BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team rider Juha Salminen brought his participation in the -10 Enduro World Championship to a close this past weekend where the former seven-time world champion placed 10th and sixth in the Enduro 2 class at the GP of France. Living up to its reputation as a demanding championship ending event, the GP of France, which was held this year in Noiretable, proved to be anything but easy due to heavy rain during the opening day-s competition. With the weather making all of the event-s special tests extremely slippery and heavily rutted the weather did improve during day two, but the day was little easier.
Competing alone for the BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team due to Marko Tarkkala-s absence in France with a wrist injury, Juha fought his way through the seriously challenging conditions on day one to place 10th. Day two saw a marked improvement in Juha-s results as the Finn jumped up to sixth in class. Performing well throughout the day Salminen produced the fastest Enduro 2 class time on the final extreme test.
With the -10 Enduro World Championship now finished BMW Husqvarna Motorsport rider Juha Salminen will next be in action at the International Six Days Enduro, which takes place in Mexico on November 1-6.
Juha Salminen – Enduro 2 class: -It-s certainly been a tough event, the rain made sure it wasn-t going to be easy. I made too many small mistakes to improve my results. I felt that I was riding well on some of the tests but you just can-t make mistakes. I found the first day the hardest, when the special tests were really slippery. On day two things were a little better, but still not what I want.”
2010 Enduro World Championship, Grand Prix of France – Day 1
Enduro 2
1. Mika Ahola (Honda) 1.01:21.50; 2. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.01:31.10; 3. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.01:43.71; 4. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 1.02:14.73; 5. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 1.02:27.06; 6. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.02:45.23; 7. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.03:10.81; 8. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.03:44.56; 9. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1.04:12.80; 10. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.04:13.14
2010 Enduro World Championship, Grand Prix of France – Day 2
Enduro 2
1. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 1.00:25.36; 2. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.02:01.56; 3. Rodrig Thain (TM) 1.02:13.47; 4. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1.02:24.92; 5. Nicolas Paganon (Kawasaki) 1.02:33.01; 6. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 1.02:45.74; 7. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.02:51.03; 8. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 1.02:54.10; 9. Jeff Goblet (Yamaha) 1.03:02.45; 10. Jordi Figueras (Gas Gas) 1.03:29.04