The third day of the eighty-first edition of the International Two-Wheel Exhibition gave the public who flocked to the MotoLive Arena non-stop entertainment and excitement, with the activities within the two areas dedicated to the show and the competitions. On one side the freestyle and trial shows joined by Maurizio Perin with the always spectacular Buggy Back Flip, with the tricks of the stunt-men, on the other the exploits of the legendary speed and off-road riders who put more than 30 world titles on the track in the Champion Charity Race Legend between MotoGP, SBK and Motocross, competing for the prize money put up for grabs by EICMA and donated entirely to ABIO-Associazione per il Bambino in Ospedale Onlus.
Champion Charity Race Legend – The third appointment with the solidarity of EICMA 2024 took place in front of the packed stands, with the public celebrating for their idols, 12 true legends of speed and off-roading, including Casey Stoner, Marco Melandri, Loris Capirossi, Stefan Everts, Chicco Chiodi and Alex Puzar who challenged each other in two groups that allowed the selection of the two finalists. The title of King of EICMA 2024 was played by the Australian Troy Bayliss, one-time World Champion of Superbike and the Frenchman Christophe Pourcel, World and American Champion of Motocross, with the French who got the better of his rival after defeating Carlos Checa and Joel Smets in the final respectively.
Internazionali d’Italia Supercross 24MX – Filippo Zonta (KTM) takes the win in the Supercross Main Event starting in the lead ahead of Paolo Ermini (Husqvarna) and Jimmy Clochet (Honda), with Pablo D’Aniello (Suzuki) and Rudolf Plch (Husqvarna) closing the top five of those qualified for the Superfinal. The KTM rider consolidates his lead in the standings, rising to 60 points, ahead of D’Aniello and Ermini. In the SX Lite, victory for Samuele Bernardini (Honda) who starts in the lead and dominates the heat reserved for the 250s, finishing ahead of Kevin Cristino (Fantic) and Davide Brandini (KTM), with Edoardo Volpicelli (Husqvarna) and Eugenio Barbaglia (Husqvarna) in the top five of those qualified for the Superfinal. At the end of a great duel Bernardini wins the Superfinale, beating Cristino and Plch, giving a surprise result with two enduro riders riding the smaller 250s in the first two places and the Czech first among the 450 riders. Ermini took the Tissot Hole-shot, but he has to give in immediately to the aggressive Bernardini followed by Zonta and Cristino who takes advantage of a problem of the KTM rider to win second place ahead of Plch, 3rd under the checkered flag, with Clochet 4th ahead of Ermini, with Zonta 7th.
In the 65cc it is Riccardo Galia (GASGAS) who conquers the highest step of the podium, third ahead of Aldo Venturato (KTM) and Nico Giacobbe (KTM). At the start of the Main Event it is Giacobbe who takes the lead of the race with Galia 2nd and Venturato 4th; halfway through the race the GASGAS rider takes the lead of the heat by taking advantage of a mistake by his rival, followed by Venturato, with Giacobbe 3rd in a comeback. In the championship Venturato wins the red plate and the title with equal points with Giacobbe, with Galia 3rd.
The 85cc race is exciting with Simone Beccari (Husqvarna) prevailing over Francesco Assini (GASGAS) and Maxim Zimmerman (Husqvarna). The young Czech starts in the lead ahead of Beccari who takes the lead during the second lap, stretching out over his pursuers, with Assini 4th after the start and far from the first two who quickly recovers and engages in a nice duel with Zimmerman for second place. Assini manages to take better advantage of the lapped riders than his rival, finishing behind Beccari who confirms his lead in the championship with full points.
The 125cc Main Event goes to Giorgio Orlando (Yamaha) who with today’s victory conquers the title with one race to spare, taking Michael Tocchio (KTM) and Francesco Zodiaco (KTM). At the start of the last heat of the day, Tocchio is the one to start ahead of everyone, with Zoriaco 4th and Orlando only 5th. The Yamaha rider gives a great performance, climbing up to 2nd place after having got the better of Zoriaco, closing the gap on Tocchio, passing him halfway through the race, finishing first under the checkered flag first ahead of Tocchio and Zoriaco, battling until the end for second place. In the championship, Tocchio climbs to 3rd place, just 2 points behind Andrea De Luca (KTM) who is 2nd in the standings.
Day 4 of MotoLive, the last of the 2024 edition of EICMA, will once again see the Supercross riders on the track competing in the final of the Internazionali d’Italia di Supercross 24MX with the 85cc, 125cc, SX Lite and SX450 riders. Also on stage and live on Sky Sport from 1.45pm is the fourth appointment with the Champion Charity Race, this time in SBK version which will give the thrill of having Superbike riders of the calibre of Johnny Rea, Andrea Locatelli, Troy Bayliss and Marco Melandri on the track against each other, challenging each other on two-stroke and four-stroke single-cylinder Flat track bikes.
