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| 22.03.2009 |
| Double victory in E3 for Ivan Cervantes in opening Enduro GP |
| Rounds one and two of the Enduro E1 World championships series began with flair for KTM factory rider Ivan Cervantes when he took a double victory and a maximum of 50 championship points in Portugal at the weekend to launch his 2009 title bid. |
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Cervantes, returning to the big bike category this season as already satisfied after taking the top spot on Saturday saying: “I had three small crashes and lost some time but apart from that it was a perfect day and I feel very positive going into the season.” Then on Sunday the Spaniard went out and picked up the double.
KTM factory teammate and reigning E3 world champion Samuli Aro can also be satisfied with his weekend with a second place on Saturday and a fourth on Sunday after getting into difficulties and sacrificing about 25 seconds.
“It was a very tough weekend but also a very positive one,” KTM team boss Fabio Farioli said on Sunday. It has been two long hard days and the riders are very tired.” Organisers on Sunday slightly altered the Extreme test making it somewhat easier than it had been on Saturday.
KTM’s Offroad racing director Pit Beirer was also very satisfied. “It was an awesome weekend. It was great to see how well the team worked together and how our riders went out and were so strong.”
The team planned to travel immediately to Spain to prepare for the next two rounds next weekend in Igualada about 60 km west of Barcelona.
E3 Saturday Round 1
| POS. |
RIDER |
MANUFACT. |
NAT. |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
25 Ivan Cervantes |
KTM |
 |
| 2 |
1 Samuli Aro |
KTM |
 |
| 3 |
3 Sebastien Guillaume |
Husqvarna |
 |
| 4 |
4 Christophe Nambotin |
Gas Gas |
|
| 5 |
21 Fabio Mossini |
Honda |
 |
E3 Sunday, Round 2
| POS. |
RIDER |
MANUFACT. |
NAT. |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
25 Ivan Cervantes |
KTM |
|
| 2 |
4 Christophe Nambotin |
Gas Gas |
|
| 3 |
3 Sebastien Guillaume |
Husqvarna |
|
| 4 |
1 Samuli Aro |
KTM |
|
| 5 |
6 Marcus Kehr |
KTM |
 |
Standings after Rounds 1 &2
| POS. |
RIDER |
MANUFACT. |
NAT. |
POINTS |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
25 Ivan Cervantes |
KTM |
|
366 |
| 2 |
4 Christophe Nambotin |
Gas Gas |
|
342 |
| 3 |
3 Sebastien Guillaume |
Husqvarna |
|
325 |
| 4 |
1 Samuli Aro |
KTM |
|
258 |
| 5 |
6 Marcus Kehr |
KTM |
|
225 |
|
|
 | | First E3 blood to KTM's Ivan Cervantes
|  | | Samuli Aro in action in Penafel
|  | | Cervantes tackles the terrain in Portugal |
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