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Continued WEC success for Husqvarna at GP of Slovakia

In Enduro

23 giugno 2009

Continued WEC success for Husqvarna at GP of Slovakia

Husqvarna’s Enduro 1 class rider Antoine Meo and Enduro 2 class competitor Bartosz Oblucki both had much to celebrate following the fifth round of the ’09 World Enduro Championship, the GP of Slovakia staged in Puchov, as both riders claimed runner-up results in their respective classes. With Meo again making life difficult for defending E1 world champion Mika Ahola, Oblucki came closer than any other rider this season to beating E2 class leader Johnny Aubert on day one. Also joining the pair with a podium result was Seb Guillaume who claimed third in E3 on day two.

Although pleased to have claimed his second consecutive double runner-up result in Slovakia it was a bittersweet weekend for Meo, who came agonisingly close to beating current E1 championship leader Mika Ahola on both days. Although finishing 25 seconds behind the Finn on day one, Meo lost close to two minutes on the second extreme test when he got stuck on one of the ridiculously slippery log sections. Fighting back and winning the three final special tests were it not for his mistake he would have claimed a sizeable winning margin. On day two Meo was determined to claim victory but at the end of another hard day placed second, just three seconds behind Ahola. Antoine currently sits second in the E1 championship standings behind Mika Ahola, and ahead of Italian Simone Albergoni.

The second CH Racing Husqvarna team rider to come close to winning in Slovakia was WR250 mounted Bartosz Oblucki. Knowing that he would be able to perform well in the slippery conditions, on day one Bartosz attacked from the start of the day and topped both the first timed motocross and enduro tests. Maintaining his speed throughout the day he arrived at the final extreme test with victory within his sights. Frustratingly, several mistakes on the final special test resulted in Oblucki finishing second, just 10 seconds behind Aubert. Although a great result in itself, Bart’ was disappointed he didn’t win. Showing that his day one result wasn’t a one-off Oblucki again pushed Aubert hard during day two and finished a close second to the E2 championship leader. Bartosz holds the runner-up position in the Enduro 2 world championship standings.

Still feeling the effects of his heavy crash during the final day’s competition at the GP of Finland, Seb Guillaume was unable to perform at his best during the opening day’s competition in Slovakia. In conditions where the Frenchman normally excels Seb could only manage a sixth place result. However on day two Seb bounced back and returned to the podium with a well-deserved third place finish. Seb is now fourth in the Enduro 3 world championship standings, just six points behind defending class champion Samuli Aro.

For Husqvarna’s Matti Seistola and Marc Bourgeois the GP of Slovakia proved to be a disappointing event. With Seistola forced to retire on day one the Finn placed 19th in E2 on day two. Bourgeois was forced to retire on day one with a broken bone in his left hand.

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