Here we are! After more than three months and five Grand Prix, the 2015 Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship will come to a thrilling close this Saturday, March 14th at the Exhibition Centre of Cahors (France - 46) for the grand finale!
For the very first time, the FIM has decided to name the small town of Cahors as the world capital of SuperEnduro! For this, they confided to the Cahors Trial Club and DV Diffusion the honour to host and organise the final of the 2014/2015 Championship.
Sold-out...
Contacted by Alain BLANCHARD (ABC Communication) in September, Didier VALADE, president of the Cahors Trial Club, decided to take up the challenge of SuperEnduro! The organiser of the renowned Urban Trial of Cahors (18th edition this summer) has chosen the Cahors Exhibition Centre to accommodate the sixth and final round of SEWC... This venue, built in 1996, has hosted many shows as well that many economic exhibitions and fairs. We bet that the experience and professionalism of Didier VALADE and his team will ensure this final round will be a beautiful show and a big celebration where the relationship between the passionate French public and the stars of the sport should be exceptional!
Cahors is located in the Lot region in the Midi-Pyrénées. The main city of the area, Cahors is the historic capital of Quercy.
Didier VALADE and Carlos MAS
A major tourist place, this town of about 43,000 inhabitants, is full of historical monuments from Antiquity and the Middle Ages such as St Etienne church or the Valentré Bridge (Class in the UNESCO World Heritage) or also the Arc de Diane and its baths. The town, which lies 115 kilometres north of Toulouse, is also world renowned for its vineyards and its famous red wine. A city fond of sport, Cahors is passionate about rugby and also motorcycle sport, being the host for more than 18 years of an Urban Trial. But the city also received and held for many years a round of the French, European and World Supermoto Championships less than a kilometre from the front doors of the exhibition centre.
A city that breathes for motorcycle should therefore provide a warm welcome to the Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. The SEWC stars must be ready – the people of Cahors are red hot!
Suspense on every position!
Two weeks after the Brazilian Grand Prix that saw Cody WEBB (USA - KTM) beat for the first time of this season Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM), there is no doubt that this final in Cahors will worth its weight in gold. Ideally positioned to win his sixth world title and get a little deeper into the record books, BLAZUSIAK will not just manage his evening. As he told in Brazil before returning to Europe: "I have the lead but behind me between KNIGHT, WEBB and WALKER, the pressure is really strong! In addition to that, the French public is always boiling hot, and then my whole family are coming to see me. So I intend to go to the show and also for the win!" Brazil marked the first time since 2009 that the five-time SuperEnduro champion hadn’t won at least one race during a Grand Prix.
While it seems that the title can’t escape BLAZUSIAK, Cody WEBB motivated from his winning performance in Brazil will aim to win again in order to send a strong message to his great rival for the next season. Attention draws to David KNIGHT (GB - KTM) who proved in Belo Horizonte he could withstand the relentless attacks of BLAZUSIAK. He’s determined to defend his runner-up. KNIGHTER (231 pts) is only 4 points ahead WEBB (227). So he will have to give everything to clinch a third runner-up place in three years! They will also have to keep an eye on Jonny WALKER (GB - KTM), who is often close to winning this season. The most French of the Brits (he lives only two hours from Cahors) will come with the knife between his teeth determined to prove he can also win a Grand Prix. Behind this quartet, Alfredo GOMEZ (E - HVA) will finally try to pocket the podium result that’s failed him since Barcelona in 2014 while Dani GIBERT (E - Gas Gas) will seek to remind everyone that he should be considered as a top rider of the discipline.
Mario ROMAN (ESP - KTM) and Paul BOLTON (GB - KTM), currently 7th and 6th, should offer a great duel to know who will be the best "Rookie of the Year" while Kyle REDMOND (USA - Beta) and Danny MCCANNEY (GB – HVA) will seek to catch up after their disappointing last Grand Prix. Giacomo REDONDI (I - Beta) will also make his return. But the Grand Prix AMV of France will be even spicier with the first participation of Colton HAAKER (USA - HVA) and he could become the spoiler in the mix with the big four. But finally, the French public will have only eyes for Mathias BELLINO (F - HVA), returned from injury, his impressive riding style will hopefully deliver him a similar podium result to that of 2014 in Tours.
TREMAINE - LINUSSON: Last Act!
In the Juniors, the tension will be at its peak! Ty TREMAINE (USA - KTM), the current leader of the class, has a slight 3 point lead on his rival Andreas LINUSSON (S - KTM). Two nations, two diametrically opposed riding styles but one goal, win the title! The French public should witness a magnificent duel for championship honours and the suspense will be at its height until the last lap! Behind these two "leaders", Manuel LETTENBICHLER (D - KTM), will try to take the last place of the podium from Gethin HUMPHREYS (GB - HVA), who was injured in Brazil. The German must also be wary of Wade YOUNG (ZAF - KTM) who seems more and more comfortable on the track but also Jack EDMONDSON (GB - KTM) who’s near to a first World podium. We will also have to keep an eye on Tim APOLLE (D - HVA), Owain HUMPHREYS (GB - HVA), Joffr ey MARIN (F - Kawasaki), Blake GUTZEIT (RSA - HVA) and Romain LELOUP (F - Sherco).
On the French side, Theo BAZERQUE (Sherco), Maëlig BRON-FONTANAZ (Sherco), Anthony GESLIN (Yamaha) and Cedric TEMPIER (Sherco) will make their first steps in SuperEnduro and might surprise everybody especially as they will have the entire support of public behind them!
All components are assembled to make this 2015 final one of the most beautiful in the history of SuperEnduro in an Exhibition Centre that’s already sold-out. See you on Saturday, March 14th from 18:00 in Cahors Exhibition Centre! And, if you don’t have the opportunity to be present, the final will also be broadcasted live in RedBull.TV from 10.15 p.m. CET!
Informations :
- Cahors (Midi-Pyrénées region);
- 115 kilometers North of Toulouse;
- Saturday March, 14th from 18.00;
- Organizer: Cahors Trial Club et DV Diffusion;
- Website: www.enduro-abc.com;
- Live TV: From 22h15 on RedBull TV;
- Sequence: 3 heats for the Prestige class, 3 heats for Junior class;
- Prix du billet : De 20€ à 40€;
- Airport: Toulouse-Blagnac : 115 kms ;
- Access: Highway Exit Cahors Sud.