With the eight rounds of the ’10 EWC series ahead of them, including the new for ’10 GP of Turkey, each of the team’s five official riders is primed for their action-packed 16-day EWC adventure.

Husaberg’s stand out performer in last year’s EWC series was Enduro 2 class rider Joakim Ljunggren. Already a two-time title winner in the compet itive Enduro Junior class, Joakim proved that he is unquestionably among the world elite enduro racers. With superb performances in all rounds of this winter’s Indoor Enduro World Cup Sweden’s #1 enduro racer has his sights set on another great championship campaign in ’10.
Remaining in the same class and having spent the past five weeks training in Spain ahead of the season opener, Joakim knows he will need to perform at his very best throughout the year if he is to repeat the third place result he achieved in the Enduro 2 class last season.
“Finishing third last year was a great result,” explained Joakim at Husaberg’s pre-season test. “If I can finish top three again this year then I’d be very, very happy. There are some really great riders in the E2 class this year like Mika Ahola, Ivan Cervantes and Juha Salminen. A top three result is what I will work hard to achieve."
“Things were very different for me this winter because I raced the Indoor Enduro World Cup, which went really well. I’ve also spent a lot of time in Sweden, trying to relax after a busy year of travelling and racing. I’ve been in Spain training for one month now and everything is going well. "
"I rode the 390 in the indoors and I really liked it. We have been working hard to make my 450 a little more like the 390 in some ways, and it’s gone well. My bike feels really good and I am ready for the season.”

Team-mate to Ljunggren in the Enduro 2 class will again be Finland’s Valtteri Salonen. Fully aware of just how tough the E2 class will be in ’10 Valtteri has opted to race aboard Husaberg’s FE 390, something he believes will allow him to not only enjoy the demanding EWC races more but also aid his competitiveness.
“I’m going to be riding the 390 this season. I really like it and it seems to suit my riding style well,” confi rms Valtteri. “I don’t like to say where I’d like to finish because of course I will do my best at all races. But if I am close to the top five then I will be satisfied. The E2 class has got even tougher, but I’m looking forward to racing."
“I decided not to do too much this winter, just enough to ensure that I kept a good feeling with my bike. I know it will be a long hard season and now that it is about to start I am really looking forward to it.”

With Husaberg’s long-standing world championship campaigner Bjorne Carlsson retiring from international competition at the end of ’10 the time was right for Husaberg to find a new Enduro 3 class competitor. The rider Husaberg have opted to represent them in the ‘big bike’ class is their ’09 Enduro Junior world champion Oriol Mena.
Despite his ’09 EWC season coming to a frustrating and painful end when he broke his collarbone at the GP of Greece, Oriol showed during the first half of the season that he has all the required attributes to challenge the experienced E3 class campaigners this year.
“Riding in the big bike class is something I am really enjoying. It’s not that different to the 450 that I raced last year, you just have to remember there is a lot of power from the moment you open the throttle."
“I would like to finish inside the top five of the Enduro 3 class – I think that is possible. Like all classes in the world championship competition will be tough. Some riders have moved away from the class but some have also returned so if I am able to finish top-five, for me, that is a really good result."
“My winter training has gone well. The problem has been the weather, there’s been a lot of rain in Spain this winter. I raced the Spanish cross-country championship, which isn’t the same as enduro but is great for my physical training and to set-up the bike. I’m happy with my pre-season.”

With Ljunggren, Salonen and Mena existing members of the Husaberg Enduro Factory Racing Team, ’10 sees the arrival of Frenchman Benoit Fortunato who will spearhead the team’s continued presence in the Enduro Junior class.
With Husaberg having enjoyed numerous successes in the EJ class thanks to the efforts of Joakim Ljunggren in ’06 and ’07 and Oriol Mena last year Benoit starts the ’10 season with one clear goal – to try and bring more Enduro Junior class success to Husaberg.
But ’10 will be a demanding year for the young Frenchman. As well as becoming a factory team rider for the first time ever, Benoit competes on four-stroke machinery for the first time, as well as continuing to learn English so as to better communicate with all within the EWC paddock. Second in the EJ class last year behind Mena, Benoit is confident that he can go one better in &l squo;10
“I had a good winter as far as my training is concerned. As everyone knows changing from a two-stroke to a four-stroke for the first time is a big step, but I am really enjoying riding my new bike. It’s a challenge, that’s for sure, but I see it as a positive change."
“The goal for ’10 is to win the Enduro Junior title. I know that it’s not going to be easy but I believe that it will be possible. Last year I finished second, and learned a lot about enduro racing at the highest level. This year with the support of Husaberg I believe I can improve and win the championship.”

Joining Benoit in the Enduro Junior class for Husaberg is Sweden’s Calle Sjöö. Making his EWC debut last season, Calle’s year ended with some impressive results – results he wants to continue to claim throughout ’10.
Frustratingly Calle will start the ’10 EWC series less than 100 per cent fit following a broken leg sustained last November. Needing to have a metal spike inserted into his leg, Calle knows that he will likely need the opening few GPs to get himself up to speed but is confident of a top-three end of year result.
“I have set myself a pretty tough goal this year despite coming into the season not 100 per cent, which is to finish on the podium in the EJ class. But I think I can make it. The last three races of ’09 went really well, and I learned a lot during the whole season, so I feel I am better prepared for this year."
“I know what to expect as well, which I didn’t last year. Last year I wasn’t very consistent and this year I know I have to be if I am to finish top three. It’s going to be tough in the beginning because of my lack of riding time and race fitness. I can ride fast but my strength isn’t where it needs to be yet.”

Husaberg's extreme enduro specialist Xavier Galind o from Spain was supposed to join the team for the first two rounds of the EWC but due to a hard fall during training this week, dislocating his left shoulder and ripping the ligaments and tendon, his racing season has come to a hold before it even really started. Xavier will undergo surgery next week and will be out of competition for about 4 months.

Like last year the Husaberg Factory Team can rely on strong partners supporting the team with their excellent products as well as their know-how. The main partners are again Motorex and Akrapovic. New for 2010 is that the team is not only using Airoh helmets but also the Italian brand's riding gear, along with TCX boots and Scott goggles. The two new partners for 2010 are Twin Air, the world's leading maufacturer of air filters, and Vertex, who are supplying the team with high quality engine parts. Also the Austrian plastics manufacturer Greger remains a strong supporter of the team.

To find out more about the team and riders go to the Racing section on the Husaberg website.