With round six of the Enduro World Championship in Sweden now a distant but successful memory for the Husqvarna Enduro team by CH Racing, the squad’s riders now have their sights set on the seventh and penultimate round, being held in Heinola, Finland on September 1/2.
Eager to build on the winning momentum gained by the team’s Enduro 2 class rider Juha Salminen during the GP of Sweden, the eight-time Enduro World Champion is focused solely on victory at his home race of the championship. Continuing to chase down the Enduro 2 class leaders leaders, Salminen’s results from Sweden see him remain third overall in the E2 title race but more importantly with a reduce deficit of just 14 points. With strong local support behind him, Salminen, who was racing in the States the last time the GP of Finland was held in Heinola, if focused only on success at the penultimate round of the series on his Husqvarna TE310R.
“The GP of Sweden was a good race for me and I was able to improve my position in the championship,” commented Juha after last weekend’s race in Sweden. “Winning on day one in Sweden gives me a lot of confidence leading into my home race this weekend. I don’t know exactly what to expect but getting the chance to race in Finland is always good.”
After missing his home GP in Italy, Alex Salvini made a strong return to EWC competition in Sweden by placing an excellent third in E2 on day two. In conditions that didn’t ideally favour the hard charging Italian, Salvini proved to all that he is a master of all types of terrain. Knowing now that he has the speed to race for a podium result in the soft, sandy Scandinavian ground, Alex will have his sights set on another top three finish in Finland.
For Enduro 1 rider Matti Seistola, the GP of Sweden proved a difficult one. Although recovering strongly from a poor opening lap to finish fourth on day one, the Finnish rider suffered many crashes throughout day two. In pain from an injured back, the Husqvarna rider soldiered on to place tenth. Now in the unfortunate position of carrying a slight injury leading into his home event, Seistola faces a tough time to be ready in time for this weekend’s GP of Finland.
“Sweden didn’t go well for me,” explained Matti. “I’m certainly looking for better this weekend in Finland. I know that I can be fast enough on my TE250R to challenge for victory, I just have to make sure I don’t make any mistakes. I’m really looking forward to racing at home, it’s going to be a great race.”
2012 EWC Standings (after six rounds)
Enduro 1
1. Antoine Meo (KTM) 200 pts; 2. Eero Remes (KTM) 154; 3. Rodrig Thain (Honda) 149; 4. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 140; 5. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 136… 8. Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna) 75…
Enduro 2
1. Pela Renet (Husaberg) 188 pts; 2. Cristobal Guerrero (KTM) 183; 3. Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) 174; 4. Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas) 127; 5. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 122; 6. Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) 106…
Source: http://moto.mpora.com/race-reports/winning-focus-for-husqvarna-at-ewc-gp-of-finland.html
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