Source: Supplied.

MXGP World Championship rookie Arnaud Tonus celebrated his first podium finish in the premier class with third place at the grand prix of Trentino last weekend and only a fortnight after registering a personal best with fourth position in Mexico.

The Swiss also chased eventual winner Tony Cairoli hard in the first moto and was within two seconds of a maiden chequered flag in just his sixth appearance in the class.

“It is weird to be up here and I didn’t expect it,” the 25-year-old said on what was the second appearance for Wilvo Yamaha on the rostrum this season – more than any other Yamaha team – and after he just failed to relegate Gautier Paulin to seventh in the second moto.

Tonus gained the silverware thanks to Cairoli’s GP-claiming move to pass Evgeny Bobryshev on the final circulation. “On the last few laps they put on the pitboard that I had to pass Gautier to be on the box and I was a bit frustrated, but they stopped me there [by the pitlane] and said we did it; so I have to thank Tony for that one!”

After a mediocre resumption of his grand prix career and first term on the 450s at Qatar (he was 14th) Tonus has continued to improve and Trentino marked a small milestone in the talented former Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider’s career. “This is a big step in the right direction for me,” he affirmed. “I had a good feeling on this track and I’m happy for the team because they have been working hard for this. It is a tough class and you need a good start.”