Surprise package?
By TMX Archives on 21st Sep 05
When dbr asked the managers of the leading GP teams to make predictions on the outcome of the MX2 world series back in the spring, few went for Antonio Cairoli.Most of them felt that the rookie sensation of 2004 would find life hard in the fast lane When dbr asked the managers of the leading GP teams to make predictions on the outcome of the MX2 world series back in the spring, few went for Antonio Cairoli.Most of them felt that the rookie sensation of 2004 would find life hard in the fast lane in his follow-up campaign. But the 19-year-old from Sicily has proved them wrong.His 2005 campaign has not gone without the occasional hiccup but he has hit back each time with a stunning display of speed and commitment which has left the rest floundering in his wake in almost half of the season's motos. Toni Cairoli is for real!"Last year was the first time I had ridden the world series and I had set out just hoping to gain experience. Before the season started I thought it would be a success just to qualify every week but mid-season I was fifth on points and wanted more." By season end he had scored his first GP victory and was ranked third in the world."This year everyone expected more of me but I didn't feel any pressure, even though it didn't always run smoothly. At Zolder I crashed in the warm-up and hurt my ankle. It was not easy in the race so I was very happy with the results I got there and I recovered quickly."I had no problems with my ankle in Spain and Portugal and won three motos out of four to take over the red plate."Indeed Toni won four first motos and was second in the other of the five GPs which followed Zolder but meagre scores in second motos were keeping the title chase tight. "It was just coincidence - I crashed in Spain and at Namur but I wasn't nervous or anything, just ***t happens."Although Toni insists that "Yamaha Italia is one big family" he came up against a stone wall of three Ricci Yamahas in the second moto at Sugo in Japan."That race was frustrating. I don't know if they were doing it on purpose but it seemed like there were always two of them riding alongside each other as soon as I got past the third so he could attack me again."I was faster but it took me half-an-hour before I could finally get past all of them and by then it was too late to chase after MacKenzie and Sword. If I had got past earlier I think I could have caught them."The tension with Team Ricci rose a week later at Matchams. "I have no problems with Chiodi. He is so experienced and rides clever lines - he is so difficult to pass. You saw in Nismes that even McFarlane could not pass him in 40 minutes."But I had already had problems with Guarneri in the Italian championships at the start of the year and we have never really got on. I don't want to say that he caused the crash at Matchams on purpose because he went down too but it was he who made the mistake which made us collide."For an hour Toni thought he was the latest hopeful to crash out of the series. "I had a lot of pain in my wrist and I felt sure it was broken at first but I managed to start race two and scored a few points."To read more see October's copy of Dirtbike Rider.Words and photos by Alex Hodgkinson