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French rider Johnny Aubert started well in the opening two rounds of the 2013 World Enduro Championship in Talca Chile this weekend.

The weekend started well for the team with Johnny Aubert taking the KTM Super Test on Friday night in front of a big crowd but Saturday was something of a disappointment for the team with high expectations for titles this season.

Saturday’s E2 saw a battle between title-holder Pierre Alexandre Renet of France on the Husaberg and KTM’s Johnny Aubert, who comes into the 2013 season after tough preparation and determined to be back among the contenders. He was very strong during the first six tests and it was only after the seventh of nine that Renet assumed the overall lead. Aubert was untouchable in the cross tests, winning all three and went into Sunday’s tests saying he knew where he had to improve to beat Renet. Third place on day one was decided in favor of Spanish rider Ivan Cervantes and Alex Salvini. Cervantes, who returns to the factory team after two seasons with a Spanish-based team crossed the line only three seconds behind Salvini in fourth place.

On Sunday it was Cervantes who emerged as the best of the factory team’s two E2 riders. He finished second to Italian Alex Salvini while Aubert finished third on Sunday.

Enduro World Championship, Round 1 at Talca, Chile
Results E2
1. Pierre-Alexandre Renet (F), Husaberg
2. Johnny Aubert (F), KTM
3. Alex Salvini (I), Husqvarna
4. Ivan Cervantes (E), KTM
5. David Knight (UK), Honda
Other KTM
7. Victor Guerrero (E), KTM
9. Oscar Balletti (I), KTM
13. Kevin Benavides (RA), KTM
15. Franco Caimi (RA), KTM

Standings E2 after 1 of 14 rounds
1. Renet, 20 points
2. Aubert, 17
3. Salvini, 15
4. Cervantes, 13
5. Knight, 11

Photo: Edmunds J./KTM Images

Rockstar Energy Suzuki MX1′s Kevin Strijbos convincingly won all three races of the International Motocross of Mantova in Italy, the first of three pre-season races that the team will attend.

Both Strijbos and team mate Clement Desalle showed good form in the Saturday qualifying heat with third and second position respectively, Desalle winning the final Superpole race with Strijbos eighth.

But it was Strijbos who shone on Sunday, winning the crowd-pleasing one-on-one race at noon, in which he skillfully passed Max Nagl (Honda) who had taken the holeshot.

In the first moto, the new Rockstar Energy Suzuki rider took the holeshot, followed by Desalle, and maintained this order until the flag. In the second heat Strijbos got third around the first corner, but passed Xavier Boog (KTM) and Tanel Leok (Honda) for the win. Desalle missed his start, but worked his way back to finish fourth.

The third and final heat almost didn’t end well for Desalle after a mid-air collision with Nagl saw both of them go down heavily. Luckily, Desalle walked away unscathed, but lost his challenge for a possible podium finish.

Strijbos had a slower start, but took the lead from Evgeny Bobryshev, giving him an impeccable 1-1-1 result and a perfect start to his 2013 season.

Kevin Strijbos: “I’m a bit surprised how the weekend went. Saturday I was struggling quite a bit to find a rhythm and set good lap times. But on Sunday I started off good by winning the one-on-one race, had a couple of good starts in the heat races and found a really good rhythm that worked all day. I’m happy I could win the race, but also learned in which areas I can still work towards at the first GP.”

Heat 1: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 20:17.364 – 2. Clement Desalle (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 20:28.364 – 3. Gaultier Paulin (FR – Kawasaki) 20:30.667 – 4. Jeremy Vanhorebeek (BEL – Kawasaki) 20:37.547 – 5. Max Nagl (GER – Honda) 20:46.841.

Heat 2: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 20:39.732 – 2. Tanel Leok (EST – Honda) 20:49.561 – 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS – Honda) 20:55.405 – 4. Clement Desalle (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 20:57.875 – 5. Xavier Boog (FR – KTM) 20:59.460.

