News
Meo and Seistola deliver E1 podium success for Husqvarna at GP of Poland
(Article Posted: 2010-06-14)
CH Racing Husqvarna team riders Matti Seistola and Antoine Meo both enjoyed podium success at the fourth round of the ’10 Enduro World Championship, the GP of Poland staged at Kwidzyn, with Finn Seistola claiming his first ever EWC podium with a strong runner-up result in the Enduro 1 class on day one followed by a class topping result from Meo on day two. With the event marking the mid-way point of the ’10 EWC series Meo now leads the Enduro 1 championship by 46 points, with Seistola sixth, just one-point behind the fifth placed rider. Husqvarna now lead the Enduro 1 Manufacturers standings.
For Seistola the Polish event was a bitter sweat race. With the sandy conditions very much to the Finns liking the former motocross racer performed well throughout the opening day regularly finishing second in class on both the long motocross and enduro special tests. Although unable to match the pace of countryman Eero Remes who went on to win the class Matti deservedly claimed his first EWC podium result finishing ahead of two-time world champion Johnny Aubert. Day two saw more solid riding from Seistola with the TE 250 mounted rider again battling for a podium result. Disappointingly, with just one special test remaining an electrical problem forced him out of the event.
As leader of the Enduro 1 world championship Antoine Meo started the GP of Poland looking to secure another double class win. What the Frenchman wasn’t expecting was that a simple mistake would keep him off the podium on day one. Off the pace during the opening motocross test, Antoine spent the day working his way back into contention for the day win only to arrive one-minute early at a time control, picking up a 60-second penalty. Finishing fourth, and more than a little frustrated with himself, without the penalty Antoine would have finished as runner-up. Thankfully, day two saw Meo return to his best and determined to put right his day one mistake dominated the E1 class to finish 53 seconds ahead of day one winner Remes.
Antoine Meo – Enduro 1: ‘I made a big mistake on the first day as I clocked into one of the time controls one-minute early. It was completely my mistake, and a stupid one to make. I’d had a big problem in the opening motocross test and lost 30 seconds to Eero Remes. I tried really hard to catch him again but then I made this mistake, which stopped me from finishing better than fourth. I was really angry with myself. I really wanted to make up for the first day by being the overall fastest rider on day two. I pushed so hard and I did it. I’m really pleased. I still have a good lead in the E1 championship and despite my mistake I rode well, so I’m looking forward to Slovakia now.’
Matti Seistola – Enduro 1: ‘Finishing on the podium on day one was great. I felt that it was time to get on the podium because my goal this year has been to improve with every race. Of course the conditions have been good for me because they are sandy like in Finland, but I’m really pleased that everything went well. I fell once and lost some time in the enduro test, but that didn’t make too much difference. Day two was also going well but unfortunately I had a little bad luck. That’s part of the game and something that can easily be fixed. I’m hoping that I can finish well in Slovakia now.’
Frenchman Seb Guillaume delivered Husqvarna’s best results in the Enduro 3 class in Poland finishing fourth on both days. Although disappointed at having not been able to make it onto the podium on either day, Seb nevertheless still performed well. Frustratingly the opening day started with two costly falls on the opening special test, which forced the experienced E3 class rider to spend the day working his way back up the results. Come the end of the day Seb missed the podium by less than half a second. On day two Seb was simply unable to match the pace of the three riders ahead of him but again scored solid E3 championship points.
Bartosz Oblucki’s hopes that his home race of the ’10 EWC series would bring improved results failed to materialise with the WR 300 mounted rider finishing fifth on day one. Numerous crashes during the opening lap of the second day left Oblucki struggling before he eventually placed 11th.
Seb Guillaume Enduro 3: ‘It’s not been a good weekend for me. I crashed twice on the opening special test on day one and lost 50 seconds. I don’t think I could have made a worse start to the day. So I spent the whole day pushing hard to try and work my way back to a good result. I thought there was no way I would be able to catch the first three riders, but I missed finishing third by less than half a second. Day two wasn’t really difficult but for me riding at the same speed as Nambotin, Knight and Albergoni was difficult. It was just one of those races that didn’t go so well. The good thing was that my fitness was good. I’m hoping that Slovakia will be better for me.’
