The MX2 World Championship kicked off this weekend on the spectacular Bariloche track for the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina. For Team Maddii Honda ABF Italia, the season opener was marked by a mix of determination and the misfortune that struck their young French talent, Maxime Grau.
Saturday Qualifying
Saturday began in an encouraging manner. Maxime Grau gained confidence on the technical Argentine track, clocking the 17th fastest time during official practice. In the subsequent qualifying heat, Grau fought hard within the dense MX2 pack, managing to finish in 16th position—a solid result that showed good potential for Sunday’s races.
Sunday and Injury
Unfortunately, luck turned against the team during Sunday morning’s Warm-Up session. Maxime suffered a heavy crash resulting in a head injury (concussion). Although exams ruled out any bone fractures, the medical staff and the team made the precautionary decision to stop the rider, preventing him from starting the two races scheduled for the afternoon.
Team Maddii Honda ABF Italia wishes Maxime a speedy recovery. The focus now shifts to the rider’s full physical recovery ahead of the next seasonal appointment at the Ottobiano track, where the team aims to bounce back and collect their first world championship points.
Marco Maddii, Team Manager:“It was an unfortunate weekend for us. Maxime unfortunately had a bad crash during the warm-up. Nothing is broken, but he took a big hit to the head, so he clearly suffered a concussion. He obviously couldn’t take part in the races, but the important thing is that he is doing well; he just needs a few days of rest. This was his first race after many months of inactivity, so it was already difficult, but the main thing is that nothing serious happened. I hope we will be ready for the next race in Ottobiano.”
