NAMBOTIN SEALS E3 WORLD TITLE!
published at 01.09.2012 / created by Marcia Hill
Christophe Nambotin of France on Saturday sealed the E3 world title in Round 13 of the Enduro World Championship in Finland a clear three rounds to the end of the season.
Christophe Nambotin has been the dominant rider in the big bikes throughout the season, his first as part of the KTM Enduro Factory team. He took the title in style on Saturday winning eight of the nine tests to seal his 12 win from 13 rounds so far held and taking second in the remaining round.
Nambotin who rides a KTM 300 EXC said he was very happy to win the title in his first year with the KTM team. “I love my new bike, I am happy with the KTM team and I feel very strong. I will go out tomorrow and try to take the victory in Rd. 14,” he said from the venue.
The E3 title is the factory team’s second this year after young Italian Giacomo Redondi sealed the Youth Cup title in the last round in Sweden, underlining that the next generation is safe in KTM hands.
In other KTM factory action in Round 13, Antoine Meo, who could seal the E1 championship tomorrow in Round 14 recovered from an early setback where he lost 30 seconds in the opening lap and fought his way back into contention finally sealing the victory in the final test of the day.
Meo’s teammate Eero Remes was luckless in front of his home crowd after damaging the front wheel of his KTM 250 EXC-F during the super test on Friday night and under the competition rules wheels cannot be replaced. Remes was the dominant rider in the 2011 ISDE, which was hosted in Finland.
In E2 Cristobal Guerrero of Spain fought hard with his rival Pierre-Alexandre Renet of France throughout the day. He won three tests but eventually had to hand the win to the French rider by around four seconds. His teammate Johnny Aubert also had to retire in the second test.
Nambotin’s teammate David Knight also had to retire after being struck in the chest with the handlebars. He was taken to hospital for checks for possible injuries but team boss Fabio Farioli confirmed that nothing was broken. It is not yet known if Knight will be able to race on Sunday.
The two rounds of the World Championships are being stages at Heinola some 140 km north of the capital Helsinki. The venue last hosted rounds of the world championship seven years ago.
E1 Results
1. Antoine Meo (F), KTM
2. Matti Seistola (FIN), Husqvarna
3. Rodrig Thain (F), HM-Honda
4. Fabien Planet (F), Sherco
5. Thomas Oldrati (I), KTM
Other KTM
7. Roni Nikander (FIN), KTM
9. Henrik Lindholm (S), KTM
DNF Eero Remes (FIN), KTM
E1 Standings after Round 13
1. Meo, 220 points
2. Thain, 164
3. Remes, 154
4. Seistola, 153
5. Oldrati, 151
E2 Results
1. Pierre-Alexandre Renet (F), Husaberg
2. Cristobal Guerrero (E), KTM
3. Juha Salminen (FIN), Husqvarna
4. Luis Correia (P), Yamaha
5. Ivan Cervantes (E), Gas-Gas
Other KTM
15. Kjell Soderstrom (FIN), KTM
DNF Johnny Aubert (F), KTM
E2 Standings after Round 13
1. Renet, 208 points
2. Guerrero, 200
3. Salminen, 189
4. Cervantes, 142
5. Aubert, 122
E3 Results
1. Christophe Nambotin (F), KTM (wins E3 World Championship title)
2. Joakim Ljunggren (S), Husaberg
3. Aigar Leok (EST), TM
4. Oriol Mena (E), Husaberg
5. Manuel Monni (I), KTM
Other KTM
6. Jari Mattila (FIN), KTM
9. Toni Eriksson (FIN), KTM
10. Marcus Kehr (D), KTM
DNF David Knight (GB), KTM
E3 Standings after Round 13
1. Nambotin, 257 points
2. Ljunggren, 189
3. Leok, 182
4. Knight, 162
5. Mena, 156
EJ Results
1. Mathias Bellino (F), Husaberg
2. Daniel McCanney (GB), Gas-Gas
3. Rudi Moroni (I), KTM
4. Jonathan Manzi (I), KTM
5. Robert Kvarnstrom (S), Beta
Other KTM
6. Kevin Benavides (RA), KTM
8. Victor Guerrero (E), KTM
10. Martin Leok (EST), KTM
11. Lauri Pohjonen (FIN), KTM
16. Ian Blythe (USA), KTM
18. Mario Roman (E), KTM
DNF Edoardo D’Ambrosio (I), KTM
DNF Linus Fasth (S), KTM
EJ Standings after Round 13
1. Bellino, 249 points
2. Manzi, 191
3. McCanney, 179
4. Benavides, 146
5. Moroni, 127
Youth Cup
1. Giacomo Redondi (I), KTM (already confirmed as championship winner)
2. Jamie McCanney (GB), Husaberg
3. Matteo Bresolin (I), Husaberg
Youth Cup Standings after Round 13
1. Redondi, 257 points
2. Bresolin, 135
3. Benjamin Herrera (RCH), TM, 90
EWC Finland 2012 – Impressions Day 1