This is not Canada! It might well look like it, or somewhere in Scandinavia, but it’s actually the opening round of the 2012 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship, that took place not too far from London. When the BSEC season opener was held during the second weekend of February, the tail end of the Serbian weather storm that plagued most of Europe hit Britain. Although the show went on, temperatures plummeted below zero on race day.

Frenchman, Johnny Aubert arrived in Britain to use the event as a crucial test session ahead of his assault on this year’s Enduro World Championship. The race proved a successful one for Aubert as he topped both the Elite and overall classification at round one. Claiming Elite victory by almost 30 seconds, Johnny showed he’s lost none of his speed having spent much of January competing in the Dakar Rally.

Following a disappointing season aboard KTM’s 350 EXC in 2010, Aubert has an extra 100cc to play with this year as he returns to his much loved KTM 450 EXC. Looking incredibly smooth and relaxed around the very slippery special test, Johnny made it perfectly clear that he’s determined to deliver the goods when the EWC season kicks off in Chile next month.

Aubert wasn’t the only EWC regular in the BSEC paddock. With World Championship competitors David Knight, Ricky Dietrich, Danny McCanney, Jamie McCanney and Alex Rockwell along with EWC part timers Taddy Blazusiak, Jonny Walker, Jordan Rose, Jordan Scott and Gordon Clarke taking to the start line, the BSEC saw one of the most stacked rider line ups in Britain since the WEC Welsh GP of 2008.

Although winning round one outright, Johnny faced a strong challenge from some of the series’ younger racers. Clinching the fastest time in three out of five special tests, it was the Manx McCanney brothers that where the double world champion’s closest challengers. Jamie, the younger of the two, put his Husaberg at the top of the standings at the end of the opening lap while Gas Gas mounted Danny was fastest on lap three.