MMR files the first round of the Aprilia RS660 Trophy with promising results from Mugello

After the official presentations at the start of the year, the Maurer Racing Team MMR officially took to the track for the first round of the season with the team’s four standard bearers Cristian D’Arliano, Luca Coccioni, Daniel Lanuza and Rohan Van Rooyen.

The Mugello weather did not make the drivers’ debut any easier, as they were constantly grappling with driving rain for the entire duration of the weekend. In the only meaningful free practice session on Friday, the drivers concentrated on finding the best set-up for the weekend and the wet race.

The first qualifying session of the year was not easy for the MMR drivers, struggling with a track that was constantly changing between wet and dry, especially at the end. Eleventh place for D’Arliano, thirteenth for Van Rooyen, fifteenth and sixteenth times for Coccioni and Lanuza. Times and positions that were in fact worth the starting grid because of a completely wet Q2, useless for improving one’s lap times but at the same time fundamental for testing the race pace, which was more than promising with second place for Coccioni, seventh for Van Rooyen, eighth for Lanuza and tenth for D’Arliano.

The good feelings on the water then accompanied the drivers on the starting grid for Sunday’s race, which was animated by Mugello’s pouring rain. At the start it was Van Rooyen who surprised everyone by lapping fifth at the first corner, remaining anchored in the group of the leaders. Unfortunately, a crash at the worst point of the track put an end to the race of the South African, until then among the best in the category. Smart race for all the MMR riders, good at not making mistakes and bringing home bikes and championship points. Seventh place for D’Arliano in a sprint, tenth position for Daniel Lanuza at his first race in the wet in high wheels, eleventh and in full recovery Luca Coccioni.

Massimiliano Morlacchi – Team MMR Owner: “A weekend with these conditions is never easy to manage, both on and off the track, but we managed to do our best. All the staff worked tirelessly to put our drivers in the best conditions and I want to thank them for that. I’m happy with the results of Cristian, Daniel and Luca, a pity we didn’t see Rohan’s race in the top positions but he too made progress throughout the weekend. I would like to thank all the partners, Maurer and the guests who came to see us despite the weather”.

  Team MMR Press Office