25/06/11 - UEM Championship: Santa Julia, AND

Against the odds, Spanish Francesc Moret (Montesa) topped the rostrum in what we can call as the toughest event never seen in this season. In the Principality of Andorra, starting into the town of Santa Julia, organizers found a new loop, completely different from the usual chosen in the previous editions. Pushed by riders who complained the too easy sections featured in Spain the week before, the club put on steeply and hard sections, mostly inside the wood, with high rocks, typical of this mountain dry terrain.
Having less to loose, Moret attacked with courage and determination each section, building his victory in the first lap. His score of 30 points was a masterpiece. Alfredo Gomez, his team mate was behind with 36 marks lost. Then Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas) with 41, ahead of the leader, Jack Challoner (Beta) who carried 45 mistakes.
In the second lap, Moret dropped 42 points, but his advantage taken before, assure him his first win in a European round. Gomez, Grattarola and Challoner kept their position behind. In the overall standings Challoner maintains his leadership with 73 points, Gomez chases at 60, Grattarola slides in third with 2 points less.
Jack Sheppard (Beta) clinched the win in Junior class in the same manner of Moret in the main class. He gained a good lead in the first lap, then administrated the advantage. He first scored 30, then 36. In the usual quartet of victory’s pretending, composed of the English winner, the Italian challenge and the two French ones, new incomers, an intruder claimed this time for second place: Sweden Eddie Karlsson (Gas Gas), the most careful in not making mistakes: only 5 times he fives the sections. He arrived behind the winner by just 4 point.
Third step of podium for Italian Giacomo Saleri(Beta), who finished one point behind Karlsson. Saleri was able to collect 10 cleans, exactly what done by Sheppard, but he fived also 8 hazards. Sheppard stretched in the overall standing on Saleri, The gap is now 9 points. In third Cedric Tempier (Sherco), today only in fourth place.
Fourth win in a row for Italian Andrea Buschi (Ossa) in the “Over 40” class. Second again French Philippe Bontemps (Gas Gas). In the International class, the success went to Enric Tordera (Montesa).
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Vince a sorpresa Moret il piu' duro dei trial europei di quest'anno. Un successo costruito nel primo giro, dove , avendo meno da perdere, peche' piu' indietro in campionato, ha affrontato con coraggio e determinazione zone decisamente difficili che gli organizzatori hanno approntato.
Del resto tutti i piloti erano stati scontanti del livello troppo facile della prova precedente. Secondo Gomez e terzo il nostro Grattarola, su cui pesano gli errori fatti nella prima tornata.
Solo quarto il leader Challoner, che pero' mantiene 13 punti di vantaggio su Gomez e 15 su Grattarola a due prove dal termine del campionato.
Nella Junior, ancora una prova di forza di Sheppard, che allunga in campionato. Saleri perde troppo tempo alla "uno", cosi' perde il contatto con i suoi avversari e non brilla nel primo giro. Molto meglio al secondo, cosi' raggiunge il podio, battuto dallo svedese Karlsson. In campionato Saleri insegue Sheppard 9 punti dietro.
Buschi "uccide" il campionato con un'altra sonante vittoria nella "Over 40" e l'inno italiano suona anche in Andorra!
Clicca qui per le foto di tutti gli altri piloti azzurri!