Heat 3: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 20:43.410 – 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS – Honda) 20:44.889 – 3. Xavier Boog (FR – KTM) 20:57.367 – 4. Jeremy Vanhorebeek (BEL – Kawasaki) 21:00.869 – 5. Gautier Paulin (FR – Kawasaki) 21:04.123.

Overall results: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 75pts. 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS – Honda) 52pts. 3. Tanel Leok (EST – Honda) 52pts. 4. Jeremy Vanhorebeek (BEL – Kawasaki) 51pts. 5. Gautier Paulin (FR – Kawasaki) 50pts. 6. Xavier Boog (FR – KTM) 45pts. 7. Clement Desalle (BEL – Rockstar Energy Suzuki) 42pts.

Photos: Suzuki Racing

Our long term flagship MX-rider Kevin Windham, 34, ended his 19-year pro career on Saturday night at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The veteran wrapped up his career with 19 wins, more than 200 Supercross starts (second on the career list), two Supercross Lites titles, and three runner-up Supercross points finishes.

“I would love nothing more than to ride forever,” Windham said before making it official at rider introductions on Saturday night. “The choice (to retire) was going to be hard no matter when I did it.”

Windham had wanted to stretch his career through the 2014 Supercross season, but he said after a crash in Houston that ended his 2012 season and a spill and concussion at the Monster Energy Cup last October that the dangers of the sport weighed too heavy on his mind.

“I would love nothing more than to ride forever,” Windham said. “To the fans of Supercross, this might seem to be a hasty decision, but I’ve been talking to a lot of people for a lot of months. I thought I would be able to come into the season and ride myself out of that funk and that mental hurdle I was having to overcome. With every passing lap – be it at the test track, my home track, or the stadium – it became more and more difficult to ride with the clarity I needed to be safe, fast, and successful.

“The common comment from the people I’ve spoken to was that if you aren’t riding with clarity, you are asking your fears to come upon you. It wasn’t the storyline I wanted to write or the final chapter I envisioned, but it became obvious, and we’ll try and figure out what’s next.”

Windham’s last win came in Salt Lake City in 2010, the second of back-to-back victories he had for GEICO Honda that season.

The veteran rider, who had become a universal fan favorite over the last few years, said that connection with the sport’s loyal following will be what he misses the most about racing.

“The fans of Supercross have been amazing to me,” Windham said. “Those trophies aren’t made of anything, and they’ll just sit there and collect dust. When you have people who come up and share their favorite moments that you gave them, it’s a huge part of why I stuck around as long as I did. It means something to them, and in turn those memories mean something to me.”

Windham said he plans on spending time with his wife, Dottie, and children, Madelyn, Annabelle, Elizabeth, and Kevin Jr. However, he doesn’t plan to wander too far from the sport that’s been such a large part of his life.

“I’ve been racing motorcycles for 31 years now, and I expect I’ll keep riding on some level,” Windham said. “I’ll ride with my son, who wants to start to ride right now. I want to help all my kids do everything they want to do. I don’t know what I’m going to do next.

“When I was 16 years old, I felt like I was losing my weekends because of racing. It didn’t take me long to realize that my weekends were already being spent with my family – my racing family. We’ll find that next chapter, and I don’t think it will be too far away from where I’m at right now.”

Photo: PR Geico Honda

Nice video from our sponsored E2 Enduro World Championship rider Johnny Aubert/F, who will again going for the hunt of his third E2 World title in 2013 on his factory KTM after this years fourth place.

Photo: Edmunds J./KTM Images

Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia record his first 450 Supercross-class win in his rookie season aboard his Honda CRF450R at round two of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross/FIM World Championship series at Chase Field in Phoenix/AZ.

After posting the fastest time in qualifying and winning his heat race, Barcia nailed the holeshot in the main and never looked back. He set a blistering pace that nobody could challenge, quickly gapping the rest of the field and riding a strong 20 laps to the checkered flag. Barcia’s finish marked his first AMA 450 Supercross class win of his career.

“This feeling is honestly unreal,” said Barcia. “It was a good night for me, especially for how talented this class is. I don’t want to say I didn’t think it would happen this fast because I knew I was capable of winning but I didn’t expect it happening at round two. I got a good start in the main and just tried to put together a solid 20 laps, which I was able to do, and take the win. This is so awesome and hopefully I can have a few more this season to contend for the championship.”

