Enduro

Jarvis takes World Enduro Super Series lead with victory at Hixpania Hard Enduro

Posted:

Monday, June 24th, 2019

10:29 AM

Graham Jarvis takes the WESS points lead with a win in Spain. Photo: Future7Media

Britain‰Ûªs Graham Jarvis has claimed the overall win at Spain‰Ûªs Hixpania Hard Enduro, round four of the World Enduro Super Series.

Making it back-to-back victories in this year‰Ûªs championship, Jarvis‰Ûª podium-topping ride also sees him become the new leader in the race to become this year‰Ûªs World Enduro Super Series championship.

In what proved to be a hotly contested battle, it was Spaniard Mario Roman who narrowly beat Jarvis for the win in Sunday‰Ûªs Mitas Lost Roads Hard Enduro race, securing him an overall podium result of third. Event leader Alfredo Gomez placed fifth in Sunday‰Ûªs race, slipping to second in the event‰Ûªs overall classification.

Mario Roman was the winner in Sunday‰Ûªs Lost Roads. Photo: Future7Media

The third and final day of racing saw the 70 riders who qualified through from Saturday‰Ûªs Campoo de X-Treme race tackle the tough and demanding Lost Roads Hard Enduro. During the two-hour 30-minute race, a short-course laid out around a challenging quarry and surrounding forest pushed competitors to their limits.

A Le Mans style start saw riders race on foot to their bikes, which were located in a cave. Roman was first to enter with Taddy Blazusiak hot on his heels. The duo swapped and changed the race lead during the opening two laps as everyone settled into the rhythm of the race.

Competitors battle their way along the lakeside edge. Photo: Future7Media

Knowing that only a top-two result would suffice if rival Gomez were to place fifth or better, Jarvis determinedly worked his way towards the front of the field. With one hour to go both Jarvis and Roman had broken clear of German Manuel Lettenbichler in third. Battling closely, they entered the final lap wheel-to-wheel.

Roman managed to edge clear slightly as they entered the finishing arena, however a mistake on a downhill allowed Jarvis to momentarily regain the lead. But Roman was eager to impress his home crowd and fought his way back in front to power up the final climb for the final day‰Ûªs race win.

Although losing the battle, Jarvis ultimately won the war, with second place enough to give him the overall Hixpania Hard Enduro win and with it move to the top of the championship standings.

‰ÛÏWhat an event and it‰Ûªs crazy to think I‰Ûªm leading the WESS now," Jarvis said. "I‰Ûªm not going to get too excited just yet though and my plan is to take each race as it comes. Romaniacs is going to be the game changer ‰ÛÒ hopefully I can at least finish it this year. It was a tough race today I was still tired from yesterday ‰ÛÒ it was fast but there were still some technical bits. I think everyone was really feeling it and I know I was on the limit today.‰Û

Riders race on foot to their bikes located in a cave. Photo: Future7Media

Entering the final day of racing having won the previous two days, Gomez was unable to respond to the attack by Jarvis. Admitting to struggling early on, he could only finish fifth for the runner-up result.

‰ÛÏI tried to push as hard as I could today, but just ran out of strength in the last half of the race ‰ÛÒ no power at all," Gomez lamented. "All I could do was to keep on going, try not to crash and stay on the bike. It was great fun racing out there with all the home fans cheering. I‰Ûªm sorry I couldn‰Ûªt bring home the win for them but overall, I am happy with how the race has gone and I gave it my all. Congratulations to Graham, he did it again.‰Û

Results - Round 4: Hixpania Hard Enduro - Day 3 - Mitas Lost Roads
1. Mario Roman (Sherco - ESP) 11 laps, 2:48:45.335
2. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna - GB) 2:50:12.484
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM - GER) 2:51:50.081
4. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna - GB) 2:54:49.879
5. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna - ESP) 2:57:57.720
6. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM - POL) 3:05:37.421
7. Jonny Walker (KTM - GB) 3:11:17.212
8. Pol Tarres (Husqvarna - ESP) 8 laps, 2:57:38.224
9. Xavi Leon (Husqvarna - ESP) 2:59:02.441
10. Travis Teasdale (KTM - RSA) 7 laps, 2:43:34.967

Hixpania Hard Enduro Overall
1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna - ESP) 44pts
2. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna - ESP) 44 pts
3. Mario Roman (Sherco - ESP) 43pts
4. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna - GB) 40pts
5. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM - GER) 36pts
6. Jonny Walker (KTM - GB) 30pts
7. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM - POL) 29pts
8. Pol Tarres (Husqvarna - ESP) 25pts
9. Josep Garcia (KTM - ESP) 21pts
10. Xavier Leon (Husqvarna - ESP) 19pts

WESS Championship Standings (After Round 4 of 8)
1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna - GB) 2690pts
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM - GER) 2570pts
3. Mario Roman (Sherco - ESP) 2540
4. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna - ESP) 2314
5. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna - GB) 2155
6. Josep Garcia (KTM - ESP) 2125pts
7. Jonny Walker (KTM - GB) 2090pts
8. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM - POL) 1900pts
9. Nathan Watson (KTM - GB) 1631pts
10. Travis Teasdale (KTM - RSA) 1610pts