THE 2021 SUPERMOTO SEASON WILL START THIS WEEKEND IN ORTONA
Ortona (Italy) 25 June 2021 – After a long winter period and many uncertainties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the waiting for the 2021 FIM SuperMoto World and European Championship and is over. After re-scheduling the start of the season XIEM and FIM have managed the organize an complete and very interesting season in 2021 with many exiting new rules, race formats and regulations, to make the Supermoto sport great again.
This weekend the season will start at the Circuito Internazionale d’Abruzzo in Ortona in the region of Abruzzo in the South of Italy. The venue in Ortona is one of best equipped circuit in Italy and hosted the World and European championship already in 2020. With its fast corners, long straights and challenging off-road section the race track will guarantee lot’s of action and exiting races for the 1.000 spectators per day who are welcome during the weekend.
In S1GP like in the previous seasons, the Superpole wlll be held on Saturday directly after the time practice, but this season the winner of the Superpole will earn one championship point. During the weekend three races will be held in the S1GP class, Race One (approx. 20 minutes of racing), Fast Race (approx. 15 minutes of racing) and the Superfinal which also will have 20 minutes of racing. The starting grid of Race One and Fast Race will be accordingly the time practice. For the Superfinal the starting grid will be accordly the results of the Fast Race. The winner of Race One and the Fast Race will earn 25 point for the championship. For the Superfinal the maximum points to score is 30 points.
Another big change for the races in 2021 is the Joker Lap in the races. During the races all riders must use the Joker Lane one time, but also not more than one time. If the rider doesn’t take the Joker Lane an penalty of five places will be applied in the results of the Superfinal.
Due the new rules, race format and points schedule the battle for the overall victory will be more intense than ever.
After a great season last year, the main competitors of the championship are back for a new battle for the FIM S1GP Supermoto World Championship title. Last year’s runner up German rider Marc-Reiner Schmidt is back with Phoenix Racing riding a factory TM. Schmidt will be joined at Phoenix Racing from teammanger Giorgio Ampolo by Italian rider Elia Sammartin also on TM and the experienced Czech rider Milan Sitniansky, who is riding on Honda for the Italian based team. TM Factory Racing is operated this year by L30 Racing of Ivan Lazzarini. French eight times World champion Thomas Chareyre will be joined by Italian rider and the S2 European champion Diego Monticelli and Estonian rider Patrick Pals. The number three in the championship of 2020, Austrian rider Lukas Hollbacher is also back again on the KTM from MTR Racing team from Franco Mollo. Both have only one goal and that is the World title this year. SMX Racing will start this season in the S1GP class after having a very succesfull debut year last season in the S2 class. Mickael Amodeo will defend the honours of the team on Yamaha. Vertemati Racing has worked hard during the winter period on the new bike and Michael Vertemati will be riding on the handbuild bike again. One of the most experienced riders Giovianni Bussei is also back again with private SBD Union Bike team and will start on TM. Next to the bigger teams, a very nice and experienced group of riders, with Alberto Moseriti, Fabrizio Bartolini and Daniele Di Cicco will be present in Italy to complete the field of thirtheen riders.
The S2 Supermoto European championship will not be less interessting with young strong riders at the start in 2021. With the championship winner of 2020 and runner up, Diego Monticelli and Mickael Amodeo moving up to the S1GP class, the title is fully open for evey rider this season. L30 TM Factory Racing will have two riders this season. Steve Bonnal and Luca Bozza will defend the blue colors of TM. Gazza Honda Racing from Max Gazzarata will also have two riders in the S2 class with Youri Catharine and Andrea Stucchi. KTM MTR is also back in the S2 class with Belgium rider Romain Kaivers. SMX Racing has also signed a young Belgium rider, Romeo Fiorentino for the their team this year. LUC1 Motorsport has joined the championship as well with Loucas Capone.
The S4 Supermoto European Cup is an asphalt only class with be held over three races in 2021. The first round of the this new Cup will also have its start this weekend in Ortona with riders from all over Europe.
The race weekend will start on Saturday 26 June 2021 with the first free practices of the season for all classes.
In the photo: Circuito Internazionale d’ Abruzzo
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