Spain’s Carlos Campano is in hot form as he prepares to represent his country again at the Motocross of Nations.

He gave Spain its first MX3 world motocross crown at the weekend.

Campano (Team Yamaha Andalucia) headed off Italian Alex Salvini (Husqvarna Cross 2 R) and Matevz Irt (Husqvarna Tecno B) from Slovenia in this year’s MX3 World Championship.

It was a great final MX3 weekend in Geneva.

The weather was sunny and hot, races were interesting and spectators satisfied organizer’s expectations.

Campano came to Switzerland with a 32-point of advantage over Salvini. Home town rider Julien Bill (KTM) and Jeremy Delince (KTM), from Belgium, were fighting for top positions in the race. Bill took the holeshot in the first heat and after also a big advantage in front of Salvini who finished second.

Third was Delince (KTM) who took the pole position on Saturday. Gregory Wicht (DB Team) from Switzerland made one of his best races this year, he finished fourth in the first heat. Campano didn’t start on the top but fifth place was enough that he took the World Champion title already after the first heat.

Also in the second heat Bill started with the holeshot and won, just that in the second heat Salvini was closer. Italian tried to pass Bill but made a mistake and lost some seconds to the leading position. Campano confirmed his title with the third place. Bill took the overall win, Salvini finished second and Delince third. Campano missed top three for two points.

Campano, a 24-year-old rider from Sevilla, started riding when he was seven and this is the most successful season for him. Already from the beginning he had a fight for top positions with Salvini but Spanish temperament was stronger this year. Campano made a big success not only for him and his team but also for Spain as this the first Spanish motocross World Champion Title.

Salvini finished second and took his second MX3 Vice World Champion Title after last year. Slovenian Irt is third rider of the MX3 World Championship, what is his best result ever. This was the best season for Martin Zerava (UFO Racing), too. The Czech rider finished fourth and improved his seventh position from previous seasons. Milko Potisek (Honda, France) took fifth place in the Championship.

Yamaha took the manufacturers title in front of Husqvarna and Honda.

“This track was difficult and I had so many problems with overtaking,” said Campano.

“At the beginning I had to fight and push a lot because I didn’t start really good. The whole year was good in general and I am so happy for the World Champion title. During the season I had actually only one problem in Spanish round. The biggest thank for everything is going to my family and team.”

RESULTS

1st Race top ten: 1. Julien Bill (SUI, KTM), 34:59.178; ; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:16.859; 3. Jeremy Delince (BEL, KTM), +0:22.363; 4. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), +0:23.774; 5. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:26.258; 6. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:41.552; 7. Oswald Reisinger (AUT, Suzuki), +0:53.387; 8. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), +0:57.837; 9. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), +1:00.393; 10. Romain Billerey (FRA, Yamaha), +1:06.276

2nd Race top ten: 1. Julien Bill (SUI, KTM), 34:55.019; ; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:08.962; 3. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:12.052; 4. Jeremy Delince (BEL, KTM), +0:16.661; 5. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:22.448; 6. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), +0:46.883; 7. Romain Billerey (FRA, Yamaha), +0:58.345; 8. Michael Staufer (AUT, KTM), +1:01.793; 9. Andreas Schmidinger (AUT, Honda), +1:20.795; 10. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), +1:26.206

Overall standings: 1. Julien Bill (SUI, KTM), 50 points; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 44 p.; 3. Jeremy Delince (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 36 p.; 5. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), 33 p.; 6. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 31 p.; 7. Romain Billerey (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 8. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), 23 p.; 9. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), 22 p.; 10. Michael Staufer (AUT, KTM), 21 p.;

Final Championship classification: 1. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 526 points; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 502 p.; 3. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 376 p.; 4. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), 348 p.; 5. Milko Potisek (FRA, Honda), 290 p.; 6. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), 249 p.; 7. Victor Dario Arco (ARG, Yamaha), 247 p.; 8. Petr Michalec (CZE, Honda), 208 p.; 9. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), 178 p.; 10. Michael Staufer (AUT, KTM), 87 p.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com