17.04.2016
3rd/4th Rd. Enduro 2016 – Gouveia (POR)
Nathan Watson and Taylor Robert, the two recruits to the KTM Enduro Factory Racing Team, wrapped up their weekend’s racing at the second round of the now re-named EnduroGP championship with a clutch of podium finishes. For round three and four, EnduroGP was guest at Gouveia in northeast Portugal, some 168km from Porto on the west coast and just 92km from the border with Spain.
Nathan Watson of the UK, who comes to Enduro from Motocross finished 3-2 over the two days in the E1 class on the new
KTM 250 EXC-F and American
Taylor Robert, who previously raced with KTM USA in the US Off-road competitions, picked up a 3-1 result in the E2 class with his
KTM 350 EXC-F.
Just last week after the opening round in Morocco, factory team manager Fabio Farioli said he was confident that his two recruits showed great promise, so he was understandably pleased on Sunday that the both delivered the results he was expecting.
Farioli:
“I’m very happy. Our two rookies were very fast and they did a great job. Their riding was impressive and they were very fast even though it was not so easy in these conditions. We had another wet day today and the tests were shortened.”Watson said it had been a tough but rewarding weekend.
“It’s been a pretty tough weekend but to end it by getting third in the overall as well as second in Enduro 1 is great. I’ve enjoyed the second day. The special tests were certainly difficult, but I just kept pushing. My bike was great, on the enduro and extreme tests it was perfect. I think I’m still trying to take everything in from the last two weeks. Racing in the dust in Morocco and now the mud in Portugal has been an incredible experience. It’s been a great start to the championship so I hope I can keep on learning and improving, I’m looking forward to what Greece will bring.”The track was so heavy after continuous rain on Saturday that the third lap of the event was scrapped and rain continued to fall on Sunday. For Taylor Robert, the conditions were very different to what he has been used to riding back home in the US, but this did not hinder a first class ride.
Robert:
“I said last weekend I wanted to be on the podium so of course I’m very happy. It was very wet in fact I’ve never seen so much water on a competition track before. It was quite a shock as I’m used to riding in very dry and dusty conditions. At home we only get about 20cm of rain a year and I think we had this much this weekend here in Portugal.” Robert, who will return home to the US in between rounds of the world championship, said he has settled well into the team structure, which he said was “awesome”.
Watson and Robert were also high up the list in the results of the new EnduroGP class this weekend with Watson finishing second and Roberts fourth.
The factory team was without its anchor and proven world champion member
Christophe Nambotin, this year competing in E2. He injured his hand last weekend in Morocco and was unable to compete in the round in Portugal. Nambotin should be fit and ready to rejoin the team to compete in the next round in Grevena, Greece.
The team’s veteran
Ivan Cervantes is competing in E1 this season and wrapped up his weekend with a 7-8 result. Also racing in E1 class was KTM’s Hard Enduro specialist
Taddy Blazusiak of Poland who finished 8-11.
Next Rounds: May 21-22, 2016 – Grevena (GRE)Results EnduroGP Gouveia 20161. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, E3 (3-1)
2. Matthew Phillips (AUS), Sherco, E2 (1-5)
3. Eero Remes (FIN), TM, E1 (7-2)
4. Taylor Robert (USA), KTM, E2 (4-4)
5. Mathias Bellino (FRA), Husqvarna, E2 (2-9)
Other KTM
7. Nathan Watson (GBR), KTM, E1 (12-3)
8. Antoine Basset (FRA), KTM, E3 (5-11)
Standings EnduroGP after 4 of 16 rounds1. Phillips, 66 points
2. Bellino, 61
3. Holcombe, 61
4. Remes, 48
5. Alex Salvini (ITA), Beta, E2, 42
Other KTM6. Robert, 407. Basset, 33
8. Watson, 31
Results E2 Gouveia 2016
1. Phillips (1-2)
2. Robert (3-1)3. Bellino (2-5)
4. Salvini (4-3)
5. Loic Larrieu (FRA), Yamaha (6-4)
Standings E2 after 4 of 16 rounds
1. Phillips, 74 points
2. Bellino, 65
3. Robert, 58
4. Salvini, 58
5. Larrieu, 47
Results E1 Gouveia 2016
1. Remes (1-1)
2. Watson (3-2)
3. Jamie McCanney (GBR), Yamaha (2-3)
4. Daniel McCanney (GBR), Husqvarna (6-4)
5. Gianluca Martini (ITA), Kawasaki (4-6)
Other KTM
7. Ivan Cervantes (ESP), KTM (7-8)
9. Taddy Blazusiak (POL), KTM (8-11)
Standings E1 after 4 of 16 rounds
1. Remes, 80 points
2. Watson, 62
3. J. McCanney, 62
4. Martini, 51
5. D. McCanney, 44
Other KTM
7. Cervantes, 32
13. Blazusiak, 13
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