Continuing his fight for the coveted Enduro Junior World Championship title, Johansson Yamaha Junior Enduro Team rider Mikael Persson secured a runner-up result on the first day of competition at a challenging EnduroGP of Portugal. Suffering the effects of an old injury the young Swede was forced to abandon the race on day two.
Featuring long special tests and contested under extremely hot and dry conditions, round six of the 2017 FIM EnduroGP World Championship was a proper test for all competitors. Fresh from his first career victory in the Enduro Junior class Persson entered the event aiming for two equally good results in the under 23 class of the series.
Kicking off his participation to the Portuguese GP in the best possible way, the WR250F mounted rider posted the fastest time in his class during the short opening SuperTest on Friday evening.
Bringing his momentum into the first full day of racing on Saturday, Mikael won four out of nine tests battling for his second victory of the season all the way until the last test of the day. Suffering a few small mistakes Persson had to settle for a well-desered runner-up spot behind his fellow Swede Albin Elowson.
Enjoying a strong start to day two, Mikael won two tests in the first two laps but was unable to finish due to a recurrent shoulder injury. Remaining third in the Enduro Junior’s championship standings, he is now determined to come back stronger in the following round in the United Kingdom.
Set to represent Sweden at the International Six Days Enduro in France from August 28 to September 2, Mikael Persson and the Johansson Yamaha Junior Enduro Team will return to the 2017 FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Hawkstone Park, Great Britain, round seven of the 2017 EnduroGP World Championship on September 23/24.
Results – 2017 FIM EnduroGP World Championship, Round 6, Portugal
Day 1 – Enduro Junior
1. Albin Elowson (SWE), Husqvarna, 1:15:16.09
2. Mikael Persson (SWE), Yamaha, 1:15:22.54, +6.45
3. Davide Soreca (ITA), Honda, 1:16:00.67, +44.58
4. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 1:16:29.13, +1:13.04
5. Anthony Geslin (FRA), Beta, 1:17:05.07, + 1:48.98
6. Kirian Mirabet (ESP), Sherco, 1:17:12.96, +1:56.87
13. Hugo Blanjoue (FRA), Yamaha, 1:18:42.37, +3:26.28
14. Antoine Megain (BEL), Yamaha, 1:19:10.68, +3:54.59
17. Thibaut Passet (FRA), Yamaha, 1:20:21.09, +5:05.00
18. Jean-Baptiste Nicolot (FRA), Yamaha, 1:21:35.42, +6:19.33
Day 2 – Enduro Junior
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 1:16:16.20
2. Albin Elowson (SWE), Husqvarna, 1:16:27.38, +11.18
3. Davide Soreca (ITA), Honda, 1:17:32.99, +1:16.79
4. Kirian Mirabet (ESP), Sherco, 1:17:36.29, +1:20.09
5. Anthony Geslin (FRA), Beta, 1:17:44.73, +1:28.53
6. Emanuele Fachetti (ITA), TM, 1:18:59.89, +2:43.69
7. Jean-Baptiste Nicolot (FRA), Yamaha, 1:19:18.23, +3:02.03
9. Hugo Blanjoue (FRA), Yamaha, 1:20:07.20, +3:51.00
10. Antoine Magain (BEL), Yamaha, 1:20:33.37, +4:17.17
13. Thibaut Passet (FRA), Yamaha, 1:22:46.17, +6:29.97
2017 FIM EnduroGP World Championship Standings (After Round 6)
Enduro Junior
1. Davide Soreca (ITA), Honda, 244pts
2. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 230pts
3. Mikael Persson (SWE), Yamaha, 208pts
4. Kirian Mirabet (ESP), Sherco, 168pts
5. Matteo Cavallo (ITA), Beta, 139pts
6. Albin Elowson (SWE), Husqvarna, 137pts
13. Antoine Magain (BEL), Yamaha, 62pts
25. Hugo Blanjoue (FRA), Yamaha, 31pts
27. Jean-Baptiste Nicolot (FRA), Yamaha, 27pts
30. Thibaut Passet (FRA), Yamaha, 22pts
35. Erik Appelqvist (SWE), Yamaha, 13pts
Mikael Persson Johansson Yamaha Junior Enduro Team rider
2nd Day 1 / DNF Day 2