End of season 2015 Friday evening at the usual Mathis restaurant of Fiorenzuola d'Arda, it took place the traditional ending season dinner with the athlets and staff members of Merida Italia Team. The best situation to track the final analysis of the 2015 activity.
For the society from Piacenza the 2015 season has been difficult since the beginning, when the loss of some important sponsor caused heavy problems to the Team, that on the other hand had managed it in the best way. Although it was a hard misfortune, but it hasn't stopped athletes and team members from pursuing the seasonal goals without losing fortitude. Regarding the results, it is possible to state that the main aims have been reached. Indeed, remembering what was told during the Team presentation, the purpose of Merida Italia Team was the one to see growing its five Under23 in International XCO races. It's clear that in a different way they all reached this aim. Alessandro Naspi (Italian Champion Juniores 2014) at his first year in UN23 category showed an unexpected performances levels. Unfortunately he hasn't been costant because of the high school final exam, but in several occasion Alessandro has been able to show off high level performances, like in the World Cup stages when starting from the background he came back so near to the score positions. Gioele Bertolini, 1995 class, is the most talentous of the crew, as his palmares shows, and was the most constant during the 2015 season. In
effect, his developments are evident from the results, not only in Italy but also in International events, like the top ten in some World Cups and the 6th position in both European and World Championships. Stefano Valdrighi and Mattia Setti, both 1994 class, showed a bigger step forward in their performances than last year. Stefano has been not so strong in some National competitions, but in every International events, World Cup, European and World Championships, he has been able to show his real potential. Mattia in several situations hasn't been so lucky. For example in the first race of the season in Maser, where he broke the chain while he was riding in second position. Although those inconvenients, he put in evidence his improvements, which have brought him to the European Championships with the National Team jersey. Lorenzo Samparisi, at his last UN23 year, is the one that shows the smaller improvements, probably due to the pressure from being at the last year of this category, and he has not been able to perform at his real potential. Even though his performances have not been so costant, but however, he has reached European and World Championships national jersey, thanks to the trust and the relationship with the Team and with the National Team coach. For everyone this was the last season with Merida Italia Team jersey. Effectively after the Italian Championship in Volpago del Montello (witched race for all riders), the guys have been advised from Marco Boccellari, team manager, that the team cannot face the 2016 program due to the heavy budget reduction, so they could manage to find another solution for the next season. It’s important to thank firstly the sponsor that supported the Team the most: Merida Italy, DRC, NorthWave, Vifra, Selle Italia, ESI Grips, Mitas-Rubena Tyres and BSC. Secondly, a big thanks goes to the all the staffmembers, the mechanincs Gigi Prevedini, Mauro Rocca and Francesco Niccoli, the girls that works with the secretary Antonella Boschiroli and Maria Giulia Boccellari, then the trainers Domingo Copelli, Angelo and Bruno Ferrari. Lastly Ettore Niccoli and Marco Boccellari, the ones with the mayor managing responsabilities. After all, thanks to all the fans of Merida Italia Team, a modern evolution of the historic Hard Rock Race Team, that support the crew via the facebook page and directly at the events.