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By - Lexy Thorogood:
Check out - STEFAN`S WEBSITE: for photos, profile, calendar, etc.
Eighth consecutive win for Merriman in Assoluta Italian Enduro Championships
Despite sealing victory on the Assoluta Italian Enduro Championships last round, Merriman went on take his eighth consecutive win of the season unchallenged.
The second last round was held in the hills, 2 hours north of Rome, near the city of Terni by Lake Piedluco.
As the European Summer draws to a close, the temperatures in Piedluco were hot but cooled off as the weekend progressed. There were two dry, dusty cross tests in vacant crop paddocks and one long, rocky enduro test in the forests above the village of Miranda. All three tests were quite long, taking at least 6 minutes to complete.
About the tests, Merriman said \"The two cross tests had many tight corners and as the day progressed the loose rubble ruts slowly shifted further out from the inside peg making it more difficult to turn. It was suited to the lighter 125\'s. I quite liked the long enduro test. I found many good lines and it was fun to ride.\"
On both days, Merriman was clearly dominant in the Enduro test, winning by at least 10 seconds each time and setting the fastest time over the weekend of 6.39.87 secs. Finnish rider, Mika Saarenkoski was the closest to Merriman in the enduro test on Saturday with a time of 6.52.85 secs. Albergoni was the closest on Sunday with a time of 6.47.92 secs as he battled with Roberto Bazzuri (6.49.70 secs) in the enduro test, for the lead in the 125cc class.
Merriman won the overall classification on the first day from Simone Albergoni by 1 min 5 secs. Sunday was a repeat performance with Merriman sealing his eighth consecutive overall classification victory over Roberto Bazzuri by 46 seconds.
About the race, Merriman said,\" It\'s a shame that Ahola stopped on both days due to mechanical problems, as we usually have a good fight in the special tests. He was strong on Saturday morning and I think it would have been interesting. Everything went well for me on the weekend and I had no problems, apart from a wasp sting on the neck when warming up on Sunday morning!!\"