Bartosz Oblucki Enduro 3: ‘It’s not been a great home GP for me. I finished fifth on the first day and that seems to be my limit at this moment. When I push hard to try and be faster than that I start making mistakes. I crashed on every special test on the first lap on day two, with the crash on the motocross test being a big one. I had no energy during the second and third laps and really struggled. I was a little better on the fourth lap but then it was too late.’
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 1
Enduro 1
1. Eero Remes (KTM) 1.16:20.58; 2. Matti Seistola (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.17:16.45; 3. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.17:20.09; 4. Antoine Meo (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.17:37.36; 5. Nicolas Deparrois (Kawasaki) 1.18:04.29; 6. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 1.18:47.41; 7. Julien Gauthier (Honda) 1.19;11.10; 8. Maurizio Micheluz (TM) 1.19:36.44; 9. Sebastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1.21:02.63; 10. Jari Mattila (Suzuki) 1.21:15.16;
Enduro 3
1. David Knight (KTM) 1.17:16.88; 2. Simone Albergoni (KTM) 1.17:37.71; 3. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.18:45.36; 4. Seb Guillaume (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.18:45.38; 5. Bartosz Oblucki (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.19:22.08; 6. Aaron Bernardez (KTM) 1.20:18.23; 7. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 1.20:20.59; 8. Alessandro Botturi (Husaberg) 1.20:43.11; 9. Paulo Felicia (Yamaha) 1.21:52.91; 10. Mirko Gritti (Beta) 1.22:28.39
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 2
Enduro 1
1. Antoine Meo (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.23:46.79; 2. Eero Remes (KTM) 1.24:40.65; 3. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.25:04.52; 4. Maurizio Micheluz (TM) 1.27:26.77; 5. Nicolas Deparrois (Kawasaki) 1.27:29.22; 6. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 1.27:46.54; 7. Jari Mattila (Honda) 1.28:32.71; 8. Julien Gauthier (Honda) 1.28:39.72; 9. Sebastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1.29:42.93; 10. Jordan Curvalle (Sherco) 1.30:31.05
Enduro 3
1. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.24:42.28; 2. Simone Albergoni (KTM) 1.25:39.27; 3. David Knight (KTM) 1.25:59.91; 4. Seb Guillaume (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.27:29.06; 5. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.28:09.92; 6. Aaron Bernardez (KTM) 1.28:27.09; 7. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 1.28:32.05; 8. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 1.29:02.68; 9. Paulo Felicia (Yamaha) 1.29:59.26; 10. Alessandro Botturi (Husaberg) 1.30:18.77; 11. Bartosz Oblucki (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.31:02.02
For Seistola the Polish event was a bitter sweat race. With the sandy conditions very much to the Finns liking the former motocross racer performed well throughout the opening day regularly finishing second in class on both the long motocross and enduro special tests. Although unable to match the pace of countryman Eero Remes who went on to win the class Matti deservedly claimed his first EWC podium result finishing ahead of two-time world champion Johnny Aubert. Day two saw more solid riding from Seistola with the TE 250 mounted rider again battling for a podium result. Disappointingly, with just one special test remaining an electrical problem forced him out of the event.
As leader of the Enduro 1 world championship Antoine Meo started the GP of Poland looking to secure another double class win. What the Frenchman wasn’t expecting was that a simple mistake would keep him off the podium on day one. Off the pace during the opening motocross test, Antoine spent the day working his way back into contention for the day win only to arrive one-minute early at a time control, picking up a 60-second penalty. Finishing fourth, and more than a little frustrated with himself, without the penalty Antoine would have finished as runner-up. Thankfully, day two saw Meo return to his best and determined to put right his day one mistake dominated the E1 class to finish 53 seconds ahead of day one winner Remes.
Antoine Meo – Enduro 1: ‘I made a big mistake on the first day as I clocked into one of the time controls one-minute early. It was completely my mistake, and a stupid one to make. I’d had a big problem in the opening motocross test and lost 30 seconds to Eero Remes. I tried really hard to catch him again but then I made this mistake, which stopped me from finishing better than fourth. I was really angry with myself. I really wanted to make up for the first day by being the overall fastest rider on day two. I pushed so hard and I did it. I’m really pleased. I still have a good lead in the E1 championship and despite my mistake I rode well, so I’m looking forward to Slovakia now.’
