KTM MX1 and MX2 factory riders had a roaring start to the 2009 racing season in Mantova, Italy at the weekend snatching four of the top six podiums in the first of the pre-season events with a fifth also going to a KTM-supported rider.

The positive launch to the pre-season events indicates that both old and new faces in the factory team line-up are in bristling form.

At the conclusion of the three-moto format, in which MX1 and MX2 riders raced together on the sandy track made heavy by much recent rain, KTM's MX1 riders Jonathan Barragan of Spain and Max Nagl of Germany finished second and third in the standings behind Belgium's Kevin Strobos. In MX 2 Shaun Simpson of Scotland, the newest member of the KTM factory team, and a re-energised and very confident Rui Goncalves of Portugal scored the 1-2 for KTM. KTM supported rider Marcus Schiffer of Germany (KTM Sarholz) was third overall.

Although the weather cleared on Sunday for the races, the super pole had to be cancelled on Saturday and the rain that has been deluging Italy made the sand heavy and deeply rutted. Riders had to approach the steep declines with caution.

What the MX1 riders said after Star Mantova

Jonathan Barragan, KTM Silver Action: I am happy to be second in the first pre-season race. It's not bad considering I don't think I am yet at my full potential or at my top condition after the winter break. But we still have one month to go before the first GP and I am confident that I will be in top form by then.

Max Nagl, Red Bull KTM: My plan for this weekend was to be consistent. I finished in the top three, I had no crashes and I had good starts. Considering I haven't had so much training on the bike so far, this was a good result.

What the MX2 riders said after Star Mantova

Shaun Simpson, Red Bull KTM (first race as a full factory team member): It was a very good weekend for me. I can say I had perfect starts, I managed the ruts well, I was always in the top 10 even with the MX1 riders and I was always consistent, even though I was a bit tense. It was a perfect start for me in the factory team

Rui Goncalves, Red Bull KTM: Even though I did not have too many expectations about the race I feel very good about the way it turned out. I've completed my home base training and feel great on the bike. The KTM factory team is like a family and they have done a great job on the engine, suspension and frame. I'm happy that they have believed in me.

Following in the footsteps of the two big KTM names in MX2 from last season Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle, has clearly not affected the two MX2 riders. Simpson is highly motivated and is pushing forward with the same conviction that he showed as a KTM supported rider last season. Goncalves, who during the off season has been to South Africa to work with Rattray's former trainer is showing new confidence and is very focussed.

MX1 Overall
1. Kevin Strijbos 75
2. Jonathan Barragan, 60
3. Max Nagl, 58
4. Ken De Dycker 47
5. Josh Coppins 46

MX2 Overall
1. Shaun Simpson, 75
2. Rui Goncalves,  59
3. Marcus Schiffer, 58
4. Manuel Monni 53
5. Yhoel Kojima 41

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Suzuki Racing

The 2009 motocross campaign cranked into life for the Teka Suzuki WMX1 team on Sunday as the Starcross International at Mantova in Italy once again opened the international calendar after the winter break.

A soggy sandy surface at the Grand Prix venue proved a tough first test for a large majority of World Championship regulars and RM-Z450 pilots Ken de Dycker and Steve Ramon steadily flexed their competitive muscles with fourth and sixth positions overall after three motos.

The Italian fixture has traditionally been a meeting in which the top riders could banish any off-season rustiness, and while hardly an indication of what results may come, the race does represent the commencement of activities for the season.

For the potent Teka squad, Mantova signified the first sprint in a busy spell of races prior to the first Grand Prix of 16 in the 2009 FIM series.

De Dycker - a Grand Prix winner in 2008, his first term with the team - went 2-16-6 in the three Mantova motos for his overall standing; a double slip in the second race ruining any shot of a podium place. 2007 MX1 World Champion Ramon cautiously came up to speed with finishes of 7-6-5.

Said Team Manager Eric Geboers "Obviously we would have been pleased if our riders could have won at Mantova but with it being the first race of the year it was not something we absolutely expected. It has been a tough winter period in Europe and I could see that a lot of riders still have some work to do and people are behind schedule a little. Our guys will improve from this showing and so will everyone else."

Geboers also revealed that the team are awaiting their race machinery for 2009 and will arrive in a matter of weeks. "We made some very good tests towards the end of last year and now we have just three weeks until we receive our 2009 technology. We have a busy programme up until the first Grand Prix."

The Teka-backed factory team will contest several more International events - in Belgium, France and the UK as well as being committed to two rounds of the Italian Championship - over the next six weeks before the opening round of the FIM World Championship takes place on March 29th at Faenza in Italy.

"The first two races of the World Championship will take place on hard-pack tracks so doing the Italian series was part of the plan to get in the best shape possible for when the season begins in earnest," Geboers added.

As Constructors World Champions, the team, with their fettled and fuel-injected RM-Z450s, will be looking to defend their title and push on to regain the Riders crown that they grasped in 2007.

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Kawasaki Racing Team

The Motocross season kicked off with the first International Motocross race in Mantova. Official Kawasaki riders Swanepoel, Frossard, Aranda and Rombout were competing against a star-studded field.

After weeks of intensive rains the track was seriously damaged when the teams arrived in Mantova. The sand was very heavy and the track came rougher than a Dutch one according to Steven Frossard who said that ‘the racing conditions were worse than in Valkenswaard last year’.

Gareth Swanepoel: “It’s always hard to adjust to the rough track conditions and cold temperatures after
being off the bike over the Winter period. I have had an excellent base training in South Africa. During
qualifying I was really satisfied with the bike and with my 12th position. Sunday’s three, 25 minute races in
the deep wet sand were great to test my new bike in tough conditions. Reassuringly, in all 3 heats my bike
was very fast off the line and showed great potential for the season. I just tried to keep out of any trouble
and score 3 consistent motos. So I am happy with my 8th position overall."

Steven Frossard: “On Saturday I had pumped arms, as always every year during the first races, but on
Sunday I felt better. When the classes are mixed the start is always a problem as we can’t do anything
with a 250, and after the first start I was stopped by riders who just collided. I was in the top twelve of the
second race when I went twice during the opening lap on a wet part of the track and crashed. My last start
was not too bad, but I retired with a technical problem. That’s also the interest of these International
races; you can ride in racing conditions and see how it’s going. For sure these problems will be solved
soon, and in Valence the 250 and 450 will be in 2 different classes again so it will be better for us”

Gregory Aranda: “This event is really early in the season, but it’s a good opportunity to ride against our rivals and see what are our level is. I missed the three starts, but I was able to come back in the top
twelve; unfortunately I crashed when I was right behind Swanepoel, and then hit another bike in the middle of the track. I’m pleased with my tenth and eleventh positions in the other races, especially on this sandy and wet track”

Loic Rombaut: “Saturday was not so bad, I qualified sixteenth despite a crash during the opening lap. But the organizer didn’t take in consideration my result for the positions on the grid, and I started the races from the waiting zone. It was huge disadvantage as I started so far from the pack but I did consistent races and I’m pretty satisfied with my tenth place overall. Physically I had no problems, except pumped
arms during the first practice session but the more damaged the track was the better I felt.”