Veteran Kevin Windham rode a consistent 20 laps, placing 11th overall. “I’m still building up my confidence,” Windham said. “It was a very quick pace for such a tight track design and it really placed a premium on being smart and staying upright. There were some things I did that really felt good and a few other areas where I need to improve but I’m getting back to where I need to be. It’s really more mental than physical and it takes a little time.”

Hier noch einmal der Main Event in voller Länge:

10th Stage, Cordoba – La Rioja
636 km stage (398 miles) including 357 km special test

Joan Barreda wins the tenth stage of the Dakar, from Cordoba-La Rioja with a special test of 357 km. With this, his fourth stage victory, the rider who hails from Castellon, Spain, becomes the most honoured rider so far in the competition.

Joan on his Husqvarna TE449RR by Speedbrain showed once again that not only did he have the speed but also the skill to dominate every type of terrain. Barreda, who started behind Despres this morning, eased his way through the course, catching up with Cyril Despres near the end of the special test.

Paulo Goncalves, took the podium in third 2:44 minutes behind Joan after having fought back from seventh position at this morning’s start-line.

Alessandro Botturi, was unlucky with his seventh place finish after spending most of the special up in third position, but a fall hampered his progress and he dropped down to seventh, finishing 8:05 minutes behind his winning team-mate. However, Alessandro remains in fifth overall place 24:25 minutes behind leader Despres in the overall leader-board.

Wednesday sees the much feared La Rioja – Fiambalà stage with some 483 km special test and scorching temperatures expected.

Joan Barreda: “Today I’m really pleased with my fourth victory in this Dakar. I rode very well today, very cleanly and didn’t take any risks once the special got going”.

Paulo Goncalves: “I was ready to attack right from the word go, but I had a lot of trouble trying to get past Ruben and Ivan. It was a great day nevertheless. It was a really enjoyable stage to ride, almost like an enduro course with all the different types of ground”.

Alessandro Botturi: “I was in third place until halfway through the special, and I felt great, but then I hit a rock as I took a curve, lost my balance and fell. I hurt my pinky quite badly, I hope that it’s not broken”.

Result Stage 10:
1. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 4h43m14s
2. Despres (FRA, KTM) +00:01:15
3. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:02:44
4. Pedrero (ESP, KTM) +00:04:27
5. Caselli (USA, KTM) +00:06:56
7. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:08:05
32. Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:31:34

Overall after Stage 10:
1. Despres (FRA, KTM) 30h47m04s
2. Faria (PRT, KTM) +00:01:37
3. Lopez (CHL, KTM) +00:13:41
4. Jakes (SVK, KTM) +00:18:21
5. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:24:25
17. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +01:29:57
27. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +03:05:02
80.+ Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +24:27:21

Dakar 2013, 8th Stage: Cachi – San Miguel de Tucuman (Argentina)
500 km stage (312 miles) including 183 km special test

Joan Barreda landed a victory in the second leg of the Marathon stage on Saturday, which ran from Cachi to San Miguel de Tucuman. A heavy rainfall in the night forced the organizers to reprogram a shorter than planned stage, and cancel the first part of the special test, leaving only the final 183 km (114 miles).

Joan Barreda on the Husqvarna TE449RR by Speedbrain notched up his third stage victory so far in this Dakar, equalling Chilean Lopez as the rider with most stage victories to date. Joan stormed his way through a tough, technical special, making an excellent interpretation of the course, whilst imposing a seven minute advantage over his nearest rival. Paulo Goncalves and Alessandro Botturi, on the other hand, made a navigational blunder as they followed the main leader’s group down a mistaken route.

