Dominating the race from start to finish, KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Jonny Walker has won the 2013 Red Bull Sea to Sky in Kemer, Turkey.
Set out over three days of competition, Walker was in confident spirits when he arrived in Turkey. A firm favourite for the opening event – the Beach Race – the KTM rider blasted his way to a commanding victory on the Kemer shoreline. Starting the 20-āminute race inside the top five, he sliced his way to the head of the field by the end of lap one. Getting stronger and stronger in the deep sand, he eased his way to victory.
On day two it was the turn of the Forest Race. The finishing order would determine the starting position for the weekend’s main event – the Mountain Race. As the first rider to be flagged away, Walker pushed hard to open up a lead. Enjoying the fast, flowing, and technical course, he topped the classification and moved one step closer to winning the all-āimportant Mountain Race.
Riders who lined up on the beach for the Mountain Race faced a 50km race to the finish line, located on the 2365m high summit of the towering Olympus Mountain. Eager to dictate the pace from the beginning, Walker grabbed the holeshot and began his charge for victory. At the halfway stage, his unrelenting pace saw him increase his advantage over a chasing Graham Jarvis to almost three minutes. Despite losing time on the tricky Dark Canyon climb, he held onto the lead as the duo began the long climb to the summit. Refusing to be beaten, Jonny dug deep and increased his pace further. Edging away from Jarvis, Walker crossed the finish line as the new Red Bull Sea to Sky champion.
Jonny Walker: “I’m so happy to have won. Honestly, I have no words to describe how I’m feeling. I wanted this win so much. Up until now I’ve had a disappointing season and I was determined to turn it around here in Turkey. Winning the Beach Race set me on the right track. For the Forest Race I felt very comfortable with the terrain and pushed at about 80 per cent. That victory gave me a lot of confidence leading into the Mountain Race. I focused on getting a good start and as soon as I got into the lead I rode at my maximum. I made one mistake at the Dark Canyon and Jarvis caught me again. But I refused to lose and gave it everything I had over the mountain stretch to win. It’s an incredible feeling to be back on top of the podium again. This win means a lot and hopefully it’s the start of more to come.”
Results – Red Bull Sea to Sky 2013, Mountain Race
1. Jonny Walker (KTM); 2. Graham Jarvis (Husaberg); 3. Alfredo Gomez (Husaberg); 4. Andreas Lettenbichler (Husqvarna); 5. Philipp Scholz (KTM)…
