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Championnat du monde d'Enduro :Confirmation for the leaders / Les leaders confirment

Fifth round of seven in the World Enduro Championship, the Grand Prix of Romania was a great opportunity for the leaders of the series to increase their leadership. Matthew Philips (Husaberg Michelin), Antoine Méo (KTM), Alex Salvini (Honda) and Christophe Nambotin (KTM) could be champion this season, as is now young Jamie McCanney (Husaberg Michelin) who won the 125 Enduro Youth Cup title.

Cinquième des sept épreuves du championnat du monde d’Enduro, le Grand Prix de Roumanie a permis aux leaders des différentes catégories de consolider leurs positions. Matthew Philips (Husaberg Michelin), Antoine Méo (KTM), Alex Salvini (Honda) et Christophe Nambotin (KTM) sont bien partis pour être titrés cette année, le jeune Jamie McCanney (Husaberg Michelin) s’étant lui d’ores et déjà imposé en catégorie 125 espoirs.

Once more it’s a double win that Antoine Meo (KTM) claimed in Romania, but once again the Frenchman had to ‘go for it’ on Saturday as Juha Salminen (Husqvarna Michelin) was leading the class during most of the stages. Meo got an easier win on Sunday, always followed by Salminen who is now runner up in the standings as his teammate Matti Seistola raced with an injury at his foot and scored twice a top five result.

In the E2 class Alex Salvini (Honda) did another great race in Romania, and increases his leadership as Ivan Cervantes (KTM) couldn’t do better than fourth each day. On Saturday Johnny Aubert (KTM) got his first win since a while, and with a third position on Sunday he is closer in the standings to reigning champion Pierre Alexandre Renet (Husaberg Michelin) third and second this weekend. Runner up and then winner, Salvini is now leading Cervantes by twenty-six points.

As did his teammate Meo in the E1 class, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) dominates the E3 category with another double win; leading the series by 45 points, Nambotin could be crowned already next week in Greece! His main contender in Romania was Mathias Bellino (Husaberg Michelin), who was really impressive on Saturday as he challenged Nambotin for the win. Twice runner up, the Junior World Champion is now seventh in the standings, while Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg Michelin) is third behind Aigar Leok (TM ).

In the junior class Mario Roman (Husaberg Michelin) and Matthew Philips (Husqvarna Michelin) share the first two positions; the Spaniard beats his rival on Sunday, but the Aussie won on Sunday and increases his leadership over Giacomo Redondi (KTM) twice in fourth position this weekend. Roman is now third in the standings, while his team mate Loic Larrieu (Husaberg Michelin) is fifth with a seven and a third position.

Team Husaberg Michelin celebrates in Buzau its first title this weekend, as British rider Jamie McCanney got his eighth consecutive win and already clinched the FIM Youth Cup title.

C’est un nouveau doublé qu’est allé chercher en Roumanie Antoine Meo (KTM), qui a toutefois dû jeter toutes ses forces dans la bataille samedi pour s’imposer à Juha Salminen (Husqvarna Michelin). Longtemps en tête le Finlandais s’inclinera de peu face à Meo qui s’imposera plus aisément dimanche, Salminen terminant une nouvelle fois dauphin. Un résultat qui lui permet de prendre la seconde place du Mondial devant son équipier Matti Seistola, qui termine à deux reprises dans le top cinq malgré une blessure au pied.

Pour Alex Salvini (Honda) la route menant au titre Mondial se dégage, puisque l’Italien a encore une fois fait mieux que ses rivaux en E2. Johnny Aubert (KTM) renouait pourtant avec la victoire samedi en s’imposant à l’Italien, mais ce dernier répliquait dimanche et s’imposait devant Pierre Alexandre Renet (Husaberg Michelin). Troisième et second en Roumanie, le champion en titre concède du terrain à Aubert vainqueur puis troisième, mais revient sur Ivan Cervantes (KTM) quatrième chaque jour.

Comme son équipier Meo, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) domine la catégorie E3 et s’adjuge un nouveau doublé qui pourrait lui permettre d’être couronné dès la semaine prochaine en Grèce. Pour s’imposer Nambotin a toutefois du repousser les attaques de Mathias Bellino (Husaberg Michelin) très incisif samedi ; deux fois dauphin de Nambotin, le champion du Monde junior fait un bond au championnat ou Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg Michelin) est désormais troisième derrière Aigar Leok (TM ).

Battu samedi par Mario Roman (Husaberg Michelin), Matthew Philips (Husqvarna Michelin) a pris sa revanche dimanche et consolide sa place de leader. Roman fait jeu égal avec l’Australien et accède à la troisième place du championnat, derrière le régulier Giacomo Redondi (KTM).

