The 2011 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship began in spain this weekend, and Mika Ahola came out on top. Ahola won both races in Ponts, Spain, giving the Honda HM Zanardo team a perfect 50 point start to the 2011 season.
This is Ahola's rookie season in the E3 class this year, but you wouldn't be able to tell by his performance.
"When I walked the special I was thinking that it looked like my kind of race and was feeling really positive about things," said Ahola. "It was natural and fast and my sort of terrain."
Things were made a little easier when defending champion David Knight took a spill on day 1. Knight had to watch from the sidelines as Ahola ran away with both race victories.
With Knight on the sidelines, Ahola saw his biggest challenge coming from French competitor Christophe Nambotin. Nambotin finished second during both races, but was never really a threat to Ahola. Nambotin finished 13 seconds behind during race 1, and 27 seconds behind during race two.
"I knew the French guys on two-strokes would be fast but Nambotin's pace really surprised me," Ahola said. "With Knight out of the picture for the time being, I think he will be my strongest competitor throughout the first part of the season."
The series will now head to Portugal for the second round of the World Enduro Championship.
World Enduro Standings
- Mika Ahola - 50
- Christophe Nambotin - 44
- Sebastien Guillaume - 38
- Oriol Mena - 33
- Marko Tarkkala - 33
- Joakim Ljunggren - 31
- Marcus Kehr - 28
- Alessandro Botturi - 25
- Maurizio Micheluz - 22
- Juan Perez de la Torre - 22
