CIV Vallelunga, 9.-11. 2011

11.09.2011

The last but one race of the CIV Italian motorbike championship took place last week at the Autodromo di Vallelunga circuit. Miroslav Popov went through a demanding preparation which he rounded off with a very good second qualifying time. In the race itself he was fighting for third position but because of a collision he finally finished without scoring a point. He is now fifth in the championship standings.

Miroslav Popov came to Vallelunga only one week after his successful performance in the San Marino GP that is a part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. There the Czech rider started with a wild card, qualified with sixth time and came thirteen at the finish of the lowest 125cc class race thus scoring points.

As far as the result is concerned the Italian championship weekend was not so successful. During practice sessions Miroslav Popov was keeping up and completed Friday’s practice with the third fastest time 1´46.754 seconds. In the first Saturday qualifying however he did not finish a measured lap because he got on a dirty track in the Campagnano corner and fell off. He made up for this with the second fastest time 1´45.894 seconds in the afternoon qualifying when he was less than two tenths of a second behind the pole position.

On Sunday Miroslav Popov had a poor start and was eleventh in the approach to the second lap of the race. The Czech rider of the ElleGi Racing team was gradually pushing through and on lap six was duelling with Kevin Calio for p3. But he faced technical problems from the very beginning and had to use the clutch for assistance throughout the race. The effort to reach the podium finally ended in disaster as the clutch lever slipped out of his hand in the Tornantino corner, the bike highsided and his chances to score points disappeared at the end of lap thirteen. He bruised his leg painfully in the fall but walked away on his own two feet from the accident.

But this difficult weekend is not the end for the sixteen-year old Miroslav Popov as the Italian championship continues with the final race at the Mugello circuit on October 23. And before this he will have a great opportunity to show off his talent in the European Championship race that will take place on October 9 in Spanish Albacete.