Published On: January 23, 2013

Tot a few years ago the starcross in Mantova was the absolute first competition where the top athletes could measure themselves for the first time. When two years ago Valence and Mantova organized on the same day the magic of the starcross disappeared a bit. This year the starcross is back, and earlier than ever!

The KTM factory team may have canceled due to being too early, but the rest of the top riders will be found in Mantova this weekend. This weekend we will see Kevin Strijbos on the Suzuki for the first time, just like Jeremy van Horebeek, Joel Roelants and Jens Getteman on the MX1 bikes.

The cool concept of the Starcross, where a superpole decides the starting position and there is little stress among the riders, is an ideal opener of the season. The sandy course can tolerate quite a lot of wetness and would be perfect. The forecast for this weekend is favorable and MXMag will also be there to keep you informed!

The starting field looks nice but as always this can be changed at the last minute with dropouts and extra riders.

Top riders

N. 25 Clement DESALLE (Rockstar Energy Suzuki/BEL); N. 22 Kevin STRIJBOS (Rockstar Energy Suzuki/BEL); N.21 Gautier PAULIN (Kawasaki Racing/FRA); N.12 Max NAGL (Honda World Motocross/GER); N.777 Evgeny BOBRYSHEV (Honda World Motocross/RUS); N.287 Markus SCHIFFER (Rockstar Energy Suzuki/GER); N.4 Tanel LEOK (Honda/EST); N. 121 Xavier BOOG(KTM/FRA); N.999 Rui GONCALVES (KTM/POR); N.39 Davide GUARNERI (Marchetti Racing KTM/ITA); N.40 Giacomo del SEGATO (Marchetti Racing KTM/ITA); N.7 Jonathan BARRAGAN (KTM/SPA); N.91 Matisse KARRO (KTM/LAT); N.461 Romain FEBVRE (KTM/FRA); N.462 Yentel MARTENS (KTM/BEL); N.100 Tommy SEARLE (Kawasaki/GB); N.107 Arnaud TONUS (Kawasaki/SVI); N. 89 Jeremy van HOREBEEK (REDBULL KTM/BEL); N.212 Marc de REUVER(KTM/NED); N. 24 Shaun SIMPSON (TM/GB); N.34 Joel ROELANTS (Monster Energy Yamaha/BEL); N.35 Nick TRIEST (Honda/BEL); N.77 Alessandro LUPINO (Kawasaki/ITA); N.80 Robert JUSTS (Latvia Elksni Honda/LET); N.81 August JUSTS (Latvia Elksni/Honda/LET); N. 82 Matthias PLESSERS (Latvia Elksni Honda/BEL); N. 63 Ceriel Klein KROMHOF (HSF Logistic team KTM/NED); N.85 Micha Boy de WAAL (Suzuki/NED); N.961 Davide BONINI (SDM Kawasaki/ITA); N.111 Cristian BEGGI (Honda/ITA).

Timetable

Saturday January 26 : 11.00 free practices MX 2; 11.30 free practices MX1; 12.00 free practices MX2; 12.30 free practices MX1; 15.00 qualifying race MX2; 15.30 qualifying race MX1; 16.00 Motocross Superpole.

Sunday January 27: 10.00 Warm up MX2; 10.30 Warm up MX1; 11.00 Airoh Cup 1 Vs 1; 12.30 Public meeting; 13.45 Race 1; 15.00 Race 2; 16.15 Race 3; 16.45 Podium

Mantova Starcross winners: 1984 M.Velkeneers (Gilera/OLA); 1985 C. Maddii (Gilera/ITA); 1986 G. Jobè (Suzuki/BEL); 1987 D.Strijbos (Cagiva/OLA); 1988 E.Geboers (Honda/BEL); 1989 J. Leisk (Honda/AUS); 1990 S.Kalos (Yamaha/USA); 1991 T. Parker (Honda/USA); 1992 T. Vohland (Suzuki/USA); 1993 M. Fanton (Kawasaki/ITA); 1994 S. Everts (Kawasaki/BEL); 1995 T. Vohland (Suzuki/USA); 1996 M.Bervoets (Suzuki/BEL); 1997 T. Vohland (Yamaha/USA); 1998 A.Bartolini (Yamaha/ITA); 1999 A.Bartolini (Yamaha/ITA); 2000 M. Pichon (Suzuki/FRA); 2001 A.Bartolini (Husqvarna/ITA); 2002 P.Beirer (Vismara Honda/GER); 2003 M. Pichon (Suzuki/ITA); 2004 S. Everts (Yamaha/BEL); 2005 S. Everts (Yamaha/BEL); 2006 S. Everts (Yamaha/BEL); 2007 M. Nagl (KTM/GER); 2008 D.Philippaerts (KTM/ITA); 2009 K.Strijbos (Honda/BEL); 2010 A. Cairoli (KTM/ITA); 2011 D.Philippaerts (Yamaha/ITA); 2012 A. Cairoli (KTM/ITA)