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Difficult weekend for KTMs E3 riders in Ponts Spain
The first two rounds of the World Enduro Championship in Ponts, Spain on Saturday and Sunday were fraught with difficulties for KTM Enduro Factory Team.
Saturday was a huge blow for the team's reigning E3 World Champion David Knight of Britain who was forced to abandon at the end of the second lap. "I twisted my leg badly in the Enduro Test when I went through a rut and I think I have a pelvic dislocation," David told his team when he abandoned, obviously in extreme pain. He was unable to start on Sunday and factory team boss Fabio Farioli reported on Sunday that it is possible that he may need surgery. This comes as a huge blow for the Isle of Man rider and multi world champion who is a passionate competitor.
The weekend was only marginally better for the team's second E3 rider, Taddy Blazusiak, the KTM Extreme Enduro specialist who this year is to ride selected E3 World Championship rounds. Taddy, who is also the Indoor World Champion finished in a creditable fifth in Round 1 on Saturday also crashed and had to abandon on Sunday with an injured forefinger. Fabio Farioli said he may also not be able to ride in the next two rounds in Portugal.
E3 Round 1 Ponts Spain
1, Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
2, Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas
3, Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
4, Oriol Mena, Spain, Husaberg
5, Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM
DNF David Knight, Britain, KTM
E3 Round 2 Ponts Spain
1, Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
2, Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas
3, Marko Tarkkala, Finland, Husaberg
4, Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
5, Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg
DNF Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM (retired after third test)
DNS David Knight, Britain, KTM (injured from Saturday)
Standings after Rounds 1 & 2
1, Ahola, 50
2, Nambotin, 44
3, Guillaume, 38
4, Tarkkala, 33
5, Mena, 33
12, Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, 16
