Hawkesbury enduro rider Jess Gardiner has extended her lead in the Championnat de France d’enduro, with yet another win last weekend.
The third stop on this year’s Championnat de France d’enduro headed to Bar-sur-Seine, a French commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of north-central France.
After taking four wins from four starts in this year’s Championnat de France d’enduro, Gardiner entered the third round of the series with a twelve point championship lead over her nearest rival.
Once again, Gardiner was unstoppable in the heart of the champagne vineyards taking the overall win on both days which now sees her taking six wins from six starts.
On the Saturday, Gardiner was in a class of her own finishing in the top position in all six tests. While she did reign supreme by winning the day with a total time of 29min58.170, 56.643 seconds clear of Samantha Tichet, she did admit that the first test started a bit “awkward” for her. However, Gardiner managed to get moving and enjoyed a consistent run for the rest of the day.
“Overall it’s been another good day for the Rider Camp Yamaha team and myself,” said Gardiner at the conclusion of the first day.
“The tests today were quite nice, but a little bit different than normal, as well as the three special tests which made things quite interesting.”
Gardiner dominated the second day on Sunday to move to an ominously comfortable lead in the title standings which saw the 24-year-old once again winning every single test throughout the day.
This time however, Gardiner had another battle on her hands which was mother-nature as it poured with rain.
Gardiner described the trials as “super slick”, but that did not stop her from romping to a 59.701 second victory, again beating Tichet.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Gardiner. On the trial section between the first and second test she lost front end of her Yamaha WR250F, in fifth gear, on an off-camber rocky corner which resulted her in hurting her elbows.
“Today was a tough day, that’s for sure,” said Gardiner at the end of the day.
“My goal was to try and win by over a minute, which we almost got there. The main thing is we leave Bar-sur-Seine extending our championship lead which is the main thing.”
Gardiner admitted her confidence was sky-high as she chases a maiden French Enduro Championship.
“We’re just trying to make the most of each round we come to. I’m feeling good but we don’t want to change too much. We will just keep pressing on and work towards our goal, which is winning the championship.”
Gardiner now heads into round four of the Championnat de France d’enduro with an eighteen point series lead.