A great success!

Just returned from the Scandinavian tour (Finland - Sweden) and a month and a half before the Grand Prix Acerbis of Italy (Lumezzane), let’s have a look to what shouldn’t be missed in June...

Record
This is the first time that the women's category put its wheels in the Nordic countries. And it is clear that it was a resounding success. Whereas category had only 12 girls in Spain, it reached a total of twenty participants in Heinola and in Enköping. The opportunity to see some hidden talents as Emelie KARLSSON (S - Yam), who signed a podium and two fourth places, or also Emmily SMALSJO (S - Gas Gas), Sanna BERGMAN (S - HVA) and Katrine RYE-HOLMBOE (NOR - Honda). The three Swedish and the Norwegian have been perfect referees and showed their talent. We hope that they will want to export themselves and race during the final in France...

Professional
"The Grand Prix of Finland and the Grand Prix of Sweden were organized masterfully..." It is with these words that Jean-Guillaume MEILLER (Director CEN) and Alain BLANCHARD (ABC Communication) have paid tribute to the organizers of these two events: the Heinolan moottorikerho ry (Finland) and the Göta MS - Motorcykel och Snöskoter (Sweden). Both organizers have been very professional and will be true candidates for the title of "Best Organization of the Year"...

Lesson
"Will CERVANTES arrive to finish at least one day in Enköping?" That was the big question that everyone asked in the paddock in Sweden on Saturday morning. And "Torito" answered with a beautiful lesson of bravery. Indeed, despite his fractured ankle and two screws, the Catalan gritted teeth all day on Saturday to save few points and showing a tough courage a little lost in Enduro. The next day, the official KTM tried to race again but preferred to retire, having no sensation, to avoid a bigger injury... A Grand Prix that forge a little bit more the legend of Ivan CERVANTES despite the large disappointment that trailed the Catalan then in the Paddock.

Revelation
It was over a year and a half that we hadn’t seen Roni NIKANDER (FIN - KTM) in the paddock of the EWC. For his return to the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship, Finn hit a great shot. Very leggy in Finland (7/8), the former CH Racing Team rider showed the full extent of his talent in Sweden, interfering in the Top 5 of the Enduro 2 class. A real pleasant surprise that seeing NIKANDER at this level. Will it be enough to type in the eye of a permanent team?

 TARKKALA
After leaving the EWC at the end of last season, Marko TARKKALA (SF - Beta) returned to face the cream of the crop "like the good old days" at the Grand Prix of Finland. And the least we can say is that the Finn lumberjack still has power under throttle. To prove it, his 12th and 10th place in the very tough and complete Enduro 3 that makes no gift... Anyway, it's good to see one of the "old dinosaurs" of the EWC always having fun to ride!
 

Conversion
Fabien PLANET (F - Sherco) has suggested that this could be his last season in the World Championship... The EWC then will lose one of its most experienced riders with Simone ALBERGONI (I - KTM) and Ivan CERVANTES (ESP - KTM). But, while the decision is still uncertain and unofficial, we already have an inkling of his conversion in the light of one of its sponsor’s jersey. Indeed, PLANET'HOLLYWOOD is sponsored by the bowling ball brand "OBUT"... A new career in “Petanque” is considered?

Injury List
During this Scandinavian tour, the EWC injury list is unfortunately full:
- Antoine MEO (FRA - KTM): 4 fractured ribs, two broken fingers, a broken thumb, pulmonary hematoma;
- Oriol MENA (E - Beta): Fracture of the collarbone;
- Jemma WILSON (AUS - Yam): Sprained ankle;
- Ivan CERVANTES (ESP - KTM): Fracture of the malleolus;
- Alessandro BATTIG (I - Honda): Dislocation of the shoulder;
- Kevin Rohmer (F - Yam) Two metatarsal fractures;
- Aigar LEOK (EST - TM): Knee;
- Loïc MINAUDIER (F - Gas Gas): Blocked Basin;
We wish them a speedy recovery and hope to see them very soon on the bike...
 
Come Back
Joakim LJUNGGREN (S - HVA) made his comeback during his home Grand Prix in Enköping. Admitting "to be not yet at 100%," the official HVA has still achieved a solid Grand Prix after two months of without racing, scoring a 5th and a 7th place. No doubt the Swedish giant will return to 100% for the Italian Grand Prix and is expected to join in the fight for the podium and why not playing a decisive role in the duel that oppose Matthew Phillips (AUS - KTM) to Ivan CERVANTES (ESP - KTM).

Hatching
In the Women Class, this Scandinavian tour was the opportunity to see the emergence of the young French Samantha TICHET (F - KTM). 8th when she arrived in Finland and having the status of French third-best in the EWC, the young KTM rider made two great Grand Prix (4/4/5/7) and now points to a very strong 4th place in the standings. The Frenchies Geraldine FOURNEL (Sherco) and Juliette BERREZ (Yam) have to worry about her especially as Sam seems to have a big room for improvement...

Wedding
Johnny AUBERT (F - Beta) has finally decided to ask for the hand of his wife Geraldine BILLOT! The lovebirds will be married this Saturday in small groups in the region of Lyon... Some riders were gathered on Sunday evening in Enköping to celebrate the last days of single life of the double World Champion for a funeral of his "bachelor life". We wish a lot of happiness to them!