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By Lexy Thorogood:
Check out - STEFAN`S W/SITE:
World Enduro Championships - Brescia, Italy
Just when you thought things couldn\'t get any better, they just did. Stefan had another exceptional day riding, winning both the 250cc 2 stroke class and overall classification. With four laps of two cross tests, two enduro tests and one extreme it was the most demanding day of racing of the World Championship rounds this year. All tests adding up to more than 1 hour in total of special test time. The cross tests were very straightforward, set on flat paddocks they did not offer much challenge. Although they were both a little bumpy in places, and the organisers had graded up some steep jumps on cross test 3 which gave the crowd some thrills.
The most interesting part of the race was the extreme and the two enduro specials which really put the riders to the test. The extreme test was a very rocky uphill with some added obstacles. The organisers cemented and rock bolted some boulders in the main lines and wired some logs across the track!! Unfortunatley the extreme was situated as such it was not easy for spectators to access it. Merriman set the fastest times in the extreme on day on and two, utilising his trials experience as an advantage over the others.
The first enduro test was a very long, narrow winding track in the forest - consisting mostly of downhills. It was this test that Merriman really stood out from the pack. On the first day Merriman gained 21 seconds overall in this test against his closest rival, Ivan Cervantes. He won this test each of the three times it was ridden on day one.
The second Enduro test started amongst the grapevines and then plunged into the thick forest winding up and down the rocky hills, littered with stumps. Stefan found this test a little more difficult and stalled the engine on an uphill losing 5 secs to get going again. the other times he rode through faultlessly.
Saturday was a brilliant day for Stefan as he led the race from start to finish. Sunday was a little closer as the other riders became more familiar with the tests their times were a little closer. Merriman also led the race from start to finish finished first overall on Sunday as well, winning both the class and overall classification.
Day 1 World Enduro Championships - Brescia, Italy:
Overall Classification:
Place - Rider - Bike - Total - Time
1st Stefan Merriman (AUS) HONDA CRE 250 1:17.31\"04
2nd Samuli Aro (FIN) KTM 250 1:17.42\"62
3rd Ivan Cervantes (SPA) KTM 520 1:17.47\"37
4th Juha Salminen (FIN) KTM 520 1:18.06\"07
5th Giovanni Sala (ITA) KTM 250 4S 1:18.40\"03
6th Fausto Scovolo GAS GAS 250 1:19.10\"02
7th Alessandro Botturi (ITA) KTM 450 1:19.22\"50
8th Roberto Bazzuri (ITA) HUS 250 4S 1:19.28\"49
9th Rickard Larsson (SWE) TM 125 1:19.30\"13
10th Jordi Duran(SPA) KTM 450 1:19.32\"41
Day 2 World Enduro Championships - Brescia, Italy
Overall Classification:
Place - Rider - Bike - Total - Time
1st Stefan Merriman (AUS) HONDA CRE 250 1:08.37\"94
2nd Juha Salminen (FIN) KTM 520 1:08.59\"62
3rd Ivan Cervantes (SPA) KTM 520 1:09.10\"75
4th David Knight (GBR) YAM 500 1:09.45\"62
5th Helder Rodrigues (POR) KTM 250 1:10.23\"84
6th Alessandro Botturi (ITA) KTM 450 1:10.27\"62
7th Peter Bergvall (SWE) YAM 250 1:10.28\"48
8th Anders Eriksson (SWE) HUS 450 1:10.43\"68
9th Fausto Scovolo(ITA) GAS GAS 250 1:10.50\"12
10th Jani Laaksonen (FIN) GAS GAS 250 1:10.54\"65
That weekend`s result means the overall series position is becoming a closely fought thing:
1. Salminen 199
2. Merriman 192
3. Samuli Aro, FIN, KTM 159
4. Cervantes 139
5. Knight 93
