DOUBLE PODIUM SUCCESS FOR @SALMINEN & @SEISTOLA AT EWC GP OF #ITALY



Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing team riders Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola enjoyed a successful weekend at the fifth round of the Enduro World Championship, the GP of Italy held in Castaglion Fiorentino, Tuscany. With expectations high coming into the team’s home GP, Salminen narrowly missed out on a double Enduro 2 class victory but managed to secure a deserved victory on day one before placing second on day two following a costly mistake on the event’s enduro test. Seistola topped the Enduro 1 standings for much of the opening day’s competition before placing a close second, going on to secure a second runner-up result on day two. With extremely hot temperatures and dry and dusty terrain the GP of Italy proved to be a highly demanding race. Faced with four laps each day all riders were pushed to their limits, with a ll special tests becoming extremely rough. Retirements were also high as the heat took its toll on both riders and their machines, but both Salminen and Seistola enjoyed two trouble free days. For Salminen the opening day went exactly to plan. Starting with solid performance on the Friday night super test, Juha quickly got himself and his TE 310 up to speed at the start of day one. Taking the lead of the ultra-competitive E2 class the Finn determinedly battled his way through the day, remaining at the head of the class throughout. Enjoying the dry and dusty special tests he ended the day 17 seconds ahead of Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero. In total Juha topped six of the day’s special tests in the E2 class. Day two saw more impressive riding from Juha. Fifth on the opening motocross tests wins on the enduro and extreme tests on lap one saw him take the class lead. Remaining out front while also battling again with Guerrero throughout the second lap, at the end of the ! third lap a mistake on the enduro test saw Juha lose over half a minute. Dropping to the runner-up position Salminen fought back to win the three remaining special tests but placed second. With Alex Salvini competing in round three of the US Endurocross series, Juha’s E2 class mate Romain Dumontier placed 13th on day one and 11th on day two despite having a suspected broken foot. Once again showing himself and his TE 250 to be capable of topping the Enduro 1 class results Matti Seistola came agonisingly close to winning the E1 class at the GP of Italy. Taking the lead following two strong opening laps, Matti started the fourth and final lap as class leader but wasn’t quite able to secure victory. Placing fourth and third on the final two special tests of the day he finished up second in class. Day two again saw Matti place as runner-up, despite winning three of the day’s special tests and riding extremely well. Trying a little too hard to secure his first! win of the season Matti fell on two occasions, preventing him! from challenging for victory. Nevertheless Matti’s two runner-up finishes added to Juha’s first and second place results ensured a memorable and successful weekend for the Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing at the EWC GP of Italy.














BRONZE MEDAL FOR CORY GRAFFUNDER IN THE X GAMES 2012




The last event of the eighteenth X Games, the enduro X was attended by more than fifteen thousand spectators. A specially adapted Los Angeles Staples Centre transformed into an off-road stadium, played host to four days of extreme racing; off road, free style, and enduro X, bringing to a close the most important event of the year in the extreme sports calendar. Husqvarna was present on the enduro X podium, with Canadian Cory Graffunder taking the bronze medal on his Husqvarna TXC 310. The Canadian rider had an exceptional final, which had spectators on the edge of their seats throughout. Graffunder with a clean, effective riding style, managed to keep in the leading positions throughout the final race, on a particularly difficult, treacherous and often slippery track. He continually pressured Cody Webb, who finished just one second ahead. Husqvarna’s great performance at the X Games was completed by Kyle Redmond who finished in tenth place, after having obtained second place in qualifying. On the other hand it was a disappointing day for European riders Andreas Lettenbichler and Alex Salvini who didn’t make the final. In spite of having showed good speed in qualifying, Letti fell shortly after the start of the race. Alex, after a six place in qualifying –the best of the Husqvarna riders- started out in command of the last chance, but a mistake forced him to have to turn off the bike after less than one lap, losing valuable time and finishing in fourth place.

The race results: 1. Mike Brown (KTM), 2. Cody Webb (Beta), 3. Cory Graffunder (Husqvarna).





LUPINO UNLUCKY IN THE SWEDISH GP




It was an unlucky Sunday for Alex Lupino and the Husqvarna Team by Ricci Racing. Having gained thirteenth place in Saturday’s qualifying, Alex Lupino got off to a flying start in the Swedish GP in Uddevalla and by the end of the first lap had got as far as fourth place. Unfortunately in the second lap a stone got wedged between the pinion and the chain, stopping the Italian rider’s TC250R and forcing him out of the race. Lupino started out in twelfth place in the second race, but was involved in a crash with three other riders on the first lap. After dropping back to twenty-eighth position when he picked himself up, Lupino fought a fine comeback, crossing the line in tenth place. As a result of the stop in the first race, Lupino drops down a place to tenth overall position in the world MX2 motocross championships.

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