Meo & Nambotin World Champions
Enduro News
The Maxxis Enduro World Championship GP Maxxis of Greece ended in joy, for KTM’s Antoine Meo and Christophe Nambotin as the two riders were crowned world champions in Kastoria.
Both riders claimed victory on day two in their respective classes, with Meo securing the Enduro 1 World Championship while Nambotin claimed the Enduro 3 World Championship.
Moving one step closer to winning his first world title, Italy’s Alex Salvini won the Enduro 2 class while France’s Loic Larrieu recorded his debut EWC win with victory in the Enduro Junior category,.
Australia's Matthew Phillips backed up his win on day one with a third on day three and now leads the EJ class by 29 points with a maximum of 40 points avaliable in the final round in France in September.
Christophe Nambotin on his way to the E3 world championship - Credit: J.Edmunds
Despite needing to place 14th or better to secure the E3 title, France’s Christophe Nambotin quickly took control of the race lead at the end of the first lap on Sunday. Setting the fastest time in nine of the day’s 12 special tests the Frenchman rode into the Parc Ferme at the end of the day as victor and world champion.
“It’s incredible to win the championship again,” Nambotin stated. “I knew that I didn’t need to win the race in order to secure the title but I was so comfortable in my riding that I wanted to take the title with a victory.
"I’m so happy to be a world champion," he added.
While Nambotin secured the race win the battle for the runner-up position was fought out between France’s Mathias Bellomp (Husaberg) and Estonia’s Aigar Leok (TM).
Overcoming a big crash on the final cross test, Bellino held on to take second. Unable to capitalise on his rival’s mistake, Leok completed the top three.
Placing just two seconds behind Leok, was Portugal’s Luis Corriea (Beta) in fourth with Italy’s Deny Phillipaerts rounding out the top five.
Antoine Meo has won the 2013 E1 World Enduro Championship with a round to spare - Credit: J.Edmunds
In the Enduro 1 class the day belonged to France’s Antoine Meo. Topping all but one of the day’s special tests, Meo claimed his 11th win of the season. Placing over one-minute clear of his nearest rival, the KTM rider clinched his fourth consecutive enduro world championship.
“Aside from one small mistake it was a perfect day for me,” Meo explained. “It feels great to win the title. It’s been a great season.
"I worked hard all year for this moment – I’m so happy right now.”
In the fight for the runner-up result Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero edged out Italy’s Maurizio Micheluz (Suzuki) to take the position. Returning to the podium for the first time since the GP of Italy in 2008, Micheluz placed third.
Losing out on the fight for a podium result, Finland’s Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) finished just one second behind Micheluz to end his day in fourth. Sherco’s Jeremy Tarroux rounded out the top five.
Alex Salvini claimed the win in the E2 class on Sunday in Greece - Credit: enduro-abc.com
Securing victory by the narrowest of margins, Alex Salvini beat France’s Pela Renet (Husaberg) by three tenths of a second to take the Enduro 2 class win. With the duo locked in a fierce battle for the duration of the day it was the Honda rider’s time in the final extreme test that ultimately secured him the win.
“I fought all day long with Renet for the victory,” remarked Salvini . “Entering the final test there was nothing to separate us.
"Thankfully I just managed to do enough to win – that was one of the best races of the year.”
Despite his best efforts, Renet was unable to secure a double E2 victory at the GP of Greece and had to settle for second position. Completing the top three Spain’s Ivan Cervantes (KTM) took third. KTM’s Johnny Aubert ended his day in fourth with Spain’s Victor Guerrero (KTM) completing the top five.
EJ
In the Enduro Junior class a new winner emerged as France’s Loic Larrieu (Husaberg) fended off Italy’s Giacomo Redoni (KTM) to take the win. With Redoni finishing second, Australia’s Matt Phillips (Husqvarna) who claimed the class win on Saturday, placed just four tenths of a second behind the Italian to complete the top three.
Manxman Danny McCanney (Gas Gas) was fourth with Italy’s Nicolo Mori (Beta) ending his day in fifth.
The Maxxis Enduro World Championship concludes with the final round of the season in St Flour France on September 7/8.
