MxLarge Story
Aro and Tarkkala shine in Swedish snow
Press release Monday 17th March 2008 By PRKTM
"It was a great weekend for me and I was really surprised that everything went so well," said an elated Aro after securing his second win in two days. "It is different to be on the two-stroke bike and the lines are not the same so I am very satisfied with my start to the season.
Aro and Tarkkala both have a proven track record so the early success on conditions that are very familiar to them should carry through when they reach the next round in Vale de Cambra in Portugal in March 29-30.
Conditions for Sunday's race were similar to Saturday with temperatures around 2 decrees Celsius. Parts of the course were changed on Sunday because of the heavy snow, while in other places the thaw had already set in making no shortage of mud to deal with.
KTM factory rider Juha Salminen sent a strong signal to the opposition in the E2 class on Sunday in Oestersund Sweden when he bettered his third place from Saturday to top the podium. Salminen, who completely dominated the E1 class last season took third place in the opening race on Saturday said he felt very much more comfortable on Sunday.
"Before this weekend I haven't raced since November and it takes a while to get the feeling back," the Finnish rider said. "Yesterday I just couldn't find my rhythm but it was already much better today and the bike is really perfect."
Riders faced difficult conditions with some parts of the course still covered in deep snow but the surface underneath already melting.
"It was a winter race but there were still a lot of bumps and mud in the Enduro test," Salminen said.
He now returns home to Finland briefly before heading to Portugal for the two events on the Iberian Peninsular. Salminen's teammate Italian Alessandro Belometti, who did not enjoy the same benefit of riding on familiar terrain as the Scandinavian riders, put in a solid weekend and a good start to the season with seventh place on each day.
Results Day Two Oestersund: 1. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM 2. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM 3. Bjorne Carlsson, Sweden, Husaberg 4. Anders Eriksson, Sweden, BMW 5. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
Results Day Two 1. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM 2. Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg 3. Johnny Aubert, France, Yamaha 4. Valtteri Salonen, Finland, Husaberg 5. Jari Mattila, Finland, Honda 7. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
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