When it was announced that Christophe Nambotin would be joining KTM for 2012 it was immediately obvious that he would be a serious Enduro 3 title contender. But just how fast would the Frenchman be in his first season on a bike other than a Gas Gas?

For the last couple of years the Frenchman has been knocking on the door of an Enduro 3 world title, but with no luck. Finishing as runner up to both David Knight in 2010 and then Mika Ahola in 2011, Nambotin’s speed has never been in question.

Arriving in Chile for the start of the 2012 championship, the new member of the KTM Enduro Factory Team looked relaxed and well prepared and immediately he got to work.

In the dry and dusty conditions he blitzed his way to a winning start, topping the E3 class on day one of the series. Not only did it mark his first win for his new team, it also marked the first time Christophe had ever won the first day of the Enduro World Championship. Right there he proved to everyone not only his speed but that he was also more than ready to take the E3 title fight to his rivals.

Securing a maximum points haul in South America, he started the GP of Euskadi in Munitibar, Spain as the clear favourite to win again.

In slippery conditions that the Frenchman has always excelled on Christophe delivered a grass track master class. Inch perfect around the all-important enduro test, Nambotin set times nobody could match. Averaging between 20-30 seconds a test faster than his nearest rivals, he left everyone scratching their heads as to what they might be able to do to catch the Frenchman.

Whether the remainder of the season pans out in a similar fashion only time will tell but at the moment it seems Nambotin can do no wrong. With his confidence at an all time high he remains unbeaten in the six days of the championship that have so far passed. Now 24 points clear of his closest competitor, David Knight, with the halfway point in the season yet to be reached, Nambotin already has his sights firmly set on his first EWC crown…