Image: Jonty Edmunds.

The FIM Maxxis Enduro World Championship GP Acerbis of Italy drew to a celebratory close with both Christophe Nambotin and Pela Renet crowned Enduro 1 and Enduro 2 World Champions respectively, in a difficult day for Australia’s Enduro 3 series leader Matthew Phillips.

With day two in Lumezzane greeted with torrential rain and thunderstorms it was in fact both Nambotin and Renet who weathered the storm best to clinch their respective titles. There was also delight for the home crowd as outgoing E2 champion Alex Salvini (Honda) picked up his second victory of the weekend.

With the E1 and E2 titles decided there was relative drama in the E3 category. After storming his way to victory on day one, championship leader Phillips was dealt a cruel blow on lap one when a piece of metal sliced his boot resulting in a broken foot. Forced out of the race, that threw open the doors for a new winner to emerge.

“I had a nice really smooth near perfect first special test and finished just over a second behind Cervantes,” Phillips explained. “But in the second special on this uphill I had thought I cleared concrete block a enough, but hit what I think was a piece of iron attached and smashed my left foot.

“I tried to push on and had a crash in the river and had to put my foot down a few times in a very difficult trail section, I was yelling and trying to push through the pain. I discussed with my mechanic Cenz at the cross section and I could see blood coming out of hole in my boot.

“I wanted to tape up, continue on and finished cross stage and an ambulance was in waiting – I see bone and flesh sticking out of my left boot. So I called it a day… not a good day.”

Immediately taking the advantage, Italy’s Oscar Balletti found himself with the race lead and went on to win the day. Joining the EWC for Lumezzane, former world champion David Knight also carded a surprise result on day two.

Despite not contesting the EWC in almost 12 months, Knight placed a brilliant runner-up to Balletti on day two. In a close finish to the day, France’s Jeremy Joly chased Knight home for third. Securing his best result of the season, Italy’s Simone Albergioni was fourth, while unable to capitalise on championship rival Phillips’ shock exit, Spain’s Ivan Cervantes ended his day in fifth.

After undergoing immediate surgery overnight, Phillips now carries an 11-point lead into the GP AMV of France on 13-14 September.

2014 FIM Enduro World Championship
Round six – Lumezzane, Italy

E1 day two results:
1. Christophe Nambotin
2. Cristobal Guerrero
3. Thomas Oldrati
4. Jeremy Tarroux
5. Jaume Betriu

E1 championship standings:
1. Christophe Nambotin 231
2. Eero Remes 177
3. Cristobal Guerrero 176
4. Anthony Boissiere 145
5. Jeremy Tarroux 142

E2 day two results:
1. Alex Salvini
2. Lorenzo Santolino
3. Pierre Alexandre Renet
4. Taddy Blazusiak
5. Oriol Mena

E2 championship standings:
1. Pierre Alexandre Renet 218
2. Alex Salvini 168
3. Johnny Aubert 162
4. Lorenzo Santolino 142
5. Antoine Meo 114

E3 day two results:
1. Oscar Balletti
2. David Knight
3. Jérémy Joly
4. Simone Albergoni
5. Ivan Cervantes

E3 championship standings:
1. Matthew Phillips (AUS) 194
2. Ivan Cervantes 183
3. Mathias Bellino 148
4. Luis Correia 131
5. Matti Seistola 127

Click here for detailed results