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From - Stefan & Lexy:
Italian Enduro Championships – Terni, Rome.
The sixth and seventh rounds of the Italian Championships were held in Terni, Rome on the 7th and 8th September, after the sixth round in Bosio, Asti was cancelled. Merriman changed classes from 400cc 4-stroke to the 125cc 2-stroke, to prepare for his change in class in the upcoming International Six Days of Enduro to be held in the Czech Republic at the end of the month. The new standard Husqvarna WR125 he rode for this event is the same bike as what he will be racing at the ISDE.
This round of the Italian Championships started in a small village called Piediluco, just outside the city of Terni. There was only two special tests for the weekend. The first cross test was on a flat paddock used for crops, which had soft, clay-like mud. Consistent rain prior to the event ensured a slippery track on race day, packing out into deep ruts. The second enduro test was situated in the mountains and consisted of fast narrow downhills, followed by slippery rocky uphills. The test was primarily single track and was quite long (about 7 minutes).
On Saturday, the first riders in the cross test devoured all the grass on the track, setting much faster times than the rest of the field. Merriman was 9 seconds down after the first test, Bazzuri and Albergoni lead the field. A brilliant time in the enduro test, moved Merriman into second position, ahead of rivals Ahola and Aro. However Merriman couldn’t match the speed of Albergoni’s 125 and finished the day in second overall.
On Sunday the track remained slippery in the morning and dried out as the day progressed, favoring the riders starting later in the field (ie. four strokes). Ahola set the pace for the day in the enduro test, meanwhile ex-motocrosser, Alex Zanni was the fastest in the cross test. Adjusting to the new 125 Merriman finished in fourth position behind Ahola, Aro and Zanni respectively. Stefan will begin testing this week to prepare for the ISDE in two weeks. The results were as follows…
Sixth round – Overall result
1. Simone Albergoni (KTM 125)
2. Stefan Merriman (HUS 125)
3. Samuli Aro (HUS 250)
4. Roberto Bazzuri (HUS 125)
5. Mika Ahola (VOR 500)
Seventh Round – Overall result
1. Mika Ahola (VOR 500)
2. Samuli Aro (HUS 250)
3. Alex Zanni (HON 450)
4. Stefan Merriman (HUS 125)
5. Mario Rinaldi (YAM 500)
The current point standings in the Italian Enduro Champs Series is:
1. Samuli Aro (HUS 250) 139
2. Mika Ahola (VOR 500) 133
3. Stefan Merriman (HUS 125) 97
