By The public road from Saline to Volterra in Tuscany, hosted last weekend the Virus Power CIVS (Campionato Italiano Velocita in Salita), Italian Hill Climb Championship season finale. In 2023, the Saline to Volterra time trial hosted the final rounds of the European Hill Climb Championship.
Super Open 600 (Supersport) winner (P2 in Race 1 by just 0.03 seconds behind Franceso Cianfarani and P1 in Race 2) with overall best time (1.26.16) from last Sunday was multiple European and Italian Hill Climb Champion Maurizio Bottalico with Honda CBR 600 RR apparatus supported by M&E Motorsport.
Also figuring in the results were 2024 European Hill Climb Championship participants, Super Open 1000 races winner times two, aboard R1 Yamaha machinery David Lignite, Daniele Stolli (2024 European Hill Climb Supersport 300 Champion) overall third in Super Open 1000 category astride 675 Daytona Triumph behind Lignite and Nicola Baroni (750 Suzuki mounted).
600cc middle-weight Suzuki vaulted Yuri Storniolo was another to dabble this year with European Hill Climb competition, focusing on Supermoto contests. Super Open 1000 category participant, Francesco Maria Piva was an IRRC Superbike wild card rider last June at Schleizer Dreieck.
2024 CIVS Super Open (Supersport) Champion Manuel Dal Molin, did not start last weekend in ‘Saline di Volterra’.
Already mentioned, 43-year-old legend of this sport Bottalico, added this year to his road’s scene CV, retaining the European Hill Climb Superbike title, second place finish in the Junior Manx Grand Prix behind fellow countryman Andrea Majola.
Bottalico dedicated his latest, prior showcased hill climb success to his late great friend, 2024 CIVS Super Open 1000 (Superbike) Champion Luca Maurizio Salvadori.
Words by Jan Vavra
