Aubert takes podium double in Sweden
By TMX Archives on 16th Mar 08
Chasing his first World Enduro Championship Frenchman Johnny Aubert got his 2008 WEC season off to a decent start at the Grand Prix of Sweden where the UFO Corse Yamaha rider placed on the podium on both days having claimed a well deserved 2nd spot on day one and a 3rd place finish on day two. Coming into the '08 series havng claimed the outright win at last year's ISDE in Chile, Aubert, who enjoyed solid results at the GP of Sweden in both '07 and '06, again showed that despite his relative lack of experience in winter conditions he can certainly produce the goods.
Just 28 seconds behind E2 class winner Joakim Ljunggren on day one, Johnnyovercame a less than perfect opening test to remain ahead of seven-time worldchampion Juha Salminen, despite the Finn's best efforts to push Aubert back intothird. Hoping that he would be able to finish on the podium as he had in seasonspast, Johnny surprised even himself by finishing ahead of several experiencedScandinavian participants.
Although he wasn't able to repeat hisrunner-up result on day two, Aubert dropped just one position to again finish onthe podium. With only 30 seconds separating the top three E2 class riders at theend of the second outing, Johnny again placed behind Ljunggren but both riderswere overtaken by Salminen as the Finn took the top slot. Starting thechampionship with two podium results Aubert now heads to Portugal and Spain forrounds two and three of the WEC; events he won in '07.
Finishing in 9thposition on day one and in 12th position on day two, Fabrizio Dini managed tocomplete both days of the WEC opener without major problems - something thatseveral riders were unable to do. Never expecting to enter the top section ofthe standings, Fabrizio scored a handful of hard earned championship points andnow looks forward to returning to more standard raceconditions.
Johnny Aubert (UFO Corse Yamaha) Enduro 2 class - Day 1:2nd, Day 2: 3rd
"I am pleased with my weekend. Finishing second on day one was a great startto the championship and finishing third on day two is also really good. Withsome very fast Scandinavian riders in the E2 class, to finish on the podium onboth days is good. I hoped before the race that I could take a podium, so to dothat is very pleasing. There was a little bit less snow this year, which helpedme. I only spent a few days training before the race, so I'm pleased with theway my bike was. I am looking forward to the next two rounds of the championshipnow. Last year I won rounds two and three, so of course I would like to do thesame again this year. I am not sure what type of special tests there will be butmy physical condition is really good so if the races are hard I am ready forthat."
Fabrizio Dini (UFO Corse Yamaha) Enduro 2 class - Day 1: 9th,Day 2 12th
"Finishing ninth on day one was quite good for me. It was much better than myresults the two previous years. The conditions were very strange because therewasn't so much snow on the special tests and there was a lot of water and mud.But it was the same for everyone. I was 12th on day two, which wasn't as goodbut I started the day badly and crashed about five times. Things got betterafter the first lap but I am just pleased that there will be no more snow at thenext rounds of the series."
2008 Enduro 2 Sweden 16/03/2008
Race 1
1 Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 61'10.080
2 Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 0'28.550
3 Juha Salminen KTM FIN 0'40.180
4 Valtteri Salonen HusaBerg FIN 0'45.360
5 Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 0'46.140
6 Rodrig Thain TM FRA 2'56.200
7 Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 3'37.120
8 Fritz Andersson KTM SWE 4'9.870
9 Fabrizio Dini Yamaha ITA 4'50.890
10 Alessandro Zanni Honda ITA 5'22.840
Race 2
1 Juha Salminen KTM FIN 49'34.020
2 Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 0'21.080
3 Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 0'30.520
4 Valtteri Salonen HusaBerg FIN 0'41.290
5 Jari Juha Mattila Honda FIN 0'44.880
6 Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 1'19.490
7 Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 2'23.260
8 Simo Kirssi BMW FIN 2'36.930
9 Rodrig Thain TM FRA 2'49.210
10 Fritz Andersson KTM SWE 2'55.900
Rider Standings 15/03/2008
1. Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 47
2. Juha Salminen KTM FIN 45
3. Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 42
4. Valtteri Salonen HusaBerg FIN 36
5. Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 31
6. Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 28
7. Rodrig Thain TM FRA 27
8. Fritz Andersson KTM SWE 24
9. Jari Juha Mattila Honda FIN 16
10. Simo Kirssi BMW FIN 13
11. Fabrizio Dini Yamaha ITA 12
12. Alessandro Zanni Honda ITA 11
Manufacturer Standings 15/03/200
1. HusaBerg 47
2. KTM 45
3. Yamaha 42
4. Husqvarna 31
5. Honda 27
6. TM 27
7. BMW 13