Matt Phillips EnduroGP lead trimmed to four-points
Super fast Finn Eero Remes secures EnduroGP win on day two of GP of Greece
TM mounted Eero Remes secured a second EnduroGP class victory at the GP of Greece, topping the second day’s overall results ahead of Johnny Aubert (Beta) and Loic Larrieu (Yamaha).
Fast from the start Remes topped the time sheets on each of the opening lap’s three special tests to take an early EnduroGP class lead. Battling his way to a second consecutive day win the defending Enduro 1 World Champion endured a tough second half to the day, forced to race with damaged suspension. Despite the less than perfect handling on his TM he nevertheless remained out front to claim victory.
Despite no rain on day two in Grevena the second day’ competition was anything but easy. With all three special tests and the majority of the course heavily rutted the day was the toughest ever of any Greek GP.
Johnny Aubert jumped from his first day result of fifth to the EnduroGP runner-up position on day two, ending a demanding day in the saddle just seven seconds adrift of Remes. Equalling his best result from the season so far the Beta rider made a steady start before upping his pace during the second and third laps. Joining Remes and Aubert on the EnduroGP podium Yamaha’s Loic Larrieu secured his first top three overall result of the championship despite a big crash on the opening enduro test. Losing between 20-30 seconds as a result of his get-off, Larrieu battled hard during the second and third laps to edge ahead of Taylor Robert (KTM).
“It wasn’t a perfect day because in the first enduro test I crashed hard and hit my head,” commented LARRIEU. “After that I just pushed as hard as I could to come back, which I managed to do. Getting the win is really amazing, and very important for all in the team. It felt like the special tests and the course was just one big rut. It was a really hard race but with this result a very pleasing one.”
As the overall EnduroGP winner Remes also put his name at the top of the Enduro 1 class results, and in some style.
“I felt good straight away on the second day and opened up a bit of a lead at the end of the first lap. But then I broke something in my forks on the second lap. I thought things felt different because the track was drying out, but it was the suspension. I kept pushing and I’m happy to get the victory.”
Close to 50-seconds ahead of second placed Nathan Watson it was Italian Kawasaki rider Gianluca Martini who rounded out the top three having come out on top of a day-long battle with Ivan Cervantes (KTM). With Cervantes fourth Danny McCanney (Husqvarna) rounded out the top five.
Loic Larrieu earned his first Enduro 2 class win of 2016 following a spirited day-long performance. Crashing heavily on the opening enduro test, the Frenchman not only got himself back in the running but worked his way to the top of the class results before just doing enough on the day’s final special test to claim the win. With Taylor Robert claiming a well-deserved runner-up result, third went to Matthew Phillips (Sherco).
Matt Phillips’ lead in the EnduroGP overall Championship onboard his Sherco 300SEF-R has been significantly trimmed to four-points from Eero Remes.
The Tasmanian leads the E2 category by 19-points over Taylor Robert with three of the eight rounds completed.
Fourth on Sunday went to Beta’s Alex Salvini with Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) fifth.
Returning to the top of the Enduro 3 class podium for the first time since the opening day of the 2016 championship, Johnny Aubert enjoyed a comfortable 42-second winning margin having topped six of the day’s special tests.
“I didn’t make the best of starts to the day but after the first lap I found my speed,” said Aubert. “It was a difficult day again with long, deep ruts on all special tests, but after a difficult GP in Portugal I’m pleased with this result.”
Second went to Italian TM rider Manuel Monni who in turn finished 15 seconds ahead of Antoine Basset. Day one E3 class winner Steve Holcombe made a winning start to the day but a crash on the opening enduro test detuned the young Brit who eventually placed fourth.
Italian Giacomo Redondi again topped the Enduro Junior class, enjoying a 50-second margin of victory. Winning six of the day’s special tests in the junior class and never placing lower than second he also extended his championship lead. The runner-up result went to Spain’s Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) with Davide Soreca (Honda) finishing third.
In the Enduro Youth class Sweden’s Erik Appelqvist (Yamaha) set a pace no other 125cc mounted rider could match, winning by 54 seconds. Second went to Brit Jack Edmondson (KTM) with Jean-Baptiste Nicolot (Yamaha) third.
The 2016 EnduroGP series next moves to the GP of Finland on June 11-12.
EnduroGP Standings
- Phillips 92
- Remes 88
- Holcombe 81
- Bellino 68
- Robert 62
- Aubert 59
- Watson 58
- Salvini 55
- Larrieu 53
- Basset 47
E1 Standings
- Remes 120
- Watson 96
- Martini 79
- McCanney 62
- McCanney D 61
E2 Standings
- Phillips 109
- Robert 90
- Bellino 84
- Salvini 84
- Larrieu 84
E3 Standings
- Holcombe 110
- Basset 94
- Aubert 94
- Monni 82
- Betriu 64
Junior Standings
- Redondi 120
- Ventura 84
- Garcia 76
- Elowson 70
- Mirabet 60
Youth Cup Standings
- Nicolot 101
- Debaud 85
- Appelqvist 75
- Edmondson 69
- Spandre 47
