Winst voor Salminen (BMW) op dag 2 WK Serres
Juha Salminen pakte op de met één ronde ingekorte wedstrijd op zondag de koppositie in de E2. Verse kampioen Aubert stopte al na de eerste Xtreme; hij had teveel pijn aan zijn hand na een val van zaterdag. David Knight werd nu derde achter Cristobal Guerrero, maar Knight pakte wel de BMW award (de snelste opgetelde tijd over alle Xtreme proeven van de dag). Erwin Plekkenpol werd nu mooi twaalfde.
De E1 was opnieuw voor Meo en Ahola daarchter. Ahola heeft nog 27 punten ruimte in het klassement voor het laatste weekend in Frankrijk. In de E3 was het na een lange en hete dag weer Cervantes op 2,88 sec voor Nambotin.
Details volgens ABC:
SALMINEN’S GIFT TO BMW
5 to 6 litres of water per day, that is what some riders had to drink during the race to face the torrid temperatures of Northern Greece in this end of August. Fortunately some clouds carrying shade gave a drop of the thermometer of world enduro. If we add the fact that the race have been cut down of one lap, we will say that the riders of the GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF GREECE benefited from a special favour for this second day of competition. However the menu of the day remains demanding, because in addition to an interminable portion of dusty connection in the mountain, and short tricky special tests close to the paddock, the long Enduro Test often appeared decisive. If it is incontestably one of the most beautiful special tests of 2009 MAXXIS FIM WEC, it mixes all the technical ingredients of enduro and the best riders must take a maximum of risk in it to win.
The risk is precisely a major part of Antoine MEO’s (FRA-HVA) riding style in ENDURO 1. The WEC new superstar is like the day before the fastest man of this second Greek round. If he plays equal with Mika AHOLA (SF-HM) in Cross and Extreme Tests, he realizes a harvest of seconds in the Enduro Test, where the speed of the Finn was rather awaited. Meo offers Husqvarna the fourth consecutive success on the WEC with 40.56 seconds in advance and put pressure on the Finnish leader, who will have a margin of 27 points and thus not any possibility of mistake during the last event in France. The other fast French of E1 Julien GAUTHIER (FRA-HM) tried to battle, stuck between the members of KTM armada. He finishes first lap in the third place in front of Eero REMES (SF-KTM), Thomas OLDRATI (ITA-KTM) and Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-KTM). A position that he hardly managed to keep until the finish line.
In addition to the DNS of Bartosz OBLUCKI (POL-HVA) wounded to the ankle, and Rodrig THAIN (FRA-TM) injured to the wrist, the infirmary of ENDURO 2 welcomes this second day a guest star. Crowned world champion the day before, Johnny AUBERT (FRA-KTM) must give up, victim of the pain to the hand contracted during his fall of Saturday. The championship already won, the French will not be able to carry out a Grand Slam, he prefers to preserve his wounded hand. In his absence, Juha SALMINEN (SF-BMW) becomes for the first time this season the owner of the category. While resisting the successive attacks of Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP-YAM) and David KNIGHT (GB-KAW), he offers BMW a first historical success on MAXXIS FIM WEC.
Juha SALMINEN : « I’m happy, it’s always good to win even if Johnny couldn’t ride today. It’s important for BMW because we’ve been struggling quite a lot this year, and now things are going better and better. It’s complicated to explain all the few things that have changed on the bike but for sure we’ve been working hard. Now it would be interesting to compete with Johnny. I’m confident, after many second places, this win is perfect. »
On their sides, Cristobal Guerrero second and David Knight third confirm their results of the day before. They complete a new and surprising podium for E2 this season.
In full confidence, Ivan CERVANTES (ESP-KTM) seems to move inexorably towards the world title in ENDURO 3. His strong second day enables him to punctuate this Greek weekend by an important double win, for 2.88 seconds today, before the final of the championship. Behind the Spaniard, his direct adversaries are neutralized. Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA-GAS) takes the second place in front of Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA), third and slightly outdistanced. Following the example of his team mate Johnny Aubert, Samuli ARO (SF-KTM) wounded to the finger the day before preferred to give up. The radiographies made Serres hospital having revealed a fracture of thumb, he will not be able to take down the second place of the championship that he aimed.
The second final place of the championship is also in the heart of all covetousness among JUNIORS. The winner of this second round is Lorenzo SANTOLINO (ESP-KTM), in front of Benoit FORTUNATO (FRA-YAM). Ironically the BMW MOTORRAD EXTREME TEST AWARD is won by David Knight, he succeeds Antoine Meo faster on Saturday.







