Jonny Walker has brought his 2014 Extreme Enduro season to a close with a runner-up result at the GetzenRodeo event in Germany, while also securing the Extreme Enduro European Cup.
As his last major outdoor event of 2014 Jonny set the pace during the Getzen Race qualifying event – eventually lapping all riders aside form his team-mate Andreas Lettenbichler to claim a comfortable win. Enjoying the two-hour race Jonny secured the important ‘pole position’ for the main five-lap race.
Starting well Jonny immediately hit the front before opening up a small lead. But with a number of longer, harder sections added to the track it wasn’t long before he was joined by Graham Jarvis. Completing the first lap in the lead Jonny ran into troubles soon after as he suffered some cooling issues, which temporarily forced him to stop.
Giving the fifth and final lap everything he had Jonny maintained his runner-up position and joined winner Jarvis and third placed Andreas Lettenbichler on the podium. In addition Jonny became the first ever Extreme Enduro European Cup winner.
Jonny will now turn his attentions to the upcoming SuperEnduro World Championship, which starts in Poland on December 6.
Jonny Walker: “I really wasn’t pushing hard during the morning race. I found some good lines, felt good, and had a great time. I guess things just came together for me. I know some of the other riders maybe weren’t trying to hard, as all they wanted to do was qualify, but it’s never a bad thing to win a qualifying race. The plan was to get into a steady pace in the final. But it was hard because we had a small cooling problem. I was pushing as hard as I could, and Graham was riding really well. I was close to Graham for two laps and then my bike got too hot and I had to stop. I pushed hard again during the last lap, but I knew I was in a pretty safe second so it was just about making sure I got to the finish. I’m a bit disappointed obviously, but it’s been a great event and it’s nice to have won the European title.”
GetzenRodeo 2014
Getzen Champ (main event)
1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 5 laps; 2. Jonny Walker (KTM) +7:03.962; 3. Andreas Lettenbichler (KTM) +10:13:865; 4. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) +11:30.858; 5. Ben Hemingway (Beta) +22:56.432; 6. Phillips Scholz (KTM) +24:21.290…
Getzen Race (qualifying)
1. Jonny Walker (KTM) 11 laps; 2. Andreas Lettenbichler (KTM) 11 laps; 3. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 10 laps; 4. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 10 laps; 5. Marcus Kehr (Sherco) 10 laps; 6. Phillips Scholz (KTM) 9 laps…