|
enduro
news |
|
|
Share |
|
|
Phillips & Husqvarna secure 2013 Enduro Junior World Title Matt Phillips ensured Team Husqvarna Monster Energy CH Racing had much to celebrate at the final round of the 2013 Enduro World Championship, held in St Flour, France, as the young Australian put the finishing touches to an incredible season, claiming the Enduro Junior World Championship title on his TE310R. In only his first year of EWC competition Matt secured seven day wins to eventually place 47 points clear at the head of his class. Entering the final round of the series with a commanding lead Matt's hopes a relatively straight forward run to the title were ended mid-way through day one when the heavens opened, causing near chaos. With some Enduro Junior class riders stranded out on the track and unable to finish the day, Matt on hi TE310R battled on to earn a well-deserved runner-up result and with it became the 2013 Enduro Junior World Champion. For Team Husqvarna Monster Energy CH Racing's Enduro 1 class riders Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola on their TE250R's the season's final GP proved to be a tough one. Marking the end of his incredible career, having announced his retirement from full-time competition only a few weeks prior to the event, the GP of France saw Salminen go head-to-head with team-mate Seistola with both riders hunting down the runner-up position in the Enduro 1 class. Separated by just a handful of points before the race, it was Salminen who eventually claimed the better result, emerging from the two days of competition with a 4/8 scorecard to secure second in the 2013 Enduro 1 World Championship. Finishing just one place behind Juha on both days Seistola, like many riders, saw a number of small mistakes hamper his performance but nevertheless still rounded out the championship third in the Enduro 1 class. In the Enduro 2 category Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino on his TE310R placed sixth and eighth respectively, results good enough to ensure he claimed seventh in the Enduro 2 World Championship. On day two Matt Phillips looked to have done enough to end the championship with a win, but was handed a one-minute penalty for accidentally running outside the track markers. Matt eventually placed fifth. Matt Phillips (Enduro Junior – TE310R): “Winning the Enduro Junior World Championship has been a great end to my first season in the EWC. All weekend the racing was good, and despite the wet weather at the end of day one I really enjoyed it. Danny McCanney was riding really well on day one, and I knew that a decent result would get me the title, so I pushed hard without going too crazy. Obviously the title was the most important thing, and to get it is just great. Starting the year not really knowing what the EWC was all about, to end it as the junior champion – it's just amazing. I really have to say a huge thanks to everyone in the team, they've been great to me and helped me so much. I really wanted to win the second day, and thought I had. With only four tests on day two the times were really tight. I was pushing hard but made a mistake on a corner and ran outside the tape. I didn't gain anytime but got penalised for it and dropped back to fifth. Despite that it's been an amazing event, and to now be a world champion is just great.” Juha Salminen (Enduro 1 – TE250R): “Results wise this hasn't been my best performance ever. It was tough to have to race against my teammate Matti for second in the E1 championship, but despite the fact we were fighting for eight and ninth on day two, I still managed to tie up second overall in the championship. For my last season in the EWC to get a runner-up result is perfect – it would be hard to get better. Day one was challenging – the rain made it interesting, but I enjoyed it. It rained at my first ever EWC race, so my career has ended with the same conditions. Fourth on day one was ok, it was the best I could do. I've enjoyed the race – it was certainly an interesting one!” Matti Seistola (Enduro 1 – TE250R): “It's been a difficult race. I liked the cross test, but I wasn't quite able to do what I hoped to do this weekend, which was to get second in the Enduro 1 championship. Unfortunately I made a mistake on the second lap – nothing major – but it cost me some positions and I ended up ninth. It's disappointing because I needed to beat Juha by a few places to finish the championship as runner-up. All in all the year has been up and down but to finish third is a good end to the season.” Results – Enduro World Championship, GP of France
