Spaniard blazes a trail at inaugural Red Bull Hard Enduro event of the year to take the win.
Kicking off the 2016 Red Bull Hard Enduro series with a bang, Alfredo Gómez put his name in the record books as the first ever winner of a South American Red Bull Hard Enduro. Claiming a start-to-finish win on day four, the KTM rider cemented his position as the overall winner of Red Bull Minas Riders.
“It’s an incredible feeling to have won Red Bull Minas Riders,” said Gómez at the finish line. “It’s the first Red Bull Hard Enduro of the year, so to come here and win like this is fantastic.”
With a healthy advantage over his closest rival, Gómez held back the nerves to deliver yet another flawless day of riding. Keeping his nose out in front, he made it to the finish line overlooking the city of Belo Horizonte as the clear winner.
It’s been a tough week of racing, really hard, so to win is just amazing.
“I was a little nervous today despite holding a good lead in the race. But I soon settled into things and began to enjoy the ride a lot more. I was so happy riding into the finish line. It’s been a tough week of racing, really hard, so to win is just amazing.
“I can’t thank KTM and my team enough for their support in achieving this result. Finally, I’d like to dedicate this victory to a close friend of mine Alberto Lessmann who sadly passed away [this week]. This victory is for you Alberto.”
With victory going Gómez’s way, Husqvarna’s Graham Jarvis had to be content with the runner-up spot. Faced with a mission impossible task of reeling Gómez in, not even Jarvis could turn the tables on the race outcome.
Pushing a little too hard to make time, he actually ended up riding a “No Help Zone” Gold loop twice, which resulted in his bike running dry of fuel just short of the end of the race.
“I understood that we were to ride this no help Gold zone twice, which I did, but I think I was mistaken,” explained Jarvis. “It resulted in me running out of fuel about 15 minutes from the finish line.
“Luckily I had earlier given Lars Enockl my wire cutters so when he came past he returned the favour by giving me some of his fuel to get me home.”
ehind the leading duo the battle for the final step of the podium went down to the wire between Paul Bolton and Philipp Scholz. With it all to play for, Bolton managed to hold off the very impressive Scholz to claim third by only 42 seconds, following 22 hours of racing.
“I’m made up with third overall in what’s been a hard week of riding. To end the first Red Bull Hard Enduro of 2016 on the podium is a brilliant result,” said Bolton.
“The battle for third was tight between Philipp Scholz and myself entering today – it was only about a one-minute gap. We were both pushing but I managed to stay in front of him and get third”
Coming up short on his debut Hard Enduro podium, Scholz had to be content with fourth overall. Having proved himself this week in Brazil, the German should prove a major contender during the rest of the 2016 series.
Placing fourth on day four, while also offering Jarvis enough fuel to salvage second, Enockl completed the top five in the 2016 Red Bull Minas Riders.
The Red Bull Hard Enduro series continues with the Erzbergrodeo in Austria from May 26-29.