The first day of the eighth edition of the 100 Km of Champions ends at the Valentino Rossi Ranch. The winner is one of the hosts.
The first day of the “100 KM of Champions” held at the Tavullia Ranch ended at the end of the traditional Americana challenge, where the 40 participants duel on the single elimination lap. The field factor is reconfirmed as decisive for the outcome of the race, knowing the oval dirt road inch by inch and these flat track modes specially modified for this track is certainly a determining factor.
But credit must be given to Luca Marini for having won this day-1 once again, against friends and students of the VR46 Academy and the many guests of the highest level. Among these also dirt and asphalt experts of the caliber of Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci, Jorge Martin, Alex Rins and his older brother himself Valentino Rossi (with whom ‘Maro’ will team up today in the real ‘100 Km’, a challenge in pairs which will end in the evening).
Dovizioso enchanted by the temple of Valentino Rossi
The primary objective is fun, but the level of competition is very high in this round at Rossi’s house. After taking the top step of the podium, Luca Marini he joked to the microphones of Sky Sport: “I think I’ve won another ham and sausage that I can definitely use in the winter. But all kidding aside, it’s always a good feeling to be able to prove my speed every year. The American race was very tough and on Saturday the level at the Ranch will go up again“.
On the track too Andrea Dovizioso, fresh from his last season in MotoGP ended prematurely, due to the disappointing results obtained astride the Yamaha M1 of the RNF satellite team. “It’s something special to be here. First of all because all the people who come here are passionate, we are among us, just like a motocross day… And then we are on a track that is a paradise. There is no such thing for this discipline in the world. So why not be there?“.
On the oval track of Tavullia ad hoc modified motocross bikes are used, to allow crossings and increase the sense of adrenaline and the show. “These bikes are not purpose built for flat track. They are actually modified motocross bikes but not used in America like my teammate, a flat track champion, is used to. It’s really great because they are ready-made bikes and don’t require a lot of modifications“, concluded Andrea Dovizioso.
