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RESULTS SERVICE
’07 World Enduro Championship – round 1: Ostersund, Sweden 17-18/3/2006
Electraction TM UK rider Jake Stapleton recorded mixed results at the opening round of the ’07 World Enduro Championship staged in Ostersund, Sweden where he disappointingly failed to finish the opening day of the event due to a de-railed chain before going on to place fifth in the Enduro Junior class on day two.
Knowing that the series’ opening event would be both anything but easy and well suited to all Scandinavian riders competing in this year’s EJ championship Jake arrived in Sweden optimistic of a good result following many months of training in preparation for the new season. Opting to compete on a 125cc two-stroke for ’07 as opposed to the quarter litre two-stroke he’s competed on during the last two seasons, Jake, like many other non-Scandinavians, struggled to gel with the snow covered conditions on day one while Swedish and Finnish riders filled the top positions in the EJ class results. Running into problems with his rear break before breaking his gear lever, Jake was then forced out of the first day’s competition when his chain de-railed, breaking several spokes in his rear wheel.
With the weather cold and the ground frozen on day two Jake decided to try and learn from those that knew exactly what they were doing and at every opportunity copied the actions of the Scandinavian riders in his class. Although not really sure what he was doing differently Jake proved to be much more competitive than he had been on day one before his troubles and went on to place fifth.
Jake Stapleton: “The first day didn’t start that well and then it got worse. I was struggling in the long ruts, I thought I was going ok but I just wasn’t on the pace. I had a problem with my rear brake, lost my gear lever, and then de-railed my chain, which ended my day. When the chain came off it wrapped itself around the rear wheel and broke a load of the spokes. I had to pull out so I could get it fixed for day two or I would have had troubles with it.
“On day two I tried to follow the Finnish riders as often as I could follow them in the control sections, to try and learn from them. I’m not sure what I changed but I felt better and my result was also better. I pushed as hard as I could and finished fifth, which I’m pleased with. I’m just looking forward to getting to Spain and Portugal now.”
2007 World Enduro Championship Rnd 1
Grand Prix of Sweden – Day 1
DNF
2007 World Enduro Championship Rnd 1
Grand Prix of Sweden – Day 2
1. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 1.11:28.89; 2. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1.14:26.48; 3. Olli Turma (KTM) 1.15:08.91; 4. Antti Hellsten (Husqvarna) 1.15:52.20; 5. Jake Stapleton (Electraction TM) 1.16:08.98; 6. Jari Pulkkinen (KTM) 1.16:11.76; 7. Ricard Wressel (Husaberg) 1.16:35.62; 8. Fredrik Kvarnstrom (KTM) 1.17:04.59; 9. Patrick Wikman (KTM) 1.17:08.76; 10. Tomas Jansson (KTM) 1.17:28.82; 11. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 1.17:28.96; 12. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1.18:06.27; 13. Oriol Mena (Yamaha) 1.18:18.50; 14. Fredrick Berg (KTM) 1.18:27.05; 15. Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) 1.18:41.01; 16. Erik Luthstrom (KTM) 1.18:49.88; 17. Sebastian Adielsson (Honda) 1.19:22.81; 18. Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas) 1.19:32.02; 19. Lucas Puerta (KTM) 1.19:48.32; 20. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 1.20:16.08
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