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The Finnish rider Mika Ahola (HM-Honda) won the first race in the FIM Indoor World Championship, held in the Palafiera in Genoa (Italy) and watched by 7000 spectators. Three finals, and three different winners on three different motorbike manufacturers. There could have been no better start. Other than Ahola, Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) and Tadeusz Blazusiak (KTM) were the winners of the other finals.
However, Iván Cervantes, one of the other riders who was expected to win, was not able to compete after suffering an injury during the first time practice of the night.
In the training rounds the best time was set by the Italian rider Thomas Oldrati (KTM), followed by Ljunggren and Blazusiak. Fabian Planet (Sherco) and Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) took the next positions. Four different manufacturers in the first five positions! Also surprising was the Brisih rider Jonny Walder, making his debut, in sixth position.
The big surprise in the classifying races was, without doubt, the US rider Cody Webb (Beta), who took Pole Position from Oldrati in the first heat. Ljunggren won Group B and the fastest of all was the winner of Group C, Blazusiak, who entered the race after being surprised in the earlier timed events.
The first of the finals was intense: a perfect start by Ljunggren and Blazusiak was pushed back to a provisional fourth position, although at the end of the first lap he had managed to be in second. In his own particular “hunt”, the Polish KTM rider fell a couple of metres from the end of the third lap and was overtaken by the Finnish Ahola and Matti Seistola (Husavarna). Another fall finally relegated him to ninth position.
In the second final, Blazusiak had a good start, but pressure from Mika Ahola, and injuries to his ribs and leg caused him to make a small mistake in the water splash, and Ahola took first position and did not give it up until crossing the finishing line. Taddy finished second and Llunggren third, competing hotly with Oldrati.
Blazusiak finally won the third final, making no mistakes and dominating from start to end. The second position was hotly competed for by Oldrati and Ahola, who won the local rider. Ljunggren had to be satisfied with fourth position, which assured him second position in the global classification of the night.
The bad news in this first round of the FIM Indoor Enduro World Championship occurred on the opening of the track to the Indoor Enduro riders. In the second lap of the first training heat , Iván Cervantes suffered a pinched lumber nerve which obliged him to withdraw from the race. He was taken by ambulance to the Genoa hospital where he underwent a series of different tests to evaluate the state of his injury and could not therefore take part in the classifying round.
Dougie Lampkin was not free from bad luck and also in the second lap broke the crankcase of his Beta. Fortunately the mechanics were able to prepare another bike to continue the event. He didn´t classify for the finals, but in consolation took the prize for the 'Night Race'.
QUOTES
Mika Ahola (FIN, HM-Honda). 1st place
“It really has been a surprise to finish first. I didn´t expect to because in the last two years I´ve had bad results and ridden badly. But this CRF 450, which is really 480cc, is almost a motocross bike and I felt really good tonight. I think all of us had a great time with lots of body to body in the races.”
Joakim Ljunggren (SWE, Husaberg). 2nd place
“I started really well in the first race, doing the holeshot, and got into first position. I had no problem in being able to finish winning my first final. My intention was to be there, on the podium, but I surprised myself a little by being in second position. We´ve worked really hard this winter on the new 2 stroke motorbike, and I felt really happy. I think it is better than the four stroke in this kind of races.”
Taddy Blazusiak (POL, KTM). 3rd place
“My race today was affected by a heavy fall in the first final, when I injured my ribs and leg. I don´t know how I carried on, everything hurt, but I managed to finish despite falling again. It was my mistake, and I have to accept it. I took a risk and failed. But considering everything, I think being on the podium is a good result for me. Congratulations to Mika and Joakim for their results and I hope to be able to give 100% in my next race, in Brazil.”
