EWC Heads to Romania For Round Five

The 2013 Enduro World Championship enters the second half of the season with the GP of Romania this weekend. With the small town of Buzau playing host to the EWC for round five of the seven round series, the race to the finish is on for those with championship winning aspirations.
Enduro 1
In the Enduro 1 class it’s Antoine Meo (KTM) that leads the way. With seven wins from eight starts, Meo comfortably holds the championship lead.
His closest rivals will be led by the Finnish trio Matti Seistola (Husqvarna), Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) and Eero Remes (TM). All will be looking to beat the Frenchman.
After disappointing performances in Spain and Portugal Thomas Oldrati (Husaberg), Jeremy Joly (Honda), Simone Albergoni (Honda) and Nicolas Deparrois (Yamaha) will give everything in Romania in order to claim valuable points in the race for the top five.
Anthony Boissiere (Sherco) will seek to confirm his excellent results in Portugal and could also be a favourite for the podium. Cristobal Guerrero (KTM) will also be fighting hard for podium results.
Enduro 2
At the beginning of March nobody would have bet on Alex Salvini (Honda) leading the highly competitive Enduro 2 class. Yet now, at the mid-way point of the season, it’s the Italian who holds the championship lead. Closet to Salvini is Ivan Cervantes. The Spaniard has found his form of old that eluded him during the past two season. Firing on all cylinders, Cervantes will be aiming for another double win like the GP of Spain.
Behind the leading duo is Husaberg’s Pela Renet. Not finding his usual fast pace in Spain and Portugal, Renet is hoping the rugged Romanian countryside will be more to his liking.
Johnny Aubert (KTM), now recovered from his rib injury, will also put his last hopes in the battle. The battle between these riders could well see a fifth podium challenger if David Knight (Honda) is sufficiently recovered from his thumb injury…
Behind this top five there will again be a big fight between Spain’s Victor Guerrero (KTM), Oriol Mena (Husaberg), Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna) and Antoine Basset (Yamaha).
Enduro 3
In the Enduro 3 category the goals are simple. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) and Aigar Leok (TM) need to beat championship leader Christophe Nambotin (KTM). If they can’t stop Nambotin and his winning ways, we might see the crowning of the KTM rider at the round six in Greece. Nambotin currently holds a 34-point advantage over his rivals.
Luis Correia (Beta) and Italian Manuel Monni (KTM) are improving in each event and are now serious contenders for a final championship podium position.
After missing the season opener in South America, Mathias Bellino (Husaberg), has returned to form. A runner-up result to Nambotin in Portugal demonstrated the reigning Enduro Junior World Champion is a match for his E3 classmates.
Enduro Junior
In Enduro Junior class, Matthew Phillips (Husqvarna) will defend his class lead, likely to be chased hard by Giacomo Redondi (KTM), Danny McCanney (Gas Gas) and Mario Roman (Husaberg).
Enduro Youth Cup
On the side of the Enduro Youth Cup 125cc, Jamie McCanney (Husaberg) has increasingly put his mark on the category and will be hard to beat in Buzau. Both Benjamin Herrera (TM) and Albin Elowson (Husaberg) will be hoping to challenge McCanney.
Women’s Cup
Finally, in the Women’s Cup the Grand Prix of Romania will see the return of the phenomenal Laïa Sanz. Despite the absence of the Spanish rider on day one in Portugal none of her competitors could take advantage of her absence.
Indeed, neither Jane Daniels (Husaberg) – leader with just a two-point advantage – nor Jessica Gardiner (Sherco) third and currently tied on points with Laïa, were able to win the day. Unless struck by injury or mechanical problems, Sanz should take back the leadership of the class and move towards a second consecutive title.
Information:
- Buzau (Surrounding of Muntenia)
- 110km North-East to Bucharest
- Friday, June 14th : KTM Super Test 19.00
- Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of June : Start : 9.00 and Finish at 16.00
- Organizer : Moto Club Sportiv Extreme Adventure
- Web sites : www.enduro-abc.com and www.extremeadventurebuzau.ro
- Track : 52kms – 4 laps
- Free Access
- Airport : Bucharest : 110 kilometers.