Starting the second half of the 2008 World Enduro Championship in style Italian UFO Course Yamaha rider Simone Albergoni narrowly missed out on claiming the Enduro 1 class win on day one of the Grand Prix of Wales, claiming an eventual second place behind Yamaha France rider Marc Germain.
A few days from the last test of the Absolute Championships of Italy of Bobbio (PC), Franco Mayr, owner and manager of the Team Honda-HM Zanardo, is pleased to announce the renovation of the accord with the finnish Mika Ahola for the next season. The 2008 programs see therefore the reengagement in the team of the world champion of the E2 class.
KTM Enduro Factory Team member Juha Salminen is reported fit and ready to race in the final round of the E1 competition in France, where the results of Saturday's and Sunday's races will decide who takes all three world championship titles. The Finn had won all 12 E1 races on the world championship program up to and including Canada, but he took a tumble riding in the UK five weeks ago and broke his collarbone. Not wanting to take any unnecessary risks, Salminen who still had a comfortable lead in the standings, decided to sit out the two races in Slovakia in favour of promoting the healing process. Now on Saturday and Sunday he will be back chasing as many of the 50 available points as he can and will be completely focussed on securing the title.
KTM Enduro Factory Team's Samuli Aro fought strong and hard against arch rival and Finnish countryman Mika Ahola in E2 action in Slovakia on Saturday but was denied victory after losing time in a crash in the last test.