Red Bull KTM's ANtonio Cairoli started 2012 with a victory on Sunday. Image: KTM Images.

Red Bull KTM’s Antonio Cairoli won the Mantova Starcross International race in Italy over the weekend, victorious in the MX1 category.

The first international race of the year saw Cairoli win with 1-2-2 results, which was a solid way to commence 2012 for the defending world champion.

Cairoli took the MX1 glory ahead of Evgeny Bobryshev fellow Italian David Philippaerts overall in the MX1 class.

“I am really happy about everything today,” Cairoli said. “It was a nice race, also with the bike settings and everything else so it was a positive weekend and a good start for the season.

“I feel good on the track here, its one of my favorites and I always ride well here.”

A standout performer over the weekend was Red Bull KTM MX2 contender Jeffrey Herlings, who won the second moto overall ahead of Cairoli aboard the 250 SX-F.

“Today I was fast and I showed some good skills,” the Dutch rider said. “I had a good start in the first two motos but I was not so good in the third. I also managed to win the second moto and I beat some of the MX1 guys.”

Meanwhile, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1’s Clement Desalle dominated the season-opening Valence International Motocross in France for the second-successive year. He won ahead of Kawasaki’s Gautier Paulin and Steven Frossard.

The world championship season will commence in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, on 9 April.