Team Motoxracing is competing in the third WorldSSP300 championship round at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.
In addition to Marc Vich, Sandro Carusi’s team is fielding Italian rider Gianmaria Ibidi in place of Cameron Swann, with neither rider having seen the Czech track for the first time.
The first two days of the Czech round have been characterized by low temperatures and rain. Yesterday, the riders used free practice to prepare for the subsequent Superbike, in which Ibidi and Vich put in a very similar performance. The Italian closed twenty-first (1’47”968), while the Spaniard followed just behind in twenty-third place (1’47”996).
With these results, both lined up on the seventh row for the weekend’s first race, which ran over 12 laps. A good start for Ibidi allowed him to battle as part of the leading group and then with the chasing pack, the rider ultimately closing in sixteenth place, just a few tenths from the top ten. Vich had a tougher time, caught up in the tussles at the first chicane. Forced off track in order to avoid a crash, he then played catch up, crossing the line in twenty-first place today.
Tomorrow will see the two young Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 riders back out for the second and final race of this third WorldSSP300 round.
Sandro Carusi – Team Principal
“Despite this being his season debut, at a track he’s never seen before, Ibidi was able to come very close to the points zone. Vich started further back and lost a lot of positions through the first turn. He did well to make up ground and I’m sure he’ll be able to score a good result tomorrow.”
Marc Vich
“It was a very strange race. I ran off track at turn one after coming into contact with others and once back on track, I just focused on trying to up my pace and learn the track. I was able to complete the race, but I’m not pleased with the result of course. I’ll be out for more in tomorrow’s race.”
Gianmaria Ibidi
“I started quite well and was able to make up some positions early on. I then lost contact with the leaders and fought for the top ten. On the last lap a few small mistakes meant I slipped back, finishing sixteenth, one tenth from the top ten. As a first race and at a track I’d not seen before, I think I can be happy. And I’ll try to do better tomorrow.”
