Pignotti battles with fractured wrist for second S2 GP place in Spain

2008-06-22 11:05
Veteran Italian KTM S2 rider Attilio Pignotti on Sunday showed his strength and experience when he was able to secure second place in the Grand Prix of Spain in Valladolid riding through the pain of a fractured wrist.

Pignotti put in an obstinate battle for his podium place despite the micro fracture in his left wrist in a race he described "as the most difficult of my life".

Pignotti was already in the forefront in free time practice and was third in the final official qualifying, split into two stages after a thunderstorm stopped action on Saturday afternoon, and in the super pole. On a course where it was difficult to overtake Attilio had a good start in race one and was in fifth place but had to concentrate hard on making no mistakes because of the pain in his wrist. In the end he decided to sit out the race in fourth place and concentrate on collecting points. He was second at the start of race two with only Adrien Chareyre in front but Gozzini made an aggressive attack only to crash out fighting against Mariani. Pignotti was able to finish the race in second place for third overall. Attila is now third in the standings, training leader Adrien Chareyre by 37 points.

Results Round Three
1. Adrien Chareyre, France, Husqvarna
2. Attilio Pignotti, Italy, KTM
3. Gerald Delepine, Belgium, Husqvarna
4. Davide Gozzini, Italy, TM
5. Massimo Beltrami, Italy, Aprilia

Standings after Round Three of Eight
1. Adrien Chareyre, France, 140 points
2. Davide Gozzini, Italy, 127
3. Attilio Pignotti, Italy, KTM, 103
4. Gerald Delepine, Belgium, 97

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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