Antonio Cairoli Clinches 9th FIM Motocross World Title With Pirelli

Antonio Cairoli Clinches 9th FIM Motocross World Title With Pirelli

The Italian Reaches the Title with One Round Remaining at the GP of Netherlands and Captures Pirelli’s 68th Motocross World Championship Featuring the SCORPION™MX Tire Line

ASSEN, Netherlands (September 11, 2017) – It all concluded yesterday. The TT Circuit Assen was the stage for Antonio Cairoli, riding his Pirelli-equipped KTM, to rule the FIM Motocross World Championship for the ninth time. Thanks to the performance of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider, Pirelli has achieved its 68th World Title in this discipline, confirming itself as the most successful tire brand in the history of motocross.

Cairoli wrapped up the championship in the MXGP class with one round remaining to crown a season that was practically perfect. After two seasons hindered by injuries, Cairoli returned for the ninth title of his incredible career and has been at the top of world rankings for fifteen years.   

This season the World Champion - who with nine titles can now aim to match the record of ten held by Belgian Stefan Everts - has shown impressive consistency by winning six GP’s so far and finishing as runner-up in another four GPs. The 31-year-old Sicilian from Patti was able to count on the unmatched performance of Pirelli's SCORPION ™ MX tires. In particular the SCORPION ™ MX32 ™ Mid Soft front and SCORPION ™ MX32 ™ Mid Soft rear, which has been the most frequently used selection by Cairoli and the other Pirelli-equipped riders in the MXGP and MX2 classes.

At the end of the weekend Cairoli wanted to thank Pirelli, stating: “After two unlucky seasons, going back to winning the world title is something fantastic that we have achieved with the will and the work of the whole team and our technical partners. That's why I want to thank Pirelli”.     “I want to congratulate Tony for this successful season,” said Pirelli Moto Racing Activities Giorgio Barbier. "He has managed to get nine world titles in fifteen years and by achieving something unique has become a true legend in the motorcycling world. As Pirelli we are pleased to have been supporting Tony and the KTM Factory Racing team for many years and have been contributing to these achievements thanks to the performance of our tires, which are now a benchmark in the paddock and for all the fans of this discipline. Like all our racing products, the tires used in the FIM Motocross World Championship are easily available for sale and anyone can buy them. We have always invested a lot in the FIM Motocross World Championship, as demonstrated by the 68 world titles we have gained since 1980, and we will continue to do so alongside Tony and the many riders and teams that each year decide to entrust Pirelli to fight and give a show in this beautiful Championship.”

The Grand Prix of the Netherlands, the penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, took place at the famous TT Circuit of Assen. On the Dutch track, featuring sandy terrain made particularly wet and challenging by falling rain on Saturday, the SCORPION MX ™ 32 ™ Mid Soft front and the SCORPION ™ MX32 ™ Soft rear have once again proved to be the best performing tires in these conditions, allowing Pirelli to fill the podiums of both categories.   With a double moto victory Jeffrey Herlings won in MXGP, ahead of Romain Febvre (4-3) and Max Anstie (3-4). Cairoli was second and sixth in the two races.   

 In the MX2 class, with only one GP left until the end of the championship, Pauls Jonass (1-7) gained another point on Jeremy Seewer (5-2) and now has a 41-point advantage. The GP victory went to Spain's Jorge Prado with second and first positions in the motos.

 In seven days time, the riders will begin the final battle of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship for the Grand Prix of Pays de Montebeliard in France.

Race results (in bold Pirelli riders):     

MXGP race 1  

1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)  2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)  3. ANSTIE Max (GBR)  4. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)  5. STRIJBOS Kevin (BEL)     

MXGP race 2  

1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)  2. NAGL Max (GER)  3. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)  4. ANSTIE Max (GBR)  5. VAN HOREBEEK Jeremy (BEL)     

MX2 race 1  

1. JONASS Pauls (LAT)  2. PRADO GARCIA JORGE (SPA)  3. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)  4. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED) 5. SEEWER Jeremy (SUI)     

MX2 race 2  

1. PRADO GARCIA JORGE (SPA)  2. SEEWER Jeremy (SUI)  3. OLSEN Thomas Kjer (DEN)  4. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED) 5. BOGERS BRIAN (NED)     

GP Overall:     

MXGP  

1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)  2. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)  3. ANSTIE Max (GBR)  4. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)  5. NAGL Max (GER)    

  MX2  

1. PRADO GARCIA JORGE (SPA)  2. JONASS Pauls (LAT)  3. SEEWER Jeremy (SUI)  4. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED) 5. OLSEN Thomas Kjer (DEN)        

Championship overall:     

MXGP  

1. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA) p.710  2. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED) p.627  3. PAULIN Gautier (FRA) p.571  4.DESALLE Clement (BEL) p.544 5. GAJSER Tim (SLO) p.485  6. FEBVRE Romain (FRA) p.479     

MX2  

1. JONASS Pauls (LAT) p.735  2. SEEWER Jeremy (SUI) p.694  3. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN) p.556  4.PATUREL Benoit (FRA) p.504 5. COVINGTON Thomas (USA) p.485  6. LIEBER Julien (BEL) p.475

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Founded in 1872, Pirelli is among the largest global tire makers, and focuses its business on the high end, premium product segment where it is a world leader. Present in over 160 countries, Pirelli has 22 manufacturing sites and employs approximately 38,000 people around the world. Successfully competing in motorsports since 1907, Pirelli is currently the exclusive supplier of the Formula 1 championship, the Superbike world championship, and many other championships around the world.

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For Additional Information Please Contact:

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Mail: motopress.nafta@pirelli.com  

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