Trophy and Kevin Ceccon (Gandolfi Team).
For the Birel drivers the more formidable adversaries are Kouzkin and Camplese.
In the KF2 (ex 100 ICA), 74 entrants, Turchetto is at his debut after having won the Italian Junior last year, but a lot of faith is being placet also on Marin Burkard (KSB), Toman Libor (New Team) and Paolo De Conto (KSB), also from the programme linked to the Easykart Trophy. Amongst the adversaries announced are the powerful Camponeschi, Tiene, the Portuguese Da Costa and the English Stevens, besides the Spaniard Monras winner of the European Junior last year.
In the KF1 (ex FA), 39 entrants, the race for the summit comprises a large number of pretenders to the title, starting with Birel officials: Cesetti, Croxford and Wittmann. In the KZ2 (ex 125 Icc), 53 entrants, the confrontation is between Laudato (Birel) and Cozzaglio (Monza), besides the one between Ardigò, Beherens, Piccini, Manetti and Toninelli.

Live TV coverage on RAI Sport Sat
For the sixth consecutive year the RAI re-proposes the Open Masters live on the satellite channel RAI Sport Satellite and free to view digital, with one hour viewing. At 15.00 hours the finals of the two categories will be transmitted, whilst a further hour with races from two other categories will be transmitted as a recording the following Tuesday. The appointment with the “King” of the class, the KF1, will be transmitted live and the other classes in rotation. The first appointment of the season at Sarno on 25th March to be televised will be the KF1 and KZ2 whilst on Tuesday 27th March at 18.00 hours the KF3 and KF2 races will be transmitted. Sportscaster will be Massimo Facchini, assisted by Raffaele Giammaria for technical commentary, ex kart racer and instructor at the CSAI Federal School. Amongst other innovations for 2007, live transmission can be seen on internet on the official website of the FIK: www.fik.it. Special services will also be transmitted by other national and local channels, including the Stop&Go circuit.