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07/01/2024 – A happy Umbrian trip for the representative of Team Ragni di Fabriano Roberto Bazzurri, who achieved a double podium (class and overall) in the last weekend in Piediluco (Terni) on the occasion of the third Major 24MX Italian race.
Only a double sixth place instead in the same class (Top Class Major) and for the Absolute, but with some regrets, for the Settempedano Federico Ulissi (Gas Gas – Team Sebino Camuno), who was at his first seasonal appearance in the tricolor, fresh from the world championship in Piacenza. The race of the big, all gathered in the Top Class that was won by Ulissi’s teammate, that is Deny Philippartes (TM 300 4T), former motocrosser and absolute protagonist of the national and international enduro.
In the beautiful setting of Piediluco, a small village in the province of Terni overlooking the lake of the same name, the third heat, as well as the turning point, of this incredible Italian Major Championship 2024 24MX took place. At the start, 188 starters battled it out for three long laps, under the scorching late June sun, which put the vehicles and riders to the test. There were two special tests that alternated on the 53 km route designed and maintained by the Motoclub Racing Terni: the Enduro Test 24MX of almost 6 minutes, which was the first of the two tests to be faced on stony terrain, then the second Cross Test Red Moto, lasting 4 minutes, designed on a course dominated by curves, jumps and, above all, dust that was able to give the riders a hard time together with the aforementioned heat.
“In the race I started well from the first road test – says Ulissi – but Philippaerts immediately showed himself to be at another level, but the podium was within my reach and I was always in the running to win it. Then in the last road race they made substantial changes to the test, which they didn’t tell us, there were those who adapted better (including those who were further behind me in the standings. The test became faster without some chicanes which had been removed and I I paid for this lack of adaptation by finishing sixth, but the podium could have been within my reach.”
The Top Class fully reflected the overall race standings. Deny Philippaerts (TM 300 4T – MC Sebino – Camuno) immediately took the lead and distanced himself significantly from his rivals, followed by Alessio Paoli (Husqvarna 450 4T), who tried to follow him, trying to improve lap after lap, but the gap slowly increased. Mattia Traversi (Husqvarna 450 4T) held third place for two and a half laps, but was suddenly overwhelmed by Roberto Bazzuri (Beta 250 2T) who fought until the last special, where he managed to defend third place with class and experience, behind Philippaerts and Paoli.
Halfway through the tricolor journey, after the race in Piediluco, the general classification sees Philippaerts in the lead with 60 points ahead of Alessio Paoli, 47 points, while Mattia Traversi moves to third place, while Roberto Bazzurri is 7th with 256 points and two races disputed out of three and Ulissi, who was at his first tricolor Major test is not with 10 points. Now the 2024 Italian Major Championship by 24MX goes on vacation and will return after the summer break on September 15th with its fourth test in Rieti.
