Red Bull KTM rider Taddy Blazusiak nets fifth consecutive FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in France.
Red Bull KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak proved once again why he is the best SuperEnduro rider in the world as he claimed his fifth consecutive 2014 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship at the series finale at Parc Expo in Tours, France, on February 22.
Blazusiak entered the series final only needing to score a handful of points to win the title. He accomplished that in the first of three Premier Finals on the night, although it wasn’t easy. Factory Husqvarna rider Mathias Bellino of France kept Blazusiak honest despite the fact that Bellino was unsure if he would even be able to compete due to tendonitis in his wrist. Bellino held the lead and kept Blazusiak at bay for six laps before Blazusiak made the pass and went on to clinch the series title with a win.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that the title’s finally mine,” Blazusiak said after the race. “I’ve been in this situation many times before, so I really wanted to get a win in the first final so that I could enjoy the event. And that worked out. It took a while to get around Bellino, but once I was leading I knew the win was mine. It’s been a tough championship at times, but I feel like I’ve got back to my best and winning the championship with a win is great.”
Bellino’s runner-up finish marked the first time that he has ever set foot on a FIM World SuperEnduro Championship podium.
“It’s been a really good night for me, especially as I was not sure if I could even race,” Bellino said. “I had a problem with my wrist, so I have been taking some time off from riding, and wasn’t sure how I would get on. But it worked out okay, and after feeling good in practice I really started to enjoy myself. To finish third overall, which is my first ever SuperEnduro podium, is really special. I struggled a lot at the start of the series, but I have worked hard and improved. To finish third here in France at the final race is a really good way to end the championship.”
Just one week after his runner-up finish behind Husqvarna rider Graham Jarvis at the Hell’s Gate Hard Enduro in Italy, KTM’s Jonny Walker came to Tours and grabbed the win in the second Premier Final. Walker dogged leader Blazusiak for much of the race, and when the newly crowned five-time champion bobbled, Walker took over and claimed the win. Bellino made the Premier final but finished in seventh place.
That set up a shootout in the third Premier Final, and Blazusiak won it, holding off the determined Walker for the overall event win, with Bellino third.
In the Junior category, Sweden’s Jesper Borjesson claimed his first ever SuperEnduro win on a Husqvarna after posting 1-6 results to put himself on the top step of the podium.
“I can’t really believe it,” Borjesson said. “For my first SuperEnduro podium to be a first place result is incredible–it’s been an amazing night and a great end to the series. The first race went really well for me. I didn’t make any mistakes and felt good. The second race with the reversed start wasn’t great. I was riding well, but some mistakes costs me. Eventually things worked out perfectly, and I got the win.”
Sherco rider Emma Bristow enjoyed a start-to-finish victory in the Women’s Final, which had tremendous championship implications. Husqvarna’s Jane Daniels ran in second for much of the race and appeared to have the title clinched, only to bobble and drop to third. That result placed her in a tie with Bristow in the final series points standings, and Bristow claimed the 2014 Women’s SuperEnduro Championship by virtue of her better series finishes.
FIM SuperEnduro World Championship
Parc Expo
Tours, France
Results: February 22, 2014 (Roound 6 of 6)
Prestige Final 1
1. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM/6 min., 50.899 sec.
2. Mathias Bellino-Hus/6:57.077
3. Jonny Walker-KTM/7:06.070
4. David Knight-She/7:26.896
5. Dani Gibert-Gas Gas/7:32.480
Prestige Final 2
1. Jonny Walker-KTM/7 min., 05.511 sec.
2. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM/7:09.504
3. Alfredo Gomez-Hus/7:28.878
4. Joakim Ljunggren-Hus/7:30.624
5. Dani Gibert-Gas Gas/7:31.097
Prestige Final 3
1. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM/6 min., 50.855 sec.
2. Jonny Walker-KTM/6:58.090
3. Mathias Bellino-Hus/7:10.452
4. Alfredo Gomez/Husq-7:21.704
5. David Knight-She-7:23.890
Prestige Overall
1. Taddy Blazusiak-KTM
2. Jonny Walker-KTM
3. Mathias Bellino-Hus
4. Alfredo Gomez-Hus
5. David Knight-She
6. Dani Gibert-Gas Gas
7. Joakim Ljunggren-Hus
8. Paul Bolton-KTM
9. Xavi Leon-Hus
10. Giacomo Redondi-Bet
Junior Final 1
1. Jesper Borjesson-Hus/7 min., 15.210 sec.
2. Magnus Thor-Hus/7:23.434
3. Gethin Humphreys-She/7:27.607
Junior Final 2
1. Pawel Szymkowski-KTM 7 min., 28.088 sec.
2. Eloi Salsench-KTM/7:28.156
3. Owain Humphreys-She/7:32.227
Junior Overall
1. Jesper Borjesson-Hus
2. Magnus Thor-KTM
3. Pawel Szymkowski-KTM
4. Eloi Salsench-KTM
5. Owain Humphreys-She
Women’s Final/Overall
1. Emma Bristow-She/7 min., 18.985 sec.
2. Sandra Gomez-Hus/7:29.573
3. Jane Daniels-Hus/7:34.368
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