What a race ! For a first set-up, the MOLEK volunteers succeeded in their endeavours way above expected…. An exceptional setting, impeccable logistics, a beautiful route, with a variety of specials, as much technical as could be wished for and a large audience…. Everything goes smoothly in Kalampaka, at the foot of the Meteors.
The ninety participants of this fifth event of the MAXXIS FIM Enduro World Championship are unanimous in applauding not only the organisation and the beauty, but also the difficulty of the race. "It is a difficult race because there are many specials, one after the other. The Enduro test is almost 11 minutes long and we have to remain focused at all time. Add to all this the heat, and this 1st day of the Greece MAXXIS Grand Prix, is really not easy !" Alessandro Botturi (ITA-GAS GAS) reflects the opinion of the stars of the World Enduro who have all had to dig deep into their reserves today throughout this 8-hour race.
For the heat is also omnipresent in the little town of Thessalie and the barometer happily announces 35°, which strengthens without let up during the race.
This is a race that Christophe Nambotin (FRA-GAS GAS) in Enduro 3 managed to fly through ! Irritated by his withdrawal in Turkey due to mechanical problems, the Frenchman, was today able to dominate from beginning to end. "Apart from a little fall last night, everything went smoothly and my bike worked beautifully. It is a wonderful Grand Prix and I hope to achieve the double tomorrow !"
Mika Ahola (FIN-HM HONDA) starts badly today, but throughout the day makes up time and ends up delivering an amazing come back. But the championship leader had to fight hard with Kurt Caselli (USA-KTM) remarkable throughout on his 500 EXC, who, without doubt brings a breath of fresh air and spontaneity to the championship and for example, he takes the opportunity to drink a swift half during the time check in the last lap ! Unfortunately, he loses a few precious seconds in the last Enduro test and reaches the last step of the podium, when he previously looked set to reach second place….
And it is the wondrous Joakim Ljunggren (SWE-HUSABERG), behind for much of the day who goes on to snatch the second place thanks to a meteoric 3rd lap. "I rode really well in the Extreme and in the Cross test of the last lap and this second place position is really unexpected for me !"
Alex Salvini (ITA-HVA) was the other star of this superb battle in Enduro 3 and proves that he is now a true Enduro rider in just half a season and is worth more than his 5th place of the day.
Huge developments in Enduro 2 where the Husaberg representative Pierre Alexandre Renet (FRA), who dominated for the whole day, before falling prey to a huge disappointment in the last lap. "My bike started to lose power in the Extreme and then the problem intensified in the Cross test and the Enduro Test and I wasn’t even able to climb the hills. I am really disappointed…" Johnny Aubert (FRA-KTM) was on the heels of "PELA" before he also made a mistake in the Cross test of the fourth lap. Getting up feeling groggy, the KTM representative goes on to faint a short while later and is therefore unable to reach the finishing line.
Another dramatic turn of events sees Ivan Cervantes (ESP-GAS GAS) withdrawing from the race, betrayed by the engine of his GAS GAS at the end of the 2nd lap… "my bike hadn’t worked well since this morning » said the catalan in the paddock « but I am going to be able to start again tomorrow and I am going to give my all to get this victory".
Once again, distanced in the first lap by Renet and Aubert, Antoine Meo (FRA - HVA) couldn’t have asked for a better outcome and therefore achieves an unexpected victory. « I think that may well be the luckiest win of my career ! » And apart from the win in itself, Antoine Meo succeeds in making good progress in this championship since Aubert, Cervantes and Renet today scored no points…
Anti Hellsten (FIN-KTM) the promising young Finn could have saved the honour of the « orange team » as he has been ever dominant in the Enduro Junior from the beginning of the season… Jaded, he made a mistake in the Super Test last night, leading to a heavy fall. He got away without a serious injury, but in a lot of pain with a weakened shoulder, and Anti Hellsten was in no fit state to start the race this morning and will have to wait for the GP MAXXIS of Romania to make his return to the Championship. Bad news for the blond Scandinavian and a blessing for Roman (ESP-KTM), Joly (FRA-HM HONDA), Manzi (ITA-KTM), Dumontier (FRA-YAM), who are all back in the race for the title once again.
The barometer should once again climb tomorrow for the 2nd day of the MAXXIS Grand Prix of Greece, where the Gods of Enduro will look fondly upon the participants of this GP who get ready to deliver a brand new and arduous battle in the furnace of Kalampaka.