The following is from KTM Sportmotorcycles GmBH regarding Alfredo Gomez’s victory at the Hixpania Hard Enduro:
Red Bull KTM rider Alfredo Gomez wrapped up a strong weekend of racing with a win in the Hixpania Hard Enduro, a 2.5-hour, multi-lap race set in and around a quarry in northern Spain. It was a satisfying victory for Gomez in front of his home crowd and he finished ahead of perennial rival, British veteran Graham Jarvis. Mario Roman of Spain finished third ahead of a field of mostly Spanish riders.
Gomez was also second behind Jarvis in Friday’s nighttime city prologue, a great favorite with the spectators. He followed this up on Saturday with another second in the 60 km Enduro around the lake. But he saved the best till last to take the win in the main event in this inaugural race, new to the Hard Enduro calendar. The top 40 competitors from Saturday’s race qualified for Sunday’s main event.
“Winning this race is incredible,” Gomez said. “It’s my home race, so many people came here to watch me, and to give them a Spanish victory is fantastic. I’m so happy right now. The whole weekend has been really good. I rode well on both Friday and Saturday, but in the back of my mind I wanted to save something for today and win when it really counted. I got to my bike okay in the Le Mans-style start and exited the cave fourth or fifth. Then after the first big climb I got into the lead and pretty much rode at the front for the entire race. On lap two I found out that Graham [Jarvis] had a problem with his bike, and it gave me a big lead. But I had to keep pushing hard until the end because you never know with Graham. It’s been a great first edition of the Hixpania Hard Enduro.”
Riders kicked off their challenge on Sunday with a Le Mans-style start, where they had to run to retrieve their bikes, which were parked in a cave. Gomez got away cleanly in about fifth place on his KTM 300 EXC but already managed to pass several other riders on the first daunting rock climb that took riders up the slope of the quarry. They then had to tackle a 15-minute long Extreme Enduro loop around the remainder of the quarry and surrounding forests. Meanwhile, Gomez’s main rival, Jarvis, experienced problems in the opening lap, and in doing so managed to damage to his exhaust. This handed the KTM rider about an eight-minute advantage going into the second lap.
Gomez went on the carry the momentum through most of the race. He entered the pits some 1.5 hours into the event, where riders had to refuel themselves and were allowed no mechanical assistance. On this occasion, he was the only KTM factory rider competing in the Hixpania. Teammate Jonny Walker is currently preparing for the start of the FIM SuperEnduro indoor season.
2016 Hixpania Hard Enduro
Aguilar de Campoo, Spain
Results: November 6, 2016
Overall
1. Alfredo Gomez (ESP)-KTM/2 hours, 32 minutes, 7 seconds
2. Graham Jarvis (GBR)-Hus/+00:02:23
3. Mario Roman (ESP)-Hus/+00:07:13
4. Xavi Sole (ESP)-Hus/+3 laps
5. Pol Tarres (ESP)-Bet/+3 laps
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