MERRIMAN TAKES PODIUM IN CZECH GP
04 July 2005 - Yamaha Racing

Four time enduro world champion Stefan Merriman was just beaten by a mere four seconds on day one by arch rival Samuli Aro, Aro then finished 20 seconds ahead of the UFO Corse Yamaha rider on the second day.

Aro joined his countryman Petteri Silvan in standing on the top step of the podium on both days at the Czech Republic GP. Stefan Merriman moves up from fifth in standings to third with 169 points, Aro still leads with 226 points.

Claiming his first double victory of the season Aro returned to his best form at the Czech Republic and in doing so opened up a 17 point lead at the top of the E2 championship series. For UFO Corse Yamaha rider Stefan Merriman second place on both days was the best the Australian could manage having struggled with the drying conditions on day one. On day two he simply found himself outpaced by Aro. Claiming third on day one was French rider Fabien Planet with US rider Kurt Caselli finishing on the third step of the rostrum on day two. Andrea Beconi maintains his eighth position in the championship in spite of disappointing 12th and 15th place finishes in Most.

The World Championships now enjoys a three-week pause before riders start with the second half of the series. With the French Grand Prix taking place at Digne les Bains riders will be looking forward to one of the best attended races of the championship.

Stefan Merriman (UFO Corse Yamaha) Day1: second, Day 2: second: ''I found day one was better when it was really slippery in the morning because when it started to dry out there were wet areas and dry areas, which made it difficult. Overall, I just wasn''t quite quick enough to stay with Aro on day one. I tried to start day two as well as I could by giving 110 per cent on the opening extreme special test but I crashed and lost some time. I didn''t have any more to give so I just had to settle for second.''


Race classification Enduro 2
Round: 5 - GP of Czech Republic
Circuit: Most

Race: 3 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 S. Aro KTM FIN 22'' 6.340
2 S. Merriman Yamaha AUS +3.540
3 F. Planet KTM FRA +11.180
4 A. Eriksson Husqvarna SWE +36.300
5 V. Salonen Honda FIN +39.060
6 P. Pohjamo TM FIN +41.940
7 E. McConnell Honda GBR +52.330
8 P. Whibely GasGas NZL +54.620
9 K. Caselli KTM USA +56.020
10 J. Mattila Beta FIN +56.280
11 A. Belotti Husqvarna ITA +1'' 3.280
12 B. Carlsson HusaBerg SWE +1'' 3.480
13 A. Botturi KTM ITA +1'' 8.450
14 H. Rodrigues GasGas POR +1'' 13.410
15 A. Beconi Yamaha FRA +1'' 34.130
16 J.F.. Goblet GasGas BEL +1'' 38.170
17 N. Gustavsson KTM SWE +1'' 42.690
18 G. Falgari Husqvarna ITA +2'' 12.980
19 G. Canova Husqvarna ITA +2'' 16.510
20 R. Toman KTM CZE +2'' 17.340

Race 2: 4 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 S. Aro KTM FIN 34'' 27.740
2 S. Merriman Yamaha AUS +20.380
3 K. Caselli KTM USA +29.350
4 A. Botturi KTM ITA +29.970
5 F. Planet KTM FRA +33.670
6 J. Mattila Beta FIN +38.210
7 A. Eriksson Husqvarna SWE +42.450
8 B. Carlsson HusaBerg SWE +45.880
9 P. Pohjamo TM FIN +1'' 4.880
10 V. Salonen Honda FIN +1'' 11.860
11 E. McConnell Honda GBR +1'' 18.560
12 A. Beconi Yamaha FRA +1'' 25.660
13 H. Rodrigues GasGas POR +1'' 50.240
14 P. Whibely GasGas NZL +1'' 51.530
15 A. Toresson Suzuki SWE +1'' 53.480
16 J. Curvalle Kawasaki FRA +2'' 5.840
17 G. Canova Husqvarna ITA +2'' 19.480
18 G. Falgari Husqvarna ITA +2'' 21.840
19 J.F.. Goblet GasGas BEL +2'' 37.770
20 A. Belotti Husqvarna ITA +3'' 8.870

