Paddock News
Never two without three…
After a long trip of 1,100 km through Spain, everyone is now arrived at
Vale de Cambra, in the south of Porto for the second Grand Prix of the
season. While the riders recognize the special tests and mechanics prepare
the bikes, it's time for us to do a roundup of news from the paddock...
Success
ABC Communication, the FIM, the teams and the riders were keen to highlight
the excellent work produced by the Bassella Experiences and Moto Club
Solsonès during this opening Grand Prix. Indeed, Pau SOLER and his team
have put together an excellent and beautiful race while paying special
attention to the public. "Bassella Experiences has already put the bar
very high in the race for the 2014 Best Organizer title!" admitted
Alain BLANCHARD. A season that started pretty well...
A Portuguese can hide another
While we put a lot of hope on Luis OLIVEIRA (P - Honda) in the battle for
the Junior title, it is another Portuguese who has been shinning in Solsona.
Indeed, Diogo VENTURA, newcomer in the paddock under the Gas Gas awning has
impressed in his first Grand Prix. The European Junior Champion in 2013
signed an 8th and a 4th place in Catalonia and therefore advanced to sixth
in the standings. At this rate we might see very quickly VENTURA climbing
the podium, especially now as he is the local rider this weekend. But
OLIVEIRA will also have to heart to shine in front of his audience...
Injured list
The championship has start for only a week and already the infirmary of the
EWC is well stocked. Indeed, Martin LARSSON (S - HVA), foot, Julien GAUTHIER
(F - Sherco), shoulder, and Pukka DURAN (COL - KTM), forearm, joined Jessica
JONSSON (S - Kawasaki) on the injured list while the French Romain DUMONTIER
(Yam - Foot), Loïc LARRIEU (HVA - Finger), Nicolas DEPARROIS (Honda -
Thumb), Swede Joakim LJUNGGREN (HVA - Knee) and Italian Dawid CIUCCI (TM -
Shoulder) are injured but have still decided to ride in the Grand Prix
Polisport of Portugal...
Nuvolari
After TV 3 Catalunya, the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship will also be
broadcasted in Italy by the motorsports channel Nuvolari TV. Without toll
now, Nuvolari will be on channels 44 of the satellite and 224 of the DTT
Canale...
Mas Codina
For three seasons, the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship has a sparkling
sponsor! Riders celebrate their victories by "uncorking" a bottle
of cava Mas Codina. And Toni GARRIGA, director of the Catalan firm from
Puigdalbert in the Penedès region in the south of Barcelona, had made the
trip to Solsona and said he was delighted and overwhelmed by the force of
attraction of such a Championship!
New team
This season, a new team has just landed in the EWC paddocks... Managed by
Emilio COMOTTI and sponsored by a Swiss firm, the former Motorace team
became Marquis Motorace. Based in Treviso and composed of experienced Simone
ALBERGONI (I - E3), the returning Mirko GRITTI (I) as well as young guns
Guido CONFORTI (I) and Nicolas PELLEGRINELLI (I), this new structure is
equipped with KTM prepared by the "Bergamo sorcerer" Bruno
FERRARI... assets of choice for an ambitious project.
The Bike Mat
Polisport
On the occasion of its Grand Prix of Portugal, Polisport present a
revolutionary new product. The "Bike Mat" allows each owner of a
motorcycle to have a perfect "carpet" under the bike. You can put
there your tools in appropriate compartments and it also allows you to
recover used oil with absorbent mousse. A product that every motorcycle fan
should have in his garage...
Mika Ahola "Brave One" Trophy
The least we can say is that for the third edition of this award, in honor
of the late Mika AHOLA and rewarding the best rider in the Enduro Test, is
very tight... and very French! Four French riders are in the top four:
Pierre-Alexandre RENET (HVA), Antoine MEO (KTM), Christophe NAMBOTIN (KTM)
and Johnny AUBERT (Beta). And the first three of these are grouped in just
five points with a small advantage for the Husqvarna rider (37 pts) over MEO
(35 pts) and NAMBOT'(32 pts)... But behind the pack is not far and has
certainly not said its last word. This promises an explosive battle for the
belt awarded to the winner of the trophy!
Special Test
For this third edition of the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship in Vale
de Cambra after 2008 and 2011, the Special Tests are located in the same
location they were 3 years ago. The Cross and the Enduro Test are close to
the Polisport headquarters, in Vila Cova de Perrinho, while the very rocky
Xtreme, will always be in Algeriz but in the reversed way and that already
gives some cold sweats to some riders as Mathias BELLINO (FRA - HVA) who
admits "having lived a hell in this special test three years ago for
one of his first GP..." Now more comfortable in this type of special
test, the 2012 Junior World Champion seeks to quickly tempt fate!
Better late than never
It was ten years since the Beta Boano team ran after a Grand Prix victory.
And the long wait was finally satisfied at the Grand Prix AMV Seguros of
Catalunya with not less than four wins are now coming to adorn the prize
list of the Italian team. Two wins in Junior through the new Brit recruit
Danny MCCANNEY and two wins in the FIM Youth Cup 125cc with the extremely
fast Davide SORECA (I) were the pride of Jarno BOANO and a whole team during
the opening round of the Championship which also saw the firm Beta shine in
Junior!.
