Getting proceedings underway, the super test, located adjacent to the EWC paddock, provided a perfect opportunity for riders to test the slippery grassy surface that they will no doubt face during the weekend. With the forecasted rain shower holding out until midway through Enduro 2, the final category of the evening, the super test provided a welcome start to the weekend.

Team Armee de Terre rider Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha) got his GP of Euskadi off to a perfect start by setting the absolute fastest time of the evening. Topping the overall classification and now heading Enduro 1, Bourgeois made short work of the slippery fast course. Current championship leader, Antoine Meo (KTM) finished just seven hundredths of a second behind his fellow Frenchman to secure a strong start to his weekend. HM Honda’s Simone Albergoni pipped KTM’s Eero Remes to grab third while Bordone Ferrari’s Thomas Oldrati completed the top five.

As one of the first Enduro 2 riders to start the super test, Jeremy Tarroux (KTM) capitalised on avoiding the heavy rain shower to secure an early class lead. Husaberg’s Pela Renet ended his evening second fastest heading third place Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) by six tenths of a second. Julien Gauthier (Kawasaki) was fourth with Spanish favourite Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas) in fifth.

Husaberg's Mathias Bellino launches in the super test arena ©Enduro21.com

Continuing his winning form from South America, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) is the early leader in Enduro 3. Finding the slippery grass course to his liking, Nambotin will be hoping to continue his lead of Enduro 3 and claim his fifth victory of the series. Spain’s Oriol Mena (Husaberg) got his home race off to a strong start with the second fastest time and pushed KTM’s David Knight back into third. With Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) fourth, Spain’s Aaron Bernardez (TM) placed fifth.

Frenchman Mathias Bellino (Husaberg) was fastest in Enduro Junior placing almost one second clear of Yamaha’s Kevin Rohmer. Britain’s Alex Rockwell’s (Husaberg) switch to two-stroke machinery in the EWC has paid off with the third fastest time in the super test. KTM’s Victor Guerrero was fourth with Arnau Sola (Yamaha) in fifth.

Giacomo Redondi (KTM) set the fastest time in the 125 Youth Cup while Ludivine Puy (Gas Gas) beat her teammate Laia Sanz to grab an early lead in the Womens Cup.

With two physically demanding days of racing expected, the GP of Euskadi begins in earnest tomorrow morning, May 6.

Ludivine Puy heads the Womens Cup ©Enduro21.com