Aro moved up from E2 last year to the big bike category where he fought a tough battle with fellow Finn Mika Ahola and the stage has now been set for the two KTM riders to lock horns in the 2008 season.

"Aro and Marko fought a great battle for the lead all the way and they were only a couple of seconds apart going into the second last test," team boss Fabio Farioli said after the race. "It was a good race and a good fight."

Finns at home in snowy conditions KTM's two Finnish riders were really at home in the snowy conditions at Oestersund. Temperatures varied between 2- and minus 2 degrees Celsius on a day where there was no wind, conditions that are expected to prevail for the second race on Sunday.

This is the third year that the Enduro season has opened in Sweden and the winter conditions have now become a standard challenge.

Another KTM factory rider Juha Salminen finished third in the season's opening E2 Enduro race on Saturday in Sweden's Oestersund, the first of two races held in winter conditions.

Salminen of Finland, who moved from E1 where he was the dominant rider and title winner to take up new challenges in the E2 class in 2008. He was lying between sixth and eighth position in the early stages of the race but in characteristic form, worked his way up through the order as the race progressed.

"Salminen was very close to victory in the final stages of the race but then he stalled the bike and had to settle for third place," said team manager Fabio Farioli.

Salminen's teammate Alessandro Belometti of Italy rode consistently and finally finished in seventh place. Winter conditions suit Scandinavian riders

Although temperatures were only around two degrees Celsius and there was a lot of snow on parts of the course, conditions that were well suited to the Scandinavian riders in the field, there as no wind.

Similar conditions are expected for Sunday's race at the same venue. Parts of the course were covered in very heavy snow and the motocross test will be run in reverse on Sunday.

E3 Results: 1. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM 2. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM 3. Bjorne Carlsson, Sweden, Husaberg 4. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna 5. Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas KTM 1-2 in the big bike category in Sweden Tarkkala enjoys winter ride to open season 15.03.

E2 Results 1. Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg 2. Johnny Aubert, France, Yamaha 3. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM 4. Valtteri Salonen, Finland, Husaberg 5. Antonio Meo, France, Husqvarna 7. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM