KTM Offroad Newsletter 16.03.2008
 Aro
and Tarkkala repeat top E3 performances on Day 2 in Sweden
KTM Enduro factory riders Samuli Aro and Marko Tarkkala wrapped
up an excellent weekend's racing on snow and ice in Oestersund,
Sweden on Sunday with a repeat of the result in the E3 class
of Saturday's 1-2 result.
After scoring the double in the heart of Sweden this weekend,
the two Finnish riders, who again dominated on Sunday, seem
set to be each other's biggest rivals in the big bike category
of the Enduro World Championship.
Aro satisfied and happy on the two-stroke
"It was a great weekend for me and I was really surprised
that everything went so well," said an elated Aro after
securing his second win in two days. "It is different
to be on the two-stroke bike and the lines are not the same
so I am very satisfied with my start to the season.
Next race in Portugal
Aro and Tarkkala both have a proven track record so the early
success on conditions that are very familiar to them should
carry through when they reach the next round in Vale de Cambra
in Portugal in March 29-30.
Snow and Mud
Conditions for Sunday's race were similar to Saturday with
temperatures around 2 decrees Celsius. Parts of the course
were changed on Sunday because of the heavy snow, while in
other places the thaw had already set in making no shortage
of mud to deal with.
Results Day Two Oestersund:
1. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
2. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
3. Bjorne Carlsson, Sweden, Husaberg
4. Anders Eriksson, Sweden, BMW
5. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
16.03.2008
Salminen tops E2 podium on Day 2 at Oestersund
KTM factory rider Juha Salminen sent a strong signal to the
opposition in the E2 class on Sunday in Oestersund Sweden
when he bettered his third place from Saturday to top the
podium.
Salminen finds his rhythm on day two
Salminen, who completely dominated the E1 class last season
took third place in the opening race on Saturday said he felt
very much more comfortable on Sunday. "Before this weekend
I haven't raced since November and it takes a while to get
the feeling back," the Finnish rider said. "Yesterday
I just couldn't find my rhythm but it was already much better
today and the bike is really perfect."
Snow mud and bumps
Riders faced difficult conditions with some parts of the course
still covered in deep snow but the surface underneath already
melting. "It was a winter race but there were still a
lot of bumps and mud in the Enduro test," Salminen said.
He now returns home to Finland briefly before heading to Portugal
for the two events on the Iberian Peninsular.
Salminen's teammate Italian Alessandro Belometti, who did
not enjoy the same benefit of riding on familiar terrain as
the Scandinavian riders, put in a solid weekend and a good
start to the season with seventh place on each day.
Results Day Two
1. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM
2. Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg
3. Johnny Aubert, France, Yamaha
4. Valtteri Salonen, Finland, Husaberg
5. Jari Mattila, Finland, Honda
7. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
16.03.2008
Cervantes conquers winter conditions for E1 second place in
Sweden
KTM factory rider Ivan Cervantes of Spain managed to master
the snow and ice in central Sweden on day two of the opening
Enduro E1 competition coming in second behind Mika Ahola of
Finland, a big improvement on his sixth place on Saturday.
Cervantes rides well in winter conditions
Cervantes launched himself into the top result to match a
string of Scandinavian riders who were much more at home in
the snow and ice that the Spaniard. Ivan can now look forward
with confidence to the next two rounds in Portugal and Spain
on conditions that suit his riding style.
Battered Sager sits out day two after crash on Saturday
Tom Sager, the second KTM factory rider in the class who has
advanced from the junior ranks did not race on Sunday after
taking a heavy fall in Saturday's race. "He was not badly
injured and he has no broken bones but he was bruised and
hurting a lot," said team boss Fabio Farioli. Sagar came
unstuck when he hit a bump coming off a jump on Saturday and
was taken briefly to hospital to be checked over for injuries.
Riders were confronted with heavy snow on parts of the course
but as the thaw had already begun there were also parts where
mud and bumps had to be mastered. Parts of the course were
left out on Sunday because of the quantity of snow on the
ground.
Results E1 Day Two Oestersund
1. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
3. Simone Albergoni, Italy, Yamaha
4. Eero Remes, Finland, KTM
5. Niklas Gustafsson, Sweden, Honda
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