The season is now well and truly underway after a thrilling first round which saw Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM) victorious at home in Poland. Now, five days after the new year, the elite riders of World SuperEnduro will meet again to battle it out on Saturday, January 5 at the SachsenArena in Riesa.
Motorsportverein Riesa and the production company "Auerswald Eventmanufactur" are now experienced organisers. Indeed, this is the fifth year in a row that they have organised a round of the Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship with the support of ADAC and the DMSB.
Fully Prepared!
With their huge success in Saxony, "Auerswald Eventmanufactur" and the Motorsportverein Riesa are currently among the most experienced organisers on the calendar. And with a passionate crowd of fans present in Riesa during past years, they have chosen the same location again to host the second round of the 2019 championship, and the same venue; the 6000 seater SachsenArena.
The city of Riesa is located in former East Germany, more precisely in the region of Saxony. With around 34,000 inhabitants, Riesa is the largest city in the district of Meissen and borders the banks of the Elbe. It is located 90 km east of Leipzig and 70 km southwest of Dresden.
With the entry list bursting at the seams, with riders from more than 16 nations in both categories, the German Grand Prix is sure to cause a stir, and reward these keen motorsport fans!
Can BLAZUSIAK Defend?
As has been the case at the beginning of the season for the last three years, Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM) walks into Round 2 with the red 24MX leader plate...
The six-time World Champion arrives in Riesa as the man to beat, but he’ll certainly have plenty of competition snapping at his heels!
Indeed, the Pole is only 2 points ahead of the reigning World Champion, Cody WEBB (USA - KTM). Dominant last year in Germany, the Californian will seek to take control and ruin the plans of his KTM Factory teammate.
Colton HAAKER (USA - Husqvarna) will also be keen to move up a couple of spots. Currently 3rd, 5 points behind BLAZUSIAK, the 2018 AMA Endurocross Champion seems to have rekindled his all out riding style. He will be a contender for the victory at the SachsenArena, but so will his teammate Alfredo GOMEZ (E - Husqvarna)... The Spaniard was the only one to have taken a race victory over BLAZUSIAK a month ago in Krakow. Even if he is not yet 100% fit, GOMEZ has the weapons to fight with the three aforementioned stars…
The 2018 Junior World Champion, Kevin GALLAS (D - Husqvarna) could spring a surprise and join the fight for the podium. Currently 5th, GALLAS will be pushed by the 6,500 spectators present at the SachsenArena on Saturday evening - that could well give him the extra motivation to get on his first Prestige podium.
We also look forward to seeing if the ‘surprises’ of the first round, Diogo VIEIRA (P - Yamaha) and David LEONOV (RUS - Husqvarna) can get into the Top 5, while Blake GUTZEIT (RSA - Husqvarna) and Pol TARRES (E - Husqvarna), somewhat disappointing in Poland, will be keen to find the pace they’re capable of…
Finally, Xavi LEON SOLE (E - Husqvarna) and Jose Maria JUAN BERNABEU (E - Sherco) will want to give everything to join the Top 10. And we will see the welcome return of Cristobal GUERRERO (E - Yamaha), absent at the opening in Poland, who will add his expertise to the Prestige class.
Junior: HOARE to Win Again?
We saw several surprises during the first round of the year in Poland… the excellent performances of the new Polish youngster, Dominik OLSZOWY (PL - KTM), and that of the Spaniard Ivan PUEYO GIL (KTM). And of course, the “easy” victory of William HOARE (GB - Husqvarna), who despite his obvious talent, was not expected to dominate the Under-23 category in quite the way he did...
As we head to Round 2, the young Brit will be keen to confirm his superb pace.
But HOARE will have to keep an eye on David CYPRIAN (CZ - KTM), a very technical rider who is currently in second place in the standings. As well as Romania’s Norbert JOSZA LEVENTE (Husqvarna), Ivan PUEYO GIL, Dominik OLSZOWY. Local rider Tim APOLLE (D - Husqvarna) and fellow Brit Dan MUNDELL (GB - Sherco).
In the European class, Robert SCHARL (D - Husqvarna), Marcel TEUCHER (D - Husqvarna), Jonathan ROSSE (CH - Yamaha) and Thomas HOSTINSKY (SK - Husqvarna) should be the favourites, and they will complete the sporting programme of this event.
After a fantastic opening round in Krakow, the question of whether BLAZUSIAK, can resist his three main rivals WEBB, GOMEZ and HAAKER remains.
See you at 18:00 this Saturday, January 5, at the SachsenArena in Riesa where the stars of the SEWC are waiting for you!
And if you can’t make it to Riesa, go to enduro-tv.com to follow all the action LIVE from 19.00!
Practical Info:
- Riesa (Saxony);
- 88 kilometres east of Leipzig and 73 kilometres north-west of Dresden;
- Saturday, January 5 from 16:00 CET (opening of the doors);
- Organisation: Eventmanufactur Auerswald;
- Website: www.superenduro.org;
- Format: 3 races for the Prestige category, 3 races for the Juniors, 2 European class races;
- Ticket prices: From 45€ to 55€;
- Airport: Dresden: 73 kms - Leipzig: 90 kms - Berlin: 180 kms
- Live Coverage: enduro-tv.com from 19:00 CET
