Seistola and Meo top World Enduro in Spain, Phillips a double winner
Heat and tough terrain make for gruelling days' racing in Spain as Aussies fare well across the board.
Day two victor Antoine Meo battles the dry and dusty terrain in Spain. Image: Enduro-ABC.com.
Finn Matti Seistola and Frenchman Antoine Meo have shared E1 class wins across two gruelling days of competition at the third round of the 2013 Maxxis Enduro World Championship, the GP AMV Seguros of Spain, in Puerto Lumbreras.
Seistola, who had not won a race since 2011, was quick to capitalise on the misfortune of rivals including Meo and his own teammate Juha Salminen as they struggled in the hot conditions upon treacherous rocky and dusty terrain.
“I’m so happy to have won – it’s amazing,” said Seistola. “When Meo and Salminen made mistakes early on I did my best to capitalise on it.
“I fought my way into the lead and just tried to ride as hard as I could without crashing. It was a brilliant day.”
He beat home Eero Remes who had led for some part of the day but was unable to hold off the Finn’s advances. Home favourite Cristobal Guerrero rounded out the E1 class podium on opening day.
Meo bounced back on the second day, eager to overcome the disappointment of a fifth place finish. He comfortably won the first three special tests of the morning then rode safely to protect the advantage as the day progressed.
“Day one was tough – I crashed too many times,” said MEO. “I needed to win day two and regain some of the points I lost. I pushed hard in the morning and then kept an eye on my times and rode safe to win.”
Remes backed up his day one finish with another second-place, racing consistently to finish just 17 seconds behind Meo. Salminen found his feet in the second leg of the Spanish grand prix, riding to third.
Spanish favourite Ivan Cervantes won both days in the E2 class with a comprehensive display.
“This has been an incredible weekend for me,” said Cervantes. “I am ecstatic to have won both days in Spain.
“Winning day one gave me the belief that I could do it again – I was not going to let anyone beat me.”
Alex Salvini and Johnny Aubert joined Cervantes on the podium on day one, with Salvini backing up his podium result on day two, joined by Pela Renet.
E3 class frontrunner Christophie Nambotin was also a double winner, with Manuel Monni and Aigar Leok second and third on day one, and Joakim Ljunggren and Leok second and third on day two.
Australia’s Matt Phillips continues to shine as the leading junior class rider in the world championship, winning both days of the Spanish grand prix and adding to his points lead in impressive fashion.
Fellow Aussie Jessica Gardiner was third overall at the opening women’s class event of the year, which was won comprehensively by Laia Sanz.
Jemma Wilson holds down sixth place after a competitive showing.
2013 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship
Round three – Grand Prix of Spain
E1 class day one:
1. Matti Seistola
2. Eero Remes
3. Cristobal Guerrero
4. Juha Salminen
5. Antoine Meo
6. Nicolas Deparrois
7. Thomas Oldrati
8. Jeremy Joly
9. Simone Albergoni
10. Jeremy Tarroux
E1 class day two:
1. Antoine Meo
2. Eero Remes
3. Juha Salminen
4. Cristobal Guerrero
5. Matti Seistola
6. Anthony Boissiere
7. Simone Albergoni
8. Jeremy Joly
9. Thomas Oldrati
10. Nicolas Deparrois
E1 class standings (after round three of seven):
1. Antoine Meo 111
2. Juha Salminen 90
3. Matti Seistola 89
4. Eero Remes 79
5. Thomas Oldrati 64
6. Simone Albergoni 58
7. Jeremy Joly 56
8. Nicolas Deparrois 52
9. Cristobal Guerrero 43
10. Anthony Boissiere 40
Recent
