Ivan Cervantes, the Spanish rider in the KTM Enduro Factory Racing Team on Saturday wrapped up his E3 season in a blaze of glory in St. Flour, France with a third place in round 15 to take the World Championship title ahead of the final round on Sunday.
His third place on Saturday gave Cervantes the unbeatable edge and the title, allowing him to coast home in Sunday’s final race to close off what has been a great season for him and his team. It was the second world championship title for KTM Enduro Factory Racing after Johnny Aubert won the E2 title last weekend in Serres, Greece.
By sealing the title on Saturday, Cervantes spoiled the party on home turf for his two French rivals Christophe Nambotin and Sebastien Guillaume on their home ground. He finished second in E1 World Championship last season and went on in the winter to win the Indoor World Championship and in doing so achieved his stated goal for the season. Of the 15 rounds held so far in what is a gruelling and difficult series of races, Cervantes topped the podium in 10 rounds and took three minor podium places.
KTM Enduro Factory Racing’s boss Fabio Farioli was understandably pleased to be celebrating the team’s second world championship title in two weeks and was generous in his praise for both Cervantes and the whole team. "We did a great job," he said. "Ivan went out today very concentrated and he knew he had to control Nambotin to be able to wrap up the title. He had to attack but at the same time he had to make no mistakes and not take any risks and he managed to do that. The race was long and very difficult, just as the French races are always," he added.
Cervantes, 27, who is passionate about sandy and difficult tracks like those at home in Spain, first rode for KTM in 2000 on a 125cc machine in contrast to his 530 EXC on which he took the E3 title on Saturday.
