EnduroItalia

      (http://www.enduro-abc.com/uploads/images/EWC_2011_PORTUGAL_DAY_02_AHOLA_01.JPG)   Mika AHOLA (Copyright Mathew)   AUBERT and REMES throw open the Championship…   The traditional inaugural round of the Championships “Spain / Portugal” came to a close today in the Vale De Cambra, much to the relief of the riders who have been harangued by 4 days of intense competition.  The dust, the heat, the deep ruts and the rugged terrain made this second day of the POLISPORT GP of Portugal a very difficult one indeed.  The falls were numerous and spectacular, especially in the extreme special where more than 5000 spectators were able to appreciate the technical know-how of the best enduro riders in the world.   The German Marcus KEHR (KTM) was one of the first to abandon from as early as the Enduro Test.  Diagnosis: fractured metacarpus.  And in this same special, another great of the Enduro 3 category, the Frenchman Sébastien GUILLAUME (HVA) will make a mistake and will come out of it with a dislocated shoulder.  A hard knock for the vice champion of the world, already having been injured this winter on the same shoulder and who therefore sees all hope of grabbing the world title disappear…… In this Enduro 3 category, the “KNIGHT / NAMBOTIN / AHOLA” trio follows its incredible battle throughout the whole day in furious spates.     Despite some intestinal concerns, Mika AHOLA (FIN - HM HONDA) showed his class during the 9 timed sections and as always, finished with an exceptional lap which enabled him to beat David KNIGHT (GB - KTM) and Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA - GAS GAS).   AHOLA resists KNIGHT and NAMBOTIN. 

   Joakim LJUNGGREN (SWE - HUSABERG) seems to be making progress on his HUSABERG 2 stroke and finishes 4th in front of his teammates TARKKALA (FIN) and MENA (ESP).  “I felt much better than yesterday and I didn’t make any mistakes in the extreme special.  But NAMBOTIN is really very strong and should be able to creep up in the next few races.  As a team, we are going to have to continue to work hard, in particular on the engine of my bike before the Italian Grand Prix.  ……” With a total of 97 points, Mika AHOLA is definitely the man to beat in E3.   Like yesterday, Johnny AUBERT (FRA - KTM) shines in this event, showing his class on his KTM 350 and blowing away the Enduro 2 category…. “I leave this Portuguese Grand Prix feeling reassured.  But the day really wasn’t easy and RENET put a lot of pressure on me at the beginning of the race.  I reclaimed 12 points from Antoine MEO with this double success and as the season is still long,  I am still hopeful despite the letdown in Spain.” Pierre Alexandre RENET (FRA - HUSABERG) kept up until the half-way mark.  It is at this point that Antoine MEO (FRA - HVA), current category leader, put in some serious speed and stole the 2nd place on the podium from the HUSABERG representative. Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP - KTM) finishes with a convincing 4th place.         (http://www.enduro-abc.com/uploads/images/EWC_2011_PORTUGAL_DAY_02_REMES_01.JPG)    Eero REMES (Copyright Mathew)   First victory for REMES   If the Enduro 2 category appears to be a French only race, the Enduro 1 seems to be reserved for the Finnish riders. Eero REMES (KTM), with his jockey build, managed a very good race and wins outright his first Grand Prix of the season and above all reminds his fellow countryman, Juha SALMINEN (HVA) that he will be an important rival for the world title.  But, Juha SALMINEN remains the big favourite for this category.. “This has been a good weekend for me and finishing 2nd today suits me to the ground since I really rode a lot less well than yesterday, particularly in the extreme special. I couldn’t expect a better result but I leave with good points, which is the most important thing. “    Matti SEISTOLA (FIN - HVA) thought he would be finishing third allowing Finland to achieve an impressive triple on the podium, but a faulty electric cable at  the end of the race, prevented him from achieving a podium position and therefore this fell instead to Rodrig THAIN (FRA - HM HONDA) ahead of Thomas OLDRATI (ITA - KTM) 4th, of whom we expected a little more…..   Not leading since the beginning of the season, the world Juniors Vice Champion, Jeremy JOLY (FRA-HM HONDA) also woke up in the JUNIORS category and delivered an impressive duel with the Finnish Anti HELLSTEN (KTM). But Mika AHOLA’s protégé is currently untouchable and achieves a 4th consecutive victory with over 30 seconds lead…Satisfaction also for the YAMAHA O.PONS with an achievement by Victor GUERRERO (ESP) in 3rd place. Romain DUMONTIER (FRA - YAM) finishes a good 4th place, a position that had long been held by the unfortunate Benoit FORTUNATO (FRA - YAM) falling victim to a dislocated shoulder at the end of the race.    (http://www.enduro-abc.com/uploads/images/EWC_2011_PORTUGAL_DAY_02_HELLSTEN_01.JPG)    Antti HELSTEN (Copyright Mathew)   On the road to SICILY….   Yesterday a national hero, a little weak physically today, the very young Portuguese Luis OLIVEIRA (YAM) (18 years old) couldn’t repeat his victory of the day before in the FIM YOUTH CUP 125cc and it is the Italian Jonathan MANZI (KTM) who grabs his 3rd victory of the season.   No change in the women’s category where Ludivine PUY (FRA - GAS GAS) once again is ahead of Laia SANZ (ESP - HONDA), Blandine DUFRENE (FRA - GAS GAS) and Geraldine FOURNEL (FRA - KTM).   After two very exciting and dramatic Grand Prix, the MAXXIS FIM ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP caravan will be able to breathe,  take stock and analyse a very disputed start to the season.  The next Grand Prix in Italy is announcing itself already to be very important in the race to the title.  Until next time in FRANCAVILLA di SICILIA on the 14th and 15th of May for an explosive meet, at the foot of Mount ETNA!!