Matti Seistola puts Husqvarna on Enduro 1 podium
at the EWC GP of Portugal
Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing’s Matti Seistola made two visits to the Enduro 1 class podium at the Enduro World Championship’s GP of Portugal, bringing a welcome turn around in form and an end to what has been a tough start to the 2012 series for the Finnish rider. Third on day one to claim his first EWC rostrum result of the year, Matti then went one better on day two by claiming a well-deserved runner-up result aboard his TE 250.
With conditions in Portugal much drier and hotter than the previous week’s GP of Euskadi, the fourth round of the 2012 Enduro World Championship proved to be yet another demanding event. Offering no let up for competitors, the lack of a true enduro test meant that much of the event’s racing was carried on dry, dusty and in many places slippery ground. In complete contrast to both the motocross and enduro tests the event’s extreme test was technically challenging.
Recording the third fastest time in the Enduro 1 class during Friday night’s super test, Matti Seistola immediately made his intentions of wanting to secure a top three result on day one known. Completing a solid opening lap Matti battled with countryman Eero Remes for much of the day before eventually placing third. Day two saw more impressive riding from Matti. With his confidence returning, he pushed hard throughout the day to keep the pressure on eventual day winner Antoine Meo. Opening up a small gap over the third placed finisher Rodrig Thain, Matti secured his best result of the season so far and claimed the Husqvarna Racing Team by CH Racing’s best result at the GP of Portugal.
Disappointingly, Seistola’s Enduro 1 class team-mate Lorenzo Santolino fractured a bone in his left foot on the opening day’s final extreme test. Although managing to end the day and securea ninth place result the Spaniard was unable to take to the start of the second day’s competition.
The GP of Portugal proved to be a tough one for Husqvarna’s Enduro 2 class riders Juha Salminen, Alex Salvini and Romain Dumontier. Salminen came agonisingly close to finishing on the podium on day one only to place fourth, while Salvini placed just five seconds away from the podium on day two. Like many riders both Juha and Alex found the long, fast enduro and motocross special tests difficult to master with the Finn placing sixth in class on day two while Alex could manage no better than seventh on day one.
Next up for the Enduro World Championship is the Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing’s home event – the GP of Italy, on June 30/July 1.
Matti Seistola – Enduro 1:‘I feel really good because I can see we have made really good progress this weekend. The first three GPs of the season didn’t go anything like we hoped they would, but finally now it seems like things are back on track. I made quite a few changes to my bike after the race in Spain and as soon as I tried it on the test track for this weekend I could feel that it was much easier to ride – like I want edit to be. It took me a little while to feel at my best on day one. I was a little cautious and the motocross and enduro tests were quite difficult because they were dry and slippery. I felt a lot more confident starting the second day. I knew what to expect from the special tests and just tried to build on my day one result. It’s been a very important GP andI’m really, really pleased that I’m back on the podium.’
Juha Salminen – Enduro 2: ‘It’s not been the best of weekends for me. The first day wasn’t too bad. I didn’t get the result I wanted, but it can happen. Not having a real enduro test certainly didn’t hel pthis weekend, but that’s how it was. I hoped the second day would be better but unfortunately it wasn’t. The next GP is in Italy so I hope things will be better there.’
Alex Salvini – Enduro 2:‘ Day one didn’t go so well for me. I made a good startbut after that I had a few problems and made some mistakes, so not what I had hoped for. I felt much better on the second day and I was fighting for the podium, which was really good. I ended up fourth but only five or six seconds behind third. The Enduro 2 class is incredibly competitive so to be fighting for the podium is great. The next event is in Italy, so I want to fight again for a top three result.’
