KTM riders top the E1, E2, E3 and EW classes at the GP Polisport of Portugal Enduro.
KTM factory riders Christophe Nambotin and Antoine Meo rode their KTMs to victory for the second consecutive round, winning the E1 and E2 classes respectively at round three of the FIM Enduro World Championship, the GP Polisport of Portugal, yesterday.
Nambotin was unstoppable over the two-day event, especially on day two as he won all but two of the day’s 10 special tests to earn a commanding victory. TM’s Eero Remes finished second overall while Husqvarna’s Danny McCanney overcame a rough first day to come back strong on day two and finish third overall, ahead of Sherco’s Lorenzo Santolino and Yamaha’s Cristobal Guerrero.
Nambotin’s win came while he was nursing an injured knee.
“My knee is sore but not too painful, and I can ride normally,” he said. “I pushed hard from the beginning and built up a gap, and then maintained it. I’m more than happy with this result.”
Meo landed his fifth career win in the series after a tight three-way battle with reigning E2 World Champion Pela Renet and day one winner Alex Salvini. Meo prevailed by a mere 11 seconds over Renet, who beat Salvini on day two by just three tenths of a second. It meant the difference between a round win and third place for Salvini
“The battle was really close today,” Meo said. “Alex, Pela and myself were constantly fighting for the win. I managed to pull a little gap but it was not enough to allow me to relax until the final test was over. It’s been a great fight.”
In contention with the leaders early in the event, Spain’s Jaume Betriu eventually dropped back to finish fourth. France’s Loic Larrieu completed the top five.
Australia’s Matthew Phillips came out on top of another close in the E3 class. After handily winning day one Phillips overcame a small issue on the final two tests to win day two by just 1 second over Sherco’s Matti Seistola.
“It feels great to win both days, Phillips said. “I felt good all day but on the final enduro test I overcooked the rear brake and nearly threw the win away. It was a close margin of victory, but a win’s a win. I’m happy.”
Seistola tried to take advantage of Phillips’ trouble in the final two tests, only to come up agonizingly short of the win. TM’s Aigar Leok edged out out Husqvarna’s Matthias Bellino for third place oveall. Bellino was fourth, and Thomas Oldrati was fifth.
2015 FIM Enduro World Championship
GP Polisport of Portugal
Gouveia, Portugal
Results: May 16-17 (round 3 of 7)
E1 Overall
1. Christophe Nambotin (FRA)-KTM/2-1
2. Eero Remes (FIN)-TM/1-2
3. Daniel McCanney (GBR)-Hus/5-3
4. Lorenzo Santolino (ESP)-She/3-4
5. Cristobal Guerrero (ESP)-Yam/DNF-5
FIM E1 Enduro World Championship Point Standings (After 3 of 7 rounds/6 of 14 legs)
1. Christophe Nambotin-114
2. Eero Remes-104
3. Daniel McCanney-79
4. Lorenzo Santolino-69
5. Marc Bourgeois-66
E2 Overall
1. Antoine Meo (FRA)-KTM/2-1
2. Pela Renet (FRA)-Hus/3-2
3. Alex Salvini (ITA)-Honda/1-3
4. Jaume Betriu (ESP)-Hus/5-4
5. Loic Larrieu (FRA)-She/6-5
FIM E2 Enduro World Championship Point Standings (After 3 of 7 rounds/6 of 14 legs)
1. Antoine Meo-117
2. Pela Renet-98
3. Alex Salvini-97
4. Johnny Aubert-65
5. Jaume Betriu-63
E3 Overall
1. Matthew Phillips (AUS)-KTM/1-1
2. Matti Seistola (FIN)-She/3-2
3. Aigar Leok (EST)-TM/5-3
4. Mathias Bellino (FRA)-Hus/2-4
5. Thomas Oldrati (ITA)-Hus/6-5
FIM E3 Enduro World Championship Point Standings (After 3 of 7 rounds/6 of 14 legs)
1. Matthias Bellino-103
2. Matti Seistola-99
3. Matthew Phillips-91
4. Aigar Leok-73
5. Manuel Monni-62
EW Overall
1. Laia Sanz (ESP)-KTM/1-1
2. Jessica Gardner (AUS)-She/3-2
3. Jane Daniels (GBR)-Hus/2-3
4. Jemma Wilson (AUS)-Yam/DNF-4
5. Blandine Dufrene (FRA)-KTM/5-5
FIM EW Enduro World Championship Point Standings (After 3 of 7 rounds/6 of 14 legs)
1. Lais Sanz-80
2. Jessica Gardner-66
3. Jane Daniels-62
4. Blandine Dufrene-43
5. Jessica Jonsson-41
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