Nambotin seals E3 World Championship in Finland
OutdoorHub 09.03.12
Christophe Nambotin of France on Saturday sealed the E3 world title in Rd. 13 of the Enduro World Championship a clear three rounds to the end of the season.
Nambotin has been the dominant rider in the big bikes throughout the season, his first as part of the KTM Enduro Factory team. He took the title in style on Saturday winning eight of the nine tests to seal his 12 win from 13 rounds so far held and taking second in the remaining round.
Christophe who rides a KTM 300 EXC said he was very happy to win the title in his first year with the KTM team. “I love my new bike, I am happy with the KTM team and I feel very strong. I will go out tomorrow and try to take the victory in Rd. 14,” he said from the venue.
The E3 title is the factory team’s second this year after young Italian Giacomo Redondi sealed the Youth cup title in the last round in Sweden, underlining that the next generation is safe in KTM hands.
In other KTM factory action in Rd. 13, Antoine Meo, who could seal the E1 championship tomorrow in Rd. 14 recovered from an early setback where he lost 30 seconds in the opening lap and fought his way back into contention finally sealing the victory in the final test of the day.
Meo’s teammate Eero Remes was luckless in front of his home crowd after damaging the front wheel of his 250 EXC-F during the super test on Friday night and under the competition rules wheels cannot be replaced. Remes was the dominant rider in the 2011 ISDE, which was hosted in Finland.
In E2 Cristobal Guerrero of Spain fought hard with his rival Pierre-Alexandre Renet of France throughout the day. He won three tests but eventually had to hand the win to the French rider by around four seconds. His teammate Johnny Aubert also had to retire in the second test.
Nambotin’s teammate David Knight also had to retire after being struck in the chest with the handlebars. He was taken to hospital for checks for possible injuries but team boss Fabio Farioli confirmed that nothing was broken. It is not yet known if Knight will be able to race on Sunday.
The two rounds of the World Championships are being stages at Heinola some 140 km north of the capital Helsinki. The venue last hosted rounds of the world championship seven years ago.