Championship standings Enduro 2
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Samuli Aro KTM FIN 226
2 Fabien Planet KTM FRA 209
3 Stefan Merriman Yamaha AUS 169
4 Anders Eriksson Husqvarna SWE 169
5 Alessandro Botturi KTM ITA 163
6 Björne Carlsson HusaBerg SWE 136
7 Jari Mattila Beta FIN 108
8 Helder Rodrigues GasGas POR 107
9 Andrea Beconi Yamaha FRA 102
10 Paul Whibely GasGas NZL 94
11 Valtteri Salonen Honda FIN 86
12 Euan McConnell Honda GBR 83
13 Jean-François Goblet GasGas BEL 67
14 Miska Aaltonen GasGas FIN 51
15 Andrea Belotti Husqvarna ITA 42
16 David Frétigne Yamaha FRA 40
17 Giuliano Falgari Husqvarna ITA 36
18 Kurt Caselli KTM USA 32
19 Jordan Curvalle Kawasaki FRA 28
20 Sebastien Arvis Suzuki FRA 28


Manufacturers standings Enduro 2
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1 KTM 235
2 Yamaha 207
3 Husqvarna 170
4 HusaBerg 136
5 Honda 130
6 GasGas 120
7 Beta 108
8 Suzuki 34
9 Kawasaki 28
10 TM 27
11 Sherco 19
12 Aprilia 2


Enduro 1 : Germain consolidates second in the championship

Round: 5 - GP of Czech republic
Circuit: Albacete
Date: 3 July 2005

Yamaha Moto France rider Marc Germain confirmed the good form he has been showing this season at the GP of the Czech Republic, round five of the ''05 World Enduro Championship. Marc scored a fourth and third in Most to consolidate his second position in the Enduro 1 championship. The Enduro 1 class of the World Enduro Championship saw a new race winner, Finn Petteri Silvan (KTM) claimed victory on both days. Polish star Bartosz Oblucki finished sixth on both days, he is now seventh in standings. Micheluz is ninth. After 10 days of racing Cervantes remains the leader in the class.

Topping day one by just over five seconds, Silvan then claimed the win on day two by just one second. In doing so Silvan made his first visit to the top step of the podium since the French GP in ''04. Finishing behind Silvan on day one was Honda mounted Paul Edmondson. Also claiming his best result of the season so far this year Edmondson edged ahead of current E1 class leader Ivan Cervantes (KTM). The 22-year old Maurizio Micheluz rode his WR250F to seventh on day one behind Ufo Corse Yamaha team mate Oblucki. On day two Silvan was followed home by his team-mate Cervantes with Yamaha France rider Marc Germain claiming the third place spot having finished in fourth on day one.

Marc Germain (Yamaha France) Day 1: fourth, Day 2: third:
''I made a mistake on the first lap on day one but after that I was riding well. I was happy that the weather was wet but it didn''t stay that way. I had a good battle with Alex Belometti and finished in fourth on day one, which I am happy with. On day two Silvan and Cervantes are both really fast and again I battled with Belometti all day. I finished in third, and took good points in the championship, so I am happy with day two and the weekend as well. Now I have to train really hard in the sand for the GP in Finland. Before that I have my home GP, which I hope to win. I will give 100 per cent and see what happens.''

Bartosz Oblucki (UFO Corse Yamaha) Day 1: sixth, Day 2: sixth: ''On day one I wasn''t happy at all. All season I have been two, three or five seconds behind the riders winning in the E1 class and again I wasn''t able to get close to the riders at the top of the class. I made some changes to the bike but I just wasn''t able to ride any faster. Before the last lap on day two I was just a few seconds behind third but I wasn''t able to finish on the podium. I made some mistakes on the extreme test and was then having to catch up the time again on the motocross and enduro tests.. I had some really good tests, I finished in second and third on some, but I didn''t get the podium position I wanted.''

