E2, an impressive final!

The first day’s competition at the eighth and final round of the 2012 Enduro World Championship, the AMVGP of France held in Brignoles, ended with French riders winning all but one of the classes as KTM team mates Antoine MEO, Johnny AUBERT and Christophe NAMBOTIN enjoyed victory in the Enduro 1, Enduro 2 and Enduro 3 classes respectively. Mathias BELLINO topped the Enduro Junior category with Ludivine PUY winning the Enduro Woman’s class while Britain’s Jamie MCCANNEY triumphed in the Enduro Youth class. Johnny AUBERT (KTM)was the rider who came out on top in the Enduro 2 class at the end of a nail biting battle with countryman Pela RENET (Husaberg). Claiming victory by nine hundredths of a second having beaten RENETby the smallest of margins in the day’s final special test, AUBERTclaimed his first EWC win since the GP of Portugal. Close to half-a-minute behind AUBERTand RENETwas Husqvarna mounted Finn Juha SALMINEN. Rounding out the podium, Juha was in the mix with both AUBERTand RENETduring the opening stages of the event, dropping behind following mistakes during the final lap. Cristobal GUERRERO (KTM)placed just off the podium having found the second half of the day difficult due to his recently injured shoulder. Ivan CERVANTES (Gas Gas)placed fift h with French Kawasaki rider Julien GAUTHIER sixth. The 2012 Enduro 2 World Championship will be decided on the final day of the series. Close to two minutes ahead of his closest rival at the end of the day Christophe NAMBOTIN (KTM)showed exactly why he is the 2012 Enduro 3 World Champion by winning each and every one of the day’s 12 special tests in the E3class. Enjoying the day, and performing at his absolute best, NAMBOTINfinished ahead of Sweden’s Joakim LJUNGGREN (Husaberg) who in turn placed 26 seconds ahead of Aigar LEOK (TM). Italian Manuel MONNI (KTM)missed out on a podium result by 15 seconds, placing ahead of Benoit FORTUNATO (Honda) and Sebastien BOZZO (BETA). In the Enduro 1class Antoine MEO (KTM) dominated the opening day at the AMVGP of France, winning 11 of the day’s 12 special tests. Placing close to one-and-a-half minutes ahead of his nearest challenger, MEOnever looked like doing anything other than claiming victory. But unlike many of his victories this season where Antoinemade a cautious start to the day before reaching the lead of the class on the final lap, in Brignoles the 2012 Enduro 1 World Champion set the pace from the very first special test. Honda mounted Rodrig THAIN (Honda) claimed the runner-up result having been powerless to stop MEO. Consistently fast throughout the day THAINplace just 11 seconds ahead of KTM ’s Eero REMES. Italian Thomas OLDRATI became the first rider ever to score world championship points for Husaberg in fourth place, finishing ahead of Fabien PLANET (Sherco)and Matti SEISTOLA (Husqvarna). Mathias BELLINO (Husaberg)claimed yet another win in the Enduro Junior class, topping the podium ahead of Danny MCCANNEY (Gas Gas) and Jonathan MANZI (KTM). Despite constant pressure from MCCANNEYthroughout the day BELLINO claimed nine special test wins. Italian Giacomo REDONDI (KTM)placed fourth, his first EWC competition out of the Enduro Youth class that he won this season. In the Enduro Youth class Jamie MCCANNEY (Husaberg)claimed a comfortable win, placing half-a-minute ahead of Italy’s Davide SORECA (Yamaha). Third went to KTM mounted Nicholas TRAININI. Local favourite Ludivine PUY (Gas Gas) gave her supporters much to celebrate as she claimed victory in the Enduro Women’s class. Failing to win just one of the day’s special tests the vastly experienced ‘Lulu’ placed 48 seconds ahead of Spain’s Laia SANZ (Gas Gas). Third went to British Husaberg rider Jane DANIELS, who overcame a difficult opening lap to round out the podium.