Yamaha Supercross stars enjoy a fantastic week

2007 MX2 world champion Antonio Cairoli has won the third round of the European Supercross Championship held at the Eicma motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. Meanwhile Yamaha US factory rider Chad Reed was crowned ‘King of Bercy’ at the world famous Paris-Bercy Supercross event in France for winning all but one of the races held from Friday to Sunday. Chad’s stalwart and 2007 AMA US Motocross champion Grant Langston raced to second overall making it a perfect weekend for Yamaha fans. After a long break from Supercross competition Chad Reed won all the heat races expect for one on the first day of the event. Grant Langston was his main rival during the entire week-end and was rewarded runner up in the 25th anniversary of the most prestigious European Supercross event. Reed sees his Bercy victory as a positive prelude to his 2008 AMA Supercross campaign; “I couldn’t expect a better result for my comeback at Bercy and I’m very happy to win this race for the first time. During three nights I had real good battles with Grant Langston and Andrew Short which was a great preparation for next season. The crowd was amazing as always in Bercy, I had fab time here in Paris!” Cairoli’s win in Milan gives him a comfortable lead in the European Supercross championship with 42 points, the result of winning the opening round in Bologna, Italy and a second place in Bilbao, Portugal. With two more rounds to go in Genova (24 November) and Munich (15 December) Cairoli’s outlook to retain his title look good as he enjoys a margin on second placed Degli Esposti of 15 points. The win in Milan was a perfect ending to Antonio’s week as he had a once-in-a-lifetime experience riding Valentino Rossi’s YZR-M1 on the Tuesday after the final MotoGP race held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit at Valencia, Spain. Cairoli normally spends all his time on a motorcycle off road, but occasionally rides on road and track too. Earlier in the year he spent considerable time on a YZF-R6 at the Misano race track during the annual Italian Yamaha Fest, but still harnessing the M1’s 200+ horsepower was intimidating prospect for the moto and supercross star; “I was more then a little anxious, also because Valentino’s bike has opposite gear change to what I, and normal road riders are used to. What impressed me most was the fearsome acceleration, which frankly speaking is the only real sensation you can get when you have limited riding skills on a bike like this.I was allowed to do just five lap, but I enjoyed it so much I requested and got another five! In fact I consider putting another M1 test in my next Yamaha contract! No but seriously, my future is not in road racing, I enjoy motocross too much, especially physical aspects of it.” Wisely Cairoli had no illusions and made no attempts to break the lap record, but rode safe and steady lapping the track in 1’51, some 20 seconds slower then the circuit fastest time.