Preview: EnduroGP paddock heads for Iberian tour
By Team TMX on 25th Apr 18
A little more than a month after the season opener in Finland, the EnduroGP paddock moves on for the first half of the traditional Iberian tour in Galicia in North West Spain.
At the end of a very unusual Finnish Grand Prix, which was won by local man Aleksi Jukola, Eero Remes stood out as the big winner among all the EnduroGP favourites. The Factory TM rider leads the standings in Enduro 2 and holds second place in the EnduroGP category.
But Remes is only six points ahead of Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) in E2 as the Italian proved to be on top form in Finland and he could be very strong in Spain, just like Matthew Phillips. Although the Australian has never been really comfortable in the snow, he will be back on the terrain he loves and the 14-point deficit on his Finnish rival could quickly disappear.
Remes will also have an eye on Loic Larrieu (Yamaha) who will be back with a vengeance after a difficult GP of Finland. Deny Philippaerts (Beta) and Josh Gotts (TM), who showed good speed in the snow, will want to keep up their momentum too.
In Enduro 1 Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) finds himself tied on points with fellow Brit Brad Freeman (Beta). But this battle could benefit Eemil Pohjola (Gas Gas) who, despite his Saturday DNF in Finland, showed great talent and could be another favourite in this small capacity class.
In the big capacity E3 class Steve Holcombe (Beta) was able to enjoy a better winter preparation to score big points in Finland. The 2017 world champion is only eight points ahead of Manxman Danny McCanney (Gas Gas) and 10 ahead of Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas).
This season the Junior category will be divided into two World Cups Junior 1 for bikes equal to or less than 250cc (two and four-stroke) and Junior 2, for bikes with more than 251cc (two and four-stroke).
In Junior 1 a very strong contingent of young and talented riders are capable of claiming the victory and the world title from Mikael Persson (KTM) to Andrea Verona (TM), Kirian Mirabet (Honda), Leo Le Quere (TM) and without forgetting the 2017 No.3 Albin Elowson (Yamaha).
On the other side in Junior 2 the competition will also be fierce with Matteo Cavallo (Beta Boano), fourth Junior in 2017, Jack Edmondson (Sherco), Enric Francisco (KTM) and Tosha Schareina (Husqvarna). Also Englishman Joe Wootton (Husqvarna) is in with a shot.
Finally, in Youth 125cc Ruy Barbosa (Husqvarna), third in 2017, clearly serves as favourite for the title. But watch out for riders like Dan Mundell (Sherco), Hugo Svard (Husqvarna) and Matthew Vanoevelen (Sherco).
More like this…
Jamie McCanney seals double Enduro 1 victory in Spain
Putting in a dominant performance under changing conditions in Spain, Outsiders Yamaha’s Jamie McCanney wrapped up round two of the Enduro World Championship with two Enduro 1 class victories.
Good start for Brits at EnduroGP opener
Brutally cold weather and deep snow conditions played favour to the local Finns but the Brits more than held their own at the EnduroGP opener.
Home riders dominate day one of EnduroGP of Finland
This first round of the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship headed 200 kilometres north of Helsinki, was where the riders started the 83rd edition of Paijanne, in temperatures of -13 degrees!