UFO Corse Yamaha rider Johnny Aubert showed just how determined he is to claim the 2008 Enduro 2 world championship at the Grand Prix of Wales as the current E2 series leader finished on the podium on both days including a stunning 45-second victory over his title rival Juha Salminen on day two.
With conditions on Day1 wetter than they have been at any round of the '08 WEC series so far this season Aubert topped the event's opening special test before recording the second fastest time on test two to lead the E2 class at the end of the first lap.
But as conditions worsened Aubert was unable to hold his position at the front of the class and although placing no lower than sixth on any of the day's special tests, found himself behind rival Juha Salminen and wildcard rider David Knight come the end of the day. Winning the final test Aubert claimed an eventual 3rd place result having failed to gel with the slippery extreme test.
With conditions a little drier on Day2 Aubert started as he intended to go on and comfortably topped the first motocross special test before then recording the fastest Enduro 2 times on the opening seven tests. Winning on the event's motocross test, the event's enduro test, and on the extreme test (that on day one he'd struggled to master) Aubert failed to win just one section and forged a 45-second winning margin ahead of Salminen with Knight third.
He now leads the series by 17 points over Salminen.
For Aubert's UFO Corse Yamaha team-mate Fabrizio Dini the demanding Welsh conditions saw the Italian placing 10th on day one and 15th on day two.
Johnny Aubert (UFO Corse Yamaha) Enduro 2 class - Day 1 3rd, Day 2 1st:
"After a difficult first day I'm really pleased to have won on day two. I felt good and everything went well. The first day was really tough for me though, but I couldn't work out why I was having problems. I just didn't have a good feeling. I used a rear mousse that was a little bit too hard on day one, which didn't work well.
I changed it for the second day and it was much better. The special tests were also a lot drier on day two, which I liked. The Extreme test was where I struggled the most on day one. I didn't have a good feeling, I couldn't find good lines and I struggled. I pushed hard but all I did was tire myself out.
I also found things tough in the enduro test. But day two was great. I hope I can carry my winning result into my home race next weekend."
Fabrizio Dini (UFO Corse Yamaha) Enduro 2 class - Day 1 10th Day 2 15th:
"This is my third year in the World Enduro Championship and the GP of Wales has been the hardest enduro race I've done. But it's been a good race. It was a real challenge on day one simply to remain on time and not collect any penalties, which I managed to do.
In the enduro test I had a problem with my rear mousse because it came out and I had to push the bike to the finish. I changed it at the time control but I lost a lot of time in that special test. The second day was also tough but I didn't have any big problems. I enjoyed the race but it was very difficult."
Circuit Length: n/a
Crowd: 8000
Weather: Changeable
2008 Enduro 2 Great Britain 21/07/2008 Race 1
1 Juha Salminen KTM FIN 52'30.260
3 Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 2'8.480
4 Paul Edmondson Honda GBR 3'15.320
5 Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 3'21.650
6 Nicolas Paganon Aprilia FRA 3'56.130
7 Jari Juha Mattila Honda FIN 4'2.660
8 Simo Kirssi BMW FIN 4'29.520
9 Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 4'54.130
10 Fabrizio Dini Yamaha ITA 6'46.580
11 Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 7'11.660
12 Nicolas Deparrois GasGas FRA 7'16.410
13 Rudy Cotton Beta FRA 8'22.100
14 Valtteri Salonen HusaBerg FIN 8'54.210
15 Felipe Zanol Yamaha ESP 14'30.110
16 Kevin Murray Yamaha GBR 15'39.080
Race 2
1 Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 48'12.580
2 Juha Salminen KTM FIN 0'45.310
3 David Knight KTM GBR 1'29.370
4 Paul Edmondson Honda GBR 3'26.700
5 Rodrig Thain TM FRA 3'34.690
6 Jari Juha Mattila Honda FIN 3'38.230
7 Nicolas Paganon Aprilia FRA 3'38.730
8 Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 3'45.430
9 Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 3'57.180
10 Simo Kirssi BMW FIN 4'19.290
11 Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 4'48.880
12 Felipe Zanol Yamaha ESP 5'51.860
13 Nicolas Deparrois GasGas FRA 5'55.150
14 Rudy Cotton Beta FRA 6'1.740
15 Fabrizio Dini Yamaha ITA 6'2.880
Rider Standings 19/07/2008
1. Johnny Aubert Yamaha FRA 228
2. Juha Salminen KTM FIN 211
3. Joakim Ljunggren HusaBerg SWE 155
4. Alessandro Belometti KTM ITA 155
5. Rodrig Thain TM FRA 126
6. Fabrizio Dini Yamaha ITA 122
7. Antoine Meo Husqvarna FRA 115
8. Valtteri Salonen HusaBerg FIN 114
9. Simo Kirssi BMW FIN 100
10. Nicolas Paganon Aprilia FRA 91
11. Jari Juha Mattila Honda FIN 88
12. Fabio Mossini Honda ITA 82
13. Alessandro Zanni Honda ITA 78
14. Nicolas Deparrois GasGas FRA 75
15. Felipe Zanol Yamaha ESP 38
Manufacturer Standings 19/07/2008
1. KTM 231
2. Yamaha 228
3. HusaBerg 176
4. Honda 142
5. Husqvarna 140
6. TM 126
7. BMW 119
8. Aprilia 91
9. GasGas 75
10. Beta 36
11. Suzuki 26
Yamaha Racing
