Seven-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen has claimed the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team's first ever WorldEnduro Championship win by topping the Enduro 2 class on day two of the GP of Greece, staged in Serres. Performingwell at round six of the '09 WEC series - the GP of Mexico - Salminen continued his good form in Greece despite afrustrating start to the event.
Caught out by one of the man-made obstacles on the Friday night Super Test, Juha started the first full day of competition trailing his E2 class rivals by a full 10 seconds. Then making a costly mistake on the event's long and dusty enduro test the Finn was forced to work extremely hard as he worked his way up the results. With rival Johnny Aubert setting the pace at the top of the class Juha ended the day consistently having paced no lower that second in class on the final five specialtests.
Day two saw Juha perform well right from the start of the day. Third on the opening extreme test he then recorded thefastest E2 class time on the enduro test, which set him up for his best result of the season. With Frenchman Johnny Aubert forced to withdraw from the competition on day two following a hand injury he picked up on day one, Juha continued to ride well and steadily edged ahead of hard charging Spaniard Cristobal Guerrero. Leading the E2 class as the day past the mid-way point, Juha put his many years of experience to good use and remained focused. With day one having been an extremely long, hot and dusty day all riders started to feel less than 100 per cent as day two neared it's close. But Salminen remained in charge of the Enduro 2 class and claimed BMW's first ever World Enduro Championship victory.
Salminen competed alone for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team at the GP of Greece due to team-mate Simo Kirssi beingforced to stay away from competition with to an injured wrist.
In the Enduro 3 class Marko Tarkkala overcame a disappointing opening day to claim a well-deserved fourth place result on day two. Unable to find his rhythm on the long enduro test Tarkkala performed well on both the motocross and extremetests.
Juha Salminen - Enduro 2 class: "It goes without saying that it's great to have finally given BMW their first World Enduro Championship win, although it was disappointing that Johnny wasn't able to finish day two. The first day was tough. Physically it was really demanding because of the many hours we had to race and the heat. I made a few mistakes that stopped me from finishing with a better result on day one, but things came good towards the end of the day. I fell on the Friday night Super Test, which meant that I was already behind at the start of day one. Then I crashed on the enduro test. That made for a tough morning on day one. The afternoon was much better - things improved throughout the day. I guess day two started where the first day ended. I was able to ride well and importantly made no mistakes. It's great for the team that everyone's hard work has resulted in a winning result."
Marko Tarkkala - Enduro 3 class: "It's been a mixed weekend for me. I didn't have such a great first day, but things improved on day two. I was losing a little time on the enduro test, which kept me off the podium, but I was riding well on the motocross and extreme tests. Of course I want to be fighting for the win and finishing on the podium but I was much more competitive on day two than I have been so for that I am pleased."
Wolfgang Fischer - Team Manager: "In Mexico we made a big step forward in terms of our competitiveness and ever since we returned from that race we have been working hard to continue to improve things. Although it was disappointing that Johnny Aubert was unable to finish the second day Juha's performances are the result of continued hard work from everyone within the team. On the first day Juha made a few mistakes, which prevented him from really competing with Aubert for the win. Juha did produce some very good test times, which he continued to do on day two. The big difference on day two was that Juha made no mistakes. He rode well throughout the day and it's great that he claimed BMW's first World Enduro Championship day win. The whole team is really looking forward to the final WEC race of the season in France now."
2009 World Enduro Championship, Grand Prix of Greece - Day 1
1. Johnny Aubert (KTM) 55:42.12; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 56:09.19; 3. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 56:19.35; 4. David Knight (Kawasaki) 56:48.58; 5. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 57:31.14; 6. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 57:49.55; 7. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 58:07.50; 8. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 58:12.55; 9. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 58:12.55; 10. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 58:28.79
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 55:31.34; 2. Sebastien Guillaume (Husaberg) 55:55.10; 3. Samuli Aro (KTM) 56:13.97; 4.Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 56:17.09; 5. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 56:55.70; 6. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 56:57.82; 7. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 57:44.91; 8. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 58:06.51; 9. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 58:35.87; 10. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 59:44.49
2009 World Enduro Championship, Grand Prix of Greece - Day 2
1. Juha Salminen (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 51:13.10; 2. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 51:31.91; 3. David Knight (Kawasaki) 51:32.28; 4. Oscar Baletti (Honda) 52:04.11; 5. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 52:27.62; 6. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 52:33.18; 7. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 52:43.92; 8. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 53:01.30; 9. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 53:01.53; 10. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 53:22.93
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 50:37.33; 2. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 50:40.21; 3. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna)51:25.05; 4. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 52:38.08; 5. Marcus Kehr (KTM) 52:45.50; 6. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 52:51.16; 7. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 53:05.77; 8. Bjorne Carlsson 54:18.40; 9. Jordi Figueras (Gas Gas) 54:33.07; 10. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 55:12.92