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| 08.02.2010 |
| Italy's
Extreme Enduro Hells Gate proves hellish in
2010 |
| The
legendary Hells Gate held in Northern Italy
is recognized as one of the most challenging
of the Extreme Enduro competition. Normally
around 10 of the field scrape their way to
the finish; this year after KTM's favorite
Taddy Blazusiak crashed in the afternoon race,
there were just two. |
|
Blazusiak, who has won the last two editions of
Hells Gate was firmly in charge in the morning race,
finishing comfortably in front of Graham Jarvis
and Andreas Lettenbichler. But early in the afternoon
stage he crashed and had a nasty knock to his head.
He did make an effort to get back in the race but
then had to call it a day. KTM's Chris Birch from
New Zealand, was in eighth after the morning, which
trimmed the field to just 10.
Positive result in morning stage
The much decorated Taddy took the result on chin.
"I've had a really great run of results recently
so although it's disappointing it's not the end
of the world," he told reporters after the race.
Taddy said he had put in a confident run in the
morning and had a good lead after the first special
test. "I just tried not to make any mistakes and
saved my energy on the last two tests," he said.
Unstuck on the ice
The Polish extreme specialist got away well in the
afternoon and opened up the lead but then hit some
ice in the highest part of the course and ended
up in a heap with a nasty blow to the head and some
damage to the bike, including the front brake. When
he realized he felt very dizzy from the crash he
decided to withdraw and save himself for the upcoming
The Tough One in the UK on February 20.
Hells Gate is well known for presenting extreme
Enduro riders with some of their ever toughest obstacles,
but this year there was another dimension - the
ice. As Fabio Farioli, the head of the KTM Enduro
Factory Team commented, it was this natural element
that proved the trickiest. "Taddy went out very
fast for the first 15-20 minutes of the afternoon
session but then he crashed and hurt his head. He
tried to go on but then had to quit. The problem
for the riders was mostly the ice. We had very cold
weather in Italy for the past few weeks and there
were very tricky layers of frozen ground and ice.
To be honest there were some places where it was
virtually impossible to ride," he said.
David Knight, a three-time Hells Gate winner who
has returned to again ride a KTM this season for
the Farioli Team decided to remain in Spain to concentrate
of training ahead of the outdoor season.
The eventual winner, Dougie Lampkin, is a multi
World Trials champion. Graham Jarvis, the only other
finisher was also a top trials rider.
Results Morning Enduro (Stage 1)
1.Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTN, 34.02:70
2. Graham Jarvis, Sherco, 34.30:22;
3. Andreas Lettenbichler, 34.41.15;
4. Dougie Lampkin, Beta, 36.19.70;
5. Cory Graffunder (Husqvarna) 36.40:89;
Other KTM
8. Chris Birch, New Zealand, KTM, 38.11:54;
Main Event (stage 2 - official finishers)
1. Dougie Lampkin (Beta) 4 laps;
2. Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 4 laps
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| Taddy
Blazusiak |
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| Chris
Birch |
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