Enduro News - 2006 World Enduro Championship Round 3

David Knight KTM Results Service 2006 World Enduro Championship, Round 3 – Gernika, Spain

Knighter does the double in Spain

KTM Enduro Factory Team Farioli rider David Knight continued to dominate the Enduro 3 class of the 2006 World Enduro Championship claiming a double class win at the GP of Euskadi, held in Gernika, Spain. Arriving at the event as the only rider in the WEC series to have remained unbeaten this season, Knighter comfortably topped the E3 class on both days as well as finishing as the overall fastest rider on each day.

Unlike the GP of Portugal held one week earlier conditions on the opening day of the GP of Euskadi were wet and proved to be extremely demanding. With several technical and testing sections in the time checks, all three of the special tests were tough, especially the enduro test, which took David close to 11 minutes to complete. The extreme test, after numerous changes were made prior to the start of the event, also proved difficult and played a key role in deciding the event’s results. With conditions on day one overcast on day two they were hot, which, in addition to the hard course, resulted in a large number of riders failing to finish.

Winning all seven timed special tests on day one David placed close to one and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival, tem-mate Marko Tarkkala. A little eager to get going on the first un-timed extreme test David found himself lying underneath his factory KTM only meters from the start but then performed faultlessly on each of the timed runs through the natural timed stage. David’s only mistake on day one came on the enduro test, where he crashed, yet he still managed to finish more than 20 seconds faster than Tarkkala. As well as winning the Enduro 3 class David also placed as the fastest overall rider on day one.

On day two David again topped all of the day’s timed special tests to finish a massive two and a half minutes ahead of team-mate Marko Tarkkala. Again placing as the event’s fastest outright competitor, Knighter was lucky to finish the day after his bike lost all its coolant when a radiator hose got damaged. Easing off during the last lap of the event as he nursed his bike back to the finish David claimed his sixth WEC day win of ’06 and extended his lead at the top of the E3 world championship standings to 18 points.

David’s next international event will be the Erzberg Rodeo in Austria on May 25-28

David Knight: “It’s been a great weekend but a really tough one as well. I found it hard to get my head around things on day one because the conditions were so different to what they were in Portugal last week. I really enjoyed the first day but there were some really challenging sections on the tests and on the going. I got into the race on day one steadily and then managed to open up a decent lead and win quite comfortably.

“I was confident that I would be able to win because I really enjoy wet conditions. Being the fastest overall rider on day one was a bonus. I only really made one mistake, apart from making a bit of a mess of the first un-timed run through the extreme test, which was when I crashed on the first enduro test. I lost a bit of time but not much.”

“I felt that my clutch was slipping in the first extreme test on day two so I rode hard to get to the next check so that I could get another clutch fitted. In the next enduro test it was the same and that’s when I noticed my rear security bolt had broken. I changed that at the end of the lap and that was fine for the rest of the day. My bike started getting hotter and hotter then and nearly seized in the motocross test on lap two. I thought that the cam chain had jumped a tooth but it turned out that a radiator hose had got punctured and all the coolant came out. I had to ride the extreme test with no water in the rads and then eventually fixed it afterwards. I was worried that I might have done some serious damage but the bike was fine, which shows just how strong they are.

“It’s was a difficult weekend but a great one for me, it’s the first time I have been the fastest overall rider on both days, which is nice. Winning the Enduro 3 class on both days is what I wanted to do, like normal, and that’s what I have done. I’m looking forward to putting my feet up for a few days now.”

Edmondson on the gas in Spain

PAR Homes Honda Racing Fast Eddy rider Paul Edmondson produced two more strong results in the 2006 World Enduro Championship, this time at the third round of the series - the GP of Euskadi, staged in Gernika, Spain. Claiming two top six Enduro 2 class results at the GP of Portugal one week earlier, Edmondson again finished inside the top six at the GP of Euskadi finishing in fifth on day one and sixth on day two. With solid point scoring rides on both days of the second and third rounds of the ’06 WEC series Edmondson now lies in eighth in the Enduro 2 world championship standings, despite missing the opening round of the championship in Sweden.

