Nambotin seals E3 Championship in Finland

Christophe Nambotin of France on Saturday sealed the E3 world title in Rd. 13 of the Enduro World Championship a clear three rounds to the end of the season.

Nambotin has been the dominant rider in the big bikes throughout the season, his first as part of the KTM Enduro Factory team. He took the title in style on Saturday winning eight of the nine tests to seal his 12 win from 13 rounds so far held and taking second in the remaining round.

Christophe who rides a KTM 300 EXC said he was very happy to win the title in his first year with the KTM team.  “I love my new bike, I am happy with the KTM team and I feel very strong. I will go out tomorrow and try to take the victory in Rd. 14,” he said from the venue.

The E3 title is the factory team’s second this year after young Italian Giacomo Redondi sealed the Youth cup title in the last round in Sweden, underlining that the next generation is safe in KTM hands.

In other KTM factory action in Rd. 13, Antoine Meo, who could seal the E1 championship tomorrow in Rd. 14 recovered from an early setback where he lost 30 seconds in the opening lap and fought his way back into contention finally sealing the victory in the final test of the day.

Meo’s teammate Eero Remes was luckless in front of his home crowd after damaging the front wheel of his 250 EXC-F during the super test on Friday night and under the competition rules wheels cannot be replaced. Remes was the dominant rider in the 2011 ISDE, which was hosted in Finland.

In E2 Cristobal Guerrero of Spain fought hard with his rival Pierre-Alexandre Renet of France throughout the day. He won three tests but eventually had to hand the win to the French rider by around four seconds. His teammate Johnny Aubert also had to retire in the second test.

Nambotin’s teammate David Knight also had to retire after being struck in the chest with the handlebars. He was taken to hospital for checks for possible injuries but team boss Fabio Farioli confirmed that nothing was broken. It is not yet known if Knight will be able to race on Sunday.

The two rounds of the World Championships are being stages at Heinola some 140 km north of the capital Helsinki. The venue last hosted rounds of the world championship seven years ago.

E1 Results
1, Antoine Meo, France, KTM
2, Matti Seistola, Finland, Husqvarna
3, Rodrig Thain, France, HM-Honda
4, Fabien Planet, France, Sherco
5, Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM
Other KTM
7, Roni Nikander, Finland KTM
9, Henrik Lindholm, Sweden, KTM
DNF, Eero Remes, Finland, KTM

E1 Standings after Round 13
1, Meo, 220
2, Thain, 164
3, Remes, 154
4, Seistola, 153
5, Oldrati, 151


E2 Results
1, Pierre-Alexandre Renet, France, Husaberg
2, Cristobal Guerrero, Spain, KTM
3, Juha Salminen, Finland, Husqvarna
4, Luis Correia, Portugal, Yamaha
5, Ivan Cervantes, Spain, Gas-Gas
Other KTM
15, Kjell Soderstrom, Finland, KTM
DNF, Johnny Aubert, France, KTM

E2 Standings after Round 13
1, Renet, 208
2, Guerrero, 200
3, Salminen, 189
4, Cervantes, 142
5, Aubert, 122

E3 Results
1, Christophe Nambotin, France, KTM (wins E3 World Championship title)
2, Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg
3, Aigar Leok, Estonia, TM
4, Oriol Mena, Spain, Husaberg
5, Manuel Monni, Italy, KTM
Other KTM
6, Jari Mattila, Finland, KTM
9, Toni Eriksson, Finland, KTM
10, Marcus, Kehr, Germany, KTM
DNF, David Knight, GBR, KTM

E3 Standings after Round 13
1, Nambotin, 257
2, Ljunggren, 189
3, Leok, 182
4, Knight, 162
5, Mena, 156

EJ Results
1, Mathias Bellino, France, Husaberg
2, Daniel McCanney, GBR, Gas-Gas
3, Rudi Moroni, Italy, KTM
4, Jonathan Manzi, Italy, KTM
5, Robert Kvarnstrom, Sweden, Beta
Other KTM
6, Kevin Benavides, Argentina, KTM
8, Victor Guerrero, Spain, KTM
10, Martin Leok, Estonia, KTM
11, Lauri Pohjonen, Finland, KTM
16, Ian Blythe, USA, KTM
18, Mario Roman, Spain, KTM
DNF, Edoardo D’Ambrosio, Italy, KTM
DNF, Linus Fasth, Sweden, KTM

EJ Standings after Round 13
1, Bellino, 249
2, Manzi, 191
3, McCanney, 179
4, Benavides, 146
5, Moroni, 127

Youth Cup
1, Giacomo Redondi, Italy, KTM (Already confirmed as championship winner)
2, Jamie McCanney, GBR, Husaberg
3, Matteo Bresolin, Italy, Husaberg

Youth Cup Standings after Round 13
1, Redondi, 257
2, Bresolin, 135
3, Herrera, 90

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