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The turning point of the season!
Three days after the fifth round of the Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World
Championship that took place in the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona (Spain),
let’s have a quick look to this penultimate race full of emotions… and
surprises!
Record
Previously held by Brazil and its 10 000 spectators, the record has been
beaten last end of week. Indeed, the Catalan organizers RPM has announced
that 11 000 spectators has attended to the 15th edition of Barcelona
SuperEnduro. While for two years, the numbers were down in the Catalan city,
the 2014 edition has been exceptional and the public had for its money from
start to finish…
Raining stars
The stars were not only on the track built by Carlos MAS in the Palau Sant
Jordi on Sunday evening! Indeed, there were stars also in the crowd. Auto
and Moto Dakar 2014 winner Nani ROMA and Marc COMA were presents just like
the GUERRERO’s brothers, Cristobal and Victor, and the Moto GP stars Pol
and Aleix ESPARGARO. The heroes of the last Dakar, Catalan proud, have been
cheered on their arrival on the track. To note also the presence of Belo
Horizonte and Tours track designer and boss of the Endurocross, Eric
PERONNARD…
Super Pole powered by Akrapovic
This 5th edition of the Super Pole powered by Akrapovic will remain maybe as
the most exciting and indecisive of the season. Indeed, the suspense was on
till the arrival of the last rider who was Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL – KTM). And
for the second time in a row, it’s Jonny WALKER (GB – KTM) who clinched
the Super Pole three point’s bonus ahead of Taddy BLAZUSIAK and Alfredo
GOMEZ (E – HVA)… In the standing, the four times World Champ is still
leading with 11 points over his teammate, WALKER, who has 8 points…
Nothing’s done and the suspense will be at its top on Saturday, February
22nd during the Grand Prix AMV of France.
 Hero
Beginning of last week, we heard that Alfredo GOMEZ underwent to
appendicitis surgery and will not participate to the Grand Prix of Spain.
Then, surprisingly, last Thursday, the rider announced on his Twitter that
the doctor gave him the agreement to race in the Palau Sant Jordi. And he
was right to try his luck, because even diminished; the rider from Madrid
has scored a nice 3rd position during the Super Pole and then realized a
tough Grand Prix (2/7/3) and was not so far from stealing the win to Taddy
BLAZUSIAK in the first heat! Cheered as a hero by the Palau Sant Jordi 11
000 spectators, the official HVA had a lot of courage and an enormous mental
strength during this three races. He is still in the race for the final
podium in Tours (France) on Saturday, February 22nd…
Back
Since the start of the season, Jonny WALKER seemed setback. The young Brit
never found the good rhythm and had to fight for the Top 5. But since Belo
Horizonte, things are much better for the KTM rider. Fast in Mineirinho but
not rewarded (4th), he has been better in the Arena VFG in Guadalajara (3rd
+ the Super Pole). In Barcelona, despite a crash in the start of the first
heat, WALKER seemed in rhythm since the Free Practice and has recovered his
speed. The rider from Keswick has signed a nice second rank and the Super
Pole. Too far from the leading duo in the overall, Taddy teammate will have
to continue his efforts if he wants to keep his 3rd place…
The reds were in the place
Catalunya, fief of the brand of Ramon PUENTE: Gas Gas. By using this Grand
Prix of Spain in Barcelona, the firm from Girona has organized a press
conference to announce his new Enduro Extreme team with Dani GIBERT (E) as
leader, supported by Dani OLIVERAS (E) and Melcior FAJA (E). And for this
SuperEnduro, the team managed by Jordi JORDANA has aligned a nice team.
Indeed, the three riders aforesaid was joined by a new comer, Oriol MENA
(E). Unfortunately, only MENA and GIBERT get their cards for the finals. But
we have to admit that it’s a pleasure to see a new brand investing in
SuperEnduro after KTM, Husqvarna, Sherco and Beta… Very auspicious!
TV3
This year, TV3 Catalunya put a lot of way up for this fifth stage. Indeed,
not less than 9 cameras surrounded the track. Not an overtake or a big crash
have been missed by the cameras of the Spanish television. What delight all
viewers…
A risky choice
 Arriving
at Barcelona, David KNIGHT has decided to trade his Sherco 300 4 strokes for
a 300 2 strokes; a bike trade that surprised everybody. The Brit said he was
faster and easier on the 2 strokes and think it was the perfect bike for the
Barcelona track. But after a 4th final rank, and more than 21 points lost
over his rival Taddy BLAZUSIAK (the KTM rider has now a 39 points lead over
the Sherco rider), a lot of people questions KNIGHTER choice… It is
legitimate to wonder if the giant from the Isle of Man has made the good
choice changing his bike two rounds before the end.
World Champ’
It sufficed to Giacomo REDONDI (I – Beta) to finish a heat ahead of Jamie
MCCANNEY (GB – HVA) to be titled. And that’s what he did signing a nice
2nd rank behind the sensational Swedish Andreas LINUSSON (KTM). Yet, the
Brit could have delayed it if he had not hit a tree trunk only a meter
before the finish line! With this new World title, his second after the 2012
FIM Youth Cup 125cc title, “RED” will have to join the Prestige class
next season. But the new Beta rider is decided to test himself during the
final in France in order to see if he can fight with the stars of the
discipline….
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