The ninth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship took place in the Italian town of Montevarchi, where riders faced extremely demanding conditions on the traditional hard-pack Miravalle circuit. The Tuscan hills were hit by a heatwave throughout the weekend, making the shade of the trees surrounding the paddock a welcome relief. After missing the previous round in Kegums, Latvia, Osička MX Team returned to MXGP action with Julius Mikula in the MX2 class and Václav Janout in the EMX250 European Championship.
Mikula shines again
Julius Mikula made it clear already in Saturday’s qualifying race that the Miravalle circuit suits him. The Czech rider was running an excellent 6th and was among the fastest riders in the MX2 field. However, a crash ended his promising run and dropped him back to 12th at the finish. Even so, he secured a favorable gate pick for Sunday’s races.
Fantastic start and sixth place among the world’s best
The opening race on Sunday produced one of the highlights of Mikula’s season so far. After a rocket start, the Osička MX Team rider moved up into 2nd place and spent several laps battling with the very best riders in the field.
Czech fans were treated to the sight of Mikula fighting at the front of the pack with the world’s top riders.
By lap four, Guillem Farres, the eventual race winner, had moved ahead of Mikula, but the Czech rider maintained a strong pace and held off repeated attacks from factory-backed riders for a long time. After a demanding race in extreme heat, he crossed the line in a superb 6th place and collected another 15 points toward the world championship standings.
PHOTO: Daniele Barreca
Before the second race, the weather brought an unexpected twist. Rain swept across the Miravalle circuit and, within minutes, dramatically changed the nature of the track.
This time Mikula was running around 16th after the start, but during the race he was able to increase his pace and gradually work his way forward. He battled hard throughout the race and, thanks to strong speed in the second half, climbed to 8th place, earning another 13 points.
Seventh overall at the Grand Prix of Italy marked another major success for the Czech rider. Only factory-backed riders and championship front-runners finished ahead of Mikula. In the current FIM Motocross World Championship standings, he has also reduced his points deficit again and now sits just nine points shy of the top ten.
“Another positive weekend. In Saturday’s qualifying race I had some bad luck when I damaged my front brake after a crash and struggled with braking afterwards. But in the first race on Sunday I got a good start and rode in 2nd place for several laps, eventually finishing 6th. In the second race, the start wasn’t ideal and I was running around 16th, but I managed to fight my way up to 8th. The track wasn’t in great shape and the weather definitely didn’t make things easier, with temperatures close to 40°C. It wasn’t an easy weekend, but we’re taking away more important points,” said Julius Mikula, summarizing his performance.
“Julius once again showed that he can keep pace with the best riders in the world. His first race was particularly impressive, and 6th place in such a strong field is hugely valuable. I was also pleased with how he fought in the second race after a poorer start. Seventh overall is a great result and further proof that we’re moving in the right direction,” said team owner Martin Osička, reflecting on the weekend in Montevarchi.
PHOTO: Daniele Barreca
Janout pays for qualifying result and difficult starts
In the EMX250 European Championship class, Václav Janout was in action at the Grand Prix of Italy. His weekend was heavily influenced by his result in timed practice, which determines gate pick order for the races. This session remains one of the biggest challenges for the South Bohemian rider.
In both motos, Janout reacted well to the gate drop, but his unfavorable gate positions immediately limited his chances to fight for stronger results. Riders on the inside of the first corner pushed him wide on both occasions, forcing the Czech rider to recover from the back of the field. This scenario repeated itself in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races.
Despite his efforts until the chequered flag, Janout was unable to break into the points-paying positions. Results of 30th and 29th place meant 31st overall at the Grand Prix of Italy.
“I finished qualifying in 32nd place, which made my gate pick much more difficult. In both races I got good starts, but because of my poor gate position I got pushed wide in the first corner and lost ground immediately. From there I had to fight my way back from the rear of the field in both motos. It wasn’t an ideal weekend, but we keep working and I believe the results will improve. Thanks to my family, the team and our partners for their support,” said Václav Janout.
The next stop on the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar is the MXGP of Portugal, which takes place the weekend following the Italian Grand Prix
