| Yamaha make an impressive return to the FIM Enduro World Championship in Chile |
After a lengthy absence from top-level enduro competition, Yamaha Racing have returned to the sharp end of the results with their all-new WR250F. Securing a runner-up finish on day one and with all team riders claiming top ten results in the highly competitive Enduro 1 class on both days, it was a weekend to remember for Cristobal Guerrero, Gianluca Martini and Marc Bourgeois.
Tasked with leading Yamaha Racing back into the EWC, Cristobal Guerrero was determined to deliver an impressive showing at the opening round of the 2015 EWC series. Frustratingly a simple mistake during Friday night's Super Test cost the Team Yamaha Miglio rider dear. Falling momentarily resulted in the Spaniard starting day one in 10th. Pushing hard to regain the lost time, he eventually recovered well to finish fifth.
Rain on day two resulted in the already chewed up Chilean terrain becoming even more challenging. Easing his way into the proceedings, Guerrero ended the opening lap in fifth. Moving up to third at the end of special test three, the Spaniard made a slight error before beginning the final lap that dropped him back to sixth. Attacking hard on the remaining special tests Cristobal salvaged a strong fifth place result.
Making his first full competitive outing in the EWC, Italy's Gianluca Martini coped well in what where vastly changing conditions during the weekend. Off to a strong start, Martini ended the Friday night Super Test in eighth. Knowing that day one would be a hard fought battle to the finish, the WR250F mounted rider claimed a top 10 result in what were extremely dry and dusty conditions.
With overnight rain ensuring a completely different race for day two, Martini got stuck into the thick of the action. Improving all the time, while gaining valuable learning experience, he ended his day in eighth.
For Yamaha Motor France supported rider Marc Bourgeois, the opening round of the EWC in Chile was a highly rewarding one. Proving extremely fast and impressive throughout the weekend, Bourgeois was the top placed Yamaha rider in the Enduro 1 class on both days with second and fourth place results.
The FIM Maxxis Enduro World Championship continues with round two in Jerez, Spain on may 9/10.
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| | | | "Apart from some small mistakes it's been a good race for me. It feels like we have been working and training for this first world championship race for such a long time. The podium is my goal but to come away from the first GP with two fifth place results is good. I'm very happy that I had some very good times on both the motocross and extreme tests. Also, that over the two days everything went well with my WR250F and for the team. The next race is just one hour from my home in southern Spain so I will do all I can to be on the podium there." | |  |
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 | | | | | "This was always going to be an important race for me, my first racing in the world championship for Miglio Yamaha. I know I have a lot to learn, but I feel like this was a good start. The two days were very different, but I improved during each day. I'm happy about that. I know what to expect now and feel much more comfortable competing in this class. I will continue to work and in Spain I hope I can do better." | |
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"I'm very pleased with my results. It's been two years since I last raced in the Enduro World Championship, so to come back with the new WR250F and finish second on day one and fourth on day two is very positive. I know that if I ride to my best level that I can fight for podium positions, which I showed this race. I felt very good all weekend. I'm normally fastest in grassy conditions, so I was pleasantly surprised with my speed in the dry conditions on day one. I crashed twice on the enduro test on the third lap and lost a lot of time. I had a good final lap and managed to finish fourth. It's been a very good first GP for me."
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| Alexandre Kowalski - Yamaha Motor Europe - Rally and Enduro Racing Manager "I would say it's been a positive weekend for Yamaha. To come back to the Enduro World Championship after many years away was always going to be a big step. But with the WR250F finishing in second and fifth on day one and a fourth and a fifth on day two we can be very pleased. We still have some work to do but it's been a great start. Now everyone involved – the riders, the mechanics – can continue to work in a good way and with confidence. It's been a very interesting first GP. The conditions over the two days were completely different – one dry and dusty and the other wetter and slippery. Knowing that the WR250F performed very will in all conditions is great. We have started the championship in a good way, with good bike settings. Now we must build on that and look towards the next GP in Spain." |
| FIM Enduro World Championship - Round 1 |
DAY 1
1. Christophe Nambotin (KTM) 1:03:47.33
2. Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha) 1:04:49.86
3. Daniel McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:04:58.25
5. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 1:05:34.65
10. Gianluca Martini (Yamaha) 1:07:45.41
DAY 2
1. Eero Remes (TM) 52:09.77
2. Christophe Nambotin (KTM) 53:05.99
3. Daniel McCanney (Husqvarna) 53:14.14
4. Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha) 53:36.84
5. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 53:40.52
8. Gianluca Martini (Yamaha) 54:38.14
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