Courtesy of BMW

Two weeks after giving BMW their first ever World Enduro Championship victory Juha Salminen has again climbed to the top of the Enduro 2 class podium, this time winning the opening days competition at the GP of France staged in St Flour. With his confidence high after the memorable winning performance at the GP of Greece Juha was determined to continue his winning ways and despite a steady start to the opening days competition he ended the penultimate day of the championship close to eight seconds ahead of his nearest class rival.

Although winning just three special tests during the opening days competition Salminen saved his best for last as he won three of the final five tests. Importantly on the final enduro test he remained mistake free, which ensured he secured victory ahead of David Knight and Cristobal Guerrero. In doing so Juha claimed his second E2 class win in as many WEC events.

Day two was a frustrating one for Juha. Making a positive start a small number of mistakes prevented him from reaching the top of the E2 class results. Although winning special tests on a number of occasions the seven-time world champion also made one mistake too many, which prevented him from repeating his first day result. At the end of a tough day Juha placed third, which ensured that he claimed the runner-up position in the final 09 Enduro 2 World Championship standings.

Returning to the WEC having been forced to sit out both the GP of Mexico and the GP of Greece Simo Kirssi battled hard to claim 12th and 11th place Enduro 2 class results. More than a little race rusty due to his enforced layoff the cross-country specialist gave the event his all and importantly showed that he is fit and ready for the upcoming final, and all important, round of the German Cross Country series. Despite missing four days of competition due to injury Kirssi placed ninth in the Enduro 2 World Championship. 

BMW Motorrad Motorsports Marko Tarkkala enjoyed a positive final round of the 09 WEC series. Performing well on all special tests the Finn claimed fifth in the Enduro 3 class on day one before being pushed into sixth on day two. Tarkkala placed seventh in the Enduro 3 World Championship.

Also competing alongside Tarkkala in the Enduro 3 class was Swede Anders Eriksson. With the event marking the official end to his hugely successful career the former seven-time world champion claimed a well deserved top 10 result on day one. Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team when he joined in 08, Anders played an important role in the development of BMWs G 450 X.

Salminen and Tarkkala will now take a well earn break before turning their attentions to the International Six Days Enduro, held in Portugal in mid October where they will compete as members of the Finnish Trophy Team. Eriksson will also compete in Portugal, for the Swedish trophy Team.

Juha Salminen Enduro 2 class: Its been a bit of a mixed weekend. Sometimes things went really well, other times not. The first day went well, really well, but the second day didnt for some reason. I was able to put in a good time on one test, but then not on another. The morning of the first day wasnt easy for me, I made some mistakes and lost a little time, but then the afternoon went well. The season finished too early for us really, it would have been nice to have had some more races because in the last few events things started to come together well. Its been a tough season but with a positive end.

Simo Kirssi Enduro 2 class: Its been a good weekend for me really. The first day wasnt great but coming back from a wrist injury the important thing for me was that despite a little pain I was able to race hard. On day two I crashed on the motocross test a few times and lost some time there, as well as once in the enduro test. Im really looking forward to the final round of the German Cross Country season now, that will be a big race for me and the team.

Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager: It a really satisfying end to the world championship after a pretty rough starts. Its been like weve had two seasons within one. The first half absolutely didnt go as we planned it, but the second half has been very good. Juha has remained focused on pushing to win in the Enduro 2 class and during the final three races he has been not only competitive but has also enjoyed two class wins.

2009 World Enduro Championship - Grand Prix of France, Day 1

Enduro 1 
1. Antoine Meo, France, Husqvarna
2. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
3. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
4. Simone Albergoni, Italy, KTM
5. Jordan Curvalle, France, Sherco

