World Enduro Contender Matthias Bellino Suffers Season-Ending Injury

Bel-Ray Husqvarna’s Enduro 3 World Championship contender Matthas Bellino suffers a knee injury while competing at a non-World Championship event.

Bel-Ray Husqvarna’s Matthias Bellino, who recently won the Enduro 3 class on day two at the GP of Sweden and sits third overall in the E3 FIM World Enduro Championship standings, is out for the rest of the year after it was revealed that a knee injury suffered during a non-World Championship round will require surgery to repair

Bellino suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) while contending round two of the French Enduro Championship in Scaer, France, June 21-22. He was in the lead on day one of the event when he lost control of his front wheel in a flat, grassy turn. Putting his foot down to save a crash resulted in a heavy hit to his left knee with the handlebar. A post-event MRI scan has revealed the ACL tear. Bellino is schedule to undergo surgery to repair the ACL on July 10 and will be out of action for the rest of the World Enduro Championship season.

“I’m extremely disappointed to have my season end like this,” Bellino said. “Taking a race win at the GP of Sweden had put me in a strong position to fight for the E3 title, but now unfortunately that is lost. At the last round of the French Enduro Championship I lost control of my front wheel on a grass corner. As I put my foot down to save the crash the handlebar hit my knee hard. Immediately the pain was extreme and I knew damage was done. It’s difficult to accept this situation, but it’s the only option I have. I want to thank the Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing team for their support, and I will focus hard to return next year at 100 percent.”

Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager Thomas Gustavsson also said that it is sad to see Bellino’s season come to an end.

“With seven podium results–including a race win in Sweden–he was having a great year and looked capable of fighting for the Enduro 3 World Championship,” Gustavsson said. “Sadly injuries are also a part of racing. The team are fully supportive of Mathias in his recovery and know that with his fighting spirit he’ll return stronger than ever in 2015.”