By Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (Grand Prix circuit, first opened in 1972, change of circuit direction to clockwise in 2006) hosted last weekend Finale of CIV (Campionato Italiano Velocita) Classic series.
Double 2025 European Hill Climb Road Race Champion, prospective Macau Grand Prix newcomer Maurizio Bottalico, who stepped up from the Manx Grand Prix to the TT this year, sampled in August the Classic TT and was fastest Northwest 200 newcomer in May, claimed whilst astride Team MDM Corse’s 848 Ducati ‘Lightwin Open’ qualifying honours.
Another CIV Classic race win for the San Marino based racer (first win with aforementioned-Ducati steed at Misano last year), did not arise though because the winner last Sunday was the strong-winds, wet tricky conditions which caused the premature cancellation of racing proceedings.
In fact, only two CIV Classic races were-started, both on Saturday, after qualifying, practice sessions.
‘Sporttwin’ category race winner was BK Corse RS 660 Aprilia vaulted, Salvatore ‘Salvo’ Sallustro, this year, double European Hill Climb Road Race Championship runner-up and twenty third in August’s Junior Manx Grand Prix.
The Moto Guzzi Fast Endurance race saw 2022 Junior Manx Grand Prix, three-times European Hill Climb Road Race Supersport Champion, top eight finisher x2 from last month’s European Super Twin races at Frohburger Dreieck, Francesco Curinga place P5, following forty-three racing laps aside Team Guaracing Team Factory, V7 850 Moto Guzzi apparated team-mate Jacopo Rizzardi.
Let us not forget, that last month’s penultimate CIV Classic round at Autodromo dell´Umbria featured 1280 Moto Guzzi powered, P4 finisher in ‘Lightwin Open’ class (overall winner the above-highlighted Maurizio Bottalico), Northwest 200 winner, multiple hill-climb Champion, Stefano ‘Bonny’ Bonetti.
CIV Classics race bouts in recent times have also included Roberto Della Latta, with 250 Suzuki tackle in Two Strokes class. Della Latta previously this year was a European Hill Climb Road Race participant at Spoleto, Julbach and Landshaag.
Now that we are talking the Landshaag Bergrennen time-trial, organised by MSC Rottenegg, we can reveal announced event date for next year’s forty fifth edition of this traditional season opening hill-climb, 11th-12th of April.
At the same time as the CIV Classic finale, the CIV finale at Mugello Circuit took place. Belgian rider Bram Lambrechts (experienced with Varsselring at Hengelo) was this season taking part in the CIV Production Bike/Superbike races but did not set a timed lap at Mugello.
Finally, a re-cap regarding 2026 Hengelo Road Races dates, pencil into your diaries 2nd-3rd of May!
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
