KTM factory riders enjoyed a solid weekend at round three of the 2016 EnduroGP at Grevena, Greece, this weekend, picking up some positive results.
Day 1
Heavy rain at the venue on Saturday made the going tough but the factory team’s rookie British rider Nathan Watson finished 14 seconds behind new overall EnduroGP class winner Eero Remes, while third went to Matthew Phillips, the overall leader.
Remes and Watson were also 1-2 in the Enduro 1 class on the opening day. Watson was an early leader on the very slippery track with his new KTM 250 EXC-F but Remes prevailed in the day’s final lap. Watson’s KTM teammate Ivan Cervantes was third in the class although finished some 2.5 minutes behind the leaders.
The team’s American rider Taylor Robert was the fastest in special test times in the E2 class on the KTM 350 EXC-F but a time keeping error cost him a 60-second penalty and he was bumped down the third. This left the two top spots to Phillips and Loic Larrieu.
Day 2
Robert had another strong day on Sunday where rain held off but residual mud from the downpour the previous day meant conditions were still difficult. With a second place in E2, the American was very close to claiming the class win. Watson, whose weekend earned him a 2-2 result in E1, has made a very strong transition from Motocross to Enduro in just three, two-stage rounds. It was also a step in the right direction for the team veteran Cervantes who finished with a 3-4 in E1. Unfortunately the team was without the services of French rider Christophe Nambotin who is still recovering from an early season injury.
Robert: “It’s been a pretty good weekend for me. I feel like I should have won on day one. I was the fastest rider but just make an error and went into one of the time controls a little early. That cost me 60 seconds and the chance of the win. I felt good all day on the second day and didn’t crash once, which I’m pleased with considering how gnarly the course was. Although it didn’t rain it seemed to me like the tests were even more slippery than they were on day one. But I had a good day and finished second in Enduro 2, less than two seconds from the win. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t win. But I know my speed is good and I’ll keep on pushing and hopefully in Finland or Sweden I can get a win.”
Watson: “It’s been another good weekend for me, second in the Enduro 1 class on both days. It was another tough event, probably tougher than the second round in Portugal, but I came through it well. The first day went really well. I was leading the overall going into the final test and ended the day second in E1 and in EnduroGP behind Eero Remes. It was difficult not to make mistakes and I made a few on day two. But second in E1 again and sixth overall are results that I’m more than happy with.” After having made the move from Motocross, Watson confirmed he is enjoying Enduro. “Its good,” he said. “I have a lot to learn and it’s a new challenge.”
Cervantes: “The conditions have made it a tough race for everyone, but it’s gone well for me. I have a much better feeling than during the first two races. Third on day one and fourth on day two is good. I made some big mistakes but in these conditions that’s easy to do. I’m finding my rhythm a little more and feel like I’m improving all the time now.”
Team boss Fabio Farioli was reasonably satisfied with his riders but said that both Robert and Watson had wins within their grasp this weekend but lost out in their respective final tests. He also confirmed that he expects Nambotin to return to the team in the next round in Finland.
Heavy rain at the venue on Saturday made the going tough but the factory team’s rookie British rider Nathan Watson finished 14 seconds behind new overall EnduroGP class winner Eero Remes, while third went to Matthew Phillips, the overall leader.