Samuli Aro wins E3 World Championship title; Manufacturer's title to KTM

2008-10-12 10:59
KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Samuli Aro on Sunday secured the E3 World title with a weekend that yielded him a second and fourth place in the final round of the 2008 racing season.

The Finnish KTM factory rider picked up an additional 40 points from his two rides, vaulting his total to 328 ahead of teammate and countryman Marko Tarkkala with 317 points, making it a great weekend for the team. The final round also secured a strong victory in the Manufacturer's title in E3 for KTM's "Made in Austria" Enduro motorcycles.

Aro and Tarkkala end season on high note
"Samuli was really back in form this weekend," said team boss Fabio Farioli. "He was really fast and he wanted to win the title very much. Also Marko did a great job this weekend with a first place on Saturday and a third on Sunday to finish second in the championships." Farioli expressed his pleasure in the KTM factory team's result and said he was looking forward to the 2009 hunt for titles in this exciting offroad sport.

The Grand Prix AMV of Europe, the final of the eight round season was held in Mende, in the south of central France where Enduro sport is followed with great enthusiasm and the terrain offers a range of challenges to the riders.

E3 Results Day One
1. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
2. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
3. Fabien Planet, France, KTM
4. Antoine Letellier, France, Aprilia
5. Markus Kehr, Germany, KTM

Day 2 Results
1.Stefan Merriman, Australia, Aprilia
2. Antoine Letellier, France, Aprilia
3. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
4. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
5. Alessandro Botturi, Italy, Honda

Final Championship standings
1. Samuli Aro, Finland KTM, 328 - World Champion
2. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM, 317 - Vice World Champion
3. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna, 298
4. Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas, 297

Manufacturer's Title
1. KTM, 355 Points
2. Husqvarna, 298
3. Gas Gas, 297




Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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