The opening round of the Champion Enduro Open World Cup’s second season was a great success with good battles in all three classes. This weekend, everyone will meet in Spoleto for the second round of the FIM Borilli EnduroGP World Championship. So let’s check out the top stories…
In Open 2-Stroke, 2019 winner Gonçalo REIS (P – KTM) got off to a fantastic start as he won both days of racing in Réquista! But it seems that the competition is tough this season and the Portuguese rider will have to be wary of Robert FRIEDRICH (CZ – KTM) and Samuel DAVIES (GB – KTM) who pushed him to his limits last weekend … On top of that , we must not forget either the Poland’s Rafal BRACIK (Beta), very interesting last year, and who arrives in Italy with the firm intention of going for victory.
REIS’ countrymen Gonçalo SOBROSA (Beta), Frederico ROCHA (Husqvarna) and Ricardo WILSON (Beta) will also try to get into the mix and spoil his party.
Finally, the Italian Simone BASTIANINI (Husqvarna) will be keen to shine in front of his home crowd and will be the only Italian represented in Open 2-Stroke!
Senior : PAOLI The Big Favourite?
As for the Open 4-Stroke class, the Belgian Damiaens DIEGTER (KTM) made a very strong debut last weekend by dominating the category, confirmation of this performance will be his aim this weekend in Spoleto. But there is no doubt that his compatriot Mathias VAN HOOF (B – Husqvarna), as well as Benet GOMEZ (E – Honda) and Jorge PARADELO RODRIGUEZ (E – Husqvarna) will want to catch up and thwart the plans of the KTM rider.
Meanwhile, Italy’s ever-smiling Andrea BELOTTI (I – KTM) will certainly seek to do better than the two 6th places he got last week, and he will want to fly the Italian flag on the podiums …
Ludovic BRAL (B – KTM) and Mika VANDERHEYDEN (B – Husqvarna) will continue their progression in this class, while trying to catch up to DIEGTER and VAN HOOF while the Chilean Matteo DE GAVARDO (KTM) will be keen to go for the Top 5.
Finally, in Open Senior, there are three riders separated by just 1 point! David MARTINEZ CORBALAN (E – KTM), Duccio GRAZIANI (I – Beta) and Arnaud ADAM (F – Honda) will once again fight hard against each other for victory. But they’ll have to beware because a fourth rider could easily join the Top 3 of the category in the form of the ex-EGP rider, Alessio PAOLI (I – Husqvarna)! Showing great pace during the Legends Race organised last year in Rovetta (Italy), PAOLI will certainly be at the forefront … which could give him the desire to continue for the rest of the season.
For his part, Patrik ANDERSSON (S – Yamaha) will seek to get closer to this quartet while Christer ANDERSSON (S – Yamaha) and Pierre HOURDIN (F – Husqvarna) will put everything in place to achieve a better GP.
The three categories of the Champion Enduro Open World Cup are sure to offer us another exciting battle this weekend! See you in Spoleto for the second round of 2020!
