mika
Still Wondering
Double runner-up result for Salminen and BMW at GP of Finland
BMW Motorrad Motorsport team’s seven-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen has delivered BMW’s best ever WEC performances to date scoring two hard fought Enduro 2 class runner-up results at the GP of Finland, staged in Riihimaki. Previously claiming his first double podium performances of the ’09 WEC season at the GP of Sardinia, Juha’s return to home soil saw him place behind E2 championship leader Johnny Aubert on both days. With the Finnish event marking the mid-way point of the ’09 series Juha is now placed third in the Enduro 2 world championship standings, just one point behind current runner-up Bartosz Oblucki from Poland.
Confident of strong results at his home round of the championship Salminen started the event as he intended to continue and placed a close second in class on the Friday night Super Test. Placing as runner-up on the first timed motocross and enduro tests on Saturday Juha then topped the extreme test at the end of the first lap. Continuing to ride well throughout the day Juha finished second in class in five of the six final special tests, winning the closing extreme test.
Day two was a similar story for Salminen. Despite heavy overnight rain making conditions extremely challenging for all competitors the determined Finn again finished second having made few mistakes. Runner-up in class on five of the second day’s nine special tests Juha’s two impressive results helped him move from sixth to third in the Enduro 2 championship standings.
BMW’s second Enduro 2 class rider Simo Kirssi also enjoyed competing at home in Finland. Making his debut ‘home’ ride having never competed in a WEC event in Finland before, Kirssi claimed two solid results placing fifth on day one and sixth on day two. Avoiding mistakes on the rough and demanding special tests as best he could the Cross Country specialist placed just six seconds behind fourth placed rider Matti Seistola on day one, and then in a comfortable sixth on day two. Kirssi now holds seventh in the E2 championship standings.
In the Enduro 3 class the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team experienced mixed fortunes at the GP of Finland. Manxman David Knight failed to finish the opening day’s competition and opted not to start day two. Marko Tarkkala faired better placing sixth on both days. The third member of the team to be competing in his home GP, Tarkkala performed without serious mistakes on both days. Tarkkala presently holds seventh in the Enduro 3 class series standings.
Round five of the ’09 World Enduro Championship takes place in Puchov, Slovakia, June 20/21.
Juha Salminen – Enduro 2 class: “I’m pleased with my performances this weekend. I finished third on both days at the GP of Sardinia and second on both days here in Finland so my results are moving in the right direction. I couldn’t have pushed any harder - I gave everything I could. I didn’t crash on either day, didn’t make any mistakes, and everything went well. I really enjoyed the tests. They all had a good mix of high and low speed sections, as well as some really technical parts. Next weekend in Slovakia the conditions will be very different so it will be a good test for myself and the team.”
Simo Kirssi – Enduro 2 class: “I’ve really enjoyed my first ever WEC race in Finland. It was pretty difficult in the special tests but it’s been good. My bike worked really well throughout the event and I was pushing as hard as I could so I’m pleased to have finished fifth and sixth. I hoped that the second day would be better than the first, but I made a few mistakes. I guess that without my mistakes I could have finished fifth as I did on day one, but I’m still pretty pleased with my results. I took some good championship points, which is the important thing.”
Marko Tarkkala – Enduro 3 class: “It’s been really good to have a world championship race at home in Finland again. The special tests were really nice and despite the bad weather on day two it was really enjoyable. I was a little disappointed with my result on day one. There were times when I felt good, and some times when I couldn’t find a good rhythm, but generally I didn’t make too many mistakes, which I was pleased with. The second day was similar to the first. I made some small mistakes but generally things went ok.”
2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Finland – Day 1
Enduro 2 class
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.04:59.09; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:06.25.45; 3. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.07:21.33; 4. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 1.08:02.86; 5. Simo Kirssi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:09.34; 6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.08:11.89; 7. Rodrig Than (TM) 1.08:33.94; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.08:35.52; 9. Hans Vogels (Yamaha) 1.08:50.35; 10. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 1.08:56.71;
Enduro 3 Class
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:52.47; 2. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1.05:52.91; 3. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1.05:57.28; 4. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.06:17.83; 5. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 1.07:29.69; 6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.07:36.51; 7. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.08:32.21; 8. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1.10:05.25; 9. Gordon Clarke (TM) 1.15:39.52; 10. Antti Lehtonen (KTM) 1.21:02.04
2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Finland – Day 2
Enduro 2 class
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.05:01.59; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.06:21.58; 3. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.06:42.50; 4. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.06:53.84; 5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.07:10.90; 6. Simo Kirssi (BMWMotorrad Motorsport) 1.07:50.18; 7. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.09:05.70; 8. Mike Hartmann (Husaberg) 1.09:15.05; 9. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.09:40.58; 10. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 1.09:47.92
Enduro 3 Class
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:44.30; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:05.53.40; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1.06:32.48; 4. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 1.07:54.55; 5. Marcus Kehr (HTM) 1.08.08.10; 6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:08.94; 7. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1.08:50.98; 8. Gordon Clarke (TM) 1.16:42.77; 9. Antti Lehtonon (KTM) 1.18:24.08;
BMW Motorrad Motorsport team’s seven-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen has delivered BMW’s best ever WEC performances to date scoring two hard fought Enduro 2 class runner-up results at the GP of Finland, staged in Riihimaki. Previously claiming his first double podium performances of the ’09 WEC season at the GP of Sardinia, Juha’s return to home soil saw him place behind E2 championship leader Johnny Aubert on both days. With the Finnish event marking the mid-way point of the ’09 series Juha is now placed third in the Enduro 2 world championship standings, just one point behind current runner-up Bartosz Oblucki from Poland.
