Double or Quits!

Just two weeks after a record-breaking Spanish Grand Prix, the stars of SuperEnduro are back on track this Saturday, March 3rd, at the Grand Prix of Euskadi, which will take place at the Bilbao Exhibition Center's Bizkaia Arena...

After having worked in close collaboration with ABC Communication in 2016 for the EnduroGP round in the Basque Country, and in 2017 for the SuperEnduro, the Idubaltza Kirol Kluba and its president Imanol TARAMONA decided to put together another race for 2018!

Gordexola

 The Bizkaia Arena Ready for SuperEnduro!

With a lot of experience in organising Enduro events in the Basque Country with their famous "Gordexola Xtreme”, this club have been putting on top races for over 11 years, they are constantly searching for new challenges and SuperEnduro was the perfect choice. Especially since the Bilbao Exhibition Center (B.E.C) and the city of Bilbao provide them with great support...

The B.E.C is located more precisely in Barakaldo, on the outskirts of Bilbao. The Bizkaia Arena is one of the eight halls that make up the Bilbao Exhibition Center. This sports hall with a capacity of about 15,000 people has already hosted renowned sporting events such as the Men's Basketball World Cup in 2014 and the 2007 Spanish Basketball Supercup. A Supercross race was also held in this vast arena.

Bilbao is located in the north-west of Spain in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. This city of about 350,000 inhabitants mixes monuments and historical buildings with modern art, as evidenced by the world famous “Guggenheim" Contemporary Art Museum.

Bizkaia

Even More Intensity in Prestige?

Three completely mad races and in the end... Cody WEBB (USA - KTM) won! This is how to summarise the GP of Spain which took place less than two weeks ago at the Palacio de Deportes Carpena in Malaga.
The intensity reached a level never seen before in the discipline and everyone wonders if the stars of the SEWC will be able to keep it at this level until the end of the season.
In any case, even attacked from all sides, the current leader of the Prestige category, Cody WEBB, has resisted his rivals very well and has even widened the gap on his main pursuers, relegating Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM) to 23 points down! But anything and everything can happen in SuperEnduro and, we know from experience (see the 2016 season) that nothing is ever sure until the very last moments of the season...
We would not be surprised if BLAZUSIAK, Billy BOLT (GB - Husqvarna), Colton HAAKER (USA - Husqvarna) and Jonny WALKER (GB - KTM) came back to GP winning form, it will be all to play for on Saturday night in Bilbao. They also have the Swedish GP at the end of March to put in a final attack on WEBB!
We can also count on Manuel LETTENBICHLER (D - KTM) to play the spoiler among the "Big Five"...
Attention also to the 2017 Junior Champion, Blake GUTZEIT (RSA - Yamaha) who is gaining strength and getting closer to the top, while Cristobal GUERRERO (E - Yamaha) and Benjamin HERRERA (CL - TM) will have their say, and will want to consolidate their place among the 10 fastest riders in the discipline.
A special mention also for multi-Enduro Champion David KNIGHT (GB - Gas Gas) who has now had more hours of training on his new bike and could also have a hand in proceedings.
But regrettably we have to announce the absence of Alfredo GOMEZ (E - Husqvarna), who seriously injured his leg during training ten days ago and will be out for the remainder of the season. 

Haaker
Colton HAAKER (USA - Husqvarna)

GALLAS Closer to the Title?

Over in the Junior class, this Grand Prix of Euskadi will also be an exciting prospect. Now the comfortable leader of the class, Kevin GALLAS (D - Husqvarna) has his fate in his own hands. If he can resist the attacks from the rest of the pack, he will have the possibility of taking the World crown before the final round on March 31 in Lidköping (Sweden).
But we can’t take it for granted because we know that in the Under 23 years category anything can happen at any time.
Kyle FLANAGAN (RSA - Sherco), Emil JUSZCZAK (PL - KTM), Diego HERRERA (CL - TM), Ignacio FERNANDEZ (E - KTM) and Leon HENTSCHEL (D - KTM) will be ready to  offer a great show to the spectators, and above all will give everything to try to topple the leader and keep a chance for the title.
This category promises to be frenetic one again!

Finally, in the European Cup, it is Tim APOLLE (D - Husqvarna) who leads the way. He also has a chance to win the title in Bilbao, but he will have to be wary of the amazing Latvian Andris GRINFELDS (KTM), currently second by only 8 points.
Riders like Adrien JACON (F - KTM), Alex GRAU SANZ (E - Gas Gas), and Jonathan PEARSON (GB - KTM) could also win, while the crowd in the Bizkaia Arena will only have eyes for local star Iñaki GOMARIN GUEVARA (E - Sherco).

After three rounds of high level and high voltage action, there are many questions left to be answered at this GP Euskadi…
Will WEBB contain the attacks of his pursuers? Can WALKER confirm his strong GP of Spain result? Will BLAZUSIAK get closer to WEBB and keep the chance of a 7th World crown? And can GALLAS take a well deserved title? Or perhaps we’ll see the third different winner in the Junior class this year? 

Find all the answers on this Saturday, March 3, at the Bizkaia Arena Bilbao Exhibition Center!

Don’t forget that you can also watch this 4th round LIVE on superenduro.org from 20:30 CET!

Practical Info:

-    Bilbao (Basque Country) ;
-    397km North of Madrid, and 119km from the French border;
-    Saturday 3rd March from 18:00 CET (doors open) ;
-    Organisation : Idubaltza Kirol Kluba;
-    Website : www.superenduro.org ;
-    Programme : 3 Prestige Finals, 3 Junior Finals;
-    Ticket prices: 30€ to 35€;
-    Airport: Bilbao
-    LIVE : from 20:30 CET on superenduro.org
 

Herrera
Diego HERRERA (CL - TM)