News from Spain

After a month and a half off and just two days before the Grand Prix AMV Seguros of Spain, it’s time for us to give you the last news from the Paddock of Puerto Lumbreras… New face
Since the beginning of the season, the Gas Gas firm gave to the very serious and exemplary team Pons the sport management. A challenge that the team of Oriol PONS and its manager Sergi DURAN don’t want to fail… Indeed, the team from Gijon firm presents a brand new Hospitality that shows how Enduro is very professional. We can bet that the Gas Gas Factory Pons team will be an example and will give ideas to other official teams. Australian Invasion
Decidedly the last results of Jessica GARDINER (AUS – Sherco), Jemma WILSON (AUS – Honda) and Mitch HARPER (AUS – Honda) in the EWC, and the good results of the Trophy team in the 2012 ISDE give World Championship cravings to the young Aussies. After Matthew PHILLIPS (AUS – HVA) making an impressive start in Junior (2nd in the Standing) with the CH Racing team managed by the emblematic Fabrizio AZZALIN, it’s now Scott KEEGAN (AUS – Husaberg) that comes to fight with World rider in green number plate category. For this Grand Prix AMV Seguros of Spain, this 22 year old rider will be a part of the Husaberg Factory team and will look to show once again the talent of the wallaby young generation… Comeback
Emblematic face of Acerbis in the EWC since 2004, Walter FORTICHIARI has left the paddocks since 2010… Three years later, the Italian is making his comeback in the World Enduro Championship with the CMBelometti team managed by Alex BELOMETTI… for the pleasure of everybody. Photo Shooting
As each season, the official photo session is a prominent event of the start of the season where each class is sifts by the press international. This year, we’ll do it tomorrow in Puerto Lumbreras from 11.30… Stowaway
Each team had the opportunity to get back their boxes from the Chile-Argentina tour from last Friday in Barcelona, and some of them had “nice” surprises opening them. Indeed, the CH Racing team had the surprise to bring back a stowaway from the Cordillera of Andes… A nice snake! Fortunately, this one died during the trip but he gave a scare for a big part of the team when they discovered it. Makeover
New Year for the KTM Factory team in which they have the same ambitions than last year… unlike its truck decoration. The will of KTM of harmonizing the Orange & Blue colors in each sector forced the team managed by Fabio FARIOLI to totally makeover its truck. The result is really good and many people were looking and chatting about it when the truck arrived in the paddock. Laïa’s imbroglio
On which bike will compete for this weekend and the remainder of the season the 2012 World Champion Laïa SANZ (E)? It’s the question that many people in the paddock are asking to themselves now. Indeed, we heard that the Catalan had some difficulties with her contract with Gas Gas where she is since last year. For instance there are no rumors about the possible next bike of Laïa… Will we see her on a Spanish red one or on another brand? Happy
Just like Joakim JOHANSSON (Johansson MPE - Photo), every team managers expressed their satisfaction to be back in Europe and especially in Puerto Lumbreras. The Swedish manager enjoyed it a lot and savored a mouthful of local beer… normally, he never drinks alcohol! Israeli Newcomer
Last year, we has the visit, during the Iberia tour, of Jonathan LEVY, a pleasant and very sympathetic Israeli who joined the CH Racing supported team. This year, it’s one of his young compatriots that’s trying his luck on the EWC. In fact, Tomer SHAPIRA, only 17 years old, will race in the FIM Youth Cup 125cc on the handlebar of a Gas Gas EC 125cc. We wish him welcome in the paddock and a lot of good results for his beginnings in the World Championship… Already 10 years…
April 2004, Alain BLANCHARD and his small ABC Communication team were travelling to Puerto Lumbreras to make their grand debut as new EWC promoter. That was 10 years ago! Of course, the years passed very quickly in the rejuvenated ABC Com team as for the Moto Club Nogalte but the passion, the respect and the friendship remain intact. Thereby the promoter and the organization of Juan Francisco GABARRON will make of this “symbolic” event a big celebration of the World Enduro…