Tim Gajser and Ferruccio Zanchi are heading to the team’s “home” GP for what is the 10th round of this 2024 MXGP World Championship. Maggiora, in northern Italy, is about an hour from the HRC European workshop and thus represents the easiest logistical challenge for the majority of the hard-working members of the team. For Gajser, it is around a seven-hour drive away, across the border from Slovenia, whilst Zanchi will be making the short drive up from his home near Florence in order to compete in what will be his first Italian round as an HRC rider.
Last time out in Latvia, Gajser reclaimed the red-plate after his one-two-two results at the rain-hit circuit in Kegums, and he’ll be hoping to keep hold of it after this weekend’s action, which will end the first-half of what has been an exciting and highly competitive championship thus far. The Honda CRF450R rider has won twice at the prestigious Maggiora in the past, in 2015 in the MX2 class and in 2022 on the way to winning his fifth world championship. Unfortunately, there is once again a threat of bad weather in the area over the weekend, so all the riders will need to be able to adapt to all conditions, however, this has been a strong point that Gajser has demonstrated throughout this 2024 campaign, and so he won’t be worried by whatever the weather throws at the circuit.
Whilst we have had two previous rounds on Italian soil (Sardegna and Trentino), Zanchi was unable to compete in those races due to injury and as such, Maggiora will be the first opportunity for the youngster to experience a gate-drop in front of his home fans. It will be a momentous occasion for the #73 and one he is looking forward to immensely, especially as he is in a good run of form and riding exceedingly well.
As always, the weekend will see the riders take to the track six times, with a free practice, timed practice and then qualification race on Saturday. The results of which score championship points and determine the gate-picks for the two GP-scoring motos on Sunday, which come after a Sunday morning warm-up session.
Tim Gajser: The red-plate is back on my bike, which is always a nice feeling. I had a good round in Latvia and it would be great to follow that up in Italy at a track that I’ve won at a couple of times before. I know it won’t be easy but everyone is working so hard, and working so well together that I really trust what we are all doing. After all the recent bad weather we’ve had in the races, it would be great to have a dry round, just for the fans as well because I’m sure there will be a lot coming to support us at this amazing track.
Ferruccio Zanchi: It’s going to be great to be riding in front of my home fans this weekend. Unfortunately, I missed the two previous rounds in Italy, so I’m really excited to get out there and meet a load of fans and just enjoy riding, getting support all around the track. I need to make sure I don’t get too excited though and just ride like I know how to ride, and if I do that, I really think I can get back inside the top 10 and nearer to the top five.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas: This is like a ‘home GP’ for the team, as our workshop isn’t too far away, and I think there will be a lot of fans for Tim and also some Italian fans who’ll get to see Ferruccio for the first time and hopefully start becoming fans of him. It is always nice to go to these historic tracks and Maggiora has a lot of memories for a lot of members of the paddock and that is important in motocross, so everyone is looking forward to getting there and putting the work in to help Tim and Ferro be successful.
