The first round of the Turkish Enduro Championship kicked off in Bodrum last weekend, delivering a few surprises. 82 riders took to the start, which is a record for the Turkish enduro series, and included one female competitor and one English rider – the first to compete in the championship.

All the top contenders were competing, including Fethiye’s 2011 Champion – Taurus Trax’s Serkan Osdemir, who was the focus of attention. The course was one of the hardest used to date with two long enduro tests and a spectator friendly extreme test, which proved to be the deciding factor as far as the events results were concerned.

Saturday at 3 o’clock all eyes were on the super special test. The test was not super hard but had plenty of places where riders could make mistakes. Being just two minuets long it meant every second would count. After 70 riders had been through local boy Mustafa Ozkeskin took to the start, the 2011 champ opting to wait until last to make his qualifying run.

Serkan left the start fast and was looking good until midway through the test, then as can happen with super tests it all went wrong! Crashing twice meant he would qualify way back in 38th place. With the following day’s enduro tests being very tight, Ozdemir was forced to pass at least eight or nine riders in each test. It ended up being a hard day for the reining champ.

As the four laps of the course unfolded on Sunday Mustafa kept his cool, riding faultlessly. Kunter Kuscu and Burak Ozdemir kept up the pressure and were never more than a few seconds apart. Serkan Ozdemir was also on a mission, tearing through the field on every tests passing up to nine riders and looked likely of a top three finish, but in the end it proved impossible and he settled for a safe fourth.

Results – Turkish Enduro Championship Round 1, Bodrum.

1. Mustafa Ozkeskin.

2. Burak Ozdemir

3. Kunter Kuscu