Well aware that the third round of the ’02 WEC series would be tough Edmondson hoped that day one would be wet, which would give him an advantage on his two-stroke Honda. Despite rain threatening all day conditions remained relatively dry but none the less were extremely challenging for all riders. Starting slowly before increasing his pace Paul claimed fifth position in the E2 class sandwiched between Finn Mika Ahola and Frenchman Fabien Planet. Having made no mistakes Edmondson performed best on the event’s extreme test, where several riders came unstuck during the day and saw their results affected as a result.

Day two was an extremely demanding day due simply to a tough course and hot weather. With all riders having to dig deep to simply get to the finish, Paul again rode without mistakes and claimed sixth in the E2 class. Enjoying the event’s motocross tests, Edmondson saved his best for last in Gernika and posted his best test time for the end of the final lap where he placed just a handful of seconds behind eventual class winner Johnny Aubert.

Paul is currently in eight position in the ’06 Enduro 2 word championship standings.

Paul Edmondson: “Day one went pretty good really. As usual I started off a little slower than some of the other riders but by the end of the day I was posting some really good test times. I was consistent and didn’t take any big chances. I was hoping that it would have been rained during the day so that it would have really suited a two stroke but the racing line got pretty dry, which didn’t really give me any advantage. It was just a case of trying to give my all. I finished fifth, which I was really pleased with.

“Day two was very much the same as day one really. I was a little slow to start with but then I came good, especially on the motocross track. I was only three seconds behind Johnny Aubert on the motocross test on the last lap, which was great. I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t faster on the enduro test on day two. My times were a lot quicker than they were on day one but so were everyone else’s. All in all it’s been another good weekend. It’s been a hard race, even with all the experience I have with trials. The event was too hard really. The WEC will start to lose the younger riders if they are all as hard as this.”

Stapleton closes in on Enduro Junior world championship lead

Electraction TM UK riders Jake Stapleton and Euan McConnell produced a mixed set of results at the third round of the 2006 World Enduro Championship, the GP of Euskadi staged in Gernika, Spain, where Jake placed in fourth and first position in the Enduro Junior class and Euan in 12th place in the Enduro 2 class on both days. Despite a challenging course, wet conditions on day one and hot conditions on day two, both riders finished the event without too many problems, which is something few riders managed to do. With an extremely long enduro test, a tough and technical extreme test, and a demanding course the event proved to be even harder than the second round of the championship in Portugal.

For Jake the event started in the worst possible way as he crashed twice on the first timed extreme test on day one. Having to play catch up with the EJ class leaders from that point onwards the slippery conditions meant that Jake never really felt settled and as a result failed to make it onto the podium. Despite posting the second quickest EJ class times on four of the opening day’s tests a handful of off the pace times meant that he finished the day one and a half minutes behind class winner Marc Bourgeois from France, but just six seconds off third.

Thankfully day two was a much more productive day for Jake. Determined to win he started as he meant to go on and posted the quickest EJ time on the opening special test. Going on to top four more tests, and finish no lower than third, Jake claimed a well earned win finishing 20 seconds ahead of day one winner Bourgeois. In topping day two Jake claimed his first win of the ’06 WEC series.

Encouraged by the wet conditions Euan McConnell failed to perform as well as he had hoped in Spain, due in part to using a different suspension set-up to that fitted to his bike at the second round of the WEC series in Portugal. Finishing in 12th position on both days Euan made few mistakes yet had several ‘moments’ due to pushing hard. Unable to improve his special test times on day two McConnell again finished in 12th but placed ahead of Husaberg and KTM factory riders Valtteri Salonen and Fabien Planet.

After three rounds of the 2006 World Enduro Championship Jake Stapleton sits in second position in the Enduro Junior class while Euan McConnell is placed in 12th in the Enduro 2 class.

Jake Stapleton: “Day one was just a case of me not really feeling right. I crashed twice on the first timed extreme test, which meant that I was a little ways behind the class leader’s right from the start of the event. I just couldn’t get a feel for the conditions. I was pushing hard but just couldn’t get it together, which was really frustrating. It was a disappointing day really.

