One of the big issues with a man-made circuit came back to bite Ivo Monticelli at his home grand prix as he crashed at the start of the first moto in Imola last weekend, hitting the tarmac and getting sparked out.
The Italian was taken to the hospital for a check-up but thankfully appears to be fine. “This GP didn’t go exactly as we wanted,” he wrote on social media. “It started very well with third place in the qualifying heat, we worked very well with the Standing Construct KTM team and I had a great feeling with the track and the bike.
“Unfortunately, in the first corner of the first race I touched another rider and I fell off the track landing with my head on the asphalt. I had a good night’s sleep but fortunately, I didn’t break any [bones]. Thanks so much to all the people who are supporting me right now. See you on the track.”
The Standing Construct KTM team certainly had contrasting fortunes at the MXGP of Italy. Not only did Monticelli need a trip to the hospital, Max Ansite had already made his way there after being forced to sit out the points-paying motos when it was discovered he had a collapsed lung, leaving the 26-year-old barely able to breathe.
Very much on the bright side, The Hoff ran out as a double-moto winner in the MXGP class, delivering the team’s first major trophy since 2016.
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