WEC GP of Italy '09

Finn Juha Salminen has secured the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team’s first ever World Enduro Championship double podium result having placed third in the Enduro 2 class on both days of the GP of Italy, staged in Iglesias, Sardinia. With the opening two rounds of the championship in Portugal and Spain having ended disappointingly for Salminen the GP of Italy - round three of the ’09 WEC series - finished with the vastly experienced rider both encouraged by the changes that he’d made to his bike for the event and also his performances.

As expected the GP of Italy proved to be every bit as challenging as the opening two rounds of the ’09 WEC series. With the event marking a return to an all-natural extreme test, it also featured one of the longest and toughest enduro tests seen for many years in the WEC. In addition a slow speed motocross test and two long, rocky time controls ensured that all competitors were made to work hard throughout both days of competition.

With testing in Italy prior to the third round of the World Enduro Championship series having enabled Salminen to significantly change the set-up of his G 450 X, the opening day’s competition in Sardinia ended with the Finn having battled hard to claim a place on the podium. Much more confident in his riding Salminen performed well throughout the day. With only a handful of seconds separating Salminen from Polish rider Bartosz Oblucki and Spaniard Cristobal Guerrero as the day drew to a close, Juha used his many years of experience to claim his and BMW’s first podium result of the ’09 WEC season.

Day two again saw Salminen claim third in the Enduro 2 class. Starting well he recorded the fastest E2 class time on the long and demanding enduro test, and remained in a podium position throughout the day. Unable like many riders to get to grips with the short but incredibly slippery extreme test, Juha eventually finished just eight seconds behind the second placed rider after another determined performance. Salminen’s Enduro 2 class team-mate Simo Kirssi found the conditions in Iglesias tough and on day one placed 14th. On day two Simo improved both his speed and consistency and claimed a top 10 result with ninth in the E2 class.

While Juha’s results in the Enduro 2 class were extremely encouraging BMW Motorrad Motorsport Enduro 3 class riders David Knight and Marko Tarkkala frustratingly enjoyed little success in Sardinia. Following a determined start to day one Knight crashed heavily on the enduro test hitting his head, which forced him to withdraw with vision problems. Day two also ended early when a clutch problem prevented him from continuing. Finishing both days Marko Tarkkala placed seventh and ninth.

Simo Kirssi: "Saturday was really difficult, because the track was very slippery. On both days I lost a lot of time especially in the enduro tests. On Sunday I was pushing hard in all tests and finished on 9th place. I'm feeling happy about, that I was able to cumulate some points for the championship. Importantly our team has made observations and time measurements during the whole race events with the final result, that I'm in straight touch with the world top riders. This means a confirmation of my activities and efforts. Now I'm very proud of coming to my native country for racing in the upcoming WEC GP. It's a unique and brilliant feeling. So I'll see you in Finland."


2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Italy – Day 1

Enduro 2 Class:
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 56:40.04; 2. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 57:58.27; 3. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 57:59.40; 4. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 58:01.33; 5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 58:11.14; 6. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 58:22.05; 7. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 58:48.46; 8. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 59:24.48; 9. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 59:26.27; 10. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 59:37.78 … 14. Simo Kirssi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.00:36.47

Enduro 3 Class:
1. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 57:07.01; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 57:13.00; 3. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 57:17.77; 4. Samuli Aro (KTM) 57:54.20; 5. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 58:05.95; 6. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 58:59.33; 7. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 59:27.64; 8. Tom Sagar (Husaberg) 59:41.58; 9. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 59:49.78; 10; Jordi Figueras (Gas Gas) 1.00:29.35; 11. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 1.00:59.22; 12. Daniele Tellini (Husqvarna) 1.02:18.94


2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Italy – Day 2

Enduro 2 Class:
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.04:59.82; 2. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.06:25.19; 3. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.06:34.07; 4. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.06:35.71; 5. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.06:35.86; 6. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 1.06:38.72; 7. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 1.06:44.38; 8. Oscar Botturi (Honda) 1.07:38.00; 9. Simo Kirssi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:06.60; 10. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.08:28.96

Enduro 3 Class:
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:11.29; 2. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1.05:27.70; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1.06:12.40; 4. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.06:37.86; 5. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 1.06:53.25; 6. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.07:09.0; 7. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1.07:44.24; 8. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 1.08:01.26; 9. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:51.12; 10. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 1.10:23.57


Photo: Jonty Edmunds