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Photo - Stefan Merriman, after winning the ISDE outright just a few days ago he is pictured here after winning the World Enduro Championsip E1:
UFO Corse Yamaha rider Stefan Merriman, 31, claimed the 2004 Enduro 1 world championship in style at round seven of the WEC series held in Serres, Greece by topping the E1 class results on both days. Already comfortably ahead in the Enduro 1 championship heading into the event not even a serious stomach infection could stop the New Zealand born Australian from claiming his fourth world title, his first for Yamaha.
Merriman won day one by 49 seconds, and again Stefan proved too fast for his competitors on day two as he topped the class by 29 seconds. On day one the Australian was followed home by his UFO Corse Yamaha team-mate Bartosz Oblucki with Italian Simone Albergoni (Honda) claiming a close third. On day two however Albergoni moved one place higher in the E1 class results as he claimed the runner-up spot while a poor final lap from Oblucki meant that Italian Alessandro Belometti claimed his first ever WEC podium with Oblucki a close fourth.
Merriman's title also marks the fourth consecutive world title for the WR250F -and the Ufo Corse Yamaha Team, after Stephane Peterhansel won the world title in 2001 and Peter Bergvall scored back-to-back titles on the "small thumper". Merriman was obviously relieved: "The world championship has been getting closer and closer to me for the past few races but I honestly didn't know if I would be able to get to the end of the race this weekend because I was feeling that bad. With the changes made to the points scoring system this year it has resulted in me having to push right up until the end of the season."
Stefan Merriman (UFO Corse Yamaha) also said; "I'm really happy to win the world championship here in Greece because it has been a really tough weekend for me. I had some problems with my stomach during the days leading up to the race. I was in a lot of pain and on day one I was riding feeling only 50 per cent as good as I normally do. Thankfully, on day two I have been feeling much better. There have been some great races this year. I'd like to thank my girlfriend Lexy, my mechanic Guliano, Vito Consoloni from UFO and Pippo who has been so passionate all season, the UFO Corse Yamaha team manager. This year has been a real team effort and now we have the result that we have worked so hard all year to achieve. I still have day bonuses to win so I'm going to push hard to win at the next round of the championship in Germany. I'm now able to relax a little and enjoy the race."
Kiwi, Paul Whibley finished 9th in the Enduro Two category and is 6th in that class series.
Grand Prix of Greece - Results:
