Frossard successfully defends Italian Motocross Championship

For the second year in a row Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard has
claimed the number one plate in the Internazionali D’Italia MX (Italian
Motocross Championship) after winning the Elite category at Gazzane Di
Preseglie for the fourth and final round of the series.



The Frenchman tasted victory for the fourth
consecutive event in just five weeks and was again able to consign FIM
World Champion Antonio Cairoli to his wheel tracks in what has been an
effective warm-up campaign for the Grand Prix calendar set to start in
Holland on Easter Monday (April 9th). Frossard and his team achieved the
distinction despite the 2011 FIM World Championship runner-up suffering
with illness for the first half of the contest and the emphasis for the
factory team resting squarely on testing and preparation during the
Italian meetings.



Frossard was disturbed by some arm-pump and a goggle
malfunction during the MX1 moto at Gazzane Di Preseglie but then
recovered from a fifth place start in the Elite race to overhaul Davide
Guarneri and lead Cairoli through an exciting trail around the
backmarkers to the chequered flag.



Team-mate David Philippaerts attempted both sprints
but was forced to withdraw from the races after straining his right
thumb ligament the previous week. The powerful Italian sought some
treatment in Belgium prior to the weekend and was advised a week of rest
should see improvement, allowing time for further practice mileage in
the sand before the trip to Valkenswaard for Grand Prix ‘one’.



Frossard not only gave Team Manager Massimo Raspanti
and Owner Michele Rinaldi their second title in two years on the
factory YZ450FM but also a 60,000 euro winning bonus. Under the ruling
that allows each rider to drop their worst result Philippaerts has
finished second in the Elite class for a great 1-2 (a prize fund of
100,000 euro for the team).



‘Of course I’m really happy to get the job done
again,” said ‘183’. “The races were not so easy today but I knew my
situation with the points before I came here and that meant my goal for
the weekend was set out. Overall it has been a positive championship
here [in Italy]. We did what we wanted to do and the feeling on the bike
is very good. We’ll get in the sand now before travelling to
Valkenswaard.”