FIM: Pignotti and VDB star at World Supermoto opener

By: Garry Morrow

Posted: Monday, 30th April, 2007 : 12:59 PM -

It was an incredible start today for the FIM Supermoto World Championship at Castelletto di Branduzzo, Italy last Sunday.

A massive crowd of 8000 spectators head to the Motodromo to experience a sunny and hot Sunday, and watch Thierry Van Den Bosch and Attilio Pignotti win the Grand Prix of Europe in the two premier classes.

In the big bore S1 class former champion Thierry Van Den Bosch scored maximum points after the Frenchman took the chequered flag first in both moto's. Thierry Van Den Bosch took the holeshot in moto 1 and the Aprilia Factory rider was never troubled in his first victory. In the second moto he had to over come a fast starting Thomas Chareyre, a feat that took six laps to achieve, but once again he then had clear vision all the way to his second win.

Husqvarna backed Adrien Chareyre took out the day's runner up spot with a pair of seconds whilst his brother Thomas Chareyre made it a family double on the podium.

Some of the big names found the going tough with former champions Eddy Seel (Suzuki) riding injured and only managing tenth while S1 debutant and another former champion in Bernd Hiemer crashing out in moto 1. The German KTM rider did rebound in moto two for fourth but ended the day a lowly 7th place and with half the points of the championship leader. One of the winningest riders in the history of the sport in Boris Chambon has made the switch to Kawasaki but struggled and finished in 10th overall.

In the S2 class 37 year old Attilio Pignotti and KTM Italian Team Miglio celebrated the Italian's first GP victory; Pignotti did not win a moto, but clinched two solid second places. TM's Davide Gozzini was impressive in moto one, but had a flat tyre in moto two and scored no points. Belgian Gerald Delepine of the CH Husqvarna Azzalin Team was more consistent and finished second overall. Aprilia Off Road's Christian Iddon clinched his first moto victory, and completed the podium, ahead of Motoracing's Slovenian Ales Hlad, fourth. Italian Lorenzo Mariani of MRC Racing ended the top five.

There is less than a month break, then the FIM and the UEM Supermoto series will restart from Torino. The FIM Supermoto Grand Prix of Torino will be held at night time at the Oval Lingotto, on May 26.

Main Photo: S2 GP winner Attilio Pignotti was using Bernd Hiemer's 2006 KTM