NAfter several previous attempts had failed, ASA Mons finally signed for the first Enduro of Mons last Sunday. The troubles of the past years probably meant that only 137 riders were at the start in Ghlin. But those who stayed home were wrong this time. The organizing club managed to set out an interesting course, which was crowned with a spectacular and long special on the motorcross circuit of le Bois brûlé.
Inters: Strong Gauniaux
Ex-cross rider Cédric Cremer started the race strongly and immediately set the best time during the first passage of the special. Behind the KTM Belgium rider were Goblet, Gauniaux, Vanderheyden and Thierry Klutz. The latter would have to abandon the race after the first round due to engine problems. The next laps went to Kevin Gauniaux, who took the lead. In the meantime, there was also a row between Jean-François Goblet and Adrien Vandommele. The starting order was such that Goblet had to start between the Promised riders, which hindered the D'Ieteren Sport Yamaha rider somewhat.
A late charge from Cédric Cremer, which resulted in a best time during the last passage, could not prevent Kevin Gauniaux from taking the scratch victory. So Cremer became 2e but did beat Goblet in the E2. Wim Vanderheyden fell just short of the scratch podium with a third place and sees how Gauniaux is getting closer to the E3 title. In E1, Roel Verpoorten had to give up Jerôme Martiny this time after two consecutive class victories. It must be said that Martiny still combines the BK Enduro with motocross at the AMPL Inters and therefore probably felt at home on the cross circuit.
Promises: podium for Van Looveren.
Bob Van Looveren was probably the man of the match for the Beloften. The Wuustwezel native made his debut in the BK Enduro this year and had to pay a learning fee during the first competitions. “Soepelen Bob” disappeared early from the race in both Estinnes and Esneux. Things did not initially go well for Van Looveren in Mons either. During the first lap he had carburetion problems and therefore only set the fifth fastest time on the special. The only Flemish in the group had to let Vandommele, Fred Gauniaux, Steve Goblet and Thierry Wansart go first. In the second round Van Looveren appeared to be doing quite well. His great time on the special would have even been enough for second place at the Inters. Van Looveren also went fastest in the third lap. In the last round he had to tolerate Adrien Vandommele, which cost him the victory at the Beloften. Nevertheless, it was Van Looveren's name that was on many lips. Remarkable: the first four Promises in the final standings all rode a two-stroke engine.
Results Mons:
Inters Scratch: 1. Kevin Gauniaux, 2. Cédric Cremer, 3. Jean-François Goblet, 4. Wim Vanderheyden, 5. Michael Vukcevic, 6. Jerôme Martiny, 7. Roel Verpoorten, 8. Tom Frison, 9. Bertrand Bailleux, 10. Jeremie Frasellle, 11. Christophe Pierson, 12. Julien Chilese, 13. Steve Chantrenne
Inters E1: 1. Jerôme Martiny, 2. Roel Verpoorten, 3. Christophe Pierson, 4. Steve Chantrenne
Inters E2: 1. Cédric Cremer, 2. Jean-François Goblet, 3. Michael Vuckcevic, 4. Tom Frison, 5. Julien Chilese
Inters E3: 1. Kevin Gauniaux, 2. Wim Vanderheyden, 3. Bertrand Bailleux, 4. Jeremie Fraselle
Promises Scratch: 1. Adrien Vandommele, 2. Bob Van Looveren, 3. Frédéric Gauniaux, 4. Steve Goblet, 5. Thierry Wansart, 6. Corentin Pochez, 7. Johan Peffer, 8. Maxime Faias Conuto, 9. Sébastien Jadouille, 10. Florent Lacroix, 11. Maxime Vindevogel, 12. Maxime Rovrive, 13. Nicolas Charlier