Bel Ray Husqvarna Enduro Team Looking For Continued Success In 2014 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship
As the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship begins the second half of the season at this weekend’s GP of Mexico, Bel Ray Husqvarna Enduro Factory Team riders figure predominantly in the championship standings.
With Spain’s Alfredo Gomez placed third overall in the Prestige class, Manxman Jamie McCanney second in the Junior category and Britain’s Jane Daniels the current leader of the Women’s class, Husqvarna Motorcycles are enjoying a successful debut year of Superenduro racing.
Fighting for a top three position in the Prestige class, Gomez has continued to improve as the series has progressed, despite entering the third round of the series anything but 100 per cent fit. Committed to numerous Hard Enduro races prior to the opening round of the series in Liverpool, England last November, the Spaniard broke a bone in his right foot on December 31st but nevertheless raced his way to some impressive results in Brazil.
Fourth overall after round one, the Husqvarna rider delivered his best performance to date at round three in Brazil. Securing his and Husqvarna Motorcycles first ever SuperEnduro race win in Final #2 he then went on to secure a well-deserved third place overall result. Now third in the championship standings and with his confidence at an all time high, the Spaniard is looking forward to the second half of the season.
“Because of my injury my plan was simply not to lose too many points in Brazil,” explains Alfredo. “Instead the race ended very well for me. It was a difficult track with some challenging double jumps, but I really liked it. To finish on the podium in third overall was really good. Now we move to Mexico and I hope I can continue to ride well. I want to try and get a better time in the Super Pole – that will help me with my starts. With three races remaining there are a lot of points to be won. I just want to enjoy my riding and push for the best results in Mexico and then enjoy the last two rounds of the series back in Europe.”
Battling for a top five position in the series, Sweden’s Joakim Ljunggren currently sits sixth overall. Using the opening two rounds to adjust to his Husqvarna FE 250 after numerous years racing in the Enduro World Championship on a 300cc two-stroke, Ljunggren produced a solid top five result in Brazil.
For championship rookie Mathias Bellino, his SuperEnduro challenge has been met with mixed results as the Frenchman adapts to, for him, what is a new form of racing. Off pace at round one, Bellino bounced back in style at round two in Poland. Second fastest in the SuperPole, he placed as runner-up in Final #1 and momentarily led Final #3.
Suffering from his fair share of crashes in Brazil, the Husqvarna rider was unable to reproduce the stunning form seen in Poland and slipped back to eight overall in the title chase. But with three rounds of the series still remaining, the Frenchman will be pushing hard to return to the front of the field.
In the Junior category, Jamie McCanney currently sits second in the SuperEnduro World Championship. Opting not to compete in the two races in South America as he focuses on his Enduro World Championship preparations, the young Manxman will look to make a winning end to the series when he returns for the final two rounds in Spain and France next month. With Junior class riders able to ‘throw away’ their two lowest scores, Jamie still has a very real chance of Junior SuperEnduro World Championship success.
Finishing second and first at the opening two rounds of the season, Jane Daniels holds the point’s lead in the Women’s category. With just the final round left to contest in France, Daniels is favourite to deliver her first world title for Husqvarna.
SuperEnduro World Championship – Prestige class standings
1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 165 points; 2. David Knight (Sherco) 146; 3. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 120…6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husqvarna) 94; 8. Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna) 56…
SuperEnduro World Championship – Junior class standings
1. Giacomo Redondi (Beta) 106; 2. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 71; 3. Pawel Szymkowski (KTM)… 10. Jesper Borjesson (Husqvarna); 15. Tim Apolle (Husqvarna) 17…
SuperEnduro World Championship – Women’s class standings
1. Jane Daniels (Husqvarna) 35 points; 2. Sandra Gomez (Husaberg) 30; 3. Emma Bristow (Sherco) 30…
The six-round FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round four in Guadalajara, Mexico on January 25.