Le team Husaberg Michelin a fêté à Buzau un premier titre avec le couronnement du jeune Britannique Jamie McCanney qui a enregistré sa huitième victoire de la saison, et ne peut plus être rejoint dans la Coupe FIM Espoirs 125.

Classements provisoires :

E1 : 1.Meo (FRA, KTM), 191 ; 2.Salminen (FIN, Husqvarna Michelin), 150 ; 3.Seistola (FIN, Husqvarna Michelin), 141 ; 4.Remes (FIN, TM), 125 ; 5.Guerrero (ESP, KTM), 90….8.Oldrati (ITA, Husaberg Michelin), 85 ; 9.Boissière (FRA, Sherco Michelin), 84 ; etc…

E2 : 1.Salvini (ITA, Honda), 186 ; 2.Cervantes (ESP, KTM), 160 ; 3.Renet (FRA, Husaberg Michelin), 153 ; 4.Aubert (FRA, KTM), 151 ; 5.Guerrero (ESP, KTM), 99 ; 6.Mena (ESP, Husaberg Michelin), 98 ; 7.Santolino (ESP, Husqvarna Michelin), 85 ; etc…

E3 : 1.Nambotin (FRA, KTM), 190 ; 2.Leok (EST, TM), 145 ; 3.Ljunggren (SUE, Husaberg Michelin), 139 ; 4.Correia (POR, Beta), 123 ; 5.Monni (ITA, KTM), 97….7.Bellino (FRA, Husaberg Michelin), 81….9.Planet (FRA, Sherco Michelin), 72 ; etc…

Juniors : 1.Philips (AUS, Husqvarna Michelin), 180 ; 2.Redondi (ITA, KTM), 152 ; 3.Roman (ESP, Husaberg Michelin), 128 ; 4.McCanney (GBR, Gas Gas), 128 ; 5.Larrieu (FRA, Husaberg Michelin), 99 ; etc….

Coupe Espoirs: 1.McCanney (GBR, Husaberg Michelin), 194 ; 2.Elowson (SWE, Husaberg), 144 ; 3.Herrera (CHI, TM), 123 ; etc…

Vidéos :

Jour 1 :

Jour 2 :

H.O.G. heaven: Pope Francis blesses Harley-Davidson bikers

via Twowheelsblog

Othodox Catholics probably turn up their noses and counted rosary beads, as they saw thousands of Harley-Davidson leather and vest clad bikers invade Via della Conciliazione and Saint Peter’s Square to be blessed by Pope Francis yesterday, ahead of the Angelus prayer.

The papal ‘motorcycle blessing’ was part of the four day event of Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary celebrations that took part in the Eternal City, and saw the partecipation of over 100,000 enthusiasts of the American brand - some say up to 500,000 - in the European leg of the celebratory world tour that will touch 11 nations in six continents before the huge shindig in Milwaukee during the last weekend of August.

Mark-Hans Richer, Harley-Davidson senior vice-president presented Pope Francis with two white Harley-Davidson for the Vatican gendarmerie to use and a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back.

“Our promise to our customers is to offer them once-in-a-lifetime experiences that few other brands can fulfill,” said Mark-Hans Richer. “Having our customers treated to the blessing today fulfills that promise of epic adventures.”

Suzuki officially announces return to MotoGP racing, but in 2015

from Twowheelsblog

Suzuki will be making its public testing debut today in MotoGP’s post-race test at Catalunya and to coincide with the test the Hamamatsu manufacturer announced that it will be returning to the MotoGP championship, but not until 2015.

The following statement was released this morning:

Suzuki Motor Corporation will return to FIM Road Racing Grand Prix MotoGP in 2015

After two years suspension since 2012, Suzuki Motor Corporation has organised its test team to undergo more practical running tests at its advanced development stage and will participate in the official joint testing to be held at the Catalunya circuit in Spain.
Through continuing running tests at the circuits inside and outside Japan for further development and refinement, Suzuki Motor Corporation will participate again in MotoGP racing from 2015.
Suzuki Motor Corporation will feed back advanced technology to be derived through MotoGP racing activity to develop further attractive production models.

“The outline of testing team and racing machine to be developed are as follows:

Chief members of Europe testing team in 2013:
- Team manager: Davide Brivio
- Development rider: Randy De Puniet

MotoGP machine to be developed:
- 1000cc In-line four GP racer”

Suzuki’s four in-line racer is dubbed 2013HRH1.

Evidently postponing their re-entry may have just have to do with development, but it’s more likely due to Dorna’s latest decision not to financially support new squads in 2014.

New entries in 2014 will receive no financial support, no travel allowances and no free tires from Bridgestone, while in 2015 support will be based on classification performance.