The 2007 FIM MX2-GP Motocross World Championship was very much a success story for Yamaha De Carli rider Antonio Cairoli. The Sicilian blazed a path through the season’s statistics book on his YZ250F. Along with the 10 GP wins and 21 moto chequered flags the double world champ’s consistency meant that he only dropped out of the top two twice from 28 MX2-GP races. Add an MX1-GP debut triumph, an Italian MX2 title and a European Supercross championship and it hard to believe how Cairoli can top this performance in 2008.

Despite his many races and vast amount of silverware gained through the past twelve months the popular rider insists that his motivation for an attempt at a third MX2-GP crown (to equal the quantity set by former Yamaha great Alessio Chiodi) remains high, not to mention keeping his hoards of native fans content with his endeavours on Italian soil.

“I did a lot of races in 2007 but I feel fresh and ready for another challenge in 2008,” the 22 year old said. “My main goal is of course another world title but I also want to retain an Italian championship. The Supercross was a lot of fun at the end of the year although I am still not sure if I will do the tour again at the end of this season.”

An arduous 2007 saw ten months of racing in three separate series leave Cairoli with little time to recharge his batteries and take stock. The racer, who splits his time between his Sicilian home and bases in Rome and Belgium, did manage to hit the ski slopes for several weeks and also think about the competition he faces onboard his new Red Bull-backed YZ come Holland on April 6th for round one of fifteen in the FIM world championship.

“It was good to get some holidays,” he commented “I did not travel far and instead chose to relax for three weeks at home and do some snowboarding in northern Italy.”

“I think this season Tommy Searle, Nicolas Aubin and Davide Guarneri will be real threats. I think we will have some surprises and there will be some young riders that can fight with me for the championship; it will be fun.”

For the second year in a row the De Carli team fields Cairoli, Matteo Bonini and Alessandro Lupino in both international and national competitions. The squad get their 2008 calendar underway this weekend with the first round of the Italian championship at the Montevarchi circuit.

In perhaps something of a preview as to his future plans Cairoli will be steering a YZ450F in the MX1 category. “Of course we are looking towards 2009 and MX1 for Tony,” said Team Manager and Owner Claudio de Carli. “It is crucial that he starts to adapt to riding the 450 and that we can get the bike set-up for him in racing conditions. The Italian championship starts early and they are important races for us but it is also a way in which we can build up to the world championship.”

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CAROLE NASH BACKS MAXXIS `08
14 February 2008 

The latest on the Maxxis UK MX Championship;

CAROLE NASH RENEWS BACKING FOR ACU MAXXIS BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Carole Nash has reaffirmed its support for the ACU Maxxis British Motocross Championship by sponsoring the tournament for the second year.

The UK’s biggest motorcycling insurance specialist has renewed its contract to be the ACU’s Official Insurance Partner saying its association with the championship last year proved highly successful and further cemented its commitment to grassroots biking.

“We were always confident that our association with such a prestigious and well organised tournament would be a positive one and that confidence was clearly well placed,” commented Carole Nash’s head of marketing Rebecca Donohue.

“Not only was it tremendously exciting with the MX1 and MX2 titles going right to the wire, but it was a great, family-friendly advert for biking, enjoying a UK TV audience of some three million people. Positive promotion of motorcycling like this is crucial, whether on or off road, and is much need given wider media indifference or even ill-informed hostility to biking. There are many strong economic and environmental arguments for biking, and we should be doing our best to promote these to the public

ACU Championship manager Brian Higgins commented:

"We are delighted to once again have secured the backing of the biggest name in motorcycle insurance. Sponsorship is absolutely vital to the ACU in ensuring the Championship is effectively promoted and that we can continue to offer the paying motocross fan real value for money at all our events.”

News of the new sponsorship deal comes as the Championship prepares to kick off with its first ever meeting at Donington Park on March 9th. Between then and the season’s climax at Shrewsbury’s Hawkstone’s Park on September 21st, rounds will take place across the country. Events have been confirmed at Kent’s Canada Heights; Tottington Devon; Lyng, Norfolk; Desertmartin, Northern Ireland; Foxhill, Swindon; and Brampton, Cumbria.

Meanwhile enthusiasts can take advantage of Carole Nash’s dedicated off road policy. Launched in response to direct appeals from enthusiasts who were struggling to secure affordable and appropriate cover. it offers fire and theft to protect adult and children’s motocross models and sport, leisure, utility and junior quad bikes, from just £99 annually.

Bikes are covered at home or any ACU race track or practice ground, with up to £250 worth of accessories also insured. Discounts are offered if bikes are fitted with insurance-approved security devices such as Datatag and heavy duty locks and chains.

It has also not forgotten that riders need to get their machines to tracks and so now also offers a range of van insurance policies. It’s comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party only policies each feature a number of benefits as standard, including extensive breakdown recovery, motor legal protection insurance, personal effects cover. With certain policies, we can also offer a mirrored no claims discount from your car policy.