March 15th/16th/17th One year later…
After four months of waiting, the highly anticipated start of the 2013 MAXXIS FIM Enduro World Championship is now just days away with the series kicking off with the Grand Prix Acerbis of Chile!
As last year, this Grand Prix is the first of 7 rounds and will take place once again in the capital of Maule region and around the foot of the Cordillera of Andes, Talca. Once again, a big heat will welcome the riders that are all back from a winter preparation.
For the second consecutive year, the FIM has awarded the Federacion de Motociclisme de Chile and Abascal Produccion the honour of hosting the first round of what is expected to be a thrilling season. This federation, with Jose Tomas DIAZ as Enduro delegate have a wealth of experience. Indeed, she has been a part of the organizers of the 2011 and 2012 Dakar, has its own National Championship and has welcomed the ISDE in 2007 in La Serena. On his side, the organizers is great fervent of the Enduro and was at the origin of the coming of the EWC in Chile.
South America in total admiration with the EWC
The Federacion Motociclisme de Chile (FMC) and Rodrigo ABASCAL have prepared a track of 60 kilometres, which will be ridden three times each day during the two days of competition. Each lap will feature two Time Checks. The paddock will be situated once again in the centre of Talca on the “Mall Plaza Maule”. The Enduro Test will take place in Maitenhuapi while the Xtreme Test and the Cross Test will be located in Cerro La Virgen, near a Motocross track. Friday night’s KTM Super Test will run at the same place than last year in the heart of Talca. The tracks, trails and special tests are expected to be very dry, dusty, challenging and rocky and had caused some damaged to some favourites in 2012.
Talca is situated in the province of the same name and is the capital of the Maule region. This charming city, of 231’5 km2 has a more than 201 797 inhabitant, is located in a highly seismic region as the stars of the EWC have experienced last year. It is 253 km South of Santiago, the capital of the country. It is crossed by the Pan-American Highway that starts in Prudhoe Bay,Alaska and finishes in Ushuaia, Argentina. On the history side, the Catholic church of Talca played a big part in the Chile’s history. Talca is also one of Chile’s better-known wine growing regions.
With once again more than 150 competitors entered for the event, the Enduro World Championship is set to start in spectacular fashion and in one of the world’s most picturesque places.
The riders can’t wait!
Every EWC stars are ready to race on the South American track. Antoine MEO (F – KTM) is the big favourite for his own succession in the E1 class just like Juha SALMINEN (SF – HVA) that will target a 9th crown. These two champions will also have to face Cristobal GUERRERO (E – KTM), Matti SEISTOLA (SF – HVA) andThomas OLDRATI (I – Husaberg) that will look for their first World title. The ItalianSimone ALBERGONI (I – HM Honda), the Finn Eero REMES (TM) and also the Frenchies Jérémy JOLY (F – Honda), Nicolas DEPARROIS (Yam) and Anthony BOISSIERE (Sherco) will be the most serious outsiders.
On his side, Pierre-Alexandre RENET (F – Husaberg), 2012 E2 World Champion, will have a lot to do with the trio David KNIGHT (GB – Honda), Ivan CERVANTES (E – KTM)and Johnny AUBERT (F – KTM) that account 9 World titles… But the Italians Oscar BALLETTI (KTM) and Alex SALVINI (HM Honda) as the Spanish Oriol MENA (Husaberg) and Lorenzo SANTOLINO (HVA) but also the French Antoine BASSET (Yam) can play the spoilers.
The E3 class must offer some nice fight between Christophe NAMBOTIN (F – KTM)and his rivals Joakim LJUNGGREN (S – Husaberg), Aigar LEOK (EST – TM) andRodrig THAIN (F – Gas Gas)… We will also attend to the hatching of Mathias BELLINO (F – Husaberg) in Senior class but also to the come back on the foreground to Fabien PLANET (F – Sherco) and Marko TARKKALA (S – Honda) and to the confirmations ofManuel MONNI (I – KTM) and Luis CORREIA (P – Beta).
Finally, in the Junior category, a quartet composed of Mario ROMAN (E – Husaberg), Giacomo REDONDI (I – KTM), Danny MCCANNEY (GB – Gas Gas) and Robert KVARNSTROM (S – Beta) share the favours. The great loser of this South American tour will be Jonathan MANZI (I – KTM) as he will not participate to it. But some young guns as Edoardo D’AMBROSIO (I – Yam), Loic LARRIEU (F – Husaberg) and Johan EDLUND (S – Husaberg) can create the surprise… In the FIM Youth Cup 125cc, the duel announced between Matteo BRESOLIN (I – KTM) and Jamie MCCANNEY (GB – Husaberg) can see the coming of a third rider as local Benjamin HERRERA ( CL – TM) will benefit of the fervour of the warming Chilean public.
This Grand Prix Acerbis of Chile is a much looked forward to event on the South American continent. Anticipating the arrival of the stars of the Enduro World Championship Chilean, Argentinean and Guatemalan enduro fans will soon gather in Talca where the Federacion Motociclisme de Chile has prepared an international celebration of off-road motorcycle competition that’s not to be missed….
Information:
– Talca (Region of Maule);
– 250 kms from Santiago of Chile;
– Friday, March 23rd: Super Test;
– March 24th/25th: Start at 9:00 – Finish at 16:00;
– Organizers: Federacion Motociclisme de Chile and ABASCAL Produccion;
– Website: www.enduro-abc.com and www.ewcchile.cl;
– Track: 60 kms – Three laps;
– Free access;
– Airport: Santiago of Chile (250kms)