By This year’s Motor Bike Expo at Verona hosted last week, the premiere of ‘Memorial Luca Salvadori’ Supermoto race, celebrating the late, great 2024 CIVS Super Open 1000 (Superbike) Champion, lap record breaking, double IRRC Hengelo Superbike race winner on debut, in the same year.
His overall Varsselring lap-record still stands before this season (1.45.259) plus record qualifying turn of pace (1.45.033).
Those making the trip to Verona included multiple European Hill Climb (Supermoto class Champion in 2022), CIVS series Champion, last season’s leading Northwest 200 and Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix newcomer, Maurizio Bottalico.
Sporting a special black-yellow Luca Salvadori liveried tribute helmet, just as he did at TT 2025 (honouring his good friend who dreamed of tackling the TT Races), the twice Manx Grand Prix podium finisher who ultimately did not sample Saturday, Sunday’s races, was piloting VM Racing Team’s KTM Supermoto steed.
During the weekend he was-presented with the prize of ‘Luca Salvadori L´Assoluta Challenge’ for the rider, who collects the absolute fastest times from 2025 CIVS rounds (five new track records across six CIVS events in 2025!).
Still to announce 2026 road racing plans, he is according to specific indicators not expected to take part in all Hill Climb Championship tussles (European and CIVS).
Sunday’s racing at Verona saw CIVS Supermoto great Carmine Matarazzo reach an overall rostrum finish, taking second behind Christian Lolli, besting former European Superstock 1000 Championship participant, Eddi La Marra.
Just for reminder, the CIVS (Campionato Italiano Velocita in Salita) season opener takes place on in early May (2nd-3rd) with ‘Lo Spino’ (Pieve Santo Stefano–Passo allo Spino) hosting. The track record holder is fittingly Luca Salvadori (via heat time – 1.24.93).
CIVS competition at ‘Lo Spino’ clashes with ESR/IRRC rounds at Hengelo, the Stare Mesto Road Races, the Weixdorf Autobahnspinne classic event near Dresden in Germany and the opening Oliver’s Mount Hill Climb of 2026.
All these meetings arise just before roads scene ‘Major’ the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
Words by Jan Vavra