Race classification Enduro 1
Round: 5 - GP of Czech republic
Circuit: Albacete

Race: 3 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 P. Silvan KTM FIN 22'' 22.790
2 P. Edmondson Honda GBR +5.130
3 I. Cervantes KTM ESP +5.290
4 M. Germain Yamaha FRA +15.160
5 A. Belometti KTM ITA +17.390
6 B. Oblucki Yamaha POL +28.440
7 M. Micheluz Yamaha ITA +28.680
8 R. Larsson TM ITA +47.330
9 S. Tonelli Yamaha ITA +54.820
10 R. Michalik TM CZE +55.100
11 S. Albergoni Honda ITA +1'' 0.090
12 M. Szuster Honda POL +1'' 2.630
13 N. Deparrois Husqvarna FRA +1'' 11.850
14 E. Jones KTM GBR +1'' 21.550
15 D. Telini Yamaha ITA +1'' 41.900
16 M. Saarenkoski Husqvarna FIN +1'' 45.210
17 J. Gauthier Husqvarna FRA +2'' 4.170
18 M. Pievani Yamaha ITA +3'' 29.740
19 L. Kroupa GasGas CZE +3'' 42.640
20 L. Buchar KTM CZE +3'' 50.120

Race 2: 4 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 P. Silvan KTM FIN 34'' 15.840
2 I. Cervantes KTM ESP +1.010
3 M. Germain Yamaha FRA +35.440
4 A. Belometti KTM ITA +35.540
5 P. Edmondson Honda GBR +47.200
6 B. Oblucki Yamaha POL +48.520
7 S. Albergoni Honda ITA +52.000
8 N. Deparrois Husqvarna FRA +1'' 7.970
9 M. Micheluz Yamaha ITA +1'' 23.540
10 M. Szuster Honda POL +1'' 47.560
11 R. Michalik TM CZE +1'' 49.650
12 M. Saarenkoski Husqvarna FIN +2'' 22.010
13 S. Tonelli Yamaha ITA +2'' 25.540
14 M. Pievani Yamaha ITA +2'' 31.280
15 D. Telini Yamaha ITA +2'' 33.200
16 J. Gauthier Husqvarna FRA +2'' 46.210
17 E. Jones KTM GBR +2'' 22.430
18 L. Kroupa GasGas CZE +5'' 59.950
19 L. Buchar KTM CZE +7'' 1.300
20 M. Pacesný GasGas CZE +20'' 59.880

Championship standings Enduro 1
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Ivan Cervantes KTM ESP 242
2 Marc Germain Yamaha FRA 190
3 Simone Albergoni Honda ITA 174
4 Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 171
5 Petteri Silvan KTM FIN 171
6 Paul Edmondson Honda GBR 170
7 Bartosz Oblucki Yamaha POL 134
8 Richard Larsson TM ITA 115
9 Maurizio Micheluz Yamaha ITA 94
10 Nicolas Deparrois Husqvarna FRA 83
11 Simone Tonelli Yamaha ITA 61
12 Peter Bergvall Yamaha SWE 57
13 Michal Szuster Honda POL 56
14 Daniele Telini Yamaha ITA 55
15 Mike Hartmann KTM GER 51
16 Roman Michalik TM CZE 46
17 Julien Gauthier Husqvarna FRA 45
18 Xacob Agra Yamaha ESP 39
19 Roberto Bazzurri Husqvarna ITA 33
20 Mika Saarenkoski Husqvarna FIN 30
25 Manuel Pievani Yamaha ITA 23


Manufacturers standings Enduro 1
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1 KTM 250
2 Honda 204
3 Yamaha 191
4 TM 126
5 Husqvarna 95
6 Kawasaki 20
7 Suzuki 19
8 GasGas 5

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