Husaberg Extreme Racing Team’s Graham Jarvis has returned to the top step of yet another Hard Enduro event, securing victory in the Extreme XL Paredes in Portugal – team-mate Alfredo Gomez ended the race in third.
Ending their first Hard Enduro season on a high, the Husaberg Extreme Racing Team enjoyed double podium success in Portugal. As defending champion of the event formally known as Extreme XL Lagares, Jarvis arrived to the event confident of a winning result following his near miss at the 2013 Red Bull Sea to Sky. But with a strong line up of riders competing, the world’s best Hard Enduro rider knew he wouldn’t have it easy.
With a Saturday night prologue determining the starting order for Sunday’s main event, it was Gomez that set the fastest time around the endurocross styled course to claim pole position. But in the showcase Super Final, a mistake from Gomez allowed Jarvis to sneak through for the race win.
With the main event starting at 12.30hrs, Gomez claimed an early lead in the race. Perfectly managing the opening section, he held a slight advantage over Jarvis and Dougie Lampkin as the leading trio quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
Finding his rhythm on the technical sections, Jarvis worked his way past Gomez and set about opening up a lead. But with Gomez determined to keep his team-mate in sight, the Husaberg rider was unable to pull away. Continuing his unrelenting pace, Jarvis eventually stretched his advantage over Gomez to finally secure victory by over four minutes.
Looking on course to finish as runner-up to Jarvis, Gomez ran into trouble in the final stages of the race. Lacking full fitness due to his recent wrist injury, the Spaniard crashed on a tricky rocky climb. Losing time, he slipped back to end his race third overall behind Lampkin.
The Husaberg Extreme Racing Team duo of Jarvis and Gomez now travel to Ecuador in South America to compete in the Ukupacha Extreme on October 19/20.
“Securing a double podium result has been a great end to our Hard Enduro season as a team,” says Xavi Galindo, Husaberg Extreme Racing Team Manager.
“Both Jarvis and Gomez rode an incredible race in what were extremely demanding conditions. After disappointingly missing out on winning the Red Bull Sea to Sky, Jarvis was determined to succeed in Portugal.
“He followed Gomez early on in the race and then took over the lead. Once out front, he controlled his advantage and claimed the win. Despite only just recovering from his recent wrist injury, Gomez impressed by setting the fastest time in Saturday’s qualification. For him, the main race went well – he led early on and then remained close to Jarvis for most of it. Unfortunately, he made a small mistake towards the end and lost out on the runner-up result.”
