    |
 |
|
|
|
Enduro 1 : Germain claims two second places
Round: 6 - Grand Prix of France
Circuit: Digne
Date: 24 July 2005
Crowd: 25000
Temp: 33ºC
Weather: Sunny
Yamaha Moto France rider Marc Germain recorded two second places at the Grand Prix of France in Digne les Bains, 140 km north of Nice and 160 km south of Grenoble. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) claimed victory in the Enduro 1 class on both days. Germain remains runner up in standings with 234 points, Cervantes leads with 292 points.
The extremely hot temperatures and dusty conditions combined with demanding and long laps made the French GP especially challenging. Topping day one by 28 seconds, Spaniard Cervantes dominated the weekend proceedings in the E1 category going on to finish 36 seconds ahead on day two. Cervantes' closest competitor during the event was home rider Marc Germain. Germain rode his WR250F to second on day one before finding himself battling with Italian Simone Albergoni (Honda) during day two. Managing to finish less than one second ahead of the Italian, Germain secured his second runner-up finish in as many days.
With Albergoni pacing third on day two, it was Italian Alex Belometti (KTM) who claimed the final podium spot on day one. The French GP turned out to be a mixed one for UFO Corse Yamaha rider Bartosz Oblucki. Placing in a respectable fourth on day one, Bartosz then crashed out of day two following a mistake on the motocross test. Italian hopeful Maurizio Micheluz (Yamaha Ufo Corse) placed ninth on the second day.
The World Championships now enjoys a one month break before riders travel north for the Finnish Grand Prix taking place at Heinola on the 27th and 28th of August.
Marc Germain (Yamaha France) Day 1: second, Day 2: second: "My weekend has been very good. I started quickly on day one but Ivan was just too quick to be beaten. Day two was the same. Ivan started well and was just too fast to catch. I had a good battle with Simone Albergoni but on the last enduro test I caught another rider and struggled because I couldn't see in his dust. It is disappointing not to have won but I am happy with the way I have been riding. The conditions this weekend have not been the typical French conditions but I have enjoyed it. It has been great to have so much support from the French spectators."
Bartosz Oblucki (UFO Corse Yamaha) Day 1: fourth, Day 2: dnf: "I felt quite comfortable on the bike this weekend and I was happy with fourth on Saturday. If I found a couple of seconds on some of the tests I knew a podium finish was possible on the second day. Unfortunately I had a bad crash in the motocross track, the bike high sided after a corner and the handlebars hit me in the stomach. I needed to sit down to catch my breath and I felt it was safer to pull out of the race."
Race classification Enduro 1
Round: 6 - Grand Prix of France
Circuit: Digne
