Cairoli's unexpected world title

Antonio Cairoli sealed the 2006 SX UEM Championship, claiming his second biggest international prize of his young career in the process.

The 2005 MX2 World Champion had already won the Milan leg of the three event championship and scored enough points at the 24th Fiat Supercross meeting in Genova last weekend to claim the SX title.

Cairoli said after his championship winning race: “It was a good race for me, I was fastest in most of the sessions and won the qualification and semi-final.”

The Sicilian rider has already claimed the Italian MX2 championship and finished as vice world champion in the MX2-GP class this year.

This title has come of a bit of a surprise for Cairoli as he never expected to be challenging for honours.

He added: To win this title is a real pleasure because I’m a big Supercross fan. I believe I can still improve my style and riding, but to carry the title of European SX Champion is not bad for now. I really want to thank the public for supporting me and of course my team who made a perfect supercross setting to my YZ250F.”

Results: 1 Grant, 2 Alessi, 3 Cairoli, 4 Mills, 5 Degli Espositi, 6 Renet, 7 Pellegrini, 8 Izoird, 9 Meo, 10 Dami

Classification: 1 Cairoli 41, 2 Renet 41, 3 Mills 33, 4 Grant 25, 5 Aubin 25