The strong start KTM’s factory enduro team riders made on day one of the opening round of the ’06 WEC series got even better on day two where Ivan Cervantes topped the Enduro 1 class, Samuli Aro the Enduro 2 class and David Knight the Enduro 3 class. In doing so the three KTM riders now lead the E1, E2 and E3 world championship standings.
In the Enduro 1 class Ivan Cervantes went one better than he did on day one and topped the class by close to half a minute. Winning six of the day’s special tests the reigning E1 world champion showed just how good he is by mastering the difficult conditions – something most thought a former motocross rider from southern Europe would never do. Disappointingly day two was a frustrating one for his Italian team-mate Alessandro Belometti. Matching his day one finishing position of seventh, Belometti struggled to feel comfortably in the changing conditions and as a result saw several mistakes prevent him from finishing higher.
Riding at his absolute best, Finn Samuli Aro topped the Enduro 2 class as he did on day one, beating countryman Mika Ahola and French rider Johnny Aubert. Failing to win just two special tests in the E2 class the reigning Enduro 2 world champion placed 24 seconds ahead at the top of the class and finished as the day’s fastest overall rider. With two wins in Sweden Samuli now sits six points clear at the top of the E2 world championship standings. French rider Fabien Planet rode consistently on day two and placed in fifth position.
After topping the Enduro 3 class on day one, and beating Finnish team-mate Marko Tarkkala in the process, David Knight showed just how dominant a rider he has become in the WEC. On day two he repeated his class victory, beating Marko by 15 seconds, to claim a maximum 50 points and strengthen his lead at the top of the E3 world championship. With Marko finishing second after an uneventful day the two KTM riders finished comfortably ahead of Swede Björne Carlsson.
David Knight: “The conditions seemed to change all the time on day two, which makes each lap different. The first lap was quite tricky, my bike seemed to be moving around a lot more than on day one. There wasn’t much between myself and Marko in the morning when the tests were reasonably smooth but when they got rougher I was able to open up a lead. Once I had a good lead I eased off a bit so that I didn’t crash. I was really worried on the last lap that my chain would come off because of the frozen ruts.
“I spent one week trying to figure out how to ride with spiked tyres and it seems to have worked. I’ve really enjoyed learning how to ride on a different type of surface and terrain and I think having a winter enduro as the first round for the WEC has been a success. It’s the perfect start for me. I just hope that I can continue winning now.