|
|
|
13.09.2007 |
|
Salminen fit and ready to race in last Enduro
World Championship races |
|
KTM Enduro Factory Team member Juha Salminen
is reported fit and ready to race in the final
round of the E1 competition in France, where the
results of Saturday's and Sunday's races will
decide who takes all three world championship
titles. |
|
|
The Finn had won all 12 E1 races on the world
championship program up to and including Canada, but he
took a tumble riding in the UK five weeks ago and broke
his collarbone. Not wanting to take any unnecessary
risks, Salminen who still had a comfortable lead in the
standings, decided to sit out the two races in Slovakia
in favour of promoting the healing process. Now on
Saturday and Sunday he will be back chasing as many of
the 50 available points as he can and will be completely
focussed on securing the title.
"Juha will be racing and going for the title," team boss
Fabio Farioli confirmed this week. "He has been training
on the bike and he feels well."
Meanwhile, in E2, KTM team-mate Samuli Aro is also in
title contention. He is in second place behind arch
rival Mika Ahola and has a deficit of 35 points so he
will be committed to riding well and scoring high in
both Saturday's and Sunday's race.
KTM is also hoping to pick up the world championship
title in the big bikes, the E3 category, where Spain's
Ivan Cervantes has maintained and even exceeded his
consistently high form in recent races. In a season
where Cervantes has never actually been off the podium,
he has claimed a straight run of five victories in the
last five races. His biggest rival is KTM team-mate
Marko Tarkkala, who is in second place in the standings,
trailing Cervantes by 40 points.
With all three Enduro titles up for grabs, the
traditional races in France will be hotly contested and
will certainly attract a big crowd of Enduro sport
enthusiasts, guaranteeing that the 2007 season ends on a
high note. Farioli is hoping to finish the weekend with
three world championship titles for the KTM Enduro
Factory Team, but he is also realistic. "I am hopeful,
but anything can happen in this sport and you never know
what the result will be until the guys go through the
chequered flag."
"It will in any case be a hard weekend of competition.
The riding will be tough and there will be a lot of
pressure, particularly from the French riders," Farioli
said. He was also hoping for fine weather because the
track will include lots of grassed areas that will
become precariously slippery if it rains. The Cross test
in particular is set out on an inclining grass meadow
and will offer plenty of challenges if wet. The Enduro
test will pass through a fir plantation with lots of
ruts and roots to negotiate. The Weather Gods however
currently seem to favour the Enduro racers and their
followers. Weather in the region is forecast to be
partly cloudy on Saturday and Sunday with temperatures
around 24ºC and just light winds.
|
|
 |
|
Salminen feels well for the final |
|
|
 |
|
Aro is still in title contention |
|
|
 |
|
Cervantes is ready for the title in E3
|
|
|
 |
|
Cervantes biggest rival is KTM team-mate
Tarkkala |
|
|
|