Enduro 1 class rider Matti Seistola, and Enduro Junior rookie Matt Phillips, ensured a highly successful GP of Spain for the Husqvarna Factory Team by CH Racing, as both riders enjoyed victory at the third round of the 2013 Enduro World Championship. For Seistola a winning ride on day one on his TE250R saw the Finn return to the top step of an EWC podium for the first time since 2011. For Phillips, a double class win on his TE310R put the young Australian into the lead of the Enduro Junior World Championship. Marking the first of five Enduro World Championship events taking place in Europe the GP of Spain was for many one of the toughest EWC races for many years. With the extremely dry ground in and around Puerto Lumbreras quickly becoming heavily rutted, the incredibly fine, loose dust proved to be increasingly unpredictable, something that saw mistakes from riders in all classes. For Seistola, day one went extremely well. Taking advantage of an early mistake by Frenchman Antoine Meo and team-mate Juha Salminen, Matti took the class lead and looked set to claim the win. But a costly mistake mid-way through the day pushed the Finn from the top spot. Through determined riding Matti re-took the lead and held on for a well-deserved win. With things very much going Seistola’s way on day one, for Juha Salminen it was a very different story. Despite riding well, a costly mistake on the opening special test forced him to play catch up throughout the day, claiming an eventual fourth place result. Eventually only 11 seconds behind Seistola, Juha placed one position ahead of his championship rival Antoine Meo. Day two saw a reverse of fortunes for Seistola and Salminen. Day one winner Matti made two costly errors on the second lap, which effectively eliminated him from the battle for the podium positions. Eventually placing fifth, Seistola finished two places behind Salminen, who placed third. Joining Meo and Eero Remes on the podium, Juha, like many riders, was pleased to see the end of what was a demanding event. For Matt Phillips the GP of Spain ended in the best possible way with winning rides in the Enduro Junior class on both days. Finding the event extremely difficult, and despite making some big mistakes on day one, Matt gave his all and topped day one by an eventual 27 seconds before winning day two by seven seconds. Winning the opening four tests in the EJ class on day one set Phillips up perfectly for what would become his second ever EWC win. But despite his sizeable eventual winning margin it was anything but an ‘easy’ win for the youngster. A mistake on the final extreme test ensured everything was to play for on the day’s last enduro test. Putting in a mistake free ride Matt claimed a deserved win. Locked in a three-way battle throughout the second day with Italian Giacomo Redondi and Spaniard Mario Roman, Phillips kept his cool and delivered solid performances on each of the day’s 12 special tests. Starting strongly and remaining largely mistake free, in winning the day Matt moved himself to the top of the EJ championship standings. In the Enduro 2 class Lorenzo Santolino endured a tough home GP. Placing eighth on day one Santolino improved one position to seventh on day two, but like many found it hard to master the unpredictable Spanish terrain. Juha Salminen (Enduro 1 – TE250R): “It’s certainly not been an easy race. The conditions made it tough on everyone, and it wasn’t one of my favourite races. The ground was so dry that the tests were really unpredictable – things just didn't go as smoothly as they should have done for me. But I got a podium result on day two, so I’m pleased with that. I made a lot of mistakes during the first day, and that stopped me from finishing higher than fourth. I had some good tests, but I just couldn't find the perfect rhythm in the soft, dust. I was riding well, but the few mistakes that I made cost me a lot of time. It was great that Matti was able to win on day one, so all in all it’s not been too bad for us. Considering I’m not a big fan of the conditions I’m happy.” Matti Seistola (Enduro 1 – TE 250R): “It was a tough, tough race but apart from some mistakes things have been good. The first day was great. To win for the first time since 2011 was amazing. The whole team has been working really hard since the races in South America, so it was great to stand on top of the podium. I made one mistake on day one but I was able to come back from it to get the win. I felt like I was riding ok on the second day, but I wasn’t able to go any faster. On the second lap I crashed on the extreme and motocross tests and that was hard to recover from. The competition was really tight between myself, Eero Remes, Juha Salminen, and Cristobal Guerrero, and after I made the mistakes I wasn’t able to fight with them anymore. It was disappointing because without those two mistakes I could have been on the podium again.” Matt Phillips (Enduro Junior – TE 310R): “It feels so good to have won both days here in Spain. I spent some good time training with Matti Seistola before the race, and I was feeling confident. I knew what to expect from the race and the other guys in my class, but the conditions were tough. I’d say it was one of the hardest events I’ve ever raced, but to get two wins is amazing. The team did so much to help me this weekend, they really pushed me all the way to the end of the second day. I think I made as many mistakes as the other guys in my class, but I just kept pushing and pushing and things worked out great.” Lorenzo Santolino (Enduro 2 – TE 310R): “It’s not been the best race for me. I worked hard with the team before the race and was feeling good before the start, but it was so hard for me to find my confidence with the terrain. It was so difficult, and so easy to make mistakes. I pushed as hard as I could during both days and felt better towards the end of the second day, but it was a hard race.” Results – Enduro World Championship, GP of Spain