Matti Seistola – Enduro 1: ‘Finishing on the podium on day one was great. I felt that it was time to get on the podium because my goal this year has been to improve with every race. Of course the conditions have been good for me because they are sandy like in Finland, but I’m really pleased that everything went well. I fell once and lost some time in the enduro test, but that didn’t make too much difference. Day two was also going well but unfortunately I had a little bad luck. That’s part of the game and something that can easily be fixed. I’m hoping that I can finish well in Slovakia now.’
Frenchman Seb Guillaume delivered Husqvarna’s best results in the Enduro 3 class in Poland finishing fourth on both days. Although disappointed at having not been able to make it onto the podium on either day, Seb nevertheless still performed well. Frustratingly the opening day started with two costly falls on the opening special test, which forced the experienced E3 class rider to spend the day working his way back up the results. Come the end of the day Seb missed the podium by less than half a second. On day two Seb was simply unable to match the pace of the three riders ahead of him but again scored solid E3 championship points.
Bartosz Oblucki’s hopes that his home race of the ’10 EWC series would bring improved results failed to materialise with the WR 300 mounted rider finishing fifth on day one. Numerous crashes during the opening lap of the second day left Oblucki struggling before he eventually placed 11th.
Seb Guillaume Enduro 3: ‘It’s not been a good weekend for me. I crashed twice on the opening special test on day one and lost 50 seconds. I don’t think I could have made a worse start to the day. So I spent the whole day pushing hard to try and work my way back to a good result. I thought there was no way I would be able to catch the first three riders, but I missed finishing third by less than half a second. Day two wasn’t really difficult but for me riding at the same speed as Nambotin, Knight and Albergoni was difficult. It was just one of those races that didn’t go so well. The good thing was that my fitness was good. I’m hoping that Slovakia will be better for me.’
Bartosz Oblucki Enduro 3: ‘It’s not been a great home GP for me. I finished fifth on the first day and that seems to be my limit at this moment. When I push hard to try and be faster than that I start making mistakes. I crashed on every special test on the first lap on day two, with the crash on the motocross test being a big one. I had no energy during the second and third laps and really struggled. I was a little better on the fourth lap but then it was too late.’
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 1
Enduro 1
1. Eero Remes (KTM) 1.16:20.58; 2. Matti Seistola (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.17:16.45; 3. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.17:20.09; 4. Antoine Meo (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.17:37.36; 5. Nicolas Deparrois (Kawasaki) 1.18:04.29; 6. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 1.18:47.41; 7. Julien Gauthier (Honda) 1.19;11.10; 8. Maurizio Micheluz (TM) 1.19:36.44; 9. Sebastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1.21:02.63; 10. Jari Mattila (Suzuki) 1.21:15.16;
Enduro 3
1. David Knight (KTM) 1.17:16.88; 2. Simone Albergoni (KTM) 1.17:37.71; 3. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.18:45.36; 4. Seb Guillaume (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.18:45.38; 5. Bartosz Oblucki (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.19:22.08; 6. Aaron Bernardez (KTM) 1.20:18.23; 7. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 1.20:20.59; 8. Alessandro Botturi (Husaberg) 1.20:43.11; 9. Paulo Felicia (Yamaha) 1.21:52.91; 10. Mirko Gritti (Beta) 1.22:28.39
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 2
Enduro 1
1. Antoine Meo (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.23:46.79; 2. Eero Remes (KTM) 1.24:40.65; 3. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.25:04.52; 4. Maurizio Micheluz (TM) 1.27:26.77; 5. Nicolas Deparrois (Kawasaki) 1.27:29.22; 6. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 1.27:46.54; 7. Jari Mattila (Honda) 1.28:32.71; 8. Julien Gauthier (Honda) 1.28:39.72; 9. Sebastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1.29:42.93; 10. Jordan Curvalle (Sherco) 1.30:31.05
Enduro 3
1. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.24:42.28; 2. Simone Albergoni (KTM) 1.25:39.27; 3. David Knight (KTM) 1.25:59.91; 4. Seb Guillaume (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.27:29.06; 5. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.28:09.92; 6. Aaron Bernardez (KTM) 1.28:27.09; 7. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 1.28:32.05; 8. Michal Kadlecek (TM) 1.29:02.68; 9. Paulo Felicia (Yamaha) 1.29:59.26; 10. Alessandro Botturi (Husaberg) 1.30:18.77; 11. Bartosz Oblucki (CH Racing Husqvarna) 1.31:02.02