“Winning on day two made up for the disappointments of day one though. The conditions were a lot drier, which suited me better, but I was on a mission because I was really disappointed about day one. I felt that I rode well and only made one mistake all day – a crash on the enduro test. I still put in a good time so I knew that gave my confidence a boost. I knew that if I didn’t make any more mistakes I would be able to win, which thankfully I was able to do. I’m second in the Enduro Junior championship now and just 12 points behind Joakim Ljunggren who is leading so I’m going to be training really hard in Italy ahead of the GP of Italy.”

Euan McConnell: “I thought that the tests were going to be right up my street this weekend, apart from the motocross test, but I wasn’t able to perform quite as well as I hoped I would. The team fitted some new suspension to my bike but I wasn’t really able to set it up properly. It was too soft and I struggled with it a little bit and had a few close moments. I’m a bit gutted to have only finished in 12th on both days because I feel like I’ve put in a lot more effort than that. But I guess that’s just the way it goes some times. A better result wasn’t for a lack of trying.

“Day two was very much the same as day one. I didn’t feel comfortable and able to really attack anything but I was having to because my times were really bad. I had some fun on the extreme test going straight up the final hill, which no other rider was doing. The result wasn’t what I wanted but it’s been a really tough and enjoyable event. I’ll get my suspension sorted and hopefully be able to get a better result in Italy at the next round.”

Disappointing weekend in Spain for Wakely

Competing in his second event of the ’06 World Enduro Championship PAR Homes Honda Racing rider Si Wakely failed to produce the result he hoped he would at the GP of Euskadi held in Gernika, Spain where he ran out of fuel on day one and placed in 12th before failing to finish day two due to a mechanical problem.

Starting day one well by placing in fifth on the opening timed special test Si then had a couple of disappointing tests, which he failed to recover from. With the conditions in Spain particularly difficult for the Enduro Junior class competitors that were competing at the rear of the entry, Si then ran out of fuel on the last test of the day. Having managed to remain clean on time, and having had to pass several riders that had started ahead of him, Si had to push his bike to the end of the third motocross test before receiving fuel and heading back to the end-of-day work area. Having posted a final test time some 12 minutes slower than on his second lap having run out of fuel Si dropped from sixth to 12th.

On day two Si completed just two special tests before his bike lost power and he was forced to retire from the event having failed to get to the top of a short, slippery climb on the motocross test. Si currently sits in 11th position in the Enduro Junior world championship standings.

Si Wakely: “I had a couple of disappointing test early on day one and just wasn’t able to get things together after that. If anything the day got worse, which, added to me running out of fuel, resulted in me finishing 12th. I’m not sure what’s going on really. I know that I have the speed to get better results - I’ve just not been able to get it together this weekend. I should have been sixth but I made a few mistakes on the last long check and was really tired like everyone else. I passed several riders ahead of me and just managed to get to the end of the check without loosing time. I didn’t have enough fuel so I ran out on the motocross test. I had to push the bike to the end of the test and get some fuel before getting to the end of the day. It took me 17 minutes to complete a four minute test.

“My bike lost some power just before the motocross test on the second lap on day two and then I got stuck on a tricky little uphill. My bike just had no power to get up the hill and then I got ridden into by a load of other riders and that was the end of my day. I was there for ages – I just had no power to get up the hill.

“I’m really disappointed with the weekend. I need to work out how to ride like I do at home, and work towards a better result in Italy.”

Johnny Aubert takes championship lead

The UFO Corse Yamaha team claimed their best results of the 2006 World Enduro Championship at round three of the series, the GP of Euskadi staged at Gernika, Spain, where team riders Stefan Merriman and Johnny Aubert claimed a day win each in the highly competitive Enduro 2 class. Having both performed well at the GP of Portugal, where they also claimed a day win each, it was Merriman who was first to top the E2 class podium in Gernika after a consistent and incident free performance on day one. On day two Aubert claimed the win and moved to the top of the 2006 Enduro 2 world championship standings.

