Rain Invites Itself on the First Day:
With more than 6000 spectators, the KTM SUPER TEST inaugurated the first day of GRAND PRIX AMV OF SPAIN, second of the eight meetings of 2009 MAXXIS FIM WEC. Organized on the Extreme Test’s track, this prologue imposes itself as a new appointment of the WEC.
The stars of World Enduro Championship approach this night exercise with an increasing interest, the Husqvarna factory riders having mounted additional lights on their helmets in order to improve the visibility. The fastest man of the evening is the spectacular French Fabien PLANET (FRA-KTM). He precedes the Extreme specialists of E1 Xavi GALINDO (ESP-KTM) and Mika AHOLA (SF-HM).
Despite performing solidly, Simone Albergoni was unable to unset Mika Ahola from yet another win in World ENDURO 1.
Five days only after a fast and tiring Portuguese opening, the WEC riders discovered in Igualada a new type of terrain, with a race format more traditional. The 3 laps of 70 kilometres led the riders through the Catalan mountain, where they competed a demanding Enduro Test, sometimes technical, sometimes rolling. The rain modified the profile of the race at mid-day. Confident after his double Portuguese win, Mika AHOLA (SF-KTM)
in ENDURO 1 found again the ground on which he trained during the winter. But he ran up against a voluntary Antoine MEO (FRA-HVA) and a Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-KTM) very at ease in these conditions. Finally, the Finn imposes himself in the adversity with 8.43 seconds in advance on the Italian. Third, Meo wasted time in the trap of the Extreme Test. He shortly beats Thomas OLDRATI (ITA-KTM) and Fabien PLANET (FRA-KTM).
Johnny Aubert seems to have made ENDURO 2 into a league of his own, with another double-header victory in Spain, his forth straight in the Competition.
In ENDURO 2, by making a mistake in the KTM Super Test, Juha SALMINEN (SF-BMW) started the day with a certain delay that he did not manage to fill, he finishes ninth. Still deprived of a direct adversary, Johnny AUBERT (FRA-KTM) did not lower his rhythm. In order to anticipate the rain, the French attacked the first special tests of the morning. His final advance of 37 seconds enables him to win the category with a certain margin. In spite of very a good start of race, Rodrig THAIN (FRA-TM) met some difficulties with the weather change, he is sixth. This ground more slippery at mid-day benefited Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP-YAM) second and Bartosz OBLUCKI (POL-HVA) third.
Cristobal GUERRERO: “At the beginning of the race I did not have such a good feeling, I did not find a good rhythm but I’m surprised, finally my result is good. Johnny is very fast in each test, I must train a lot to catch him. But I’m confident, I try to focus on my job, race after race, and I must go on like this.”
Ivan Cervantes fends off his French competitors Guillaume and Nambotin to take ENDURO 3 in his native Spain.
Through the day, the hierarchy of the ENDURO 3 moved, and the rain came to offer another face to the competition. Dominator on dryness the morning, national hero Ivan CERVANTES (ESP-KTM) was disturbed on second part of the day by the French Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA-GAS), always fast under the water, then Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA), who started the day with a delay and a wrist injury from the prologue. Profiting from the vivacity and lightness of their 2 strokes machines, the two French returned on the Spaniard. Cervantes confirmed his victory in the last special test, with 2.39 seconds in advance on Guillaume and 3.48 on Nambotin. Reigning champion Samuli ARO (SF-KTM) lost the fourth place against Alessandro BOTTURI (ITA-KTM). The best BMW rider of the category is David KNIGHT (GB-BMW), 6th.
In spite of a changing weather, Oriol MENA (ESP-HSB) affirms himself like the boss of the JUNIOR category, with an advance of 4.60 seconds. He resisted to the attacks of adversaries more pressing than one week before. With technical conditions, the French Jérémy JOLY (FRA-HM) takes the second place, preceding Lorenzo SANTOLINO (ESP-KTM) and Victor GUERRERO (ESP-YAM). Note that in preparation of the possible appearance of a female category next season, the Frenchwoman Ludivine PUY (FRA-GAS) courageously pitted herself strength against the monsters of E3. If she finishes in bottom of the standings, her determination forced the admiration of the actors of the MAXXIS FIM WEC.
