As stated, various times before by me, hill-climbs in essence are not full-on real road races but they are similar in essence, in terms of layout when compared to countless roads circuits across planet Earth.
This year’s FIM Europe supported European Hill Climb Road Race Championship which commenced in late April, early May, has had events in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France with racers taking in the picturesque, aesthetically pleasing following courses:
Landshaag (Austria), Passo Dello Spino (Italy), Bergrennen Julbach (Austria), Boecurt (Switzerland), Spoleto (Italy) and Frangy (France).
Reflecting on 2022 time-trial action across Europe, Maurzio Bottalico who finished last month, second fastest Manx Grand Prix newcomer successfully retained the Supersport class crown and also secured Supermoto title honours.
Remaining title winners were five times successive 250 GP Champion Guido Testoni and Jean Luc David (Superbike).
Final finishing positions per class within the 2022 European Hill Climb Road Race Championship, are as follows:
250 GP:
1st – Guido Testoni 285
2nd – Franco Federigi 229
3rd – Rolf Haller 127
4th – Bernard Depierreux 122
5th – Angelo Testoni 121
6th – Marco Vigilucci 61
7th – Alfred Sturzer 49
T8th – Cosimo Sozzo 26
Mathias Seiler 26
Supersport:
1st – Maurizio Bottalico 250
2nd – Mauro Poncini 218
3rd – Tiziano Rosati 205
4th – David Lignite 183
5th – Uwe Rademacher 74
6th – Simona Zaccardi 38
7th – Harald Portschy 22
8th – Alice Sabatini 18
Superbike:
1st – Jean Luc David 260
2nd – Salvatore Sallustro 146
3rd – Steven Bellavoine 92
4th – Andreas Gangl 90
5th – Uwe Rademacher 88
6th – Francesco Maria Piva 85
7th – Williams Alonzi 38
T8th – Christian Seiler 24
Ossi Niederkircher 24
Harald Portschy 24
11th – Marco Vigilucci 21
Supermoto:
1st – Maurizio Bottalico 226
2nd – Philippe Bongard 173
3rd – Alice Sabatini 159
4th – Cosimo Sozzo 119
5th – Nausica Casinelli 80
6th – Josef Frauenschuh 75
7th – Steven Bellavoine 50
8th – Raphael Bellavoine 45
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou