Italian championship Tolmezzo preview

Here I am back in Italy for the rounds 5&6 of Assoluti D’Italia (Italian championship). The race will be on Saturday and Sunday in Tolmezzo in Northeast of Italy in Udine province. Tolmezzo hosted the WEC back in 2004. Also the special tests are almost the same like back then. Only difference is that there will be no Xtrem test but the Enduro test is made in the same area where the Xtrem was back in 2004. It is at the foot of the mountain in a dry stony gravel like soil in where not much grows expect small pine trees. It is quite straight forward kind of special test on narrow paths covered with loose stones. Some straights are quite fast some places bumby but it’s not a long special test, maybe around 4min only. Have to be careful with the loose stones...

The MX test is pretty much the same like it was 2004 but this time it will be done in different direction. It’s completely on grass fields very close to town of Tolmezzo. If one doesn’t know about the event of 2004 it’s impossible to tell there has been a race before so well has grass grown and the ruts flattened in five years. For the race the grass has just been cut short so it will be nice to ride on this one as one of the first riders (E2 is starting first in this race). It is more or less off camber all the way with some natural jumps on the way.

Third special test is named MX test as well but it’s more like Enduro test actually. The start and the finish are in the different area and it has some parts in the forest with tree roots and some stones. And long vegetation that no- one has cut so first lap will be not timed for sure! It is almost the same like it was 2004 but a little shorter this time. It starts on one steep grass hill and goes through the forest and finishes on another grass field. The grass fields are spectacular but the forest will be full of surprises that will become visible only when the bikes roost the vegetation. About half of the test is in the forest and with the grass tracks in the end it will make a pretty long special test!

I have been riding the Italian championships for 11 years and never won the overall championship but now the situation in the overall championship looks better than ever so keep your fingers crossed for me this weekend!!