NAMBOTIN CLAIMS TWO MORE ENDURO 3 VICTORIES

The past two weekends have not only launched Christophe Nambotin into the prospective title orbit but also proved that his biggest rival will come from his own factory team. He and KTM’s David Knight (GB) shadow-boxed their way through Sunday’s 12 tests between them winning eleven. Nambotin was fastest in the class in seven tests and Knight took three leaving only the fourth Enduro test for Husaberg rider Joakim Ljunggren of Sweden. 

The weekend started well for Nambotin on the KTM 300 EXC bike when he was overall second fastest and fastest in the E3 class in KTM’s Super Test, the popular Friday night launch of the event that attracted more than 4000 Enduro enthusiasts.

Then on Day 1 riders faced 4 x 50 km laps on a soft gravelly surface that tested both man and machine and established that Sunday, when the track had broken up it would be even more draining. Saturday also confirmed that Nambotin was going to continue to deliver victories similar to the opening rounds 1 & 2 in Chile last weekend. The French rider set a blistering pace throughout the day and except for one special test, led the field the entire way. He wrapped up his ride with an impressive 70-second winning margin over his KTM teammate David Knight.

Christophe Nambotin after Round 3: “It was difficult in the hot conditions but I was able to find a strong pace early on which helped me to open up a healthy lead. Aside from a small crash in the Extreme Test it’s been another perfect race for me and to be fastest in the overall classification is an added bonus. Hopefully I can repeat these results again tomorrow.”

KTM’s David Knight also delivered a strong performance on the KTM 500 EXC on Saturday to underline that he is back in form after missing most of last season due to surgery on both hips. Sweden’s Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) finished in third place on a day one, 37 seconds behind Knight. Germany’s Marcus Kehr (KTM) also put in a strong ride to finish fifth.

Rain has been absent from San Juan for some considerable time so riders had to survive 4 x 50 km laps on both days in the torrid summer heat with plenty of dust and loose stones to content with. Conditions in the Extreme Test, which was set over natural terrain were in stark contrast to last week’s races in Chile and took riders along a steep valley with many ravines. Teams now return to Europe after the four South American rounds and the competition resumes in Spain on May 5-6, 2012.

E3 Results Round 3 
1. Christophe Nambotin (F), KTM
2. David Knight (GB), KTM
3. Joakim Ljunggren (S), Husaberg
4. Aigar Leok (EST), TM
5. Marcus Kehr (D), KTM
Other KTM
11. Manuel Monni (I), KTM
13. Matias Leonel Giampietri (RA), KTM
16. Cesar Giordanengo (RA), KTM

E3 Standings after Round 3
1. Nambotin, 60 points
2. Knight, 47
3. Leok, 45
4. Ljunggren, 39
5. Oriol Mena (E), Husaberg, 36


E3 Results Round 4
1. Nambotin
2. Knight
3. Ljunggren
4. Leok
5. Markko Tarkkala (FIN), Beta
Other KTM
7. Kehr
10. Monni
13. Giampietri
14. Giordanengo
15. Fernando Hierrezuelo (RA), KTM

E3 Standings after Round 4
1. Nambotin, 80
2. Knight, 64
3. Leok, 58
4. Ljunggren, 54
5. Mena, 46

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