Salminen fit and ready to race
By TMX Archives on 13th Sep 07
KTM Enduro Factory Team member Juha Salminen is reported fit and ready to race in the final round of the E1 competition in France, where the results of Saturday's and Sunday's races will decide who takes all three world championship titles.
The Finn had won all 12 E1 races on the world championship program up to andincluding Canada, but he took a tumble riding in the UK five weeks ago and brokehis collarbone. Not wanting to take any unnecessary risks, Salminen who stillhad a comfortable lead in the standings, decided to sit out the two races inSlovakia in favour of promoting the healing process. Now on Saturday and Sundayhe will be back chasing as many of the 50 available points as he can and will becompletely focussed on securing the title.
"Juha will be racing andgoing for the title," team boss Fabio Farioli confirmed this week. "He has beentraining on the bike and he feels well."
Meanwhile, in E2, KTMteam-mate Samuli Aro is also in title contention. He is in second place behindarch rival Mika Ahola and has a deficit of 35 points so he will be committed toriding well and scoring high in both Saturday's and Sunday's race.
KTMis also hoping to pick up the world championship title in the big bikes, the E3category, where Spain's Ivan Cervantes has maintained and even exceeded hisconsistently high form in recent races. In a season where Cervantes has neveractually been off the podium, he has claimed a straight run of five victories inthe last five races. His biggest rival is KTM team-mate Marko Tarkkala, who isin second place in the standings, trailing Cervantes by 40 points.
Withall three Enduro titles up for grabs, the traditional races in France will behotly contested and will certainly attract a big crowd of Enduro sportenthusiasts, guaranteeing that the 2007 season ends on a high note. Farioli ishoping to finish the weekend with three world championship titles for the KTMEnduro Factory Team, but he is also realistic. "I am hopeful, but anything canhappen in this sport and you never know what the result will be until the guysgo through the chequered flag."
"It will in any case be a hard weekendof competition. The riding will be tough and there will be a lot of pressure,particularly from the French riders," Farioli said. He was also hoping for fineweather because the track will include lots of grassed areas that will becomeprecariously slippery if it rains. The Cross test in particular is set out on aninclining grass meadow and will offer plenty of challenges if wet. The Endurotest will pass through a fir plantation with lots of ruts and roots tonegotiate. The Weather Gods however currently seem to favour the Enduro racersand their followers. Weather in the region is forecast to be partly cloudy onSaturday and Sunday with temperatures around 24C and just light winds.