Difficult time for Electraction TM riders at GP of Poland
Continuing their participation in the 2008 World Enduro Championship (WEC) the Electraction TM team headed to Kwidzyn in Poland for the fourth round of this year’s WEC series where they were greeted by unexpectedly dry conditions and an extremely tough event. With the event marking the passing of the halfway point of the Championship, and with the next round of the series being the much looked forward to GP of Wales, it was Scot Euan McConnell that again delivered the team’s best results placing in 15th and 13th in the competitive Enduro 3 class.
Finishing just two places behind seven-time enduro world champion Anders Eriksson on day one McConnell made an encouraging start but two heavy falls on the extreme test detuned the experienced WEC rider and he slipped down the E3 class results. Performing at his best on the long, fast and dusty motocross test Euan struggled with the event’s enduro test, which due to the dry weather quickly turned into one long rut.
On day two Euan climbed two positions to 13th in the Enduro 3 class despite still finding the one-line enduro test difficult. Ending the event with the seventh fastest E3 class time on the motocross test, Euan now looks forward to the GP of Wales where he hopes to finish with two top 10 results.
Competing alongside Euan in the Enduro 3 class in Poland Electraction TM’s Gordon Clarke finished both days inside the points with a 19th on day one and a 16th place result on day two.
Disappointingly for the team’s Enduro Junior class rider Philip McLaughlin a derailed chain ended his first day. Wrapping itself around the gearbox sprocket Philip’s engine had to be removed in order to free the chain before he could re-start the event on day two. Mixing some encouraging test times with a few too many crashes Philip eventually placed 19th in class, scoring World Championship points for his efforts.
Euan McConnell: “I found the event tough on the first day, the track was whooped out and the day was really long. But I found the enduro test the most difficult, because it quickly turned into a very deep rut and I struggled with my long legs. The second day was a definite improvement for me, although I still didn’t finish as high in the results as I hoped I would. I’m pleased with some of my test times on the motocross test, I just struggled on the enduro test like on the first day.”
2008 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 1
Enduro 3 class
1. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1:21:49.59; 2. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1:21:58.82; 3. Stefan Merriman (Aprilia) 1:22:05.01; 4. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 1:22:31.88; 5. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:22:36.80; 6. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1:23:33.98; 7. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 1:24:52.71; 8. Xavier Galindo (KTM) 1:25:31.15; 9. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1:26:13.67; 10 Antoine Letellier (Aprilia) 1:26:44.57; 11. Stefan Svitko (KTM) 1:26:48.85; 12. Jordi Figueras (KTM) 1:27:00.43; 13. Anders Ericsson (BMW) 1:27:04.76; 14. Vita Kuklik (KTM) 1:27:27.25; 15. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM) 1:28:37.83; 16. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1:29:11.34; 17.Alessio Paoli (BETA) 1:29:34.46; 18. Andre Decker (Husqvarna) 1:33:44.48; 19. Gordon Clarke (Electraction TM) 1:34:38.38
Enduro 3 class
1. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1:21:49.59; 2. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1:21:58.82; 3. Stefan Merriman (Aprilia) 1:22:05.01; 4. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 1:22:31.88; 5. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:22:36.80; 6. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1:23:33.98; 7. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 1:24:52.71; 8. Xavier Galindo (KTM) 1:25:31.15; 9. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1:26:13.67; 10 Antoine Letellier (Aprilia) 1:26:44.57; 11. Stefan Svitko (KTM) 1:26:48.85; 12. Jordi Figueras (KTM) 1:27:00.43; 13. Anders Ericsson (BMW) 1:27:04.76; 14. Vita Kuklik (KTM) 1:27:27.25; 15. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM) 1:28:37.83; 16. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1:29:11.34; 17.Alessio Paoli (BETA) 1:29:34.46; 18. Andre Decker (Husqvarna) 1:33:44.48; 19. Gordon Clarke (Electraction TM) 1:34:38.38
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 2
Enduro 3 class
1. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 1:07:18.68; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:07:26.30; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1:08:20.66; 4. Sebastian Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1:08:24.27; 5. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1:08:32.80; 6. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 1:09:43.07; 7. Anders Eriksson (BMW) 1:10:58.83; 8. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1:11:01.35; 9. Jordi Figueras (KTM) 1:12:00.48; 10. Stefan Svitko (KTM) 1:12:20.41; 11. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1:12:41.57; 12. Vita Kuklik (KTM) 1:12:41.67; 13. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM) 1:12:57.76; 14. Gordon Clarke (Electraction TM) 1:21:27.28
Enduro 3 class
1. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 1:07:18.68; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1:07:26.30; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 1:08:20.66; 4. Sebastian Guillaume (Husqvarna) 1:08:24.27; 5. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 1:08:32.80; 6. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 1:09:43.07; 7. Anders Eriksson (BMW) 1:10:58.83; 8. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 1:11:01.35; 9. Jordi Figueras (KTM) 1:12:00.48; 10. Stefan Svitko (KTM) 1:12:20.41; 11. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 1:12:41.57; 12. Vita Kuklik (KTM) 1:12:41.67; 13. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM) 1:12:57.76; 14. Gordon Clarke (Electraction TM) 1:21:27.28
Enduro Junior class
1. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1:09:19.36; 2. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 1:09:49.15; 3. Oriol Mena (KTM) 1:10:47.78; 4. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1:11:24.54; 5. Roni Nikander (KTM) 1:11:36.21; 6. Robert Kapajcik (KTM) 1:11:55.39; 7. Robert Kvarnstrom (TM) 1:12:01.71; 8. Mirko Gritti (Honda) 1:12:20.96; 9. Jeremy Joly (Sherco) 1:12:49.19; 10. Bert Mayer (BMW) 1:13:21.76; 11. Simon Wakely (Husqvarna) 1:13:37.40; 12. Romain Dumontier (Husqvarna) 1:13:43.60; 13. Armand Monleon (Yamaha) 1:13:44.62; 14. Seabastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1:14:00.07; 15. Edward Hubner (KTM) 1:14:08.28; 16. Adrien Metge (Husqvarna) 1:14:38.24; 17. Victor Karlsson (Honda) 1:14:41.63; 18. David Gannac (Suzuki) 1:14:58.27; 19. Philip McLaughlin (Electraction TM) 1:15:00.44; 20. Jonas Karlsson (KTM) 1:15:33.22
1. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1:09:19.36; 2. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 1:09:49.15; 3. Oriol Mena (KTM) 1:10:47.78; 4. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1:11:24.54; 5. Roni Nikander (KTM) 1:11:36.21; 6. Robert Kapajcik (KTM) 1:11:55.39; 7. Robert Kvarnstrom (TM) 1:12:01.71; 8. Mirko Gritti (Honda) 1:12:20.96; 9. Jeremy Joly (Sherco) 1:12:49.19; 10. Bert Mayer (BMW) 1:13:21.76; 11. Simon Wakely (Husqvarna) 1:13:37.40; 12. Romain Dumontier (Husqvarna) 1:13:43.60; 13. Armand Monleon (Yamaha) 1:13:44.62; 14. Seabastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1:14:00.07; 15. Edward Hubner (KTM) 1:14:08.28; 16. Adrien Metge (Husqvarna) 1:14:38.24; 17. Victor Karlsson (Honda) 1:14:41.63; 18. David Gannac (Suzuki) 1:14:58.27; 19. Philip McLaughlin (Electraction TM) 1:15:00.44; 20. Jonas Karlsson (KTM) 1:15:33.22
Sunday, 15 June 2008