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By - Lexy Thorogood:
Check out - STEFAN`S W/SITE: for photos, profile, calendar, etc.
Merriman now leads the 250 class and overall!!!
The first day in Jamsa was difficult as expected. The rain continued and the trail was muddy and boggy, very hard on both the body and the bike! Merriman was consistent and strong today, maintaining his top three overall position all day. Salminen broke the gearbox on the second loop and thus was forced to withdraw from the race. The Finnish riders dominated the race today with only three foreigners in the top ten. Merriman was the first.
Merriman said, \'Today was typical Finnish conditions - sandy special tests, stony rough trail with bogholes on tight forest trails. Today I was pushing 9/10ths. I have to be safe and cannot afford to take risks. As the specials became more bumpy I had to back off a little and keep in mind my position in the championship. Today it was not worth taking the risk to try to challenge Samuli in conditions which are his speciality.\'
After being penalised 4 places in the first race of the year, Merriman has now recovered his points lead and now dominates the 250cc 2 stroke class and overall classification. The rain looks to be finished now and we are expecting finer conditions for the race tomorrow.
After victories in both the class and overall classification in both Italy and France, Merriman is enroute to winning his third World title. He is leading the 250cc 2 stroke class by 44 points from KTM rider Samuli Aro and is nudging Juha Salminen for the overall title, only 7 points behind. After training here in Finland for the last two weeks, Merriman feels prepared for the race, both mentally and physically and is looking forward to some fierce competition.
Day 1 World Enduro Championships - Jamsa, Finland
Overall Classification
Place - Rider - Bike - Total - Time
1st Samuli Aro (FIN) KTM 250 41:14.11
2nd Mika Ahola (FIN) VOR 530 41:44.82
3rd Stefan Merriman (AUS) HONDA CRE 250 41:51.67
4th Ivan Cervantes (SPA) KTM 520 42:31.09
5th Petteri Silvan (FIN) KTM 125 42:50.57
6th Mika Saarenkoski (FIN HVA 125 43:04.17
7th Mikko Pihlajavesi (FIN) KTM 125 43:13..63
8th Petri Pohjamo (FIN) GAS 125 43:14.00
9th Miika Savo (FIN) KAW 125 43:14.71
10th Xavier Puigdemont (SPA) KTM 450 43:16.00
Series Overall Classification:
1st MERRIMAN Stefan AUS FMI HONDA 208 points
2nd SALMINEN Juha FIN RFME KTM 199 points
3rd ARO Samuli FIN SML KTM 184points
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Note: Kiwi Paul Whibley (Husqvarna WR250)is currently 8th overall (series) in the 250T class.