Last weekend the third round of the Spanish Enduro Championship took place in Antas, Almeria, which also many riders used as preparation for the Enduro World Championship GP of Spain held in six days in Puerto Lumbreras, Murcia. The MC 100 Millas de Antas in collaboration with MC El Peñón de Lubrín prepared nice and very technical special tests. The very hot weather also made the race even harder on all participants. In the E1 class the Husqvarna rider Lorenzo Santolino (TE250R) was battling all day with his World Championship competitor Cristobal Guerrero. In the end Lorenzo finished on the runner-up position. Thanks to this second place Lorenzo could catch up with Victor Guerrero, who came in third, in the championship standings with both having now 114 points. In the Junior Open class Ramon Quer Molgo also finished with a second place on the podium. The 22 points gained extend his championship lead. In the Junior Trofeo it was again the day of the Husqvarna riders. Like in Valverde almost one month ago four Husqvarnas finished in the top 5. This time it was Josep Garcia who took the victory followed by his Husqvarna teammates Marcelo Lopez in third, Raul Penuela in fourth and Miquel Pujiol in fifth.
Enduro World Championship – Round 2 – San Juan ( Argentina) The Husqvarna Factory Team by CH Racing squad brought their participation in the second round of the 2013 Enduro World Championship to a very positive close with Australian Matt Phillips claiming victory in the Enduro Junior class on day one, before going on to claim second on day two. In doing so the youngster moves into the runner-up position in the EJ championship standings. In the Enduro 1 class Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola both enjoyed a good event placing second and third respectively on both days aboard their TE250R machines, maintaining their places inside the top three of the championship. Every bit as dry as the championship’s opening event in Chile, the GP of Argentina offered a very different style of terrain. With a lose and stony enduro test and a dusty and slippery extreme test, the event’s motocross test was fast and flowing. With both the motocross and enduro tests relatively short racing was close in all classes during both days. For both Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola the GP of Argentina went very well, with both riders showing impressive speed and both claiming double podium results. Salminen placed the highest in second on both days, having challenged eventual E1 class winner Antoine Meo. Securing test wins on both Saturday and Sunday, Juha ended the event pleased with his performances. Seistola was also pleased with his weekend, having remained consistent throughout each day to secure two third place finishes. Claiming a test win on day two, the Finn placed just 20 seconds behind team-mate Salminen. In the Enduro 2 class Lorenzo Santolino’s event ended with a crash on the final special test. After placing ninth in class on day one, the Spaniard was heading for an improved result on day two before a costly mistake on the final enduro test resulted in him losing over half a minute. Lorenzo eventually placed in ninth. The team’s best result came from rookie Matt Phillips in only his second ever EWC race. Winning the Enduro Junior class on day one, Phillips overcame a frustrating start having crashed during the Friday night SuperTest. Going all out during the first day he was soon in contention with the class leaders before moving into the top spot and claiming the win. Day two saw Matt place as runner-up, just 14 seconds behind the winner. Matt is currently placed second in the EJ championship standings, three points adrift of the class leader. Juha Salminen (Enduro 1 – TE250): "It’s been a good
weekend for me. I can't complain about two runner-up results. Of course
I would have liked to win, but I had a few small problems and they cost
me some time. I made a strong start to the first day but then I got some
kind of plastic in my rear break on one of the extreme tests, which cost
me time. After that it was impossible to catch back up to Meo. The
second day went really well. I had a great battle with Meo, everything
went perfectly but he was just faster in the final enduro test. There
wasn’t much to separate us on the first couple of laps, then I was
faster, and then finally he was quickest and got the win. Apart from the
one fifth place result in Chile, which was disappointing, three
runner-up results is a good start to the championship." Matt Phillips (Enduro Junior – TE 310): "The GP of Argentina has been great for me - it’s my second world championship event and I got my first ever win on day one. I’m really pleased about that, and have to say a huge thanks to the team for giving me this opportunity and helping me so much. I made a mess of the Friday night SuperTest and lost 13 seconds when I crashed, but I think that actually helped me. I figured I had nothing to lose on day one and by the end of the second lap I’d caught up to the guys at the front of my class. It was close between three of us, but I managed to win by six seconds, so that was great. The second day was good. The first couple of laps went well but I had a big crash on the going. I kind of flattened off after that and just couldn’t really charge back to the guy that won. Again things were really close, but I really enjoyed it. This weekend’s been great. I knew what to expect, and really got stuck into the racing. I’m getting on well with the team, I’m just looking forward to the next race in Spain."