After eight stages and around 4000 km of racing, the Dakar caravan gets a well-deserved day of rest tomorrow. But there’s still another 4000 km to go before Santiago…

Joan Barreda: ”After a couple of days in which just about everything has happened to me, this is a really important victory! Winning again is vital for me and for the whole team. I was up with Despres, but 50 km from the finish I saw that he had taken the wrong route, so I halted and then decided to take another path, and that led to victory.“

Alessandro Botturi: “I was unable to find the right route. A whole load of us arrived at that point about a 110 km into the special. Besides the track was really dangerous. Anyway, we are only at the halfway point, and I’m happy with the way things have gone up until now.”

Result Stage 8:
1. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 2h07m26s
2. Campbell (USA, Honda) +00:07:04
3. Jakes (SVK, KTM) +00:07:57
4. Bianchi Prata (PRT, Husqvarna) +00:11:10
5. Guindani (FRA, Yamaha) +00:13:07
22. Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:19:08
39. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:24:22
53. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:27:19

Overall Standings after eight stages
1. Casteu (FRA, Yamaha) 19h56m33s
2. Despres (FRA, KTM) +00:09:26
3. Faria (PRT, KTM) +00:11:16
4. Lopez (CHL, KTM) +00:12:00
5. Pain (FRA, Yamaha) +00:16:10
13. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +00:36:47
24. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +01:41:40
42. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +03:26:40
124. Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) +22:39:22

Dakar 2013, 4th Stage – Nazca – Arequipa
718 km (449 mile) stage including 289 km special test

Joan Barreda commanded a particularly hazardous fourth stage of the Dakar, Nazca – Arequipa with 289 km of special test, which covered all types of terrain, and was made difficult by the “fesh-fesh” dust. The Spaniard on the Husqvarna TE449RR by Speedbrain battled his way to an eight minute lead over his nearest rival, and managed to come from behind in the process. This is the second win for Barreda and Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain so far in this Dakar and allows the rider who hails from Castellon to move up to fourth overall place (18th on Monday after technical problems).

Alessandro Botturi (12th) and Paulo Goncalves (18th) put in fine performances too riding together for the whole of the special, with Botturi in front of the leading group, trying hard to stay out of trouble and avoid mistakes on a route where mistakes and loss of way are highly probable due to such limited visibility.

The consistency of the performance by Jordi Viladoms on a Husqvarna TE449RR by Speedbrain should also be pointed out, who after today’s eighth place, now finds himself fifth in the overall standings hot on the heels of fellow-Husqvarna rider Joan Barreda. Matt Fish made an effort to make up for yesterday’s performance and his twenty-fourth place today moves him up seven places in the overall.

The caravan rolls on Wednesday to Arequipa ad Arica with 411km including 136 km of special test.

Joan Barreda: “I really rode well today. I’m very pleased. I knew it would be a tough one today, so I wanted to push hard. My starting place in twenty-fourth didn’t really favour it especially with the first 20 kms of dust. What’s more, I had the electronic road book broken and I had to move it forward manually throughout the whole stage. I did a perfect stage!”

Alessandro Botturi: ”A really difficult stage where at certain points visibility was zero. I did a good race. I pass the 3 riders in front of me and arrive first at the end of the stage. It turned out well, and now I’m in ninth overall place, and that gives us a bit of breathing room for tomorrow”

Paulo Goncalves: ”What a lot of dust! Even though I got away in second place today, it was still really tough. We opened the stage and was not so easy. I managed to do not make mistake and I follow Alessandro that was leading for mostly of the stage.”

Result of Stage 4:
1. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain),
2. Pain (FRA, Yamaha) 8:23 min behind
3. Casteu (FRA, Yamaha) 10:42,
4. Farres Guell (ESP, Honda) 11:40,
5. Rodrigues (PRT, Honda) 11:43,
12. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 15:11,
18. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 19:28,
24. Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 24:00

Overall Standings after four stages:
1. Pain (FRA, Yamaha),
2. Casteu (FRA, Yamaha) 2:24 min behind,
3. Despres (FRA, KTM) 3:09,
4. Joan Barreda (ESP, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 5:38,
5. Viladoms (ESP, Husqvarna) 7:22,
9. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 11:44,
21. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 24:47,
24. Matt Fish (AUS, Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 35:46

Photo: DPPI media