Report: SuperEnduro France, Final Round
By TMX Archives on 22nd Mar 17
Husqvarnas Colton Haaker delivered the goods to hold on to his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship crown.
Haaker finished third overall at the final round of the series in Albi, France, to claim the World Championship title for the second year in a row.
And in the Junior category it was a night to savour for South Africa's Blake Gutzeit as he secured his first world crown, while Germany's Mike Hartmann wrapped up the European Cup series with a double race win.
"It's great to be world champion again,” said Haaker. "This is a different sort of feeling than last year, though. I understand now why they say it's different to defend a title than win one.
"Getting this done was a huge team effort – thanks to Husqvarna, my mechanic Josh, my wife Hannah and everyone helping to get the job done – without them it wouldn't be possible.”
With Haaker holding an 11-point advantage over his closest rival Alfredo Gomez, it was always going to be a tall order for the Spaniard to reel the American in.
But after landing his debut overall victory last time out in Spain, Gomez was determined to prove it no fluke and set about chasing down another victory in France.
But Jonny Walker had plans of his own and like he has done most times this season he came out swinging for the Akrapovic SuperPole.
Laying down the fastest lap time of the night, Walker also wrapped up the series' SuperPole category.
Keeping his momentum running, he hit the front of the field early in heat one and checked out for a confident win.
Second and third in the remaining races saw him place runner-up to Gomez and third overall in the championship standings.
"Coming off my injury last year, I wasn't quite on the pace I needed at the start of the series,” admitted Walker.
"But things have ended really well. I feel like I showed what I'm capable of at the last two rounds, and switching to the 350f worked out great.
"In a way it's a shame that the series has finished.”
Third behind Walker and Haaker in heat one, Gomez charged to wins in the next two heat races to secure the overall on the night and end the season as runner-up to Haaker.
"I just wanted to end the series as well as I could,” said Gomez. "I'm really pleased for myself and the team.
"As I've said before, for a rider who wasn't originally planning to be a part of this championship we have done a pretty amazing job.
"From the first laps of the first race in Poland I have been competitive and to now get my second overall SuperEnduro event win is incredible.
"Honestly, I'm a little surprised at just how competitive I've been in each heat of each race. Amazingly, I don't think I crashed in any of the finals all season, it's been an amazing championship.”
A much smaller arena for the series finale, the track in France proved tighter and trickier for racing.
Strong starts were crucial, and although they were not quite on Haaker's side, he still managed to quickly position himself where he needed to be.
And the American finished with a 2-2-3 scorecard for third overall on the night to comfortably clinch the world title.
"It's been a very different championship to last year, as I felt like I started this series as favourite to win,” said Haaker.
"I came out strong at the first two rounds, and managed to open up a little gap at the top of the points.
"I think Jonny and Alfredo worked really hard during the break after the first two rounds, but tonight I felt like things were pretty even between us all.
"Defending the SuperEnduro title was definitely something different and quite possibly harder to do, but I'm just stoked to win the championship.
"I felt like I rode well tonight, but at the same time I knew the title was on the line. I'm stoked to have get two SuperEnduro titles in a row.”
Claiming his best result of the series, Manuel Lettenbichler placed fourth overall, with Mario Roman fifth.
Back in action having missed round three, Mike Brown switched to a two-stroke Husqvarna for the series finale and ended his night sixth overall.
In the Junior category the night belonged to Gutzeit. The South African has led the majority of the series and wasn't about to be outdone for the title in France by his nearest competitor Ben Herrera.
After a win in heat one, he survived a number of close calls during heats two and three to take third overall on the night and his debut world title.
"Awesome, it's fantastic to be champion,” said a happy Gutzeit.
"I've worked so hard for so long for this, so to pull off the title is incredible. I had a strange night. I won the first race but then it went to pieces a little in the next two.
"Thankfully I managed to stay in front of Ben enough to keep some sort of control over things.”
Taking the overall win on the night was another South African Travis Teasdale.
Making his SuperEnduro debut in Spain, Teasdale rode to a 2-3-1 scorecard for the victory over France's Max Vial and Gutzeit.
Welshman Gethin Humphreys was once again the best placed British rider on the night in Juniors with seventh overall including a runner-up result in heat two. Humphreys ended his season in fifth overall.
Not enjoying his best of rides in SuperEnduro, William Hoare placed 13th overall but secured 10th overall in the championship. Manxman Jake Subachus brought his Sherco home in 14th position.
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