Greece Day One E1 Results:
1. MEO Antoine FRA KTM
2. GUERRERO Cristobal ESP KTM
3. JOLY Jérémy FRA
4. SEISTOLA Matti FIN HVA
5. TARROUX Jeremy FRA SHERCO
6. SALMINEN Juha FIN HVA
7. MICHELUZ Maurizio ITA SUZUKI
8. REMES Eero FIN TM
9. DEPARROIS Nicolas FRA YAMAHA
10. ALBERGONI Simone ITA HM HONDA
Greece Day One E2 Results:
1. RENET Pierre Alexandre FRA HUSABERG
2. SALVINI Alex ITA HM HONDA
3. AUBERT Johnny FRA KTM
4. SANTOLINO Lorenzo ESP HVA
5. GUERRERO Victor ESP KTM
6. BASSET Antoine FRA YAMAHA
7. MENA Oriol ESP HUSABERG
8. CERVANTES Ivan ESP KTM
9. BALLETTI Oscar ITA
10. BENAVIDES Kévin M. ARG KTM
Greece Day One E3 Results:
1. NAMBOTIN Christophe FRA KTM
2. PLANET Fabien FRA SHERCO
3. BELLINO Mathias FRA HUSABERG
4. LJUNGGREN Joakim SWE HUSABERG
5. LEOK Aigar EST TM
6. PHILIPPAERTS Deny ITA BETA
7. KEHR Marcus DEU KTM
8. TARKKALA Marko FIN
9. CORREIA Luis PRT BETA
10. ROBERT Christophe CHE HUSABERG
Greece Day One EJ Results:
1. PHILLIPS Matthew AUS HVA
2. REDONDI Giacomo ITA KTM
3. LARRIEU Loïc FRA HUSABERG
4. ROMAN Mario ESP HUSABERG
5. KVARNSTROM Robert FIN BETA
6. MCCANNEY Daniel GBR GAS-GAS
7. MORI Nicolo ITA BETA
8. D'AMBROSIO Edoardo ITA YAMAHA
9. OLIVEIRA Luis PRT YAMAHA
10. ROHMER Kévin FRA YAMAHA
Greece Day Two E1 Results:
1. MEO Antoine FRA KTM
2. GUERRERO Cristobal ESP KTM
3. MICHELUZ Maurizio ITA SUZUKI
4. SEISTOLA Matti FIN HVA
5. TARROUX Jeremy FRA SHERCO
6. REMES Eero FIN TM
7. SALMINEN Juha FIN HVA
8. ALBERGONI Simone ITA HM HONDA
9. JOLY Jérémy FRA
10. DEPARROIS Nicolas FRA YAMAHA
Greece Day Two E2 Results:
1. SALVINI Alex ITA HM HONDA
2. RENET Pierre Alexandre FRA HUSABERG
3. CERVANTES Ivan ESP KTM
4. AUBERT Johnny FRA KTM
5. GUERRERO Victor ESP KTM
6. SANTOLINO Lorenzo ESP HVA
7. MENA Oriol ESP HUSABERG
8. BASSET Antoine FRA YAMAHA
9. BETRIU Jaume ESP
10. BALLETTI Oscar ITA
Greece Day Two E3 Results:
1. NAMBOTIN Christophe FRA KTM
2. BELLINO Mathias FRA HUSABERG
3. LEOK Aigar EST TM
4. CORREIA Luis PRT BETA
5. PHILIPPAERTS Deny ITA BETA
6. PLANET Fabien FRA SHERCO
7. LJUNGGREN Joakim SWE HUSABERG
8. KEHR Marcus DEU KTM
9. ROBERT Christophe CHE HUSABERG
10. TARKKALA Marko FIN
Greece Day Two EJ Results:
1. LARRIEU Loïc FRA HUSABERG
2. REDONDI Giacomo ITA KTM
3. PHILLIPS Matthew AUS HVA
4. MCCANNEY Daniel GBR GAS-GAS
5. MORI Nicolo ITA BETA
6. KVARNSTROM Robert FIN BETA
7. OLIVEIRA Luis PRT YAMAHA
8. ROMAN Mario ESP HUSABERG
9. EDLUND Johan SWE HUSABERG
10. D'AMBROSIO Edoardo ITA YAMAHA
E1 Championship Standings After Round 6 of 7
1. MEO Antoine 231 Pts
2. SALMINEN Juha 169 Pts
3. SEISTOLA Matti 167 Pts
4. REMES Eero 143 Pts
5. GUERRERO Cristobal 124 Pts
E2 Championship Standings After Round 6 of 7
1. SALVINI Alex 223 Pts
2. RENET Pierre Alexandre 190 Pts
3. CERVANTES Ivan 183 Pts
4. AUBERT Johnny 179 Pts
5. GUERRERO Victor 121 Pts
E3 Championship Standings After Round 6 of 7
1. NAMBOTIN Christophe 230 Pts
2. LEOK Aigar 171 Pts
3. LJUNGGREN Joakim 161 Pts
4. CORREIA Luis 143 Pts
5. BELLINO Mathias 113 Pts
EJ Championship Standings After Round 6 of 7
1. PHILLIPS Matthew 215 Pts
2. REDONDI Giacomo 186 Pts
3. MCCANNEY Daniel 151 Pts
4. ROMAN Mario 149 Pts
5. LARRIEU Loïc 134 Pts