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« inserita:: 30 Giugno 2008, 14:01:46 » |
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Sand, dust and high speed for the first day!
14 June 2008
In enduro, the rain is generally dreaded. But on this GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF POLAND, it was frankly awaited. The showers fallen Friday fixed a little the dust to offer better conditions to this first day of competition, counting for the fourth event of 2008 MAXXIS FIM WEC. On a soft and sandy ground, the Finnish riders put forward their experience, but not only. Contenders from Southern Europe and especially French defended themselves. In the four categories of the championship, the winners are Ivan Cervantes, Juha Salminen, Sébastien Guillaume and Marc Bourgeois.
Whereas the best sand specialist Mika AHOLA (FIN-HON) was awaited on the top of the E1, it is finally Ivan CERVANTES (ESP-KTM) who makes the surprise by dominating the Finn comfortably, with a 15 seconds advance. With gear selector problems, Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP-YAM) lets Marc GERMAIN (FRA-YAM) and Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-YAM) fight for the third place. 19 seconds faster, the French signs his first podium of the season. For his come back to the competition, local Bartosz OBLUCKI (POL-HVA) has to give up on an engine breaking.
By losing 22 seconds on a tree crossing in the first extreme test, the E2 leader Johnny AUBERT (FRA-YAM) let definitively his rival Juha SALMINEN (FIN-KTM) ride towards the victory. With a metronomic regularity, the Finn imposes himself with more than one minute on Aubert and takes a revenge on the bad Spanish fate.
ITW Juha Salminen: "It was a good day, even if it was a long and hard race. For this event, I did not change anything in my preparation. It’s simple, I don’t have any choice for the championship. I must absolutely win to go up in the standings.”
Taken down from the leading duet, Alessandro BELOMETTI (ITA-KTM) climbs the third step of the podium, in front of Rodrig THAIN (FRA-TM) fourth. After a good start in the morning, Antoine MEO (FRA-HVA) knows the same misfortune than in Portugal and Spain. He has to give up for ignition problems. The other bad luck is for Jari MATTILA (FIN-HON). Victim of a fall in the Enduro Test, he would suffer from a fracture of the leg.
For the French Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA), the return to two strokes is synonymous of a true rebirth. Dominator from the first special test, the Husqvarna official rider did not weaken in front of the repeated attacks of Stefan MERRIMAN (AUS-APR) and Samuli ARO (FIN-KTM). He signs a first victory in ENDURO 3 this season.
Sebastien GUILLAUME: "I must recognize that it was hard for my mind after Spain and Portugal. With Fabrizio Azzalin, my team manager, we took the decision to make the jump back from 4T to 2T, on the bike I rode last year. It is true that I came here with a huge motivation. For me a new championship starts today, with this victory. I was leading all the day. I resisted to the pressure of Samuli, and for this I’m happy "
The boss of the category Samuli ARO (FIN-KTM) suffering of an injury to the left hand contracted in a home accident, he managed to save the second place of E3, fighting with Stefan MERRIMAN (AUS-APR), third for 6 seconds. To the classification of the day, follow Marko TARKKALA (FIN-KTM) and Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA-GAS).
On his little 125 cc Husqvarna, Marc BOURGEOIS (FRA-HVA) gave the maximum attack once again to win the Junior category over a sandy ground however greedy in power. As a specialist of this surface, Roni NIKANDER (FIN-KTM) turns upside down the usual hierarchy by intercalating himself between the two strong men of the category. A bad operation for Thomas OLDRATI (ITA-KTM), third. The Italian offers some precious points to his French rival in the race to the title.
Note that this GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF POLAND marks a new step in the way of ecology and environment. On the initiative of the Polish organizers and ABC Communication, the riders (among them Bartosz Oblucki, Ivan Cervantes or Stefan Merriman) planted 18 young trees symbolizing the nations represented on the WEC. In addition to restrictive noise measures, this action traduces the common wish of an enduro more respectful of the environment and the areas which it crosses.
Riding in Polish sand is not improvised, and from one day to the other, the same contenders animated the second round of the GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF POLAND, counting for the fourth race of 2008 MAXXIS FIM WEC. In spite of some raindrops, dust has once again constrained riders and mechanical teams to a great vigilance. The winners of this second day are Ivan Cervantes, Juha Salminen, Marko Tarkkala and Thomas Oldrati.
As yesterday in E1, Ivan CERVANTES (ESP-KTM) decided to take the orders of the race from the first special test to keep on first position all the day, resisting to the repeated attacks of Mika AHOLA (FIN-HON) in the morning. By making the difference in particular in the Cross Test, his speciality, Cervantes offers himself an impressive double victory with an advance of 23 seconds, and comes back seriously in the race for world crown.
Ivan Cervantes: "In each special test, the gap with Mika was tight, 3 or 4 seconds. I just fell once in the Cross Test, I loose 5 seconds, but for the rest I rode at my maximum. I was leading from the morning, and it was really important for me to win here, after having lost for nothing at home in Sitges. If I did not win the two days here, I would have taken a delay in the championship. From now, only 10 points separate us, and everything can happen.’
Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-YAM), third of the day, wanted to prove that he can still play the championship by keeping in contact with Ahola and Cervantes. Follow the two team-mates Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP-YAM), Maurizio MICHELUZ (ITA-YAM) and Marc GERMAIN (FRA-YAM) 6th after having fallen heavily.
In ENDURO 2, under conditions close to his native Finland, Juha SALMINEN (FIN-KTM) is unbeatable. If he will never recognize it, the KTM rider particularly prepared this Grand Prix, by working especially on the suspension settings. Salminen wins with a 41 seconds advance, by containing Johnny AUBERT (FRA-YAM) second. The French, tired, was not able to threaten his rival directly. The surprise of the day comes from Simo KIRSSI (FIN-BMW), third of the event. With an impressive last lap, the Finn signs an historical podium for him and for the young and dynamic BMW team. Physically fresher than the others, after his DNF on Saturday, Antoine MEO (FRA-HVA) finishes fourth, in front of Alessandro BELOMETTI (ITA-KTM) fifth. After a serious crash yesterday, the medical bulletin of Jari MATTILA (FIN-HON) appears positive. Although shocked, the solid Finn took the start of the race before to give up quickly for his security.
This second day of race marks the reaction of Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA-GAS) and Marko TARKKALA (FIN-KTM) in ENDURO 3. With their experience of the motocross, the two men were the fastest in the ruts today. Finally, Tarkkala wins by using his exceptional physical resources, he precedes the French for less than eight seconds.
Marko TARKKALA: "Everything has gone well for me today, no big mistake, so I’m really happy. I was just a little bit nervous because the times were tight all the day, but my riding did not weaken. I always fight for the plate of number 1. "
In spite of a bad start and a painful injury to the finger, Samuli ARO (FIN-KTM) realizes a hold-up by stealing the third final place in the end to Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA) fourth and Marcus KEHR (GER-KTM) fifth. Note that 4 two-strokes bikes occupy the Top 5 of E3.
Among Juniors, Thomas OLDRATI (ITA-KTM) already proved in the past that he was often faster the second day of race, when the track becomes bumpy. Fabio Farioli’s favourite thus wins logically the day, by making ones of his best times in the Enduro Test. His rival Marc BOURGEOIS (FRA-HVA) is slightly taken down, second at almost 30 seconds. Spanish Oriol MENA (ESP-KTM) ends third.
You will find all the detailed results, as well as the classifications of the BMW MOTORRAD XTREME TEST AWARDS and the HUSQVARNA JUNIOR
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