Husqvarna riders ready for EWC’s Argentinian adventure With the opening round of the FIM Enduro World Championship now successfully completed, the Husqvarna Factory Team by CH Racing is looking forward for round two in San Juan, Argentina. After two podium results for the team’s Enduro 1 class riders Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola in Chile, both riders are now focused on building on their momentum in Argentina, and going all out to secure yet more podium success. Currently joint second overall in the championship standings with teammate Seistola, eight-time Enduro World Champion Salminen is eager to fight for victory in the softer terrain of Argentina. Collecting a race win in the E2 class in Argentina in 2012, Salminen knows he has what it takes to win this weekend. Fast, confident and confident in his ability, Salminen will be hoping to use this GP to return to his winning ways. Placing third on day one before ending day two in fourth overall, Seistola was a model of consistency in Chile. Despite a costly crash in the opening extreme test on day one, the Finn fought back to finish on the podium in third. On day two, Seistola looked capable of improving on his previous days result and challenged for victory. Claiming four of the day’s nine special tests wins, Seistola’s only mistake came on the tricky enduro test when a crash robbed him a of a potential win. Like his teammate Salminen, Seistola is hungry to end his South American trip on the top step of the podium.
Making his debut EWC ride in Chile, Enduro Junior rider Matt Phillips quickly adapted to hard life of world enduro and delivered some highly impressive results. Forced to start from the rear of the pack on day one, the 19-year old fought his way through often blinding dust to place fifth overall. With his start position improved for day two, Phillips rapidly improved. Getting his day off to a solid start by posting the fourth fastest time on the opening enduro test, Phillips increased his pace throughout the day to end it on the podium in third overall. Entering the GP of Argentina third overall in the EJ championship standings, the young Australian is hopeful of continued success. Fabrizio Azzalin – Team Manager: "At last weekend’s GP of Chile Juha, Matti, and Matt all showed very good speed. Things didn't go exactly to plan for Juha and Matti on day two, but generally it was a great event for us. In Enduro 1 both Juha and Matti were very fast, and showed that they have the speed to win. Having both of them on the podium on day one was a great start to the championship, but both riders want more. On day two both were fighting for the win. The enduro test played a big part in deciding the results and unfortunately Juha and Matti had one bad enduro test each. That was enough to keep them both off the podium after very strong performances on the first and second lap. This weekend they want to fight for the win. Lorenzo didn't have such a great weekend in the Enduro 2 class but he will push hard to improve his result here in Argentina. In the Enduro Junior class Matt Phillips had a very good GP. Day one was tough because he was at the back of the class in the dust, but on day two he showed a little of what we hope he will produce at all the races now on. He is still learning, but showed that he has good speed and can fight for podium positions." Enduro World Championship – Standings after round one 
|
In
the Enduro 2 class, Spain’s Lorenzo Santolino enjoyed top ten results
in the highly competitive quarter litre category. Placing eighth on day
one before slipping back to ninth on day two, Santolino is focused on
claiming what has so far been an elusive top five result in E2.