In front of an audience of 10,500 spectators, Blazusiak proved to all that he is fully recovered from his shoulder injury to win Heat 1 and Heat 3 of the main event.
Knowing that a good start would ensure a solid result, Blazusiak beat his rivals to the first corner in Heat 1. Instantly laying down a series of fast laps, the KTM rider rapidly extended his lead over his rivals to take a 24-second margin of victory.
Behind him the race for second was fought out between Antoine Meo (KTM) and Ivan Cervantes (KTM). Pressuring Meo throughout the 10-lap final the Spaniard eventually found a way past his teammate to secure second. With Meo finishing third, Gomez took third.
However, the biggest story of the race was David Knight. Severely hampered by his starting gate failing to drop, Knight was forced to fight his way through the field. Carving a rapid path of progress through the field, he eventually worked his way up to fifth.
Good starts were crucial in Barcelona... © Edmunds / Enduro21.com
Determined to prove a point, Knight faired better in the reversed start order for Heat 2. Trailing Gas Gas’ Rodrig Thain on lap one, the Manxman took control of the lead and quickly checked out.
With Thain eventually fading back to seventh, Gomez worked his way past the Frenchman to take second. Although struggling to work his way through the field during the opening couple of laps, Blazusiak gradually improved his pace in the final few laps to steal third from Jonny Walker (KTM). Kornel Nemeth (KTM) completed the top five.
With the normal start order resumed for the third and final heat of the night, Blazusiak again grabbed the holeshot. Untroubled, he delivered 10 perfect laps to take the win.
Proving himself to be an incredibly fast leaner of SuperEnduro, Hungary’s Kornel Nemeth was the standout performer from Heat 3. Batting with Walker during the first half of the race, Nemeth finally found a way past the young British rider to take second.
With Walker unable to fend off the attack from Nemeth, he eventually ended the race in third. Suffering from his second bad start of the evening, Knight secured fourth overall. Cervantes capped off a strong ride with fifth overall.
Gomez gave Spain a Spanish podium... © Edmunds / Enduro21.com
In the Enduro Junior class it was Gas Gas’ Danny McCanney that lead the way. In the reversed start order for Heat 1, McCanney quickly hit the front of the field following his second row start. Setting a pace that few could match, the young Manxman took a commanding 15-second win in the nine-lap race. Husaberg’s Johan Edlund remained trouble free to take second with Magnus Thor (KTM) placing third.
In the second and final Heat of the night, McCanney again grabbed an early lead. Now feeling confident in the slippery track conditions, McCanney secured the win to take the overall victory on the night and with it lead the championship with just one round remaining.
Making amends from his crash stricken Heat 1, Italy’s Giacomo Redondi (KTM) finished as runner up to McCanney. Again delivering a consistent ride, Edlund claimed third place.
The 2013 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship concludes with round three in Tours, France on March 9.
FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Rd 2
Overall Results
SuperEnduro
1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 54pts; 2. David Knight (KTM) 41pts; 3. Alfredo Gomez (Husaberg) 36pts; 4. Kornel Nemeth (KTM) 34pts; 5. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 33pts; 6. Jonny Walker (KTM) 30pts; 7. Thomas Oldrati (Husaberg) 24pts; 8. Rodrig Thain (Gas Gas) 19pts; 9. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 18pts; 10. Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna) 15pts…
Stay tuned for Enduro21's own video highlights from Barcelona coming shortly...
