| Oriol Mena becomes Junior World Champion |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Administrator |
| Monday, 20 July 2009 16:39 |
 With almost 90 riders and 17 nations represented, the GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF MEXICO is incontestably one of the greatest successes of MAXXIS FIM WEC history. Before plunging in 2010 ISDE of Morelia, the Federacion Mexicana de Motociclismo showed its talent for organization, and the passion testified by Mexican public was only a confirmation. This Sunday as the day before the spectators were many to come to the meeting of world best enduro riders. Riders with the face marked by the tiredness of the “marathon” disputed on Saturday. The program being a few reduced for this second round, they had to draw from their last reserves to reach the finish of this Mexican test, which had nothing to compare with holidays.
With almost 90 riders and 17 nations represented, the GRAND PRIX MAXXIS OF MEXICO is incontestably one of the greatest successes of MAXXIS FIM WEC history. Before plunging in 2010 ISDE of Morelia, the Federacion Mexicana de Motociclismo showed its talent for organization, and the passion testified by Mexican public was only a confirmation. This Sunday as the day before the spectators were many to come to the meeting of world best enduro riders. Riders with the face marked by the tiredness of the “marathon” disputed on Saturday. The program being a few reduced for this second round, they had to draw from their last reserves to reach the finish of this Mexican test, which had nothing to compare with holidays.
To ensure the World Title in the JUNIOR class, Oriol MENA (ESP-HSB) had to end in a honourable place, profiting from the particular rules of the less than 23 years category. By finishing first, he seals his destiny and wins at two Grand Prix from the end his first world crown, offering at the same time a third success to Husaberg after the titles of Joakim Ljunggren in 2006 and 2007.
Oriol MENA: “First of all I am tired, but I feel also very happy to win this title, and I want to thanks all the people who help me, my team, my sponsors. I am dreaming and I’m still asking myself if I am really the winner. I worked hard to be world champion, especially after my accident and my wound to the face. I will work as hard to manage my entry in the Seniors category next year.”
In the brawl for the victory that opposed him to Mena, Jérémy JOLY (FRA-HM) crashed in the Cross Test of the third lap. After a first diagnosis he would suffer from a fracture of the clavicle. Like Saturday, altitude is the number one enemy of motorbikes and breathless riders. In ENDURO 1, Mika AHOLA (SF-HM) knew once more whims of his machine to start the engine and begins the day with 10 seconds of penalty. By wasting time in the stone drains of the Extreme Test, he eats into his chances of victory and must be satisfied with the second place for only 15 hundredths. On his side, Antoine MEO (FRA-HVA) under the pressure of his rival at the end punctuates a perfect weekend by a second consecutive victory. The third step of the podium is for Simone ALBERGONI (ITA-KTM).
In ENDURO 2, Johnny AUBERT (FRA-KTM) strategy was to take a frank advantage from the first special tests of the morning. He succeeded easily to the pressure of Juha SALMINEN (SF-BMW) to ride alone at the head, such as he uses to do since the beginning of season. The strong man of the WEC was an exhausted man at the finish line of an event which marks his twelfth consecutive success this season. Victim of a distortion to the inch, Bartosz OBLUCKI (POL-HVA) was not able to defend the place he wished in the category. This wound of the Pole benefits in Salminen but also Cristobal GUERRERO (ESP-YAM), third of the day.
In ENDURO 3, Christophe NAMBOTIN (FRA-GAS), however leader during the ¾ of the race could not resist to the incredible come back of Ivan CERVANTES (ESP-KTM) at the end of the race. In particular the physical resources of the Spanish made the difference, and allow him to win the second Mexican round by 18 seconds in advance on Nambotin.
Ivan CERVANTES: “It was two hard days for me and since Slovakia Nambotin put a lot of pressure on me. Yesterday I finished in front of him, and today I did not think I was able to come back because I made a series of mistakes in the Extreme Test. After one hour and a half of cumulated special tests we returned to equality. I won, and this victory makes me confident for the championship and the next test in Greece, because it is there that I won my first world title. ”
At the end of an enthusiastic battle with Samuli ARO (SF-KTM), the winner of the day before, Sebastien GUILLAUME (FRA-HVA), takes finally the third place for more than one second. Note that after Nambotin Saturday, Antoine Méo wins the BMW MOTORRAD XTREME TEST AWARD Sunday. |
| Last Updated ( Monday, 20 July 2009 20:26 ) |