The first round of the Enduro World Championship is a wrap. Here’s the breakdown from day two at the GP of Catalunya…
Christophe Nambotin does the double in Enduro 1. That guy can ride a four-stroke! Those who doubted he’d be able to switch ‘down’ to a 250f were wrong… very wrong.
A crash on the final Enduro Test dropped Cristobal Guerrero from second to fourth. Ouch! The Spaniard has the speed to match Nambo, more or less. But the consistency? Guess only time will tell.
Enduro 2 is not a one horse race. Pela Renet did his homework after a slow start to day one stopped him from challenging for the win. The Frenchman well and truly weighed into the E2 title fight by winning day two.
Multiple crashes put Antoine Meo on the back foot all day. He scrambled back to take second but losing out to Renet by one-second is a bittersweet result for him.
Three French riders dominated E2, just as they did on day one. Heal up quick Alex Salvini, everyone wants to see what the defending champ can do when fully fit. Fifth on day two keeps him in check of the points race.
Jonathan Barragan is a fast learner. The former MXGP rider got fourth in E2. He’s going to race in Portugal and see how things go… and if he can pull together enough sponsorship to finish the series.
Ivan Cervantes is the only constant in the Enduro 3 class. It was a double win for the Spaniard in Catalunya.
Matti Seistola was on a mission in E3 and finished second on day two aboard his Sherco.
Enduro 3 class riders are a competitive bunch – only four seconds separated third to sixth. It’s anyone’s race this year and anything but dull.
Four different manufactures in the E3 top five and only Mathias Bellino in fifth riding a four-stroke – that’ll please the purists!
Unofficially, Renet was fastest on the Scratch. Naturally Meo was second with Nambotin about 18 seconds further back in third.
Beta Boano waited ten years to win in the EWC. Now thanks to Danny McCanney and Davide Soreca they leave Solsona with four top step visits.
Heroic ride of the weekend goes to Loic Larrieu. His neck brace trumps Salvo’s thumb brace. Having just got his cast off his broken wrist prior to Spain, Jamie McCanney is a close third.
With a double win in the Women’s class, Spain loves Laia Sanz more than ever – although we didn’t think that was possible.
Now take a breath and get ready to do it all over again next weekend in Portugal…
