Former seven-time Enduro World Champion Juha Salminen delivered the BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team's best results at the opening round of the '10 Enduro World Championship series, the GP of Spain staged in Andalucía's Valverde del Camino, placing third on day one and fourth on day two in the competitive Enduro 2 class.
Looking to improve on his '09 result of second in the Enduro 2 class, Salminen made a cautious start to the opening GP of the '10 season and finished fifth in class at the end of the Friday night prologue. With poor visibility causing problems for many riders Juha's decision not to push too hard proved to be a wise one.
Come the start of the event proper Salminen was quick out of the blocks as he recorded the third fastest E2 class time on the first day's opening special test. A small mistake on the first extreme test did little to help him but soon back up to speed Juha finished inside the top three of the following three special tests before winning the day's ninth test.
Winning again just two tests later Salminen finished the day strongly and after more than one-hour of special test racing placed less just three seconds behind runner-up Ivan Cervantes and only 21 seconds from the top step of the podium.
Despite consistent riding throughout the second day's competition Juha was unable to repeat his impressive day one result and finished fourth, having been demoted one position by Frenchman Rodrig Thain. Never finishing lower that sixth in class Juha placed comfortably ahead of fifth placed rider Thomas Oldrati having made an extremely positive start to his '10 Enduro World Championship.
Juha's BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team-mate Marko Tarkkala endured a difficult time at the GP of Spain, unable to make any impression on the E2 class leaders on either day. Despite his best efforts Marko placed 15th at the end of the first day's competition and in 14th on day two.
The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team's next event will be the second round of the '10 Enduro World Cup, which will be staged in Portugal, April 17/18.
Juha Salminen - Enduro 2 class: "It was definitely a hard race, all riders found it hard. With the five special tests each lap, eight hours of riding each day, and many long, technical time controls, there was no time to rest at all. I'm really happy with my riding, but I guess you could say I had one good day and one ok day. The first day went really well. I didn't make any major mistakes and felt good. The second day was much rougher, and that caused a few problems. I was pushing hard but I just couldn't match my speed from the first day. One podium and one fourth place result isn't a bad start to the championship so I'm pretty pleased with it, and looking forward to the next event in Portugal."
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Spain - Day 1
Enduro 2
1. Mika Ahola (Honda) 1.05:11.53; 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:30.35; 3. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.05:33.37; 4. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.05:34.16; 5. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.06:48.92; 6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.07:15.77; 7. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.07:37.36; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.08:03.86; 9. Fabien Planet (Sherco) 1.08:13.79; 10. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.08:16.80...15. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.09:48.09
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Spain - Day 2
Enduro 2 1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.14:41.23; 2. Mika Ahola (Honda) 1.14:52.76; 3. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.15:07.31; 4. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.16:28.94; 5. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.17:18.11; 6. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1.17:53.94; 7. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.18:00.62; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.18:35.25; 9. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.18:42.22; 10. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.19:03.60...14. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.20:20.34
Looking to improve on his '09 result of second in the Enduro 2 class, Salminen made a cautious start to the opening GP of the '10 season and finished fifth in class at the end of the Friday night prologue. With poor visibility causing problems for many riders Juha's decision not to push too hard proved to be a wise one.
Come the start of the event proper Salminen was quick out of the blocks as he recorded the third fastest E2 class time on the first day's opening special test. A small mistake on the first extreme test did little to help him but soon back up to speed Juha finished inside the top three of the following three special tests before winning the day's ninth test.
Winning again just two tests later Salminen finished the day strongly and after more than one-hour of special test racing placed less just three seconds behind runner-up Ivan Cervantes and only 21 seconds from the top step of the podium.
Despite consistent riding throughout the second day's competition Juha was unable to repeat his impressive day one result and finished fourth, having been demoted one position by Frenchman Rodrig Thain. Never finishing lower that sixth in class Juha placed comfortably ahead of fifth placed rider Thomas Oldrati having made an extremely positive start to his '10 Enduro World Championship.
Juha's BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team-mate Marko Tarkkala endured a difficult time at the GP of Spain, unable to make any impression on the E2 class leaders on either day. Despite his best efforts Marko placed 15th at the end of the first day's competition and in 14th on day two.
The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team's next event will be the second round of the '10 Enduro World Cup, which will be staged in Portugal, April 17/18.
Juha Salminen - Enduro 2 class: "It was definitely a hard race, all riders found it hard. With the five special tests each lap, eight hours of riding each day, and many long, technical time controls, there was no time to rest at all. I'm really happy with my riding, but I guess you could say I had one good day and one ok day. The first day went really well. I didn't make any major mistakes and felt good. The second day was much rougher, and that caused a few problems. I was pushing hard but I just couldn't match my speed from the first day. One podium and one fourth place result isn't a bad start to the championship so I'm pretty pleased with it, and looking forward to the next event in Portugal."
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Spain - Day 1
Enduro 2
1. Mika Ahola (Honda) 1.05:11.53; 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.05:30.35; 3. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.05:33.37; 4. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.05:34.16; 5. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.06:48.92; 6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.07:15.77; 7. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.07:37.36; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.08:03.86; 9. Fabien Planet (Sherco) 1.08:13.79; 10. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.08:16.80...15. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.09:48.09
2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Spain - Day 2
Enduro 2 1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.14:41.23; 2. Mika Ahola (Honda) 1.14:52.76; 3. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.15:07.31; 4. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.16:28.94; 5. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.17:18.11; 6. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1.17:53.94; 7. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.18:00.62; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 1.18:35.25; 9. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.18:42.22; 10. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.19:03.60...14. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.20:20.34
