Germany extend Vintage Veteran Trophy lead on FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy (EVT) day two in sandy Poland tests as defending champions Italy and Team USA go out with a mechanical issues.

The second day of racing at the FIM EVT in Piekoszów, Poland, proved an eventful one. With competitors facing a long and challenging sandy course, featuring 130 kilometres of riding and six special tests, it became a race of attrition for many.

The biggest casualties of the day were Italy, who exited the Vintage Veteran Trophy competition. The defending champions saw their bid for a fourth consecutive title come to an end when Giorgio Grasso suffered a mechanical after the fourth special test.

Other challengers in this year’s Vintage Veteran Trophy competition, the United States and Portugal, also failed to see all their team riders reach the finish on day two.

Germany adds to their race lead on day two

At the front of the race, it was Germany in control. Led home on day two by Uwe Weber, they extended their race lead over France in second.

With Germany comfortably out front, France were chased hard by the Czech Republic in third. Lubomir Vojkuvka pushed to keep them in contention, and with another difficult day expected tomorrow, they will continue to pressure their French rivals for the runner-up result.

Home favourites Poland was another nation who enjoyed today’s conditions, working their way from 10th to fourth overall. The Netherlands complete the top five.

Competing on the Swiss team, Bernard Christophe was full of compliments for the opening day of riding. Switzerland is currently seventh overall. “It was a great day of Enduro,” says Christophe, who is racing a 1973 Husqvarna WR 250. “The course was about perfect for classic Enduro. The tracks were nice, we rode a lot in the forest and on singletrack between the trees. The Enduro Tests were technical, not too easy, with many lines to learn.”

Individual honours

In the individual scratch results of the Vintage Veteran Trophy, it was the United States’ Fred Hoess who led everyone home on day two. Hoess took the day win by twenty-two seconds over Germany’s Bert Von Zitzewitz, with Czech Republic’s Lubomir Vojkuvka third.

Changes at the top of the Silver Vase competition on day two

In the Vintage Silver Vase category, Pantera 1 moved to the top of the standings at the end of day two, ahead of Moto Club Team Italia in second. With very little to separate the duo, tomorrow’s Day Three will be telling.

MC Bergamo MX Line Team hold third overall and are close enough to the leaders to capitalise on any mistakes made. Moto Club Scuderia Norelli dropped out the top three to fourth, while France Enduro Vintage round out the top five. Day One winners Team Kramer slipped to sixth but will look to recover time lost tomorrow.

Italy lead Vintage Club class

In the Vintage Club class, Italy’s US Leonessa D’Italia 1903 took control of the race lead on day two with a thrilling performance. The Czech Classic Enduro Team Club 1 moved up to second, with Germany Club 4 in third.

The fight for the final step of the podium is proving close, with Germany Club 9 and KBS Team Praha 1 right behind them in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Trophy class results:

Individual scratch times:

Silver Vase Results:

Tomorrow’s day three will see riders on the same 130km course and six tests, settling the running order head of Saturday’s final motocross test and the podium.

For event information and live results go to www.ktmnovi.com plus the EVT official Instagram account @fim_enduro_vintage for daily event coverage.

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi