Walker wins in Columbia
By TMX Archives on 15th Nov 13
KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Jonny Walker has won the Red Bull Camino de la Independencia event in Colombia.
The event – translation ‘Road to Independence' – took place high in the Colombian mountains surrounding Quindio and saw 400 competitors battle it out for victory on the very tracks that served as the battle fields for Colombia's fight for independence.
Staged over two days, Walker's race got off to a mixed start in Saturday's prologue, when he crashed on the short special test and placed fourth. The finishing order of the prologue was then used to determine the starting order for Sunday's main event.
With clear skies greeting riders on Sunday morning, the KTM rider quickly settled into a traditional ‘time card' style enduro. Facing four laps with two separate special tests, Walker held his own against a strong field of international competition. Leading the way for the majority of the day, he increased his advantage when heavy afternoon rain made conditions extremely slippery.
Ending his day over 20-seconds clear of runner-up Giacomo Redondi, Walker secured victory.
Jonny Walker: "I can't believe how well this race has gone for me. With so many riders from the World Enduro Championship in the entry I knew it would be tough to win. The event, which was a traditional time card enduro, favoured those guys, but I was determined to give it my best shot. A small crash the Prologue meant I finished fourth but I felt like I was riding quite well.
"Conditions were dry when we started Sunday's main event and I settled into the format of the race quite easily. My special test times were competitive and I kept pushing hard throughout the day. On the final lap it rained and made things a little difficult, but I was able to maintain my pace and held on to win. I'm really delighted – it's been a great race.”
Walker's next outing will be at the opening round of the FIM World SuperEnduro Championship in Liverpool's Echo Arena this Sunday, November 17.
Red Bull Camino de la Independencia
Quindio, Colombia
OVERALL: 1 Jonny Walker (GB - KTM), 2 Giacomo Redondi (I - KTM), 3 Homero Diaz (MEX - KTM), 4 Mario Roman (E - Husaberg), 5 Jaume Betrio (E - Husaberg),...
