All content © Bob MuIIins

Punishing weather brings tough start to 2015 extreme enduro season for Husqvarna Motorcycles

Hell’s Gate, the first major extreme enduro of the year, ended in disappointment for the Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing duo of Graham Jarvis and Alfredo Gomez as ill fortune halted their progress.

Entering the first major race of the season, defending Hell’s Gate champion Jarvis had high hopes of claiming his fifth consecutive victory at the Italian event. Placing a comfortable second in the morning qualifying race, the Husqvarna rider showed he had the pace to run up front despite extremely difficult conditions.

Quickly working his way into contention once the main event began, Jarvis took control of the race lead midway through the opening lap. Losing his footing while passing through deep water soon after the start of the second lap resulted in the British rider drowning his engine.

Losing up to 30 minutes having been forced to return to the paddock in order to re-start his drowned bike, he bravely battled on to stay in the race. But with the water playing havoc with his engine, Jarvis was regrettably forced to call it a day at the end of lap three.

Also falling foul of the weather conditions, Gomez too endured a difficult outing at Hell’s Gate. Fourth during the qualification race, the Spaniard began the main event in confident spirits.

Taking control of the race lead shortly after the start, the Husqvarna rider pushed hard to try and break away from the chasing pack. But with the unforgiving conditions catching him out, a small mistake damaged his bike. With his bike’s performance worsening due to the harsh weather conditions, Gomez too saw his race come to a premature end.

The Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing extreme enduro team now look to reverse their fortune at The Tough One, March 7.