France and Finland were the first nations to take the leading roles, but a significant lead was never achieved and until the end suspense was a sure thing. Finland then had a fourth day to forget, as they lost one biker and mechanical problems delayed another one, bringing Finland from second to sixth overall and putting Italy in top spot to challenge France. Eero Remes and Samuli Aro, both KTM, who finished second and third, were Finland’s best hope to climb in the classification again and so they did on the last day, finishing third.

Italy’s strong five men team then went on to become second and hoped for a disastrous last day for France… but that never happened. Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) came out in ninth and best Italian biker, ahead of teammate Alessandro Belometti (KTM) and behind Spaniard Crisdobal Guerrero (Yamaha). Antoine Meo (Husqvarna) and Rodrig Thain (TM) finished fourth and fifth, just ahead of local Hero Luís Correia (Yamaha). The Portuguese ace helped Portugal finished sixth in the World Trophy, just 23s behind USA. He even won his heat in MX racetrack in Águeda in front of thousand of Enduro fans from around the world.

As Australia came in fourth, USA had Kurt Caselli (KTM) to thank to as the California biker was always their best chance to win stages (as he did), finishing seventh. Great-Britain, Holland, Poland and Germany completed the Top 10.

As the Junior World Trophy is concerned, Spain waited until the end to snatch victory from France, with only 46,41s advantage at the end. Portugal was sixth. But France also had another win to celebrate as the girls had an impressive victory in the Women’s trophy, ahead of Sweden and Australia.

World Trophy: 1º France, 15h44,24,56s; 2º Italy, + 4m22,69s; 3º Finland, + 23m35,52s; 4º Australia, + 23m48,22s; 5º USA, + 30m36,06s; 6º Portugal, + 30m59,49s; 7º Great-Britain, + 48m06,62s; 8º Holland, + 49,46,54s; 9º Poland, + 1h04m49,79s; 10º Germany, + 1h20m27,40s.

Junior World Trophy: 1º Spain, 9h48m13,77s; 2º France, + 46,41s; 3º USA, + 4m44,87s; 4º Italy, + 8m30,82s; 5º Sweden, + 21m39,57s.

Women’s World Trophy: 1º France, 7h4406,96s; 2º Sweden, + 8m47,14s; 3º Australia, + 14m43,48s; 4º USA, + 26m27,71s; 5º Finland, + 4h30m15,46s.