GP of Portugal – Enduro 1, Day1
1. Rodrig Thain (HM Honda) 55:25.10; 2. EeroRemes (KTM) 55:31.02; 3. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna)55:50.04; 4. Fabien Planet (Sherco) 55:52.21; 5. Jeremy Joly(Yamaha) 55:56.59… 9. Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna)57:00.42…
GP of Portugal – Enduro 2, Day1
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 54:40.22; 2.Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husaberg) 55:01.67; 3. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM)55:10.55; 4. Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) 55:11.95; 5. CristobalGuerrero (KTM) 55:11.97… 7. Alex Salvini (Husqvarna)55:54.30… 11. Romain Dumontier (Husqvarna)56:43.48…
GP of Portugal – Enduro 1, Day2
1. Antoine Meo (KTM) 53:38.90; 2. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 54:00.11; 3. Rodrig Thain (HM Honda) 54:00.84; 4. Eero Remes (KTM) 54:07.39; 5. Jeremy Joly (Yamaha) 54:38.46…
GP of Portugal – Enduro 2, Day2
1. Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husaberg) 53:15.99;2. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 53:24.84; 3. Cristobal Guerrero (KTM) 53:39.91; 4.Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) 53:45.01; 5. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM)53:53.47… 6. Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) 54:06.88… 12.Romain Dumontier (Husqvarna) 54:54.65…
Overall standings after 4 round:
Enduro 1:1. Meo (KTM)140 pts.; 2. Thain (HM) 109pts.; 3. Remes (KTM) 93 pts.; 4. Seistola(Husqvarna) 83 pts., 5.Albergoni (HM) 83 pts. …. 11.Santolino (Husqvarna) 51 pts.
Enduro 2: 1. Renet (Husaberg) 133 pts.; 2. Guerrero (KTM) 118 pts. ; 3. Salminen (Husqvarna) 100 pts. ; 4.Aubert (KTM) 98pts. ; 5. Cervantes (GAS GAS) 92 pts. ; 6. Salvini(Husqvarna) 80 pts. ; …. 16. Dumontier (Husqvarna) 24pts.
Challenging weekend for Husqvarna Enduro Team at EWC GP of Euskadi
Juha Salminen secured the Husqvarna Enduro Teamby CH Racing’s best result at the third round of the 2012 Enduro WorldChampionship, the GP of Euskadi held in North East Spain, despite what was largely a frustrating weekend for the eight-time EWC champion. With tough,muddy conditions throughout both days of competition Juha claimed a third place result in the ultra competitive Enduro 2 class on day two, but a succession of mistakes on day one saw Juha place fifth in class.
In stark contrast to the extremely dry and dusty conditions at the opening two rounds of the 2012 Enduro World Championship series the GP of Euskadi delivered a challenging weekend for all competitors. While the weather remained largely dry throughout both days of competition, all of the special tests and the entire length of the course became heavily rutted, and hugely challenging.
Third in the E2 class during the Friday night Super Test, Juha made a solid start to the first full day of competition byplacing second on the opening extreme test. Frustratingly, day one ended with Juha unable to challenge for a podium result. Despite his best effortshe placed fifth, one-minute and 20 seconds behind class winner Pierre Alexandre Renet.
Day two proved to be much more productive for Salminen. Riding extremely well on the opening lap, and winning the first motocross test, Juha kept up his good form throughout the day and earned awell-deserved third place result. Alex Salvini crashed hard in the extreme test of day one and cannot performed better than with a 13th place. In thesecond day Alex was faster and consistent finishing 6th with some good time on the cross test.
In the Enduro 1 class there was little in theway of success for the Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing as both team riders Matti Seistola and Lorenzo Santolino struggled to produce their best form. On day one the two team riders were separated by just six seconds, but with Seistola in ninth position and Santolino in 10th.
Day two saw some notable improvements from Seistola as the Finn bettered his day one result to place seventh, while also ending his day with a runner-up result on the event’s final motocross test. Disappointingly Santolino failed to finish the day.
The Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing now travel to Portugal for next weekend’s round four of the Enduro World Championship.
Juha Salminen – Enduro 2: “It’s been a tough weekend with a lot of mud and ruts. I found the first day tough and seemed to struggle with everything, including myself. I just focused on surviving the day and getting the best result I could. The second day was a little better. I just tried to avoid making mistakes.
I felt pretty good on most of the test on day two and to get back on the podium is a step in the right direction, but the times that I hoped to set on some of the tests just weren’t happening.”
Matti Seistola – Enduro 1: “I’ve struggled this weekend, which i frustrating for myself and the team. In conditions like we had, which were very slippery, you have to have a good feeling with your bike. If notit’s so, so difficult to push. And if you can’t push like you want then it’s impossible to get the results you want. That was pretty much my situation this weekend. I really hoped that after the South American races that I’d be able to start turning things around. The second da ywas a little bit better for me than the first, but still not what it needs to be. It’s been a frustrating weekend.”