It’s Friday evening in Il Ciocco and after a busy afternoon of preparation, the Hell’s Gate paddock is slowly beginning to quieten down for the night. Tomorrow, Saturday, is race day and finally, after weeks of waiting, the 2014 Hard Enduro season begins.
Friday’s forecasted rain never materialised – maybe that was put on a 24-hour hold – and instead everyone was greeted with blue skies and a hint of early spring.
Between the hustle and bustle of technical inspection and riders sussing out the various sections there’s much to report on.
The overall consensus is that winter has been harsh in these hills with various landslides scattered around the region. The result has tamed some parts of the course and made others even worse than before. Whatever way you look at it, tomorrow will be a rough ride to Hell.
In the KTM camp Hell’s Gate marks the first official outing for their new Hard Enduro team. Joining Jonny Walker for 2014 is the German pairing of Andreas Lettenbichler and Philipp Schloz.
After a long stint on Husqvarna machinery Lettenbichler was counting down the days to race Hell’s Gate on a KTM but an injury earlier in the week has put a dampener on that. Hurting a tendon in his arm, Letti could barley lift it but after some intense physio he’s here and willing to try his luck.
Scholz is name not on many people’s radar just yet. Ending 2013 with a breakthrough top five result at Sea to Sky in Turkey, he’s earned a spot under the KTM awning and will be one to keep an eye on.
Beta mounted Cody Webb and Ben and Dan Hemingway are all in fighting spirits. Webb – fired up from his recent King of the Motos victory – has his sights set on going a couple of places better than his third place result of 2013 while Ben – fifth last year – and Dan are never to be counted out.
Down to just one rider, Husqvarna only have Graham Jarvis in their corner. But he is the defending champion so that’s not a bad card to play. Unfortunately Alfredo Gomez is out. The SuperEnduro in Barcelona took it’s toll on the Spaniard and it’s left him battling an infection on his recent appendicitis.
Gas Gas are also debuting their new Hard Enduro squad in Il Ciocco with the Spanish trio of Dani Gibert, Melcior Faja and Dani Oliveras.
With the first rider starting at the crack of dawn for the morning Hell’s Gate Metzeler qualifier only the fastest 30 will transfer into the main event that’s due to start at 15.30. From then on it will be an all out war to scale Hell’s Peak. But who’ll get there first?
