Phillips fights back to win day two at GP of Finland
By TMX Archives on 12th Jun 16
Kept from the top step of the EnduroGP podium on day one by Eero Remes (TM), on day two of the GP of Finland it was Matt Phillips who topped the results after the Tasmanian ace blasted his way to an eventual nine-second winning advantage.
With little to separate Remes, Phillips and Nathan Watson (KTM) throughout the day, it was Phillips who best matched speed with consistency to earn his third outright day win of the championship so far.
Phillips now moves back to the top of the standings, tied on points with Remes. Third, but now a distant third following a bike issue during the second day, Steve Holcombe(Beta) sits six points ahead of Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna) with KTM's Nathan Watson and Taylor Robert fifth and sixth.
In the Enduro 1 class it was again Remes and Watson who dominated the proceedings. Separated by little throughout the day it was clear the rider who made the least mistakes would win. That rider was Remes.
With Watson wanting to claim his first day win of the series the young Brit pushed a little too, made one or two small but costly mistakes, and had to settle for second. For Remes a strong end to the day saw the TM star claim his eighth victory of the season.
"I was feeling a little stiff in the morning,” explained the Finn. "The enduro test was really difficult so it was hard to find the good rhythm. Nathan was fast so I hard to push hard during the final lap.” Behind Remes and Watson, Danny McCanney claimed his first podium result of the series in third.
As the overall EnduroGP winner Matt Phillips enjoyed a comfortable winning margin in Enduro 2. Close to one-minute ahead of his closest challenger Mathias Bellino, Phillips delivered one of the day's strongest performances aboard his Sherco.
"Remes and Watson were pushing me hard for the overall win, which helped me get ahead in the Enduro 2 class, said Phillips. The day was difficult but I just kept pushing and pushing. It was a great day, a really good way to finish the GP of Finland.”
With Bellino finishing as runner-up it was Italian Alex Salvini (Beta) who rounded out the podium.
Johnny Aubert (Beta) overcame a near disastrous opening motocross test to win the Enduro 3 class, helped by his team-mate Steve Holcombe suffering a technical issue mid-way through the day. Aubert finished close to eight seconds ahead of Spaniard Jaume Betriu (KTM) with Antoine Bassett (KTM) third.
Picking up a five-minute time penalty, Holcombe could place no higher than eighth in class. Prior to his problem Steve was challenging for the overall win, and still maintains his lead in the E3 championship standings.
In a class of his own in the Enduro Junior category Giacomo Redondi (Honda) topped all but two special tests to claim an eventual winning advantage of one-and-a-half minutes. With Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) unable to finish having injured his knee, Sweden's Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) claimed the runner-up position ahead of Eemil Pohjola (Husqvarna).
Doing the double in the Women's class Jane Daniels again topped the results, placing ahead of Germany's Maria Franke (KTM) with Laia Sanz (KTM) third.
Despite winning just one special test Daniels remained fast and more importantly consistent throughout the day to take a well-earned lead in the Women's World Championship standings.
Jack Edmondson (KTM) was anther rider to match his day one victory with a win on day two. Close to one-minute ahead of France's Jean-Baptiste Nicolot (Yamaha), Jack gained valuable championship points having missed round two with injury.
The EnduroGP series now heads to Sweden, where round five of the 2016 championship will take place in Enkoping.
