BMW Motorrad Motorsport completes first full WEC season

With the final round of the 2008 World Enduro Championship (WEC) taking place last weekend in Mende, France, the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team brought to a close its first full season of WEC competition.

Entering selected races in 2007 as they developed the then prototype version of the G 450 X, during the eight rounds of the 2008 WEC, the team has endured everything the world’s toughest off-road motorcycle championship has thrown at them as well as claiming an all important first podium result. Learning every step of the way, the team is now ready to move into 2009 with a view to becoming one of the strongest teams in the WEC.

Every bit as challenging as expected, the GP of Europe proved to be a fitting final event to the 2008 WEC series. Frustratingly for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team, injury and sickness prevented strong end-of-year results. Badly twisting his knee on day one, Enduro Junior class rider Bert Meyer was forced to retire. Determined to compete on day two Bert opted against re-starting after an early morning ride around the event’s training track proved simply too painful.

Without question the biggest disappointment for the BMW team was the day two withdrawal of seven-times world champion Anders Eriksson. Impressively quick on day one, Anders arguably produced one of his best performances of the championship and finished sixth in the Enduro 3 class. One of the fastest riders in the E3 class on both the extreme and motocross test, Anders missed a podium finish by just 15 seconds. On day two Anders was forced to retire after just one special test due to extreme sickness.

Bringing his season to a positive close by finishing in 10th position on both days in the Enduro 2 class was Jeff Goblet. In only his second race back after surgery to his left wrist Jeff, like Eriksson, also put in some of his best performances this season. Despite a lack of strength in his left arm, Jeff was one of the fastest E2 class riders on the extreme test. Backing that up with strong performances on the motocross test, Jeff rode well on day two and put his injury firmly behind him.

Newly crowned German Cross Country Champion Simo Kirssi opted not to compete in Mende as he prepares himself for the European Cross Country Championship final on October 19.

Jeff Goblet – Enduro 2 class: “It’s been a really nice event; there have been so many people watching the tests and also in the forests cheering riders on. To finish both days of such a tough race without any problems is great. On the first day I rode really well on the extreme test and finishing close to the top riders in this test was great. I needed to be faster in the motocross and enduro tests but in the extreme test it was great to be so competitive. I lost a lot of time in the first enduro test on day two. I kept pushing hard and came back to 10th having been down in 17th at one point. Finishing the year with two 10th place results isn’t too bad, especially because I am still not completely over my injuries. Overall, it’s been a good event for me. I’m really looking forward to the coming events as well as training hard during the winter.”

Wolfgang Fischer – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager: “Now BMW’s first full season of World Enduro Championship competition is over it’s a great feeling knowing that as a team we have learned a lot through our ups and downs, as well as reaching our goal of finishing on the podium. Developing the bike in different kinds of terrain has been important for us this year and we have certainly learned from our experiences. Our goal for 2009 is simple – to be one of the strongest teams in the WEC. With everything we have learned this season we are hopeful of doing just that.”

2008 World Enduro Championship Grand Prix of Europe – Day 1 results

Enduro 2 class

1. Juha Salminen (KTM) 51:07.80; 2. Jonny Aubert (Yamaha) 52:27.42; 3. Antoine Meo (Husqvarna) 52:50.95; 4. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 53:22.95; 5. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 53:33.34; 6. Nicolas Paganon (Aprilia); 53:58.97; 7. Rodrig Thain (TM) 54:08.13; 8. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 54:24.94; 9. Fabrizio Dini (Yamaha) 54:32.12; 10. Jean – Francois Goblet (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 54:59.37; 11. Michael Metge (Husaberg) 56:09.29; 12. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 56:17.24; 13. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 56:25.98; 14. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 57:02.05; 15. Christophe Robert (KTM) 57:36.50; 16. Hans Vogel (Yamaha) 58:37.90; 17. Nicolas Joye (Husaberg) 59:46.45

Enduro 3 Class

1. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 52:56.53; 2. Samuli Aro (KTM) 53:09.66; 3. Fabien Planet (KTM) 53:40.43; 4. Antoine Letellier (Aprilia) 53:46.43; 5. Markus Kehr (KTM) 53:53.01; 6. Anders Eriksson (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 53:57.27; 7. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 54:01.27; 8. Xavier Galindo (KTM) 54:23.91; 9. Alessandro Botturi (Honda) 54:46.87; 10. Bjorne Carlsson (Husaberg) 55:09.89; 11. Alessio Paoli (Beta) 56:43.97; 12. Sebastien Guillaume (Husqvarna) 56:45.82; 13. Erwin Plekkenpol (Honda) 57:04.58; 14. Joan Jou (Honda) 57:09.82; 15. Juraj Dozsa (Gas Gas) 59:06.26; 16. Joan Pedrero (Yamaha) 1:01:15.36

2008 World Enduro Championship Grand Prix of Europe – Day 2 results

Enduro 2 class

1. Juha Salminen (KTM) 50:31.82; 2. Antoine Meo (Husqvarna) 51:23.42; 3. Jonny Aubert (Yamaha) 51:33.36; 4. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 52:35.44; 5. Rodrig Thain (TM) 52:46.54; 6. Nicolas Paganon (Aprilia) 52:48.75; 7. Fabio Mossini (Honda) 53:15.09; 8. Fabrizio Dini (Yamaha) 53:43.85; 9. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 53:44.75; 10. Jean - Francois Goblet (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 54:59.93; 11. Nicolas Deparrois (Gas Gas) 55:06.58; 12. Michael Metge (Husaberg) 55:11.81; 13. Rudy Cotton (Beta) 56:35.59; 14. Hans Vogel (Yamaha) 56:49.47; 15. Robert Christophe (KTM) 57:21.75; 16. Nicolas Joye (Husaberg) 1:00:19.61