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Photo - Stefan Merriman,
UFO Yamaha #84 who leads his class and the overall on Day 5.
We are very fortunate that Anita Merriman is taking the time to dissect the results (a very onerous job) and bring us up to date on the 2004 ISDE, Poland and particularly on Stefan's progress. The multi talented Kiwi born rider is drawing on his vast background of skills and proving to be one of the top '04 ISDE contenders.
Police presence on the track has been increased since the tragedy on day 3.
Day 5 consisted of 2 laps of 128km each. 5TC (transport checks) and 3CT(cross test, as in motox style timed stage) and 3 ET tests( proper cross country timed tests) on each lap. Each test was 3-4 km long.
Stefan had another great day wining 6 of the 12 special stages. Salminen was the only rider to come within 10seconds of Stefan's time. This may not seem a lot but Stefan has been working hard to gain parts of a seconds from Aro and Salminen
Boutturi, one of the main stays of the Italian Trophy Team broke his foot today but is carrying on to help keep the Italian Trophy Team in 2nd place.
Stefan took the overall and class placing again on day 5 and has opened up a gap pf nearly 1 minute from Finland's Samuli Aro before going into the final moto-X tomorrow.
Day 5 results
E1
1 Oblucki 27.50.82
2 Germain 27.53.97
3 Belometti 28.01.43
E2
1 MERRIMAN 27.30.28
2 Salminen 27.35.89
3 Vilanova 28.11.97
E3
1 Aro 27.40.75
2 Cervantes 27.42.50
3 Knight 27.50.21
Overall Day 5
1 MERRIMAN 27.30.28
2 Salminen 27.35.89
3 Aro 27.40.75
4 Cervantes 27.42.50
Standings after Day 5
E1
1 Oblucki 2.24.22.26
2 Germain 2.25.48.48
3 Belometti 2.25.57.36
E2
1 MERRIMAN 2.21.57.64
2 Vilanova 2.25.36.92
3 Pohjamo 2.26.14.70
136 Salminen
E3
1 Aro 2.22.47.38
2 Knight 2.23.19.87
3 Cervantes 2.24.15.82
Overall after Day 5
1 MERRIMAN 2.21.57.64
2 Aro 2.22.47.38
3 Knight 2.23.19.87
4 Cervantes 2.24.15.82
5 Oblucki 2.24.22.26
Trophy Team after day 5
1 Finland
2 Italy
3 France
4 Sweden
5 GB
6 Australia
There are 21 teams entered in the senior World Trophy Team division.
Manufacturers.(15 Teams entered)
1 UFO Yamaha
2 KTM Farioli
3 Husky
4 Husaberg
5 KTM Farioli 2
For anyone who isn't aware of the Enduro classes.
E1 100cc-125cc 2st
175cc-250cc 4st
E2 175cc- 250cc 2st
290cc-450cc 4st
E3 290cc-500cc 2st
475cc-650cc 4st
Well, this now brings us into day 6. The dreaded on!!! This will consist of a 81km loop with 4TC checks.
The riders will come back and bikes will be impounded in the 'Parc Ferme'. The riders will be allowed a 15minute work period on their bikes prior to the reconnaissance lap (look see lap) The riders will enter this lap one by one at 2-3 second intervals. They will then be allowed another 5 minute work period with their bikes before the preliminary lap.The first moto-x race is planned to start at 11.30 Poland time. The laps are 1.6km long and riders are expected to do 8 laps. I am unsure if there is a time on this race or if it is the first rider to do the 8 laps. The riders will be group according to their placing's after day 5(class wise).
This will mean that Stef will be up against Salminen who is very fast on the moto-x sections. This is not too much of as problem as Salminen is not in the running for the class/overall placing's. Stefan just has to make sure he keeps way from 'his elbows'!!!! This is the only time in the Six Days that the riders actually race together.
Regards
Anita
