Taddy Blazusiak crowned 2014 SuperEnduro World Champion
KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak is the Prestige class 2014 FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Champion, securing his fifth consecutive title with a winning ride in the opening final at round six of the series held in Tours, France. Needing just a handful of points in order to claim the 2014 crown, Taddy eventually found a way passed fast starting Husqvarna rider Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna) to win the race and with it secure the all-important championship.
In the first Prestige final it was Frenchman Mathias Bellino aboard his Husqvarna that claimed the holeshot and lead for the majority of the race. Keen to end his championship on a high, Mathias looked to have to have the race won, but was passed by Blazusiak two laps before the finish. With each of the top seven riders all completing nine laps, it was Jonny Walker (GB-KTM) who rounded out the top three aboard his KTM. Third from the first lap until the last, Walker finished comfortably ahead of David Knight (GB-Sherco) and Paul Bolton (GB-KTM).
Portuguese rider Joakim Rodrigues (KTM) took the lead early in the night’s second Prestige final, and remained out front for two laps. Putting his supercross skills to good use, Rodrigues time in the spotlight was somewhat short lived as after spending two laps in the runner-up position he firstly dropped to third before ending the race fourth. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) took over the lead on lap two and looked to be headed for a second final victory. But as the laps wound down the newly crowned SuperEnduro champ made a small mistake in the rocks, which allowed Jonny Walker (KTM) to catch him. Then moving ahead of the Pole in the log jump, Jonny claimed the win with Taddy second and Alfredo Gomez (S-Husqvarna) third. Gomez was followed home by his Husqvarna team-mate Joakim Ljunggren (SE) with Dani Gibert (S-Gas Gas) fifth and Knight sixth.
With Blausiak and Walker having secured a win each, the third and last final was to decide the night’s overall results… and it was Blazusiak who put the finishing touches to an incredible championship by claiming the win and earn his fourth overall win of the 2014 series. Walker needed just one lap to move into the runner-up spot and claimed a comfortable second at the flag. Third and fourth went to Husqvarna pairing Mathias Bellino and Alfredo Gomez.
In the Junior class it was a Swedish one-two at the top of the overall results as Jesper Borjesson (Husqvarna) and Magnus Thor (Husqvarna) placed first and second respective, having tied on points. With Italy’s Giacomo Redondi (Beta) moving into the Prestige class having lifted the Junior World Championship title at the previous round of the series in Barcelona, Spain, and with Husqvarna’s Jamie McCanney crashing out of the event during practice, it was Borjesson who topped the night’s first Junior class final. Moving into the lead on lap two he remained out front until the chequered flag, claiming 20 very important points. Second went to Magnus Thor (KTM) with Britain’s Gethin Humphreys (Sherco) and Gary Daniels (Sherco) finishing third and fourth. The second and last Junior final was won by Poland’s Pawel Szymkowski (KTM). With the reversed starting order ensuring the second final’s results were much different to those of the first, Spain’s Eloi Salsench (KTM) secured the runner-up spot with Owain Humphreys (Sherco) third. Despite the fact that Thor placed fourth and Jesper Borjesson (Husqvarna) sixth, it was Borjesson who claimed the overall win ahead of his countryman. Third overall went to Polish rider Pawel Szymkowski aboard his KTM.
Sherco mounted Emma Bristow (Sherco) claimed a start-to-finish win in the Women’s class, doing everything she needed to do in order to keep her world championship hopes alive. Jane Daniels (Husqvarna), who lead the Women’s championship standings going into the event, looked to have the runner-up position secured having held second for each of the first six laps. But on the last lap she fell behind Sandra Gomez (Husaberg) and lost her shot at the title. Keeping here cool to the chequered flag, Bristow won the race to become the first ever SuperEnduro Woman World Champion.
