Australian duo Stefan Merriman (Yamaha) and Jake Stapleton (TM) began their 2005 world enduro campaigns in brilliant fashion
at Guadalajara in Spain last weekend (Apr, 2-3).
While Merriman (WR450F) resumed normal world championship service in putting a sword to his E2 (250cc 2T versus 450 4T) opponents,
Stapleton was a revelation in the all-new junior all-powers class, claiming third and second places in the extremely muddy
conditions.
The results left the 20-year-old second in the junior standings on 42pts, although the British-based Aussie was careful to
keep his superb start in perspective.
"A race like this week end involves a little bit of luck to get good results," said Stapleton, who won last year's 200cc 2T
title at the Australian Four-day Enduro. "Not getting stuck in the deep ruts or on the steep hills is the name of the game.
However, having said that, choosing the right lines is the name of the game ‰ÛÒ and the difference between getting stuck or not
getting stuck.
"I am reasonably new to this type of decision making and clearly I will have to learn some new techniques very quickly.
I am sure‰Û_ we will have many more races like this before the season is over.
"Second place in the championship is a great position to be in - I now have to maintain the momentum for the remaining rounds.
This will not be easy as there are many very fast riders in the junior class and I will have to keep my mistakes to a minium."
As for Stapleton's compatriot Merriman, it was yet another flawless performance from the 32-year-old, who made good on his
jump up to the E2 class with two resounding victories ‰ÛÒ by 48 and 34 seconds respectively.
The devastating performance extended Merriman's world championship winning streak to 10 races, after he won the last eight
E1 (125cc 2T versus 250 4T) outings in 2004.
In the appalling conditions, Merriman's main rival for the title, two-time world champion Samuli Aro (KTM), was the only other
rider to finish on the podium both days, with the Finnish rider's third and second places helping him to a 42pt haul, eight
behind Merriman (50). Frenchman Fabien Planet (KTM), who was 10th in last year's E1 title, is third on 40pts after second and
fourth places. Seven-time world champion Anders Eriksson (Husqvarna) was third on day two.
Meanwhile, New Zealander Paul Whibley (Gas Gas) was eighth in E2 on day one, but couldn't crack the top 10 on Sunday.
In the other two classes, E1 and E3 (500cc 2T versus 650cc 4T), KTM riders Ivan Cervantes and David Knight were, like Merriman,
untouchable. Spanish rider Cervantes, who has moved to E1 from E3, already has a 13pt (50 to 37) lead over Frenchman Marc
Germain (Yamaha), while Knight displayed full armoury in E3 ‰ÛÒ the closest anyone got to him was Finland's Marko Tarkkala
(KTM) on day one, who finished a whopping two minutes and 19 seconds behind.
