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Salminen takes E1
World Championship
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15.09.2007 |
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Salminen takes E1 World Championship title
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Juha Salminen of the KTM Enduro Factory Team
rejoined the world championship E1 competition
on Saturday at the first of two races making up
the French Grand Prix, finishing in third place
for enough points to secure him a much deserved
title. |
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Salminen, who is still nursing a shoulder injury, took
it steady, riding for a place and the world championship
title. He has been the exemplary rider in E1 this
season, his first year back in European competition
after several seasons competing in the USA.
With just one race to go to conclude the 2007 season,
Salminen has won 12 races and was unable to compete in
the double in Slovakia, the previous venue, because of
the injury. He can now enjoy Sunday's race, riding
without pressure and to entertain the large crown of
spectators at the French circuit.
"Today was excellent conditions, the sun was shining and
I think it was the best race of the season," said a
clearly delighted Fabio Farioli, team boss of the KTM
Enduro Factory Team.
Earlier in the week Farioli said that the two races
would favour the French riders, who are very at home on
the grassy surface.
Sunday's race is now a mere formality. In the unlikely
event that Salminen scores no points and the race is won
by second placed Italian Simone Albergoni, they would
both finish the season with 320 points. The title
however would still go to KTM's Salminen because he has
more individual victories overall.
Results Saturday
1. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
2. Simone Albergoni, Italy, Yamaha
3. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM (World Champion)
4. Bartosz Oblucki, Poland, Husqvarna
5. Cristobal Guerrero, Spain, Yamaha
6. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
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Salminen E1 world champion 2007 |
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Belometti a solid sixth in France |
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15.09.2007 |
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Cervantes takes E3 title with one race in
hand |
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Ivan Cervantes of the KTM Enduro Factory Team
coasted home in second place on Saturday in the
first of two races in the E3 Grand Prix of
France to scoop up 22 points and secure the
World Championship title with one race still in
hand. |
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Knowing how much was at stake Cervantes rode a cautious
and slightly nervous race, precautions that paid off for
him handsomely.
Even before
Sunday's final race of the season, the Spanish rider is
unbeatable for the 2007 honours. His KTM factory
teammate Marko Tarkkala of Finland was third on Saturday
and looks like taking second place in the season's
standings although Saturday's winner Sebastien Guillaume
still has a theoretical chance to catching him. Although
the final races are made to measure for the French
riders, Guillaume would have to win Sunday's race and
Tarkkala would have to get no points at all for
Guillaume to finish second.
Regardless of
Sunday's result, Cervantes has had a blessed season,
riding with skill and near perfection over all types of
terrain, in all kinds of weather and in a whole range of
different countries. He has been on the podium in the 15
races held so far of the 16-race season. By piloting his
KTM 525 EXC to the top of the ranks he has fulfilled his
pre-season goal of wanting to win the E3 world
championship title in 2007.
"I think it was
the best race of the season," said KTM team boss Fabio
Farioli. "Now the pressure is off and we just have to go
out and ride well tomorrow to have a nice race for the
huge crowd of spectators.
Results Saturday E3
1. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
3. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
4. Bjorne Carlsson, Sweden, Husaberg
5. Jean-Francois Goblet, Belgium, KTM
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Ivan Cervantes, winner of E3 title |
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Cervantes relishes the moment in France
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Marko Tarkkala to go for second overall |
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15.09.2007 |
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Aro third in France; holds second in
standings |
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Samuli Aro finished third on Saturday at the
first of two E2 races in the Grand Prix of
France to hold onto his second place in the
standings. |
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The KTM Enduro Factory Team rider must now fight hard on
Sunday if he is to round up his season in that position.
Riding on grassy surfaces that favoured the French
competitors, The Finnish rider finished behind
Johnny Aubert, his biggest rival for a second place
overall and his own teammate, Fabien Planet. It was
Planet's best finish of the season, where he will
probably finish fourth.
Mika Ahola, the season's leader finished in a
comfortable fourth place on Saturday but still scored
enough points to give him the 2007 E2 title.
Results Saturday E2
1. Johnny Aubert, France, Yamaha
2. Fabien Planet, France, KTM
3. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
4. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
5. Emmanuel Albepart, France, Honda
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Aro hopes to finish second for the season
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Fabien Planet rides to second at home in France
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