On The Pegs November 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 11 | Page 88

On The Pegs
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On The Pegs
INTERVIEW:
Josep Garcia
Vol. 3 Issue 11 - November 2018
P 91
Dominating the Hawkstone Park Cross-Country, Spain’s Josep Garcia
(KTM) jumped from fifth to third in the World Enduro Super Series to be-
come a serious title contender with just two rounds remaining. Claiming a
start-to-finish victory at round six, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider
finally got to display his impressive raw speed as he stormed his way to a
commanding win at the Original Fast Eddy Cross-Country.
Now, with two rounds left in this year’s inaugural WESS championship, the
Spaniard feels he’s hitting his stride at just the right time to challenge for
the title of ULTIMATE ENDURO CHAMPION…
The New World Enduro Super Series Title Contender
Congratulations Josep, winning both days at the Hawkstone Park Cross-
Country must feel like the perfect weekend — it couldn’t have gone any
better for you?
Josep Garcia: “Yes, it has really been the perfect weekend. Winning both days
and then securing my first victory in WESS is amazing. I’ve been waiting for this
moment all season and at this stage in the championship it’s a result that gives
me a lot of motivation heading into the final two rounds in Sweden and the Neth-
erlands.”
In Saturday’s Fast Eddy Sprint Enduro you came out swinging, taking a 12
second lead on the opening Enduro test. Was that the objective, to stamp
your authority on the event?
“I just wanted to say to everyone that I am here and show that I’m in the battle
for this championship. I pushed hard from the very beginning of Saturday and
when I ended the opening Enduro test with a 12 second lead I knew then it could
be a winning weekend. Being able to build that advantage throughout Satur-
day gave me more confidence going into Sunday knowing that my speed was
strong.”
You took the holeshot in Sunday’s Original Fast Eddy Cross-Country race
and were never headed. Was it the ‘perfect race’?
“As races go it was pretty much as good as it gets. I knew the holeshot would
be crucial because of the mud on the Motocross track. I wanted to lead lap one,
stay clean and have a clear run through the woods. It worked and I pulled a gap
of about 20 seconds on lap one. I kept pushing at maximum effort until the pit
stop, to build as much as an advantage as possible. My team were great and they
kept me updated on how the race was going and I could use that to gauge the
gap back to Nathan (Watson) and Billy (Bolt). I had a couple of small crashes but