Simone Mancini takes the Desmo250 MX to the European podium

• Top 10 in MXGP for Vlaanderen in wet Frauenfeld

The Swiss Grand Prix, the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, was held today at the historic Schollenholz circuit in Frauenfeld, 40 kilometers north of Zurich. The track, which has hosted Grand Prix races since 1981, has a particularly hard and rocky surface, made slippery and heavy by the rain that fell from late Saturday afternoon, throughout the night, and until the first Sunday's moto. After finishing morning's warm-up in 4th place, Calvin Vlaanderen, 13th in qualifying race, failed to find the best start at the starting gate of the first race, dropping just outside the top 15. Jeremy Seewer, with a strong start, was 4th on the holeshot line but was unable to find a good feeling with the track and after six laps was 14th behind his teammate, who climbed up to 10th place, that he managed to keep till the checkered flag, while the Swiss managed to finish 12th. Both Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team riders performed well at the start of second moto, with Calvin 7th at the end of the first lap and Jeremy 10th. Eighth after two laps, the Dutchman was more comfortable than in race one and fought to the finish, maintaining his position, while Seewer finished the race 16th. The Swiss Grand Prix concluded with Vlaanderen finishing ninth on the day, consolidating the same championship position, while Jeremy finished 15th overall at his home race.   Calvin Vlaanderen: “Overall pretty solid weekend, I think I made some progress throughout with my riding and the bike set up; for us it was the first race in this condition with this bike so we learned a lot and then it was positive, the second race I finally fought a bit better and I could push and yeah I'm just missing that top five start, the key is to get that start if you wanna fight for the front but anyway, I'm quite happy with my riding and the bike was feeling very good, so on to the next gp.”    Jeremy Seewer: “The track condition doesn't help, if it were a nice weekend with good weather I think we could do better but as soon as it gets slippery I just can't do it, I do my best and try to keep my head up and wait for some improvement at some point. Starts where for sure not too bad.I know that once it got slippery it would get more tricky, I know from experience.” 

• Historic first podium in EMX250 for the Desmo250 MX in Switzerland

After scoring the first podium with the Desmo450 MX last year, Switzerland also gave the Borgo Panigale manufacturer its first European podium with the small Desmo250 MX, with Simone Mancini taking second place in the second round of the season.

Fourth in Saturday's first heat, Simone Mancini repeated his feat at the start of Sunday's second heat, getting a good start on the Desmo250 MX in the same configuration it will be available for sale next summer, moving into the top five at the first corner. Simone settled into 4th place but struggled to find a good pace and began to lose ground, as the rain increased in intensity, making the track more treacherous. Seventh at mid-race, the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team rider found a better pace and managed to make up ground on his rivals, climbing back to cross the finish line in 3rd place after 14 laps, taking the second step of the podium, a result that earned him 9th place in the championship.   Simone Mancini: “It's been a fantastic weekend! After I struggled for two years with bad luck and trouble we did it and this brings up the moral. Here already from the free practice I really felt good with the track, I got pole in qualifying and I did a good first race and then also a good second moto, mainly in the last laps with the overtakes that brought me onto the podium. I'm satisfied, I want to thank all Ducati and the Beddini team, the mechanics and everyone around me, now we think about Riola.”