After the Enduro 1 and Enduro 2 categories, now it’s time to take a look to the “big bike” class (more than 250cc 2 strokes and 450cc 4 strokes). Last year, Christophe NAMBOTIN (F – KTM) has dominated the class; but he chose a new challenge (E1) for 2014.
The favorites
– Ivan CERVANTES (E – KTM): “Torito” is back on the “big”! After three seasons without titles, the KTM rider is over-motivated for 2014. The “fifth title goal” is his watchword. A longtime awaited on the 500cc 4 strokes, the Spanish has finally opted for the 300cc 2 strokes that his teammates NAMBOTIN loves… Will he arrive to make shine the orange bike as the French did? For sure, he will be the man to beat this year, and an entire country is dreaming to see once again its idol on the highest step of the podium!
– Aigar LEOK (EST – TM): After a big improvement in 2012, the TM rider has confirmed in 2013, glorified by a World vice-champion place. Sometimes injured last year, will the most facetious rider of the paddock arrive to make a consistent high level season to target a first crown? First elements of the answer in Solsona (Spain).
– Joakim LJUNGGREN (S – HVA): The two times Junior World Champion (2006 – 2007) continues his improvements and has now only in mind to feel again the taste to be titled, this time in Senior class. Stopped in his ascension by LEOK, the HVA rider ensures “I’ll resume my walk forward in April”! From there to be the rival of CERVANTES for the 2014 crown? Hard to say as the concurrence in E3 is getting tougher this year!
– Mathias BELLINO (F – HVA): Never a Junior World Champion rubbed the Senior podiums during his first year as he did… Combining effective and no frills riding style with spectacle, the HVA rider is already designated as one of the favorite for the title at only 23 years old and for his second season with the “big guys”. On the handlebar of the new 501 TE of HVA and with a moral boosted by his brilliant results in SuperEnduro, the “flying redhead” has teeth that line the floor and could ogle his first title in E3…
The outsiders
– Luis CORREIA (P – Beta): 4th last year, the sympathetic Portuguese surprised for his second season… With an excellent speed, the former MXGP rider showed a great capacity to learn and read quickly the trajectory. That permits him to sign a fourth podium in 2013. This year, CORREIA can think seriously to the Top 3!
– Matthew PHILLIPS (AUS – KTM): 2013 Junior World Champ’, PHILLIPS will discover this season the tough law of the Senior categories. In good fit during the opening round of the Italian Championship in Alassio where he won the “Foreigners” class, the “Minotaur”, as his former mentor Fabrizio AZZALIN nicknamed him, seems very comfortable with the KTM 300cc 2 strokes and could create the surprise.
– Matti SEISTOLA (SF – Sherco): After a nice 2013 season and a 3rd place in E1, it seems legitimate that the Finn has great ambitions with his passage in Enduro 3. But his late transfer to Sherco and his arrival in an unknown category will maybe handicap AZZA protected rider who will need a good adaptation time on a 2 strokes bike that he is discovering… First elements of answer during the Grand Prix AMV of Cataluña…
– Fabien PLANET (F – Sherco): The figurehead of Sherco Factory team stays with the big bikes on the handlebar of the 300cc 2 strokes despite the arrival of SEISTOLA. No doubt, “PLANET’HOLLYWOOD” has the talent and the experience to fight with the favorites.
– Manuel MONNI (I – HVA): People talked a lot about the “2012 Rookie of the Year” during the start of last season when his signed two nice podiums in Argentina and Spain before slowing down due to a knee injury. With two years of experience, the Italian can target higher. He is for sure in an upswing and will roam about the podium in each Grand Prix!
– Simone ALBERGONI (I – KTM): After a difficult 2013 season with HM Honda in E1 where he finished 10th, the older rider of the Italian Enduro attempts to revive with the Bordone Ferrari team… Recent winner of the E3 class in the Assoluti d’Italia, the KTM rider seems to have recovery his desire to win and could create the surprise as he did in 2012…
– Jérémy JOLY (F – KTM): Another nice shot from Eric BERNARD who managed to enroll the 2011 Junior World Champion with KTM France. But the task will not be easy when we see the rider set… 5th in E1 in 2013, he must do the same or better if he doesn’t want to be slowing down in his improvements…
– Deny PHILLIPAERTS (I – Beta): 2013 Most Improved Rider, the Italian is never stopping to astonish… But with around fifteen high level riders, the places will be hard to get in E3 and the Beta rider will have to have a big strength of mind to confirm.
We can’t forget them
– Antoine BASSET (F – Gas Gas): Former protected rider of Fred WEILL with the French Army has decided to change and will substitute Rodrig THAIN in the Spanish brand. After some solid season in E2, crowned by a first podium during the final in St Flour, he will have to excel to repeat such performances…
– Johan EDLUND (S – HVA) and Jonathan MANZI (I – Gas Gas) that are coming from the Junior and will have a lot to learn…
– Oscar BALLETTI (I – KTM) who will have to prove to the Farioli team that he is worth than this poor 9th rank in E2 last year…
– Tommy SJOSTROM (S – Gas Gas) who arrives in the EWC for a first learning season.
But the main question is to know who can upset Ivan CERVANTES in his quest to a fifth World title. Third in E2 last year, the KTM rider can reasonably target the E3 title but LJUNGGREN, LEOK and BELLINO will not let him reach his goal so easily and MONNI, SEISTOLA, PLANET, CORREIA, PHILLIPS… could shuffle the cards in a category “rejuvenated ” with much more variety than in the past where every mistake will be fatal. See you on Friday, April 4th in the evening in Solsona (Cataluña) for some answers!
The E3 World Champions since 2004
2013: NAMBOTIN (KTM – France)
2012: NAMBOTIN (KTM – France)
2011: AHOLA (Honda – Finland)
2010: KNIGHT (KTM – Great Britain)
2009: CERVANTES (KTM – Spain)
2008: ARO (KTM – Finland)
2007: CERVANTES (KTM – Spain)
2006: KNIGHT (KTM – Great Britain)
2005: KNIGHT (KTM – Great Britain)
2004: ARO (KTM – Finland)