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GP Maxxis of Greece – Kalambaka May 9th/10th/11th Stars will shine on Meteor foothill! After a strong start to the 2014 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship in Spain and Portugal, the stars of the EWC now head to of Kalambaka in Greece for the third round of the series... Greece has a strong tradition with the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship having hosted a race almost every season for the past 10 years. A "fallen from heaven" place... and blessed by the gods! After Kastoria (2013) the EWC moves to Kalambaka located in the Northwest of the country. Kalambaka is wedged between a mountain and lowland famous Meteor on which were built the Orthodox monasteries. Meteors are, from the writings of the ancients, rocks sent to earth by heaven to allow ascetics to withdraw and pray. The monasteries perched on the heights of these masses of rock are some of the most attractive sites in Greece. At the end of the Byzantine period and during the Turkish domination, the monastic state became the refuge of the persecuted and turned into a centre of Byzantine art from the eleventh century. This activity peaked during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when the decline of the Byzantine era began. Of the 24 monasteries built over the centuries, only 5 are today inhabited: The Great Meteor, Varlaam, Agia Trias, Agios Stephanos and Roussano. Each year, millions of visitors flock to this strange geological phenomenon, which is a UNESCO protected site. Kalambaka (12,000 inhabitants) is a picturesque and lively small town and is a stronghold of Greek tourism. It’s ideally suited to host the Grand Prix Maxxis of Greece. An event that in 2011 received the award for the best organization of the year. Under the guidance of AMOTOE (Greek Federation of Motorcycling), M.A.S.K, the local Moto Club, is the organiser of the third round of the season on the strength of its volunteers and its president Sotiris POULIOS. A track of 58 km at the foot of the prestigious Meteor has been set out by local enduro riders who chose, as in 2011, to organize the Enduro Test (7 kms), the Cross Test (4 kms) and the Xtreme Test (2 kms) on a former military camp located less than two kilometres from Kalambaka. This choice will allow spectators to easily attend all three special tests and revel in non-stop entertainment throughout the four laps. The KTM Super Test will be held on Friday evening from 19.00 in the city centre. After a long trip by flight, road or boat, the competitors of the Grand Prix Maxxis of Greece are ready to fight in the beautiful surroundings offered by Kalambaka and Meteor...
In Enduro 3, Ivan CERVANTES (ESP - KTM) arrives in Kalambaka with the perfect score of 80 points and aims to remain on the top step of the podium. But with teammate Matt Phillips (AUS) keen to close the gap to CERVANTES, the Spaniard can’t afford to relax. Enjoying a strong set of results at rounds one and two Finland’s Matti Seistola has the ability to put a stop to KTM’s win streak while Mathias Bellino (FRA-HVA) will certainly be in the mix for victory. Luis CORREIA (P - Beta) aims for his first podium result of 2014. Jeremy JOLY (FRA - KTM) and Antoine BASSET (FRA - Gas Gas) are hoping to break inside the top five while Aigar LEOK (EST - TM), Fabien PLANET (F - Sherco) and Simone ALBERGONI (I - KTM) will be looking to improve. After winning all four days in Catalonia and Portugal on his KTM 250 EXC-F, Christophe NAMBOTIN (F - KTM) has silenced all observers who wondered if he really was suited for the "small bikes" of the Enduro 1 class. Now his goal is simply to build on this winning momentum as he aims for his third consecutive title. But his closest rivals Eero REMES (SF - TM) and Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP - KTM), supported by the Sherco men of Anthony BOISSIERE (F) and Jeremy TARROUX (F), will do their best to prevent the Frenchman from reaching the top step of the podium in Greece. Catalan’s Jaume BETRIU (E - HVA) was the surprise performer of the class at rounds one and two and will aim to improve on his good start to the season. Maurizio MICHELUZ (I - Suzuki), Edward HUBNER (D - KTM), Nicolas DEPARROIS (F - Honda), Rudi MORONI (I - KTM) and Kevin Rohmer (F - Yam) complete the top ten. Is SALVINI back? In the Enduro 2 class the duel between Antoine MEO (FRA - KTM) and Pierre-Alexandre RENET (FRA - HVA) should take a new dimension. Eight points behind Meo, the Husqvarna rider will give everything to reduce this gap even more. Steadily recovering from his pre season broken thumb, defending champion Alex SALVINI (I - Honda) will look to bridge the gap to the leading two. With two races under his belt, newly mounted Beta rider Johnny AUBERT (F - Beta) also has his sights set on recording a winning result in Greece. Behind these four men, Lorenzo SANTOLINO (E - Sherco) and Oriol MENA (E - Beta) should provide a high-flying fight for fifth. MONNI Manuel (I - HVA), Mirko GRITTI (I - KTM) and Romain DUMONTIER (F - Yam) will have to raise their game if they want to join in this battle while Jonathan BARRAGAN (E - HVA) and newcomer Jamie LEWIS (GB - HVA) should bring a little more spice to the already highly competitive class. Recovered from his recent knee injury Victor GUERRERO (ESP – KTM) makes a welcome return to competition in Kalambaka.
Alex SALVINI could join RENET and MEO in the fight for the victory this weekend Finally, in the Enduro Junior category it’s Beta Boano’s Danny MCCANNEY (GB - BETA) who leads the way. Claiming an impressive four wins from four starts, the Beta rider is hungry to for more success in Greece. But with Giacomo REDONDI (I - Beta), Jamie MCCANNEY (GB - HVA) and Loïc LARRIEU (FRA - HVA) close behind, MCCANNEY wont have an easy time of things. Behind them, Nicolo MORI (I - KTM), Diogo VENTURA (P - Gas Gas), Eloi SALSENCH (ESP - KTM) or Alessandro BATTIG (I - Honda) could join in the fight for a podium result. In FIM Youth Cup 125cc, Davide SORECA (I - Yam) controls the points lead over Jérémy MIROIR (F - Yam), Michele MARCHELLI (I - KTM), Mikael PERSSON (S - KTM), Albin ELOWSON (S - HVA), Benjamin HERRERA (CL - TM), Jesper BORJESSON (S - HVA), Nicolas PELLEGRINELLI (I - KTM) and Nicholas TRAININI (I - KTM). After a three-year absence the Grand Prix Maxxis of Greece finally returns to Kalambaka. And with thousands of Greek fans expected to cheer on the stars of the EWC, the Moto Club M.A.S.K will no doubt make this race one to remember.
nformation: - Kalambaka (Thessaly); Share |
Can
CERVANTES and NAMBOTIN keep winning?
I