Van Horebeek Takes MX1 Title and Elite Podium at Italian Championship

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Jeremy Van Horebeek ripped through the final pre-season race of 2016 on Sunday with a pair of podium visits in Ottobiano as the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team rider sharpens his skills and fine tunes his YZ450FM ahead of the season opener in Qatar at the end of the month.

Van Horebeek won the early MX1 race under leaden skies near Milano in steady rain against a constantly threatening Evgeny Bobryshev, and with the victory took the 2016 Italian Championship series title for the 450cc class.

Against Bobryshev again later in MX Elite Van Horebeek played the role of persistent antagonist, constantly chasing the Russian rider into turns and forcing a nervous game of cat and mouse throughout a heavy race on thick and wet sand.

Monster Energy Yamaha Official MXGP Team rider Romain Febvre sat out Sunday’s final race of the Internazionale d’Italia di Motocross with stitches on his elbow following a crash in competition last week at Lamezia Terme. The 2015 World Champion will monitor his arm mobility this week before resuming on-bike training and is expected to start in full health in Qatar.

Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team rider Valentin Guillod came 7th in the MX Elite race to finish the Italian Championship 5th overall in standings, a strong early impression for the Swiss rider’s MXGP debut in 2016. DP19 Official MX rider-manager David Philippaerts held a Top-10 finish on Sunday to complete his Italian Championship series in 8th overall.

Massimo Raspanti – Team Manager Monster Energy Yamaha Official MXGP Team

“Jeremy had the fastest laps in practice and was fast all day. In MX1 he started in 3rd or 4th position and just rode really well to take the lead and hold it to the finish. Against Bobryshev he was looking very good in weather that was really very bad.”

“The National Championships are an important warm-up for the World Championship MXGP, and for us it’s better to come in to Qatar at the front with a strong set of races behind us.”