Bel-Ray Husqvarna Hard Enduro specialist Graham Jarvis scores a big win in Turkey.
Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Graham Jarvis continued to set records in the burgeoning Hard Enduro genre by scoring a record-breaking third victory at the Red Bull Sea to Sky hard enduro in Kemer, Turkey, Sunday.
It was just the right medicine for the talented Englishman, who had to stomach close-but-no-cigar runner-up finishes at the Erzberg’s Red Bull Hare Scramble in Erzberg, Austria, and the Red Bull Romaniacs in Romania, earlier this year.
Jarvis didn’t want to let this one slip away, too, and he signaled his intentions with a convincing win in the Forest Race. Starting 10th following the Beach Race, which was won by American rider Taylor Robert, Jarvis laid down the fastest time in the 55-kilometer Forest stage to secure a front-row start for the all-important Mountain Race.
Jarvis started inside the top 10 and quickly made his way to the front of the pack, moving into third place at the end of the first, difficult riverbed. His hard enduro rival, Jonny Walker, was in the lead, but Jarvis was able to make time on the KTM rider and take over the race lead after the first fuel stop. After that, Jarvis widened the gap, crossing the finish line on the summit of the Olympus Mountain to claim the 2014 Red Bull Sea to Sky victory.
“It feels great to be back on the top step of a Hard Enduro podium,” Jarvis said. “It’s been a lean couple of months for me so I’m delighted to win again. Honestly I really enjoyed myself. There was a bit of confusion at the start and I ended up about ninth after the first corner. But I didn’t panic too much and just tried to find my own pace. After the riverbed I was up to third, and then I managed to pass Jonny at refueling. From there I rode my own race and broke away. It’s brilliant to win again.”
Jarvis’ winning time was 2 hours, 43 minutes and 20 seconds. Walker finished second, a mere 1 minute and 29 seconds behind Jarvis, and 9 minutes and 41 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Andreas Lettenbichler.
“I got a good start,” Walker said. “I followed Wade [Young] and he had a good pace. I passed him in the first riverbed and ran my own pace from there. I had a good 1 minute and 40 seconds lead, but at the checkpoints they were saying that Graham is getting closer. He caught me in the Dark Canyon, and we changed places a few times. I made a mistake, he pulled away and there was nothing I could really do about it. I tried as hard as I could, and I’m certainly disappointed. I can’t take it away from him, he rode really well, and massive congratulations to him.”
Red Bull Sea to Sky
Kemer, Turkey
Results: September 28, 2014
Overall
1. Graham Jarvis-Hus
2. Jonny Walker-KTM
3. Andreas Lettenbichler-KTM
4. Wade Young-KTM
5. Paul Bolton-KTM
6. Taylor Robert-KTM
7. Travis Teasdale-KTM
8. Blake Gutzeit-Hus
9. Dougie Lampkin-KTM
10. Alfredo Gomez-Hus
Your Privacy Choices