On The Pegs May 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 5

On The Pegs What is it about the World Enduro Super Series that essentially enticed you out of retirement for 2018? “To be honest I’ve been waiting for a championship like this for years. I think WESS is the real enduro series I’ve been looking for. Personally, I feel that this is what Enduro needs — this is what our sport needs to advance. Enduro has so many individual disciplines, so I think this will be a series for the real all- round off-road racer. It fits a rider who can ride technical terrain or go sixth gear flat out down a beach. I first heard about WESS six months after I retired, and when I was told the series would be a reality for 2018 I had to get back racing. I was still riding for fun then and felt competitive. I’m still willing to go out on the race track and give it 100 per cent to win” What appeals to you about the World Enduro Super Series? “I love the concept. The calendar offers a varied mix of events starting in rocky Portugal and ending on the beach in The Netherlands with Classic Enduro, Hard Enduro and Cross-Country racing in-between. Of course, I’m known for Superenduro and Hard Enduro but I would like to see more Classic Enduro events added as the series progresses. I’ve done a lot of Classic Enduro events over the years and I love the discipline. Vol. 3 Issue 5 - May 2018 P 33 I think WESS will be a massive series. We’ve seven rounds this year but it has potential to grow.” For many, Classic Enduro sits at the heart of Enduro. What makes it spe- cial for you? “It’s the pure sprint aspect of timed special test racing that makes Clas- sic Enduro special for me. In all other disciplines you race your competitors side-by-side on the track at the same time, whereas with Classic Enduro it’s head-to-head against the clock. You are basically riding with 100 per cent commitment to go as fast as you can during each special test. It’s a cool way of racing that has so much history attached to it — it’s something that shouldn’t be forgotten about.” This will be your first time competing at the Trèfle Lozérien AMV, what do you know about it? “The Trèfle Lozérien AMV is a big event and means so much to the French fans. It’s going to be hard competing against some of the grass track spe- cialists but that’s also the challenge of WESS — adapting to different disci- plines as best you can. I haven’t really raced outdoors in France for a number of years, so I’m looking forward to do- ing that again.”

On The Pegs May 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 5 | Page 33