Confident of strong results at his home round of the championship Salminen started the event as he intended to continue and placed a close second in class on the Friday night Super Test. Placing as runner-up on the first timed motocross and enduro tests on Saturday Juha then topped the extreme test at the end of the first lap. Continuing to ride well throughout the day Juha finished second in class in five of the six final special tests, winning the closing extreme test.
Day two was a similar story for Salminen. Despite heavy overnight rain making conditions extremely challenging for all competitors the determined Finn again finished second having made few mistakes. Runner-up in class on five of the second day’s nine special tests Juha’s two impressive results helped him move from sixth to third in the Enduro 2 championship standings.
BMW’s second Enduro 2 class rider Simo Kirssi also enjoyed competing at home in Finland. Making his debut ‘home’ ride having never competed in a WEC event in Finland before, Kirssi claimed two solid results placing fifth on day one and sixth on day two. Avoiding mistakes on the rough and demanding special tests as best he could the Cross Country specialist placed just six seconds behind fourth placed rider Matti Seistola on day one, and then in a comfortable sixth on day two. Kirssi now holds seventh in the E2 championship standings.
In the Enduro 3 class the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team experienced mixed fortunes at the GP of Finland. Manxman David Knight failed to finish the opening day’s competition and opted not to start day two. Marko Tarkkala faired better placing sixth on both days. The third member of the team to be competing in his home GP, Tarkkala performed without serious mistakes on both days. Tarkkala presently holds seventh in the Enduro 3 class series standings.
Round five of the ’09 World Enduro Championship takes place in Puchov, Slovakia, June 20/21.
Juha Salminen – Enduro 2 class: “I’m pleased with my performances this weekend. I finished third on both days at the GP of Sardinia and second on both days here in Finland so my results are moving in the right direction. I couldn’t have pushed any harder - I gave everything I could. I didn’t crash on either day, didn’t make any mistakes, and everything went well. I really enjoyed the tests. They all had a good mix of high and low speed sections, as well as some really technical parts. Next weekend in Slovakia the conditions will be very different so it will be a good test for myself and the team.”
Simo Kirssi – Enduro 2 class: “I’ve really enjoyed my first ever WEC race in Finland. It was pretty difficult in the special tests but it’s been good. My bike worked really well throughout the event and I was pushing as hard as I could so I’m pleased to have finished fifth and sixth. I hoped that the second day would be better than the first, but I made a few mistakes. I guess that without my mistakes I could have finished fifth as I did on day one, but I’m still pretty pleased with my results. I took some good championship points, which is the important thing.”
Marko Tarkkala – Enduro 3 class: “It’s been really good to have a world championship race at home in Finland again. The special tests were really nice and despite the bad weather on day two it was really enjoyable. I was a little disappointed with my result on day one. There were times when I felt good, and some times when I couldn’t find a good rhythm, but generally I didn’t make too many mistakes, which I was pleased with. The second day was similar to the first. I made some small mistakes but generally things went ok.”
2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Finland – Day 1
Enduro 2 class
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.04:59.09; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:06.25.45; 3. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.07:21.33; 4. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 1.08:02.86; 5. Simo Kirssi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:09.34; 6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.08:11.89; 7. Rodrig Than (TM) 1.08:33.94; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.08:35.52; 9. Hans Vogels (Yamaha) 1.08:50.35; 10. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 1.08:56.71;
Enduro 3 Class
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:52.47; 2. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1.05:52.91; 3. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1.05:57.28; 4. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.06:17.83; 5. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 1.07:29.69; 6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.07:36.51; 7. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1.08:32.21; 8. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1.10:05.25; 9. Gordon Clarke (TM) 1.15:39.52; 10. Antti Lehtonen (KTM) 1.21:02.04
2009 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Finland – Day 2
Enduro 2 class
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 1.05:01.59; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.06:21.58; 3. Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) 1.06:42.50; 4. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.06:53.84; 5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.07:10.90; 6. Simo Kirssi (BMWMotorrad Motorsport) 1.07:50.18; 7. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.09:05.70; 8. Mike Hartmann (Husaberg) 1.09:15.05; 9. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.09:40.58; 10. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 1.09:47.92
Enduro 3 Class
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:44.30; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:05.53.40; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1.06:32.48; 4. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 1.07:54.55; 5. Marcus Kehr (HTM) 1.08.08.10; 6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1.08:08.94; 7. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1.08:50.98; 8. Gordon Clarke (TM) 1.16:42.77; 9. Antti Lehtonon (KTM) 1.18:24.08;
