by Lorenzo Resta
As it has been for the past 110 years, EICMA once again left its mark on the hearts of enthusiasts. Contributing to the success of the 81st edition was the MotoLive area, which offered excitement and spectacle throughout the weekend. The fourth and final day of the 81st International Motorcycle Exhibition featured the Champion Charity Race in its SBK version, with Superbike riders competing for the prize offered by EICMA and entirely donated to Riders4Riders. Some of the top competitors from production-based racing took part in this thrilling event.
The format, similar to Saturday's event, allowed riders to showcase their skills on the challenging dirt track in a one-on-one knockout system. The spectacle culminated in a grand final between six-time Italian Supermoto Champion Elia Sanmartin (Honda) and six-time World SBK Champion Jonathan Rea (Yamaha). The victory went to the Northern Irish rider, who was awarded a Tissot watch. Although Sanmartin posted the fastest lap of the two-day flat-track event, Rea emerged as the ultimate winner, with Ryan Vickers (Kove) finishing third. The three riders took the MotoLive stage for the award ceremony, joined by other prominent participants such as Marco Melandri, Troy Bayliss, and Andrea Locatelli, to present the donation check to Riders4Riders. This non-profit organization, founded in 2010 by riders and two-wheel enthusiasts, raises funds to support seriously injured riders and research on spinal cord injuries.
The day's races also featured the finals of the 2024 Internazionali d’Italia MX24 Supercross. In the Supercross 450 Main Event, Filippo Zonta (KTM) secured the championship with a flawless performance, clinching the title with maximum points. Zonta led from the start, ahead of Rudolph Plch (Husqvarna), while Jimmy Clochet (Honda) staged a remarkable comeback from fifth place to finish third. After 13 laps, Zonta crossed the finish line first, followed by Plch and Clochet, with Pablo D’Aniello (Suzuki) and Sebastian Zonato (Husqvarna) completing the top five qualifiers for the Superfinal. In the overall standings, D’Aniello finished second, with Paolo Ermini (Husqvarna) in third place.
In the SX Lite Main Event, Eugenio Barbaglia (Husqvarna) was crowned the new champion, ahead of Giacomo Bosi (GASGAS) and Davide Brandini (KTM). However, Samuele Bernardini (Honda) stole the spotlight, winning the race for the second consecutive day. He finished ahead of Barbaglia, with Bosi in third place. Kevin Cristino (Fantic) overcame an early crash to recover and qualify for the Superfinal. In the Superfinal, Bernardini claimed the Tissot Holeshot and took the lead, leaving his rivals to battle for the remaining podium spots. Cristino overtook Clochet, while Zonta recovered to secure third place, behind Cristino and Bernardini, who emerged as the standout performer of EICMA 2024's Supercross.
The intense and unpredictable 85cc race saw Luis Santeusanio (KTM) win the Main Event, followed by Francesco Assini (GASGAS) and Simone Beccari (Husqvarna). Maxim Zimmerman (Husqvarna) initially led but was overtaken by Santeusanio, who maintained his position until the checkered flag. Beccari’s third-place finish earned him the championship title, with Elia Fulco (KTM) and Samuele Brandini (KTM) completing the season in second and third place, respectively. In the 125cc Main Event, newly crowned champion Giorgio Orlando (Yamaha) repeated his Saturday success, finishing ahead of Stanislav Pojar (KTM) and Paolo Martorano (KTM). In the championship standings, Orlando ended with maximum points, followed by Andrea De Luca (KTM) and Michael Tocchio (KTM). Despite starting fourth, Orlando quickly moved up and made a decisive pass to secure victory.
MotoLive 2024 concluded with a thrilling freestyle show in the freestyle area. The event featured jaw-dropping stunts and trial performances, culminating in Maurizio Perin’s spectacular Buggy Back Flip. Stuntmen entertained the audience throughout the weekend, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the next edition.
