Cross Test

Aigar Leok, E3 (TM): “This weekend Enduro 3 starts first so we will be the first riders into the test. At the moment the grass is quite wet and that should make it very slippery on the first lap. With no lines to follow it will be difficult to make a fast time without any major mistakes. However the ground is also quite soft in places so it will cut up quickly and as the day continues there will be some really deep ruts in the corners. I think the most important part will be to have a clean opening test and then let it hang out once the ruts form.”

Enduro Test

Ivan Cervantes E2 (Gas Gas): “I feel the enduro test will become the most important test of the race. We start off on some grassy sections before entering into the forestry tracks and then end the test with some more grassy sections. The forestry section will be the most part of the test, it’s very long and technical with some slippery off camber tracks in the forest. It becomes tight in places, which will require a lot of concentration to ensure you hit the perfect line. However, the weather will be the most the important factor of the weekend. At the moment the ground is already soft and wet in places, so if the rain comes it will be a difficult race."

Extreme Test

David Knight, E3 (KTM): “At the moment it doesn’t feel like the most difficult extreme test I’ve ever ridden but that will all depend on the weather. If it starts to rain then it will be testing. The test situated in a glen with no manmade sections - it’s completely natural. It follows a path through the glen running up and down some banks, so I expect some deep ruts to form and you’ll need to look out for fresh lines every lap. When I first walked it on Tuesday it was very soft and swampy in places but on Thursday it had dried out a lot.”

So that’s the break down of the special tests for this weekend’s GP of Euskadi in Spain. Conditions are of a complete contrast to that of the season opener in Chile and Argentina and with many riders talking about the weather forecast and the how that will impact the outcome of the race, everyone is gearing up for a physical weekend in the saddle.

Let the racing begin…