After a complete season composed by six Grand Prix and a bigger rider level than last season, it’s time now to make a resume of this 2014/2015 edition of the Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, class by class. Let’s start with the most attracting category: the Prestige class...
They surprised...
Paul BOLTON (GB – KTM): The Brits made some apparition during the past season in Liverpool (not qualified) and in Tours (8th) but we didn’t clearly think that he could be at this level so early. Indeed, “Lightning Bolt” has made a true rise all along the year. 8th after the three first Grand Prix, he stepped up in Latin America to finish the season with a Top 5. Result: an excellent 6th final rank and an honorific title of “Rookie of the Year”. We’ll have to keep an eye on BOLTON in 2016 especially as he could maybe interest some official teams...
Mario ROMAN (E – KTM): As BOLTON, the Spanish made an apparition in the UK (10th) last season and like the Brit, he has decided to try the SuperEnduro adventure in 2015. And what an adventure! Surprising and consistent during the six Grand Prix, “Super Mario” had his word to say in the fight for the “Rookie of the Year” award. He can still be happy with a nice 7th final position... His good results could open to him also, the doors of an official team!
Eloi SALSENCH (E – Gas Gas): 8th in Junior last year, SALSENCH arrived with the “big fishes” without knowing what was waiting for him. But the young Spanish has made a nice season... Qualified on each Grand Prix he entered, he shown himself signing a very encouraging 14th overall rank!
Aurélien ADDESSO (F – HVA): Only French in the category after BELLINO’s withdrawal, not a lot of people believed on the ADDESSO’s capacity to get out of the qualifications and have the opportunity to race among the 16 best riders of the category. But at the end, the Husqvarna rider has realized very encouraging Grand Prix and integrates the Top 15!
Cody WEBB (USA – KTM): Freshly crowned of an Endurocross title, we were not waiting less from the Californian! But the transition hasn’t been easy during the firsts GP’s. Indeed, a quick change of bike from Beta to KTM and a complete different race format than in the US, gave him some adaptation difficulties. However, if he won this first heat in Gdansk where he crashed just 100 meters before the Finish line, the series could be completely different! Approachable, smiling and very professional, we really hope to see WEBB next season...
Jonny WALKER (GB – KTM): In compared to the others seasons, the Brit had a very serious off-season and he said he was ready to finally clinch this first GP and to show that we had to count on him in the race for the title. But, even if he impressed everybody with his speed on the track, the KTM official rider had bad luck in each Grand Prix... until in Cahors (France) where he broke the Indian sign winning nicely the evening... A ramp-up that, we hope so, will permit him to really have shot for the World crown...
David KNIGHT (GB – KTM): In the handlebar of a privateer KTM, KNIGHTER made some noise during the two firsts Grand Prix. He astonished everybody while he confirmed his participation to the series just two weeks before. Then... a slowdown from Finland! Despite a last shot in Brazil (2nd), the Manxman seemed to be quickly out of the race for the title... And we know the Brit when he is starting to be polemical in the Social Medias, it’s the beginning of the end! Incurable virus?
Alfredo GOMEZ (E – HVA): If last season, GOMEZ signed some podiums, he seemed to be the most suffering from the strong American presence... Even if he couldn’t grab a podium position, the Spanish remains the best rider behind the “Fantastic Four” and we know that he is already well-determined in the preparation of the next season...
Taylor ROBERT (USA – KTM): Despite his scaphoid injury that deprived him to race the second half of the season, the American shown nice things and has offered a nice show to the spectators (fourth in Riesa, Germany). ROBERT was in the race for the Top 5 before his injury... We hope to see him next season in order to see him regale us with his riding style!
Dani GIBERT (E – Gas Gas): Less flashing than last year, the Spanish nonetheless has improved all along the season... If he didn’t injure himself in Finland, he could be in good position to fight for the 6th place. But the competition is much more intense each season and GIBERT will have to step up if he wants to fight with GOMEZ, BOLTON or ROMAN...
Xavi LEON (E – HVA): The Spanish is a great SuperEnduro fan and fight during the entire season to find budgets to be present in the races. If he couldn’t take the plane to Mexico and Brazil, LEON fought for the Top 10 against riders such as Danny MCCANNEY, Giacomo REDONDI and Kyle REDMOND... A 12th final place is very encouraging for the Husqvarna rider who’s already impatient to come back next year!
They disappointed
Danny MCCANNEY (GB – HVA): 9th as last year (he didn’t made the South American tour in 2014), we were waiting much better from the 2014 EWC Junior World Champ’! Often fast and despite an encouraging Grand Prix of Finland, the season has been difficult for the HVA official rider who even received the nickname of “MCCRASHEY” after the Latin American tour... But we know the perseverance of this young man...
Kyle REDMOND (USA – Beta): The very first American to put his wheels on a SuperEnduro track had a difficult season... 8th in 2014, he finished 10th in 2015. Freshly contracted by the Beta official team, he has been a bit “alone” during Mexico – Brazil but that didn’t avoid him to show a bit of his talent during the qualifying heat... We hope to see him again next year, but in better conditions...
Giacomo REDONDI (I – Beta): The 2014 Junior World Champion arrived in the Senior class. And the step has been pretty high for him! He couldn’t manage to find the good rhythm! The Italian never found the way to be among the ten best riders during a Grand Prix...But we know he is a big “fan” of this discipline and no doubt that “RED” will work hard to come back stronger in 2016!
Mathias BELLINO (F – HVA): 2014 “Rookie of the Year”, the French couldn’t race the 2015 season because of an LCA knee injury on July… He made his return in France but on a track not really adapted for his riding style. However, bookmakers see in him a brilliant future in the discipline… So it would be great to see him back in the entire series!
Colton HAAKER (USA – HVA): We had to see him during the entire season, but unfortunately, a late change of brand couldn’t permit him to fight with the best from Poland! Arrived in Cahors (France), but diminished by a kidney and ribs injury, HAAKER couldn’t shine for his only Grand Prix… But no doubt that if he comes back next year, it will not be the same song!
Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL – KTM): And six titles for King BLAZUSIAK! However the KTM official rider arrived from an Endurocross Championship where he was dethroned by Cody WEBB... who was defying him also in the SEWC! But the Poles signed a nice Hat Trick on the opening round of the Championship and then continued with three Grand Prix victories... Undermined in Brazil and France, nobody could stop the N°111 to clinch his sixth crown!