Enduro 2
1. Juha Salminen (BMW ) 48:55.84;
2. David Knight (Kawasaki) 49:03.24;
3. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 49:09.38;
4. Rodrig Thain (TM) 49:26.69;
5. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 49:30.66
6. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 49:41.84;
7. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 50:09.63;
8. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 50:11.90;
9. Antoine Lettelier (Aprilia) 50:18.82;
10. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 50:21.81;
11. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 50:37.47;
12. Simo Kirssi (BMW) 50:53.67;
13. Emmanuel Albepart (Kawasaki) 51:10.27;
14. Jean Francois Goblet (BMW) 51:48.86;
15. Simon Wakely (Husqvarna) 52:37.55;
16. Kenneth Gunderson (Yamaha) 52:58.18;
17. Kevin Gauniaux (Gas Gas) 53:25.05;
18; Christophe Robert (KTM) 53:42.45;
19. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 54:11.91;
20. Vincent Charbonnier (KTM) 54:52.36

Enduro 3
1. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 47:51.81;
2. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 49:03.38;
3. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 49:05.92;
4. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 50:21.54;
5. Marko Tarkkala (BMW) 51:03.96;
6. Markus Kehr (KTM) 51:05.21;
7. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 51:30.47;
8. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 52:39.32;
9. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 53:04.67;
10. Anders Eriksson (BMW) 53:23.23;
11. Michael Vukcevic (Husqvarna) 54:18.36;
12. Mark Risse (Gas Gas) 54:55.09;
13. Gordon Clarke (TM) 56:51.73;
14. Pierre Tardieu (TM) 1.00:06.35

2009 World Enduro Championship - Grand Prix of France, Day 2

Enduro 1
1. Antoine Meo, France, Husqvarna
2. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
3. Eero Remes, Finland, KTM
4. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
5. Simone Albergoni, Italy, KTM

Enduro 2
1. David Knight (Kawasaki) 55:38.23;
2. Rodrig Thain (TM) 55:51.39;
3. Juha Salminen (BMW) 56:02.95;
4. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 56:29.56;
5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 56:26.75;
6. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 56:47.44;
7. Antoine Lettelier (Aprilia) 57:07.64;
8. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 57:09.09;
9. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 57:28.37;
10. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 57:36.00;
11. Simo Kirssi (BMW) 57:39.39;
12. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 57:55.49;
13. Emmanuel Albepart (Kawasaki) 58:11.23;
14. Jean Francois Goblet (BMW) 58:51.84;
15. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1.01:11.39;
16. Kevin Gauniaux (Gas Gas) 1.00:33.03;
17. Christophe Robert (KTM) 1.02:02.16;
18. Vincent Charbonnier (KTM) 1.03:19.86

Enduro 3
1. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 54:36.38;
2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 55:41.84;
3. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 56:20.66;
4. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 56:36.51;
5. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 56:52.79;
6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW) 57:34.54;
7. Markus Kehr (KTM) 58:12.75;
8. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 1.00:17.44;
9. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 1.01:01.18;
10. Michael Vukcevic (Husqvarna) 1.02:01.09;
11. Mark Risse (Gas Gas) 1.04:17.91;
12. Gordon Clarke (TM) 1.04:31.01

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Courtesy of KTM

Ivan Cervantes, the Spanish rider in the KTM Enduro Factory Racing Team on Saturday wrapped up his E3 season in a blaze of glory in St. Flour, France with a third place in round 15 to take the World Championship title ahead of the final round on Sunday.

His third place on Saturday gave Cervantes the unbeatable edge and the title, allowing him to coast home in Sunday's final race to close off what has been a great season for him and his team. It was the second world championship title for KTM Enduro Factory Racing after Johnny Aubert won the E2 title last weekend in Serres, Greece.

By sealing the title on Saturday, Cervantes spoiled the party on home turf for his two French rivals Christophe Nambotin and Sebastien Guillaume on their home ground. He finished second in E1 World Championship last season and went on in the winter to win the Indoor World Championship and in doing so achieved his stated goal for the season. Of the 15 rounds held so far in what is a gruelling and difficult series of races, Cervantes topped the podium in 10 rounds and took three minor podium places.