With conditions wet and slippery on day one Merriman claimed the E2 class win and 25 important world championship points largely due to making fewer mistakes than his rivals. Remaining upright on all tests Stefan finished 15 seconds ahead of team-mate Johnny Aubert to make it a Yamaha one-two. Finishing third was Finn Samuli Aro.

On day two WEC debutant Aubert simply proved too fast for his Enduro 2 class rivals and placed 47 seconds ahead of Merriman who claimed the runner-up spot. Despite having reversed their finishing order from day one Aubert's and Merriman's performances again ensured that Yamaha claimed a decisive one-two result with Aubert also moving to the head of the E2 world championship standings. Placing third, as he did on day one, was Samuli Aro.

Johnny Aubert Enduro 2 class - Day 1 Second, Day 2 First: "I know that I am fast in muddy and rutted conditions but when I heard that the race was going to be difficult I thought that I would struggle, especially in the time checks. Finishing second on day one and winning day two is much better than I ever thought I could do. I am so happy to have won again, especially now that it puts me in the lead of the Enduro 2 world championship. I made one big mistake on the extreme test on day one, which cost me some time, but apart from that it went well. I did also make one mistake on one of the difficult up hills on the enduro test but I was pushing hard at the time so mistakes happen when you are riding hard. Despite my errors I wasn't so far behind Stefan so I knew that if I could ride well on day two I could win. Day two went really well for me. I felt good all the day, although a little tired at the end, and put in some really good test times. I didn't make any big mistakes, in fact my only mistake was hitting neutral once on the motocross test on lap two. I am really, really happy with the way the race has gone for me. Leading the world championship is fantastic."

Stefan Merriman Enduro 2 class - Day 1: First, Day 2: Second: "It's been a good weekend for me finishing in first and second in the Enduro 2 class, which I'm pleased with. Obviously I would have liked to have won on both days but Johnny Aubert was really fast on day two. Mika Ahola was actually a little faster than me on day one but he made a big mistake on the enduro test, which lost him a lot of time. I rode consistent on day one and that really helped me. I didn't have any problems and things went really well. On day two I found things really hard. Not being the biggest of riders it takes every bit of my energy to hold on to the bike when I'm pushing hard, especially on a long enduro test like we had. The race was a little too hard, I think. All the riders were really tired at the end of the first day and then at the end of the second day they were absolutely exhausted. We were lucky with the weather really because if it had rained hard on either day then it would have been extremely difficult."

Micheluz faces gruelling conditions succesfully

Just as at the second round of the 2006 World Enduro Championship the UFO Corse Yamaha team were without the services of Spaniard Arnau Vilanova for the GP of Euskadi, staged in Gernika, Spain, due to the team's number one Enduro 1 class rider being unable to compete through injury. In his absence Italian Maurizio Micheluz, who claimed his best ever world championship result at the GP of Portugal one week earlier, again performed well aboard his WR250 to finish in sixth on both days of competition.

Hoping to improve on his fourth place finish on day two at the second round of the WEC series Micheluz rode consistently on day one in Spain despite the wet and extremely challenging conditions. Finishing close behind former 125cc World Enduro Champion Petri Pohjamo on day one, Maurizio was one of just 12 Enduro 1 class finishers on day two - an indication of just how tough the race was. Having placed in sixth on both days Maurizio is now placed in sixth in the Enduro 1 world championship standings just 12 points behind the fifth placed rider.

Reigning Enduro 1 world champion Ivan Cervantes topped the E1 class on both days finishing ahead of team-mate Alessandro Belometti on day one and ahead of Italian Simone Albergoni on day two.

Maurizio Micheluz Enduro 1 class - Day 1 sixth, Day 2 sixth: "It has been a good weekend for me really. It was an extremely hard race on both days, but a good one. I crashed several times on day one and lost a lot of time, which affected my result a little. I wasn't able to match the pace of the top three riders in the E1 class, so I know I have some work to do on my speed, but I was happy with my riding. I finished in sixth on both days, which I am happy with so it has been a good enough race for me."

Results