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Promising lineup of KTM factory riders for 2009 Enduro World Championship

In Enduro

13 febbraio 2009

Promising lineup of KTM factory riders for 2009 Enduro World Championship

With preparations in full swing for the 2009 Enduro World Championship series, the KTM Factory Team is both optimistic and confident of solid results in the 8-Grand Prix, 16 race series.

In the Enduro 1 class, the team will be fielding two new names. The first is talented Italian Simone Albergoni who has moved from Yamaha to the Austrian manufacturer after finishing third in the 2008 world championships. Albergoni will be joined by Finland's Eero Remes in E1. The 23-year-old was a KTM-supported rider last season. "What we need is for Simone to take that one more step to be the champion this year and with Eero we have a young guy who has lots of talent," team boss Fabio Farioli reported. Remes had both a solid start and finish to the 2008 season but missed three GP mid season due to injury. Both riders will be onboard KTM 250 EXC 4-stroke machines.

Aubert lines up for KTM in E2
New challenges also await Frenchman Johnny Aubert in E2, who may be riding in his debut year for the KTM factory team but brings with him the 2008 E2 world championship title. He will be joined by KTM team stalwart Alessandro Belometti of Italy who finished a very creditable third in last year's championship. Aubert will pilot the KTM 450 EXC 4-stroke in the competition while Belometti will be onboard the 250 EXC 2-stroke machine.

Aro and Cervantes contest E3
The big bike category is in the capable hands of two regular KTM factory team members, Samuli Aro of Finland, the reigning world champion and Spain's Ivan Cervantes. Aro will ride the KTM 300 EXC 2-stroke and Cervantes will take on the KTM 530 EXC 4-stroke. Cervantes, who finished second in E1 at the close of 2008, is currently leading the World Indoor Championship going into the final race in front of his home crowd in Madrid Spain. The Spaniard has made good use of the winter competition to keep his riding skills at a peak.

Pre-season factory teams meet in Spain
Pre-season the Enduro riders joined the KTM MX factory team in Spain for a mutual training session that proved to be fruitful in honing skills on the bikes and cementing team spirit, Farioli said. Between now and when the season kicks off with the first GP in Penafiel, Portugal (March 21) all the KTM factory riders will be in Italy for tests and fine tuning of suspension elements.

Full program for 2009
The season this year starts with two GPs on the Iberian Peninsular then goes to Sardinia, which is new ground for the world championship competition. After a break in June the teams head north to Riihimaki, Finland and then back to Puchov in Slovakia. In July they will be in Valle de Bravo in Mexico on the shores of Lake Avándaro, approximately 145 km (95 miles) southwest of the capital. August will see riders on the familiar ground of Serres in Northern Greece and the season will conclude in September with the GP of France in St. Flour.

New "Super Test" format
Most races in the season will include a "Super Test" prologue on the Friday night. It will be an extreme test held under lights in and around the town hosting the GP and will be an attractive show event. Times registered in this extreme Super Test will count to the overall result of Saturday's race.

Farioli is looking forward to a promising season. "It will be a tough year but I am confident that with this team we can do well in 2009. We also have some good venues and event organizers that bring with then a lot of passion and a real love of Enduro sport. That is very promising!"

Picture: Edumnd J. KTM Images