Regarded as one of the toughest and most physically demanding enduro events in Sweden, the 87th edition of the Novemberkasan continued to live up to its fearful reputation.

First held in 1915, the event sees riders compete in two main events. The opening race begins early on Saturday morning with competitors completing a morning enduro. Following a short three-hour break in the afternoon, riders are then pushed to the limits of their capabilities during the night time race. Fighting their way through forests and swamps of snow and ice in complete darkness, it quickly becomes a race where only the strongest survive.

With temperatures lingering between -4 and -8 degrees Celsius, 133 riders took to the 9am start line of the 2012 Novemberkasan. Determined to secure his fourth victory in the event, Ljunggren made short work of the morning race. Lining up for the afternoon event, the race restarted at 5pm. Untroubled by the worsening conditions, Ljunggren eventually crossed the finish line at 01.45am to claim the win.

Placing over 15 minutes behind the charging Husaberg rider, Honda’s Jakob Morhed finished as the runner up with KTM’s Jonas Karlsson ending his race a further six minutes behind Morhed to complete the top three.

In total only 60 competitors of the original 133 line up made to the finish of this year’s Novemberkasan.

2012 Novemberkasan Results:

1. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 6:14:51.05; 2. Jakob Morhed (Honda) 6:30:10.66; 3. Jonas Karlsson (KTM) 6:36:35.36; 4. Henrik Lindholm (KTM) 6:40:19.46; 5. Calle Bjerkert (Honda) 6:44:45.10…

Images: © Race Magazine / Inge Bergquist