KTM Enduro Factory Racing's boss Fabio Farioli was understandably pleased to be celebrating the team's second world championship title in two weeks and was generous in his praise for both Cervantes and the whole team. "We did a great job," he said. "Ivan went out today very concentrated and he knew he had to control Nambotin to be able to wrap up the title. He had to attack but at the same time he had to make no mistakes and not take any risks and he managed to do that. The race was long and very difficult, just as the French races are always," he added.

Cervantes, 27, who is passionate about sandy and difficult tracks like those at home in Spain, first rode for KTM in 2000 on a 125cc machine in contrast to his 530 EXC on which he took the E3 title on Saturday.

Albergoni third overall in E1, Remes wraps up season with podium

Eero Remes of the KTM Enduro Factory Racing Team on Sunday wrapped up his first season as a factory rider with a third place in Round 16 while teammate Simone Albergoni salvaged enough points to finish third overall in the final standings for the 2009 season.

Remes of Finland was seventh on Saturday in St. Flour, France and vaulted up the order to third on Sunday to conclude what has been a good debut year for the young factory rider, according to team boss Fabio Farioli. Regrettably Thomas Oldrati of the KTM-supported Enduro Factory Team Farioli was unable to start after dislocating his shoulder during training for the final rounds. Oldrati was nevertheless fourth overall this season, just two points ahead of fifth placed Remes.

Despite some crashes, the Italian Albergoni scored a fourth and fifth in the final two rounds in what were typically tough French races. The high point in his season was a victory in France while he was on the podium on five other occasions for a creditable overall result that netted him 305 championship points and third place in the final list.

Farioli said he was well satisfied with his two young protégés "Remes and Oldrati are both very young riders and they have done well in their first senior season. They have both been learning and improving throughout the year," he said.

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Courtesy of Husaberg

Swedish rider Joakim Ljunggren rounded off a good season for the Husaberg Factory Team on Sunday when he garnered enough points in the final two rounds of E2 to hang onto third overall in the world championship standings.

The battle for third overall intensified for Ljunggren on Saturday when his arch rival Cristobal Guerrero of Spain was third to his tenth place narrowing the gap and setting the stage for an exciting final encounter in St. Flour, France.

Perfect day, Ljunggren says
After the race Ljunggren said he had a perfect day on Sunday to finish up the order in fifth place and seal his place on the final season podium. “Today was a perfect day for me,” Joakim said. “I was very nervous and I did not feel I had ridden well on Saturday so I went out and walked the extreme test last night and that made the difference. I was nervous and I knew I could not make any mistakes. But I was really on the gas today and I am very happy with how the season has gone for me. I was hoping to be in the top five so it’s great to finish third overall. I’ve stayed healthy all season and my bike has been great.”

Mixed luck on Saturday
In general Saturday was a mixed day for the Husaberg riders and with Oriol Mena, the newly crowned EJ World Champion already sidelined with a broken collarbone, other members of the factory team were also forced to retire through injury or sickness. In E3 Bjorne Carlsson’s chances of going out in glory were spoiled after the Swedish rider came down with a heavy cold this week and was forced to retire in the second lap. “I managed the first lap but after that it was not possible to continue,” Carlsson said. “I have been sick all week and I really wanted my end of season to finish on a high note but that has not been possible.” Saturday was his final appearance in the world championships although he will continue racing at national level.

Ankle injury foils Salonen's final race
It was also no fun for Husaberg’s E2 rider Valtteri Salonen of Finland who had to pull out on Saturday because of the discomfort of an ankle injury he sustained in the Finnish National championships last weekend. “I tried to compete today but it was just not comfortable to ride. I won’t be able to start on Sunday,” he said.

Calle Sjoo third in EJ Sunday
Meanwhile Young Swede Calle Sjoo provided a final highlight for the Husaberg boys in blue on Sunday when he finished third in EJ for his second podium of the season. He finished in sixth position overall, significantly better than his stated goal of a top 10 spot at the end of the season.

Good team result overall
Drawing a line under the 2009 season team boss Thomas Gustavsson said he had been very satisfied with his riders’ collective performance. “We had a world championship title in the EJ class with Oriol (Mena) and now Joakim has finished third overall. We can be very happy with the way the season has gone for us,” he said.