Carlos Campano is on the verge of winning the MX3 championship title after second and first place finishes in the day’s two races in Finland on Sunday.
The Spanish rider claimed top spot in the day’s overall standings whilst his nearest rival in the championship, Alex Salvini could only manage to finish fourth.
Heading to the last round of the series in Switzerland, Campano has a 32-point lead in the championship ahead of Salvini.
Toni Eriksson took the holeshot in the first heat, with Campano in second. The Spanish rider kept pushing for first place throughout the first moto, and on final lap Campano almost caught Eriksson, the difference at the finish line being just a metre.
Before the first race Salvini was only 20 points behind Campano in the championship standings but got off to a poor start and never really recovered, finishing eighth.
The start of the second heat was similar to the first with Eriksson taking the holeshot and Campano in second with Salvini in third. This time Eriksson was only in the lead for four laps and the Spaniard was faster and able to take advantage to go ahead.
Campano took the chequered flag in front of Salivini and extended his points advantage. Eriksson managed to finish third.
After the day’s racing Campano is glad to be taking a nice points advantage into the final round of heats in Switzerland.
“When Salvini took a pole I thought he will be much faster today and we will have a big fight again,” he said. “But things turned out different. In first heat I was riding behind Eriksson, he was strong till the end and I didn't have enought time to pass him.
“In second heat I was riding fastest as I could because Salvini was behind me and I won. I took bigger advantage in front of Salvini and now I am only waiting the final round. I was enjoying here today because the track was nice and you can pass almost everywhere.”
Results
1st Race top ten: 1. Toni Eriksson (FIN, KTM), 33:46.384; 2. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:00.392; 3. Kim Lindstrom (SWE, KTM), +0:59.704; 4. Juss Laansoo (EST, Honda), +1:04.136; 5. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +1:05.898; 6. Augusts Justs (LAT, Honda), +1:08.241; 7. Marko Kovalainen (FIN, Yamaha), +1:18.568; 8. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:22.220; 9. Anders Petterson (SWE, KTM), +1:27.947; 10. Jussi Nikkila (FIN, Yamaha), +1:29.115
2nd Race top ten: 1. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 35:54.697; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:11.851; 3. Toni Eriksson (FIN, KTM), +0:24.461; 4. Juss Laansoo (EST, Honda), +0:57.055; 5. Augusts Justs (LAT, Honda), +1:01.646; 6. Kim Lindstrom (SWE, KTM), +1:03.036; 7. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), +1:33.200; 8. Anders Petterson (SWE, KTM), +1:41.205; 9. Lauri Lehtla (EST, KTM), +2:03.927; 10. Riku Rouhiainen (FIN, Yamaha), -1 lap(s);
Overall classification top ten: 1. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 47 points; 2. Toni Eriksson (FIN, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Juss Laansoo (EST, Honda), 36 p.; 4. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 35 p.; 5. Kim Lindstrom (SWE, KTM), 35 p.; 6. Augusts Justs (LAT, Honda), 31 p.; 7. Anders Petterson (SWE, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Riku Rouhiainen (FIN, Yamaha), 20 p.; 9. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), 20 p.; 10. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), 19 p
Championship standings top ten: 1. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 490 points; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 458 p.; 3. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 345 p.; 4. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), 325 p.; 5. Milko Potisek (FRA, Honda), 290 p.; 6. Victor Dario Arco (ARG, Yamaha), 231 p.; 7. Frantisek Smola (CZE, Suzuki), 227 p.; 8. Petr Michalec (CZE, Honda), 208 p.; 9. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), 145 p.; 10. Marko Kovalainen (FIN, Yamaha), 76 p
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Josh Modaberi
International
