Husqvarna Motorcycles secure winning results at round five of the FIM Enduro World Championship in Rovetta, Italy.
Continuing their run of good form in this year’s EWC series, Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing savoured podium results in all classes at this weekend’s GP of Italy with Pela Renet and Jamie McCanney enjoying wins in the Enduro 2 and Enduro Junior classes respectively.
Determined to build on his double victory last time out at the GP of Greece, Renet arrived highly motivated at what would be a highly challenging race in Rovetta. Favouring the technical special tests, on day one the Husqvarna rider powered his FE 450 to a hard fought win over close rival Antoine Meo. Despite giving day two his best, Renet wasn’t able to make it four race wins in a row. With Meo improving on day two, Renet claimed the runner-up result.
Entering the GP of Italy having aggravated an old wrist injury, Enduro 3 championship leader Mathias Bellino was on a damage limitation exercise in Italy. With a comfortable championship lead the Frenchman knew that he didn’t have to fight for victory on day one to protect his position in the championship standings and rode a calculated race for second. Feeling much more comfortable, he began Sunday motivated for the win and took the lead after the first two special tests. But a small crash on a slippery uphill in the enduro test saw him lose over 20 seconds. Riding well to recover, Bellino salvaged another runner-up result and enters the penultimate round of the championship in Belgium with a 16-point advantage.
For Danny McCanney the GP of Italy was one of two halves. On day one the Husqvarna rider put in a strong ride to end his day on the podium in third. Slow to start the morning, McCanney grew stronger as the special tests deteriorated and secured a top three result. On Sunday his luck ran out on the opening test when he over extended his knee in a corner. In pain and struggling to ride well, McCanney soldiered on to score valuable points and maintain third overall in the Enduro 1 championship.
The EWC GP of Italy marked another successful outing for Enduro Junior championship leader Jamie McCanney. Moving one step closer to claiming this year’s title, McCanney further extended his point’s lead in Rovetta. Delivering a near flawless performance on day one, the Husqvarna rider secured a commanding victory. A mistake on the opening lap of day two saw his chances of a double win evaporate. Forced to play catch up, he steadily worked his way back to the sharp end of the results and ended his day as runner-up.
The FIM Enduro World Championship moves to St. Hubert in Belgium for the penultimate round of the season on July 11/12.
Pela Renet: “It’s been a good weekend for me but for in terms of the championship I wasn’t able to gain many points on Antoine. But I’ve no regrets to lose on Sunday, Antoine was just that little bit stronger all day. Not much, but enough to make the difference. I was really happy to come away with the win on Saturday. It was a tough round of the championship – one of the toughest – the tests were good and it was a real enduro GP. Now we head to Belgium for the penultimate round of the series in two weeks time. Like everyone I’m not sure what to expect there but I’ll fight and give it my best shot to take the top step of the podium.”
Mathias Bellino: “I’m happy with how this weekend has gone. I hurt my wrist at last weekend’s French championship and wasn’t able to race quite how I wanted to. But I knew that even if I couldn’t fight for the win then I needed to score as many points as possible. With two second place results I managed to do just that and protect my lead in the championship. On Sunday I felt much better and was motivated for the race. I won the first two tests but in the enduro test I crashed on a slippery uphill and needed to tackle the hill twice. It was unfortunate to lose the lead there but I was pleased that I felt good and strong for the rest of the day. It’s given me good confidence heading to Belgium in two weeks time.”
Danny McCanney: “Saturday was really good for me. I was happy to get on the podium with third. The morning started out ok but I was able to get stronger as the day progressed and the track cut in. I kept fighting and was strong on both the final enduro and extreme tests to snatch third on the final lap. Unfortunately Sunday started out badly for me. In the first test I over extended my leg in a corner and was in a lot of pain as result. I struggled to ride after that and almost stopped. But I did my best to score as many points as possible and save my third position in the championship.”
Jamie McCanney: “It’s been yet another great weekend for my championship. By winning Saturday and then placing second on Sunday I’ve been able to extend my lead in the championship by a few more important points. Saturday was great. I had some cramp in my arms on lap three but I had a decent lead at that stage and was able to hold it together to win. It’s been a tough day two because I messed up at the start. I lost too much time and had to fight hard to recover. But I’m pleased with how I rode as I proved to myself that my fitness is up to scratch.”
RESULTS – FIM ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 5
DAY 1
Enduro 1
1. Eero Remes (TM) 1:07:21.53; 2. Christophe Nambotin (KTM) 1:07:29.11; 3. Daniel McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:07:39.02… 13. Christophe Robert (Husqvarna) 1:15:28.88
Enduro 2
1. Pela Renet (Husqvarna) 1:05:24.62; 2. Antoine Meo (KTM) 1:05:31.98; 3. Alex Salvini (Honda) 1:06:35.85; 4. Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna) 1:08:09.09
Enduro 3
1. Matthew Phillips (KTM) 1:06:37.71; 2. Matthias Bellino (Husqvarna) 1:07:21.10; 3. Aigar Leok (TM) 1:08:02.93… 9. Thomas Oldrati (Husqvarna) 1:09:55.14
Enduro Junior
1. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:08:13.02; 2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:08:29.20; 3. Giacomo Redondi (Beta) 1:09:28.45
Youth Cup
1. Mikael Persson (Yamaha) 1:11:09.19; 2. Mirko Spandre (KTM) 1:13:09.74; 3. Michele Marchelli (Husqvarna) 1:14:29.73… 8. Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) 1:18:38.88… 15. Mario Escobar (Husqvarna) 2:01:40.42
DAY 2
Enduro 1
1. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 1:08:04.53; 2. Eero Remes (TM) 1:08:12.04; 3. Christophe Nambotin (KTM) 1:08:42.00… 5. Daniel McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:09:27.60
Enduro 2
1. Antoine Meo (KTM) 1:05:47.64; 2. Pela Renet (Husqvarna) 1:06:11.23; 3. Alex Salvini (Honda) 1:07:25.78; 4. Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna) 1:09:20.53
Enduro 3
1. Matthew Phillips (KTM) 1:07:34.24; 2. Matthias Bellino (Husqvarna) 1:08:09.14; 2. Antoine Basset (KTM) 1:08:34.29
Enduro Junior
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:09:17.70; 2. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:09:42.40; 3. Giacomo Redondi (Beta) 1:09:54.78
Youth Cup
1. Mikael Persson (Yamaha) 1:10:56.33; 2. Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) 1:13:18.44; 3. Michele Marchelli (Husqvarna) 1:14:12.28… 13. Mario Escobar (Husqvarna) 1:43:33.69
Championship Standings (After Round Five)
Enduro 1
1. Eero Remes (TM) 181pts; 2. Christophe Nambotin (KTM) 180pts; 3. Daniel McCanney (Husqvarna) 129pts… 15. Christophe Robert (Husqvarna) 11pts
Enduro 2
1. Antoine Meo (KTM) 188pts; 2. Pela Renet (Husqvarna) 175pts; 3. Alex Salvini (Honda) 157pts; 4. Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna) 111pts
Enduro 3
1. Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna) 177pts; 2. Matthew Phillips (KTM) 161pts; 3. Matti Seistola (Sherco) 132pts… 7. Thomas Oldrati (Husqvarna) 91pts
Enduro Junior
1. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 183pts; 2. Giacomo Redondi (Beta) 155pts; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 141pts… 17. Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) 19pts
Youth Cup
1. Mikael Persson (Yamaha) 131pts; 2. Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) 125pts; 3. Jack Edmonson (KTM) 84pts