The stars of enduro arrive in Castellon Vinaros, Valencia, for start of the opening round of the 2012 Spanish Enduro Championship…

The opening round of the highly anticipated 2012 Spanish Enduro Championship kicks off in style this weekend, Sunday March 4. Located at the Mediterranean coastal resort of Castellon Vinaros, approximately one-hour north of Valencia, the opening round of the championship represents a final shakedown opportunity for many riders competing in this year’s Enduro World Championship, which starts in South America in less than one month’s time.

With that in mind the 224 riders entered include a large portion of the EWC paddock. Sitting prominent on the list of riders hopeful for a good result are the KTM Enduro Factory riders of Cristobal Guerrero (Spain), Eero Remes (Finland), Taddy Blazusiak (Poland), David Knight (Isle of Man) and Frenchman Johnny Aubert.

Aubert, who recently won the opening round of the 2012 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship arguably starts as favourite this weekend in Spain, but will face many tough challengers. Gas Gas mounted Ivan Cervantes and the 2011 Enduro 1 World Champion Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) are among those also looking to deliver a winning result.

The Valencia event will mark Juha’s 2012 debut on the new TE310 and is a showing he hopes will be a successful one. Other notable entries include Oriol Mena (Husaberg), Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna), Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) and Britain’s Danny McCanney (Gas Gas).

McCanney, the overall winner at round two of the BSEC championship arrives in Spain to mark his first official international outing for he Gas Gas factory team. Showing great promise during both the BSEC and British Enduro Championship, McCanney knows that gaining experience in the dry Spanish tests will be an important part of his weekend, as he builds himself towards the start of the Enduro World Championship.

With organisers laying on three special tests for the 50km loop, racing gets underway at 08.30 Sunday morning.