Back to Sweden !

After the long summer break, which allowed riders a little time to rest and prepare for the end of the season, the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship heads to the north of Europe and the highly anticipated Scandinavian tour through Sweden and Finland.Now well into the second part of the championship, the Grand Prix Husaberg of Sweden will take place in the city of Karlsborg, 300km southwest of the capital Stockholm.Svea Enduro Klubb – a well-known Moto Club!It was back in 2008, in Ostersund, that the Enduro World Championship last visited Sweden. In 2012 it is the Svea Enduro Klubb, assisted by the Swedish Motorcycle Federation Svenska Motorcykel - och Snösköterföbundet (SVEMO), that have the honour of organising the first stage of this season's Scandinavian tour. For the Svea Enduro Klubb, chaired by Robert SVENSSON, this certainly isn't the first time the club has welcomed the world's #1 enduro series to Sweden having previously organised EWC events in 2003 and 2004 - the GP in Skövde, near Karlsborg.      The Svea Enduro Klubb, with the help of Giovanni SALA (FIM Race Inspector), have drawn up a 70 km track that competitors will face three times each day during the two days of racing, with two time controls on each lap. The paddock will be located in the city centre, at Molidens Sport centre. The Enduro Test and the Cross Test will be located on the military camp of Karlsborg while the Xtreme Test will be held at the gates of the city, near the huge lake Vattern. Note that the course is of course very sandy...Karlsborg is located in the province of Vastra Gotaland. This beautiful walled city has about 7000 inhabitants over an area of 433 kms2. The fortress was built during the course of the 19th century and gave Karlsborg the status of capital of Sweden in wartime, according to the principles of the Swedish central defence. The city of Karlsborg, bordering Lake Vattern, is about 200 kms northeast of Goteborg and 300 km southwest of Stockholm. Husaberg at home!With its initial success in Italy in Enduro 3, David KNIGHT (GB - KTM) will arrive in Sweden on his KTM 300 in second place in the class standings and with newfound confidence. He will again, be focused on stopping his KTM teammate Christophe NAMBOTIN (F). But the French rider, who sits some 55 points ahead at the top of the E3 standings, will give his all in order to extend his championship advantage. But the two KTM riders will not be alone in wanting to snatch the 20 points on offer for victory on both days. Joakim LJUNGGREN (S - Husaberg), will be a tough rider to beat as he competes in front of his home crowd. The Swedish giant will be, more than usual, one of the favourites for overall victory. Other serious contenders, Aigar LEOK (EST - TM) and Oriol MENA (E - Husaberg) will also have a say over the weekend and they are still targeting a final end-of-season pod ium while Sebastien GUILLAUME (F - Gas Gas) will seek to confirm his encouraging return to racing while Marko TARKKALA (SF - Beta) should produce his best form of the season so far. Do not forget Marcus KEHR (D - KTM) and Christophe ROBERT (CH - Husaberg) who have impressed with their consistency since the beginning of the season.    Despite having suffered two DNFs already this season, Antoine MEO (F - KTM) still maintains a comfortable lead in the Enduro 1 class, his nearest rival Rodrig THAIN (F - HM Honda) sitting some 30 points behind. For its part, the official HM Honda team experienced great difficulties in Italy and saw the Finnish duo Eero REMES (KTM) - Matti SEISTOLA (HVA) return to their best form. Thain will have to fend off the attacks of the two on-form Scandinavians while also trying to keep the pressure up on class leader Meo. The Italians Thomas OLDRATI (I - KTM) and Simone ALBERGONI (I - HM Honda) will be back to the fore and will seek to repeat the excellent results they collect from the beginning of the Championship. Fabien PLANET (F - Sher co) and Nicolas DEPARROIS (F - Kawa) will continue to push hard for podium results following their successes in Castiglion Fiorentino in early summer. Finally, the return of Marc BOURGEOIS (F - Yam) will be highly anticipated. The rider who stood up to the MEO at the start of the season before being sidelined with injury will certainly want to return with impressive results.The GUERRERO hunt is on!After claiming his first victory at the GP of Italy, and at the same time taking the lead in the standings in the Enduro 2 class, Cristobal GUERRERO (E - KTM) will try to repeat his results against Pierre-Alexandre RENET (F - Husaberg) – who sits just four points behind in the championship standings. For Husaberg's sole Enduro 2 class rider the GP of Sweden offers the chance to take back his leading position, which he lost to Guerrero after a disappointing Italian GP. Renet will also be looking to offer Husaberg victory at their home Grand Prix. Juha SALMINEN (SF - HVA) who impressed in Italy returns to terrain he particularly likes and will be a hard rider to stop. Ivan CERVANTES (E - Gas Gas) has still not lost all hope of securing the E2 title and will give his all. For Johnny AUBERT (F - KTM), who saw his dreams of a third world title ended following technical problems, the GP of Sweden simply offers one more opportunity to show what could have been as he hunts down a podium topping result. Alex SALVINI (I - HVA) will return after trying his luck at the X-Games in the U.S. and hopes to resume his place inside the top five of the E2 class.   In the Enduro Junior class, Mathias BELLINO (F - Husaberg) sits 41 points ahead of his great rival Jonathan MANZI (I - KTM) and will be looking for two more victories. Danny MCCANNEY (GB - Gas Gas), Kevin BENAVIDES (ARG - KTM), Victor GUERRERO (E - KTM) or Mario ROMAN (E - KTM) could also arrive on the top spot and will look to battle with the two 'strong men' of the class. It should also be wary of the fiery Swede Robert KVARNSTRÖM (Beta) who will no doubt be boosted by his home supporters. Finally in FIM Youth Cup 125cc, Giacomo REDONDI (I - KTM) still seeks to grow his number of consecutive wins, and to extend his advantage over his rivals: Matteo BRESOLIN (I - Husaberg), Guido CONFORTI (I - Yam), Luis OLIVEIRA (P - Yam) and Benjamin HERRERA (CL - TM).The Grand Prix Husaberg of Sweden is eagerly awaited in a country that has had to wait four years before seeing the return of the EWC. The excellent Svea Enduro Klubb will put every effort into making the event a great success in an area well known for its passion for motorsport. There is no doubt that the Scandinavian public will attend in the home of seeing their home champions monopolise the top spots. See you on 25 and 26 August in Karlsborg in the region of seven-time world champion Anders ERIKSSON, for the sixth stage of the 2012 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship.Information:- Karlsborg (Province of Vastra Gotaland);- 300 kms South-West from Stockholm and 200 kms North-East from Goteborg;- Friday, 24th August: KTM Super Test: 19.00;- Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of August: Start: 9.00 and Finish at 16.00;- Organisation: Svea Enduro Klubb;- Websites: www.enduro-abc.com and www.endurovm2012.se;- Track: 70kms – 3 laps;- Free Access;Communication Enduro World Championship - www.enduro-abc.com - 

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1345455780-back-to-sweden/

Bruno Bonhuil Ismael Bonilla Steve Bonsey Paul Bordes Juan Bordons