Finns sweep World Enduro opener

By John Hopkins

Finnish riders Mika Ahola and Samuli Aro swept the E1 and E3 classes, respectively, in the opening round of the World Enduro Championship in Oestersund, Sweden last weekend.

Ahola rode his Honda to wins over Yamaha's Simone Albergoni on Day 1 on Saturday and KTM racer Ivan Cervantes on Sunday. Cervantes was coming off a poor sixth place finish on the opening day.

Eero Remes placed third on a KTM on day 1 and Albergoni completed the podium on day 2.

Making his debut in the E3 class, Aro led a KTM 1-2 on both days in the ice and snow, leading home fellow Finn Marko Tarkkala. Bjorne Carlsson placed third both days aboard his Husaberg, while Sunday's results featured Anders Eriksson in fourth riding a BMW.

"It was a great weekend for me and I was really surprised that everything went so well," said Aro after securing his second win in two days. "It is different to be on the two-stroke bike and the lines are not the same so I am very satisfied with my start to the season."

In the E2 class, Joakim Ljunggren took his Husaberg to victory on day 1 ahead of Yamaha's Johnny Aubert and KTM rider Juha Salminen. But on Sunday Salminen came to the fore and led home Ljunggren and Aubert, respectively.

Salminen, who dominated the E1 class last year, hadn't raced since November and admitted the layoff hurt his performance in Saturday's opening race.

The World Enduro Championship continues in Vale de Cambra, Portugal Mar. 29-30.