2011 FIM FLAT TRACK Test meeting Lonigo, Saturday 21st May

Italian Flat Track specialist Marco Belli won the FIM flat Track test meeting in style which was held in Lonigo in a warm Saturday night. He topped the main event after the qualifying heats dropping his only point to Fabrizio Vesprini in his first outing. He also dominated the semifinal 1 ?he missed completely the gate- and went from third to first and the final after a tough battle for first position with British youngster Tom Wooley.
Belli said afterwards ?I?m over the moon after this prestigious victory and it is like the icing on the cake after a lot of years of racing. I dedicate this win to myself and to my family who have supported me during my whole career. I was really proud to heard the Italian anthem after the prize-giving ceremony?
The meeting saw a lot of overtakings and passes in which was a real advertising for the speciality. The race format saw the main event with 8 heats which featured 8 riders and were run over 6 laps. The first three riders for each semifinal went straight to the final and the last chance heat qualified the last two riders to the final. The final was run over 12 laps. One of the best races of the night was heat number 3 in which eventual winner Belli came from third to first in a couple of laps.
The fifth heat was also another race to remember for the fans. Vesprini and Belli battled elbow to elbow for a couple of laps in a classic Italian derby. Runner-up was hot prospect British Tom Wooley. He started the meeting with a third place, but then found extra speed and was one of the best entertainer of the night. Third on the rostrum was Aidan Collins, the other British rider in the line-up. He collected three straight second places in the main event and also in his semifinal. He zipped from the gate in the final and seemed on his way to the victory, but was passed by Belli and Vesprini on the second bend of the second turn. Also the last chance heat deserved be to mentioned. Hungarian rider Onodi Bejamin rocketed from the tapes and lead for a couple of laps. He then was passed by Lucarini and Scalabrin for the last places in the final. Fabrizio Vesprini, one of the pre-meeting favourite, finished the meeting just outside the rostrum places. He was leading at he halfway stage and was well in contention for a medal place before being passed by fellow countrymen Belli and British pack Wooley and Collins. He reported ?I?m very disappointed because I gated well all the night. Unfortunately I missed the gate in the final and it proved costly. Anyway Belli, Wooley and Collins deserved the rostrum places?

Referee: Mr. Istvan Darago (MAMS)
words: Giorgio Lazzari
pictures: Gianni Tomba

results:
1. Marco Belli (Ita) Zaeta
2. Tom Wooley (GB) Honda
3. Aidan Collins (GB) Honda
4. Fabrizio Vesprini (Ita) Husaberg
5. Vittorio Emanuele Marzotto (Ita) KTM
6. Massimiliano Andreotti (Ita) Honda
7. Alessandro Scalabrin (Ita) KTM
8. Maurizio Lucarini (Ita) Honda
9. Alessandro Castiglioni (Ita) KTM
10. Onodi Benjamin (Hungary) KTM
11. Bryce Starks (USA) Kawasaki
12. Damien Bomais (France) Yamaha
13. Dario Magnoni (Ita) Harley-Davidson
14. Massimo Zambon (Ita) Fasciani
15. Marco Buzzi (Ita) Yamaha