With a little more than a month before the start of the 2017 SuperEnduro season, we begin to take a closer look at the teams...
Last weekend, KTM and Husqvarna announced the four riders who will be part of the Grading List (each team is allowed only two riders in this list). On the KTM side, we therefore find the usual Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL) and Jonny WALKER (GB), while over at Andreas HOLZL’s Husqvarna Factory Team, World Champion Colton HAAKER (USA) will represent alongside… Pascal RAUCHENECKER (AUT)!
KTM Factory team’s line-up is unsurprising since WALKER was able to complete a brilliant season in 2016 (3rd) despite a serious injury to his fibula at the penultimate round in the Czech Republic. While BLAZUSIAK, six times world champion, will always be one of the favorites for the title.
At Husqvarna, the return of HAAKER makes perfect sense as he is carrying the "number 1” plate, but the inclusion of the Austrian Pascal RAUCHENECKER is a big surprise. New to Enduro (he has only just completed his first EnduroGP season, albeit with an encouraging 18th place), it will be interesting to find out if his skills transfer to SuperEnduro.
KTM, like Husqvarna, will hope to have the odds stacked in their favor to win the title on March 18th, 2017 at the final round of the championship; Exhibition Park, Albi (France). We already know that Cody WEBB (USA - KTM) will not be present all the SEWC races this season - just like his compatriot Taylor ROBERT (USA - KTM), who will focus on EnduroGP in 2017. What about the two Spaniards, Alfredo GOMEZ and Mario ROMAN, 5th and 6th in 2016? Previously in the grading list for both KTM and Husqvarna, will they come back for more?
More news and surprises in the coming days... Stay tuned!
