|
|
|
|
All content © Bob MuIIins |
||
 
Grand Prix of Brazil – Belo Horizonte February, 28th Cody Webb wins GP of Brazil! After Guadalajara, the Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship returned to the Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte for the 5th round of the season on Saturday, February 28th. In the Prestige class Cody Webb set the fastest time in Free Practice A. David Knight was 2nd Kyle Redmond was 3rd. Jonny Walker 4th, Taddy Blazusiak 5th, Danny McCanney 6th, Dani Gibert 7th, Alfredo Gome 8th, Mario Roman 9th, Paul Bolton 10th, Julio Elizario Ferreira 11th, Ian Blythe 12th and Romulo Bottrel 13th. European riders Andreas Linusson, Ty Tremaine and Gethin Humphreys were the quickest in the 9 strong Junior class Free Practice but Gethin Humphreys was injured and he could not make the grid for the Timed practice session. The quickest in the National Free Practice Group A was Gabriel Badaro and in Group B it was Felipe Carlette. Badaro and Carlette was quickest again in the Timed Practice. In their second Free Practice the Prestige class upped their pace by 10% but Cody Webb was still the fastest. David Knight was not feeling 100% going into the race but he always gives 100% and he set the fastest time in the Timed Practice. After the interval the main races began in ernest. Once again Jonny Walker won the Superpole from David Knight and Cody Webb. Taddy Blazusiak was placed 5th after a crash in the "Fire Pit". Walker was also hot to close the gap on Blazusiak in the overall standings and he took the holeshot in Race 1 but a collision with David Knighyt allowed Cody Webb to slip by and take the flag, Walker was 2nd, Knight 3rd, Blazusiak 4th and Bolton 5th. In the 2nd race the starting order on the grid is reversed and the faster riders have to battle their way passed the slower one's. Spain's Dani Gibert enjoyed his moment in the sun as he emerged as the early leader until the relentless pressure from Jonny Walker overwhelmed him and Walker went on to win. Webb was runner up, Blazusiak 3rd, Knight 4th and Gibert 5th, Paul Bolton got caught up other people's dramas, In the Final Race of the night Jonny Walker was pushing hard for his first SuperEnduro with Cody Webb close behind they collided going into the first corner. Walker was quick to remount but he caught a banner in his rear wheel and he had to retire. Paul Bolton was also unlucky when his chain derailed in the rock section. Meanwhile at the front David Knight took control of the race and despite a final lap crash he took the win, Taddy recovered from 5th to finish 2nd and Webb did very well to finish 3rd and secure his debut SuperEnduro victory. With his final race win, Knight claimed the runner-up result while Blazusiak completed the top three. Webb said “After getting so close numerous times for the overall victory it feels great to have finally got my first win in SuperEnduro. Coming into the final race I was tied on points with Walker for the overall but then we crashed in the first corner. I got going again but crashed a second time. Somehow I managed to claw my way back to the third and it was enough for the overall.”
Understandably Walker was bitterly disappointed after being close to his first overall victory: I’m gutted to have lost out on winning my first overall victory. I’ve been really ill in the build up to tonight and wasn’t at my best but still managed to get a good result in race one and then win race two. It was all on the line for the overall in the final race and unfortunately I crashed with Cody in the first turn. I then got a trackside banner stuck in my wheel – locking it up. I couldn’t get it out alone and outside assistance resulted in being disqualified. It’s been a bad end to what should have been a great night.” In the Junior category the competition has narrowed to a two-way battle for the title with America Ty Tremaine and Andreas Linusson separated by only one 1 point going into the final round. Prestige points Junior points The 2015 Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship concludes with the final round of the series in Cahors, France, Saturday, March 14th. More at www.enduro-abc.com |
Blazusiak, who is on the cusp of taking the title, said his main focus for
the night was to stay safe. “I knew the other guys were hungry to win and
I didn´t want to get dragged into the fight and so I set a pace for myself
that I was comfortable with. I rode three good races and managed to still
get on the podium. But most importantly I’ve got a 42-point lead entering
the final round in France.”