FIM Junior Enduro World Championship
Penultimate category to make its debuts during the Grand Prix AMV of Cataluña, the Junior class will take on a major renewal of riders with the departure of previous riders into senior categories. Among them, the outgoing World Champion Matthew PHILLIPS (AUS – KTM) or also Kevin ROHMER (F – Yamaha), Rudi MORONI (I – KTM), Jonathan MANZI (I – Gas Gas) and Johan EDLUND (S – HVA) to mention just a few! Everything has changed for this season even if four riders seem to stand out and a brand, Beta, which relied heavily on the Juniors!
The favorites
With the departure of Matthew PHILLIPS to E3 with his Junior title from 2013, the group seems more open now...but Giacomo REDONDI (I - Beta), Danny MCCANNEY (GB - Beta), Loïc LARRIEU (F – HVA) and Jamie MCCANNEY (GB – HVA) still seem to stand out...
- Giacomo REDONDI (I – Beta): The Italian leaves a nice 2013 year with the Vice-Champion position in Junior where he was the only one being able to fight for the title with PHILLIPS. Moreover, he has perfectly begun the season with a Junior World Champion title in SuperEnduro, dominating one of his future rivals in the EWC: Jamie MCCANNEY. However, the next step is higher due to an increased opposition but the new Beta rider is uninhibited and full of talent. In condition to control this passion which sometimes played tricks on him last season...
- Danny MCCANNEY (GB – Beta): The Manxman knows it; it is his last chance to with the Junior title. For all observers, the new Beta racer, along with his brother, is the bright future of the British Enduro. A worker and more methodical than his rivals, "Danny Mac" appears to have all he needs to be crowned at the end of the season but the opposition are hungry for victory and the Jarno BOANO rider will have a lot to do with REDONDI, LARRIEU or also is own brother...
- Loïc LARRIEU (F – HVA): The route of the former Crossman strangely looks like the one of his fellow Junior World Champion in 2012 Mathias BELLINO. In fact, after an initial learning season ends with a bang with two wins and three podiums that allowed the HVA racer to snatch a place in the Top 5, LARRIEU is now hungry for title and could dominate the entire Junior category as the Southerner progresses very fast. Will he follow the footsteps of flying redhead fetching the title in his second EWC season? Initial response during the Grand Prix AMV of Catalonia.
- Jamie MCCANNEY (GB – HVA): The Manxman has realized an impressive 2013 season, winning the FIM Youth Cup 125cc in the 6th Grand Prix of the season in Romania. Then he went to check his level in the under 23 years old class during the final in St Flour (France) and the HVA rider impressed, signing a second place on the Day 2... It’s clear that the younger MCCANNEY brother has the speed and the talent to fight for the title but a big injury (four broken ribs and a fractured wrist) made during the SuperEnduro final could stop him in his preparation. Will he be ready for the opening round in Solsona in beginning of April?
Thirsty For Victory...
- Nicolo MORI (I - Beta): A change of team for the Italian passing from Beta Boano to KTM Farioli supported team. The number 80 should continue his high level of improvement and can look for the podium...
- Arnau SOLA (E – Gas Gas): He will begin his third full season in the World Championship and should be able to climb to at least the top 10 in this category...
- Eloi SALSENCH (E – KTM): The Spanish is just out from a nice SuperEnduro end of season where he finished 8th. We are now waiting that he raises his level in the EWC to grab, just like SOLA, a place in the Top 10.
- Jonathan ZECCHIN (I – KTM): Second entire season for the Italian of the GP Motosport team who will continue his high level discovery and progress in order to target a spot in the Top 5 in one or two season.
- Jérémy CARPENTIER (F – HM Honda): After a first season with injury (scaphoid), one of the big French Enduro prospect is coming back to fight with the bests with the ambition to continue to improve!
- Martin LARSSON (S – KTM): The Swedish is capable of the best and the worst and will have to prove that he became more consistent in order to look for a place in the ten best rider of the class…
New Arrivals...
These riders will make their debut in the special test of the EWC...
- Pawel SZYMKOWSKI (PL – KTM): Major actor of the Junior class in SuperEnduro, the Polish arrives in the EWC and could surprise a lot of people. With a safe riding, the big question will be his speed but, no doubt, “Pawka” could fight for a place in the Top 5.
- Dawid CIUCCI (I – TM): Big attraction of the FIM Youth Cup 125cc in 2013, the Italian is now with TM this season and the hopes of his manager Luca CHERUBINI are high.
- Rannar UUSNA (EST – KTM): The surprise from Fabio FARIOLI in 2014. European Vice-Champion in Junior E1 class, the Estonian is coming in the EWC and will have as goal improve with the bests and to walk in the footsteps of his compatriot Aigar LEOK.
- Mika BARNES (F – KTM), Guido CONFORTI (I – KTM), Lars LOFGREN (S – KTM), Kirian MIRABET (E – KTM), Carles SALSENCH (E – KTM), Oliver NELSON (S – KTM) and Diogo VENTURA (P – Gas Gas) are coming from the FIM Youth Cup 125cc and will look to continue their learning in order to play the title in few seasons…
- The newcomers Maelig BRON-FONTANNAZ (F – Yamaha), François DE GREEF (ZAF – KTM), Swan SERVAJEAN (F – Suzuki) and Aleksi JUKOLA (S – Beta) will discover the EWC and will be able to gauge themselves relative to the World bests…
An ELOWSON – HERRERA duel in the FIM Youth Cup 125cc?
After Jamie MCCANNEY’s title last year and his passage to Junior, the FIM Youth Cup 125cc seems to be much more open and some riders seem to stand out...
Indeed, Albin ELOWSON (S – HVA) and Benjamin HERRERA (CL – TM) are favourites who could succeed MCCANNEY. They will however, have to watch out for Chilean Italian Matteo BRESOLIN (KTM), who will be back after a difficult 2013 season or Jesper BORJESSON (S - HVA), Davide SORECA (I - Yam) and Jérémy MIROIR (F – Yamaha)...
Finally, Luca GARELLO (F – HM Honda), Esteban LANZ (CL - Gas Gas), Anthony GESLIN (F – Yamaha), Andrea MANARIN (I - Suzuki), Nicholas TRAININI (I - Husaberg), Adam TOMICZEK (PL – KTM), Nicolas PELLEGRINELLI (I – KTM), Michele MARCHELLI (I – KTM) are classified as possible outsiders...
With an average of nearly 50 riders committed in every race the Junior category promises a thrilling spectacle throughout the season and brings freshness and new talent to the EWC... However, whoever identifies the person who will be able to succeed to Matthew PHILLIPS is clever indeed, although several riders (REDONDI, LARRIEU, the MCCANNEY brothers...) seem better equipped to succeed in C. GUERRERO, LJUNGGREN, OLDRATI, MENA, SANTOLINO, JOLY, BELLINO... that preceded the charts and became "senior" riders and members of official teams are now fighting for major titles in E1, E2 and E3.
It is the dream of the Juniors, all aged under 23 who are struggling with impatience for battle.
The Juniors Champion since 2005
2013: PHILLIPS (Husqvarna – Australia)
2012: BELLINO (Husaberg – France)
2011: JOLY (Honda - France)
2010: SANTOLINO (KTM - Spain)
2009: MENA (Husaberg - Spain)
2008: OLDRATI (KTM – Italy)
2007: LJUNGGREN (Husaberg - Sweden)
2006: LJUNGGREN (Husaberg - Sweden)
2005: GUERRERO (GAS GAS - Spain)
The FIM Youth Cup 125cc Winners since 2009
2013: J. MCCANNEY (Husaberg – Great Britain)
2012: REDONDI (KTM – Italy)
2011: MANZI (KTM - Italy)
2010: ROMAN (KTM - Spain)
2009: DUMONTIER (Husqvarna - France)
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