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Beautiful weather in the lead up to the race ensured dry conditions in Olivera do Hospital for the second round of the World Enduro Championships. Both race days were hot and sunny (27 degrees) which was a pleasant change from the previous weekend racing in the rain. The sun shone on Husqvarna on Saturday as Team Azzalin made history by winning all 5 classes!! There was one long, fast, hilly enduro test and two cross tests. The cross tests were set in industrial areas with soft, bumpy ground and many exposed stumps and roots. The first day was long and the riders completed 4 loops of the trail (11 special tests). The second day was much rougher and bumpier as berms and braking bumps formed in the tests from the previous day. The riders were to complete 3 loops on Sunday ( 8 special tests).
The first victory for Husqvarna came from Samuli Aro winning against David Knight. It wasn’t the best day for Aro as he stalled the bike 3 times in the second motocross test. Although when it came to the enduro test, Aro was the superior rider of his class, winning every time over both days. He led comfortably on both days and so did not take too many risks as there were so many loose objects on the special tests for him to push full gas.
Husqvarna’s Paul Edmondson turned the tables on the 250cc 4 stroke leader, Peter Bergvall winning the first day by over 40 seconds from Bartoz Oblucki. The young Polish rider proved his worth to the Husqvarna team by edging out Farres and Bergvall to finish second. The second day, Bergvall proved too strong for Edmondson winning the second day, but Edmondson won overall for the two days.
In the 500cc class, Anders Eriksson once again showed his speed and strength on the TE 570, winning the first day without any problems. The second day Eriksson dominated once again, extending his lead in the current points standings.
The Husqvarna WR 125 was the quickest in it’s class on both days. Finnish rider, Petteri Silvan experienced difficulties in the first test and crashed losing a lot of time to his rivals but was able to make it up in the remaining 10 special tests. Silvan said he found the first day quite demanding, and once in the lead tried to preserve his energy. Silvan continued to ride in top form on Sunday, winning over Larsson by 10 seconds, and gaining most of his lead in the enduro tests.
The fastest rider of the day was Husqvarna’s Stefan Merriman on the new TE 400 Four Stroke Husky. Despite crashing badly on the first day in the second motocross test, Merriman fought back and defeated Salminen by an astounding 20 seconds. Merriman won the 400cc class in addition to the scratch title for Day One and Two. The enduro tests were Merriman’s strength – he was the fastest on the steep downhills and rocky sections.
An excellent result for Stefan, atoning for what he would consider to be a less than satisfactory result in the first round.
Day One:
Scratch
1. Stefan Merriman (Husqvarna) 400 Four Stroke 1:00:50.04
2. Juha Salminen (KTM) 400 Four Stroke 1:01:10.35
3. Samuli Aro (Husqvarna) 250 Two Stroke 1:01:32.99
4. Simon Wiik 250 Two Stroke 1:02:09.75
5. Anders Eriksson (Husqvarna) 500 Four Stroke 1:02:22.05
Day Two:
Scratch
1. Stefan Merriman (Husqvarna) 400 Four Stroke 43:47.34
2. Samuli Aro (Husqvarna) 250 Two Stroke 44:04.89
3. Mats Andreasson (Yamaha) 400 Four Stroke 44:06.56
4. Juha Salminen (KTM) 400 Four Stroke 44:08.02
Overall points for the series after two rounds:
125 cc
1. Silvan 88
2. Larsson 78
3. Germain 60
250cc
1. Aro 90
2. Knight 83
3. Laaksonen 60
250 4 stroke
1. Bergvall 91
2. Edmondson 85
3. Oblucki 65
400cc
1. Merriman 90
2. Salminen 86
3. Tarkkala 55
500cc
1. Eriksson 95
2. Ahola 81
3. Carlsson 62
Scratch
1. Salminen 74
2. Aro 72
3. Knight 65
4. Merriman 53
5. Eriksson 45