Triple Win for KTM on Second Day:
After the rain, good weather… Or almost. The stars of MAXXIS FIM WEC attacked the second day of GRAND PRIX AMV OF SPAIN under rainy and sticky conditions, drying at the end of race. The assistance team had a lot of work to clean the bikes, loading sometimes more than 20 kilos of mud. This changing weather offered a new hierarchy of categories, the winners of the day being Simone Albergoni, Johnny Aubert, Ivan Cervantes and Oriol Mena.
Eero Remes (above) lead through the special tests on Sunday, yet finished fourth after losing time during the Extreme Test of ENDURO 1.
In ENDURO 1, the good operation of the weekend is for Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-KTM). More constant than his adversaries in the Extreme and Enduro Test, the prince of Italian enduro wins a first success in 2009, with 17.43 seconds over the class leader Mika AHOLA (SF-HM). Those who did not know yet the talent of Eero REMES (SF-KTM) in enduro discovered it during this second day of competition. Whereas the special tests became more and more slippery, the “new Juha” took the lead. Remes simply wasted time in a very expensive Extreme Test, he is finally fourth. It is Antoine MEO (FRA-HVA) who goes up on the third walk of the podium, his times improving with a drier ground in end-of-day.
Alessandro Belometti (above) takes fourth after Rodrig Thain makes an impressive comeback on Day 2 of ENDURO 2.
Two minutes, it is the incredible record gap that Johnny AUBERT (FRA-KTM) inflicted to his adversaries in category ENDURO 2. The French takes for the fourth following time the 25 points of victory and if we compare his times to the other categories, his hegemony makes of him the best rider of MAXXIS FIM WEC in this beginning of season. Behind Aubert, the ENDURO 2 is still exciting. Joakim LJUNGGREN (SWE-HSB) likes the technical and physical races, he is logically second of the category. Injured to the lower-abdomen, Rodrig THAIN (FRA-TM) courageously fought to get the third place in front of Alessandro BELOMETTI (ITA-KTM). After 3 disappointing rounds, Juha SALMINEN (SF-BMW) reach the top 5 of E2, he is fifth.
A few years ago, riding in mud was one Ivan CERVANTES’ (ESP-KTM) weaknesses. But today on his homeland the Spaniard showed that he does not have anything to envy to anybody. In the adversity, Cervantes took a new victory for 28 seconds. Badly started in the first special tests of the morning, Samuli ARO (SF-KTM) used his experience and his qualities of finisher to end at second place of ENDURO 3, preceding Christophe NAMBOTIN (ESP-GAS) for only 0.75 second. The reigning champion keeps at the same time in touch with the Spaniard to the general. Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA) and Marcus KEHR (GER-KTM) follow. David KNIGHT (GB-BMW) puts his BMW on a new disappointing 6th place.
Ivan CERVANTES : "With all the rainfalls, the tests were very muddy. After the first ones, I was surprised I could fight with Guillaume and Nambotin, who are specialists of the sticky terrains. Aro was also among the best. Since the second lap, everything was better, it was drying and I did some very good times in the Enduro test. I could take a good advance to insure the victory. I’m really happy, yesterday I won with a small gap, and I could not imagine today it would be for me."
Whatever the type of terrain, Oriol MENA (ESP-YAM) impresses. For his fourth season in the JUNIOR category, the Spaniard signs a fourth consecutive success. Behind him, with large gaps, are positioned Benoit FORTUNATO (FRA-YAM) and Victor GUERRERO (ESP-YAM). Lorenzo SANTOLINO (ESP-KTM) had to give up. To this prize list of the day it is necessary to add the victory of Johnny Aubert in the BMW MOTORRAD XTREME TEST AWARD, and the success of Jonathan MANZI (ITA-HVA) in the FIM YOUTH CUP 125.
