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Pic - Stefan Merriman in Portugal, Round 2:
Emboldened after an intensive bout of laser treatment and physiotherapy on his injured knee, Yamaha’s Stefan Merriman will be out to showcase his full repertoire in round three of the 2005 Maxxis Enduro World Championship at Tolmezzo in Italy this weekend. The 32-year-old, Tauranga born four-time world champion, is currently running an uncharacteristic third in the E2 (250cc 2T versus 450cc 4T) class after a crash on the opening day of round two saw his remarkable streak of 32 consecutive finishes come to an abrupt halt – his first DNF since the final hitout of the 2003 season.
Merriman’s medial ligament was torn in the seemingly innocuous crash from his Italian-entered WR450F, which forced him out of the mix – and saw arch-rival Samuli Aro (KTM) breakthrough for his first win of the year. However, the iron-willed Merriman, against all expectations, returned to the fold on day two, and not only won his third E2 race of the year, but was the fastest rider across all three world championship classes!
The fighting victory saw Merriman move his world championship tally along to 75pts, behind two-time world champion Aro (89) and another KTM rider, Frenchman Fabien Planet (82). The latter has been the revelation of the opening two rounds after a moderate 10th place finish in the 2004 E1 (125cc 2T versus 250cc 4T) championship.
Merriman’s third place represents the first time that he hasn’t led a world championship since round two of the 2003 season, while he hasn’t ‘languished’ outside the top two since the opening hitout of 2001, when he failed to score any points in Portugal.
However, statistics are anathema to the straight-shooting Merriman, and after a month-long convalescence his only concern at Tolmezzo will be supplanting Planet out of his second position, as well as bridging the deficit to Aro. Additionally, Merriman will have to get the better of a number of other E2 guns around four laps of the 55km Tolmezzo layout, including seven-time world champion Anders Eriksson (Husqvarna), Italian Alessandro Botturi (KTM) and Husaberg’s Bjorne Carlsson.
New Zealander Paul Whibley (Gas Gas) is also a part of the E2 constellation, and he’s currently sitting in 10th on 39pts, with a best finish of eighth at the opening round in Spain. Whibley was sixth in the 2004 E2 title.
In the other two world championship classes, Spaniard Ivan Cervantes (KTM) is yet to taste defeat in E1, and British rider David Knight (KTM) has also been beyond reproach in E3 (500cc 2T versus 650cc 4T). The duo will be aiming to guillotine the opposition once more, although it’s hard to see Cervantes continuing to dominate E1 with such a gaggle of stars behind him, including the second to fifth place getters from 2004, as well as his erstwhile E3 rival Paul Edmonson (Honda).
Cervantes sits on a maximum 100pts in E1, ahead of Italian punters punter Alessandro Belometti (KTM, 74) and Simone Albergoni (Honda, 72), while Knight is 25pts (100 to 75) in advance of Finland’s Marko Tarkkala (KTM) in E3.
In the all-new, fully sanctioned junior class, Australian Jake Stapleton (TM) will continue his hitherto successful campaign, which has seen him finish on the podium in all four races – three seconds and a third. The British-based rider, who was 20th in last year’s E1 title after only competing in 50 percent of the rounds, is quickly developing an enthralling rivalry with Gas Gas-backed Spaniard Cristobal Guerrero, who currently leads the way on 100pts. Stapleton is on 86pts, 10 ahead of third-placed Oriol Mena (Gas Gas, 76) in the 56-rider field.
For more information visit the WEC Maxxis Website:
Mark Fattore
Media Manager
Motorcycling Australia
