Hawkesbury endurance rider Jess Gardiner has continued to create history in her stellar racing career, this time winning the 2017 FIM Enduro European Championship in Slovakia at the weekend.
The win comes just two weeks after the 24 year old claimed the Championnat de France d'enduro championship, making her return to international racing a big one.
The fourth and final round of the Enduro European Championship headed to Gelnica in Slovakia, which is one hour from where the 2015 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) was held in Kosice.
Even before the final round got underway for the 24-year-old, a major blow happened when Gardiner’s Yamaha WR250F were stolen out of her van by what she explained as professional group of Eastern European thieves.
“My first bike I’ve ever paid is the first bike I’ve ever had stolen,” said Gardiner before the start of the grand finale.
However, thanks to the French Army team, they came to rescue at the eleventh hour by lending Gardiner a Yamaha YZ250, which is the first time she had ridden a 250 two stroke.
Day one of competition on Friday saw Gardiner leaving her rivals in her wake around the 180km challenging off-road course.
Gardiner, who was not only having to learn a complete new type of motorcycle, but she was also still slightly hampered by her left scapula, which she broke at Réquista at the fourth round of the Championnat de France d'enduro.
However, Gardiner managed to beat Hanna Berzelius by 3min10.66, even after being handed a one minute penalty in one of the tight sections.
“The trials were really tight,” expressed Gardiner who finished the day with a total time of 47min47.96.
“I never had more than two minutes at most controls, so I was a bit hungry throughout the day as it was always go.”
It was another dominant performance on the second day, which saw Gardiner riding to a total time of 48min59.96, again beating Berzelius. The race victory was good enough to see Gardiner locking up the title and becoming the first Australian to win the FIM Enduro European Championship.
“It’s great to be able to win the championship with a day remaining. Just like the French Enduro championship, it’s so nice to be able to be the first Australian to win another championship, the Enduro European Championship for the first time.”
The final day of ‘school’ saw Gardiner once again dismantling her rivals on a 20km trial ride, followed by a seven lap motocross race.
Gardiner was quick out of the blocks by snaring the holeshot and lead from the start all the way to the checkered flag, beating Nina Klink by 15.83 seconds and stamping her authority on what has been a solid year.
“It was a lot fun out there,” beamed Gardiner.
“In fact, it was probably the most enjoyable race I have had in a while, whilst racing here in Europe. The round win and the championship is a fantastic way to say thanks to the French Army team and the FFM (Fédération Française de Motocyclisme), as well as Nico [Darnis] from the Ridercamp enduro team for everything they have done for me after my bike was stolen.”
“I would also like to thank my amazing family and friends who have done all they could to make me be able to spend this season in Europe. It’s not easy on them, but they have all stuck behind me and I can’t thank them enough. This championship is there’s as much as it is mine,” concluded Gardiner.
2017 FIM Enduro European Championship – final standings (top 5):
1st Jess Gardiner 177
2nd Hana Berzelius 138
3rd Nina Kilink 119
4th Marita Nyqvist 119
5th Audrey Rossat 98