The season debut for the MRT Beta Racing Team arrived in the inaugural round of the Motocross Internationals of Italy held on the Tuscan track of Ponte a Egola.

Words: Press Release | Lead Image: MRT Racing

Alessandro Lupino, returning to racing after a long layoff since the middle of 2022, set the fourth fastest time in his timed qualifying group. In the first heat, the rider from Viterbo took off close to the top ten and finished in seventh position. A good performance also in the final race then saw him finish in ninth place. Placings that allowed Lupino to finish seventh overall on the day.

The first race on the Beta factory team for Ben Watson started with him qualifying in fifth place. The Englishman had a good first heat, which he finished ninth in despite a stone to his face in the first laps that slowed him down a lot. Due to the blow to the face, Watson needed medication and preferred not to start in the final race.

Next weekend MRT Racing Team-Beta will take part in the second and final round of the Internazionali d’Italia which will be hosted on the “Al Ciclamino” circuit in Arco di Trento.

Ben Watson: “Everything went well in qualifying even though the track was icy and extremely demanding. Fifth place in my group helped me choose a good position at the gate in the races. In the first heat I got away well, but I lost a few positions in the long starting straight.

“Unfortunately I took a big stone in the face which didn’t allow me to express myself at my best or line up for the start of the final race. Despite everything, I managed to improve the feeling with the bike in race setup and to have in mind which things to work on in view of the first round in Argentina.”

Alessandro Lupino: “After the long break last year I’m really happy to be back in the race in the first round of the Internationals. In the saddle, the sensations were really good and we were not far from the leaders. Historically in the first races I have never been able to express myself 100%, but my results have been satisfactory.”

“We are well aware of what to work on to grow further, but the basis from which we start is already of a good level and for this I have to thank Beta for the great work done.”

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