Only two days before the curtain rises on the Grand Prix of Romania, let’s check what’s going on in the paddock situated in the Piata Dacia…
A wonderful paddock
As in 2011, the paddock is on the Buzau town hall square all covered in marble for a mix of history of the city with the small world of Enduro as we have rarely seen. Note also that it is very rare for a city of this size to welcome the best of the Enduro. Buzau and its 140,000 inhabitants therefore welcome with open arms the EWC and rolled out the red carpet for the stars of the Enduro.
Press Conference
A remarkably organized press conference was held yesterday afternoon. Florin RADU (President of the Motorcycle Club), Constantin BOSCODEALA (Mayor), Alain BLANCHARD (Promoter of the EWC) Gabriel OLARIU (FRM) and Alex SALVINI (I – HM Honda), Laïa SANZ (E) andGiovanni SALA (I – FIM) answered to many questions from journalists and national televisionTVR. Riders and promoter were all agreed that this race was again very well organized and the special tests were more beautiful and technical than in 2011.
Springboks
We already know the young Toni JARDINE (ZAF – KTM) who has been proven during the Spain – Portugal tour and which will still be present this weekend. To support her in Romania, the young South African Wade YOUNG (Husaberg) will also be present with the Official Husaberg team. He will have the difficult task of showing the level of South African racers in front of the eyes of the world…
Paddock Live
Two years ago this, the Moto Club Sportiv Extreme Adventure has created for the occasion a live of the paddock that we could follow 24 hours. To do so, they had placed on the roof of the hotel facing the Paddock a webcam. The dynamic Moto Club did it again this year and you will have the opportunity to watch the stars of the Enduro during the two days of racing during their passage through the paddock at every lap.
Marseille
No, we will not talk about Benoit FORTUNATO (F – HM Honda), Marseille’s most famous rider in the paddock and in Romania but about Mika BARNES (F – KTM). This young French talent has made few appearances in 2012 including Spain and France. This season, supported by his father and a friend, the FIM Youth Cup 125cc rider has decided to participate to the entire season and he competes certain panache. Best French rider of his class on the EWC, Mika BARNES continues to learn and grow in every Grand Prix and could perhaps aim for a podium by the end of the year!
Communication king
Certainly, the Moto Club Sportiv Extreme Adventuredoes not do things by halves in communication. In addition to the paddock live and yesterday press conference, Ivan CERVANTES (ESP – KTM) answered to a live interview on national television yesterday at 20h. The KTM Super Test, starting at 18:00, will be entirely filmed and broadcast on Saturday night as it was rarely seen before in Enduro.
Bar NOV
This season, the team Gas Gas Factory Pons is determined to find the gem outside Europe. After launching the Chilean Diego ROJAS, Esteban LANZ, Guatemalan Oscar BETHANCOURTH and Israeli Tomer SHAPIRA into the deep, the team managed by Sergi DURAN will, during the tour Romania – Greece, give a chance to another Israeli: Bar NOV. The paddock of the EWC therefore has now two Israelis riders since the beginning of the season, demonstrating the popularity of this country for our sport.
Transfer?
At the beginning of the season, David KNIGHT (GB – Honda) rode his own private team with the help of his friend Paul EDMONDSON while putting in place the means to create a beautiful structure. But for this tour Romania – Greece, the Brit will be present in the HM Honda truck… A signature during the season? No, the team of Franco MAYR kindly offered to KNIGHTER to take his CRF 450 to avoid him some spending … That’s also what is the Enduro, the self-help! It’s the same for the young Luis OLIVEIRA (P – YAM) hosted by the dynamic Greek team INA TV.
Miss Enduro
The Moto Club organizer, decided to make this Grand Prix a huge sporting event, launches again its election of Miss Enduro. This election will take place in Summer Pub, Bar-Disco outdoors in the center of Buzau. The start of the event will be at 22h tonight. So who will succeed to the vivaciousMaria CHEAGA?