Can Jonny Walker finish off his perfect season by completing a Hard Enduro Grand Slam in Turkey?l Jonny Walker make history at this year’s edition of Red Bull Sea to Sky? That’s the question on everyone’s lips as the final round of the Red Bull Hard Enduro season heads to beautiful Kemer in Turkey.
Set to carve out his own little piece of Hard Enduro history, Walker will arrive at Red Bull Sea to Sky with a remarkable season already under his belt. From Italy to Britain, Austria, Romania and back to Poland, Walker has conquered everything thrown in his path.
Kicking things off with his debut win at the tortuous Hell’s Gate in February, the 24-year-old firmly planted his KTM on the top step of the Hard Enduro podium and despite sharing honours at the Red Bull Hare Scramble, he’s yet to accept anything less than a win.
Even I can’t believe how well this year has gone – it’s been incredible. It’s not something you can plan for, you’ve just got to hope it happens.
– Jonny Walker
“I definitely want to get the grand slam but I’m not beating myself up about it,” he says. “I want to win the race more than set any records or anything like that. Last year I lost my Sea to Sky crown so all I want to do is win it back.”
One man more than capable of putting a dampener on Walker’s hopes of a perfect season is Graham Jarvis. The 40-year-old Brit goes to Turkey wearing the #1 plate on his Husqvarna and, having claimed a come-from-behind ride for second at Megawatt, he’s hoping to hit his stride halfway up the Olympus Mountain.
“I had hoped to win one outright by now but it hasn’t happened,” Jarvis told us. “It’s not for the want of trying, things just haven’t gone my way. My riding is good and I’m as hungry as ever.”
“I won Sea to Sky race last year – actually I managed to catch and pass Jonny for the win – so that’s great motivation to bring to Turkey this year. By all accounts it’s going to be a tougher race this year and it’s a long way to the top of that mountain. I’ll be giving it 100 per cent to get there first.”
Returning to Kemer for 2015 are Andreas Lettenbichler and South African Wade Young. The duo have unfinished business on the Olympus Mountain with veteran Lettenbichler snatching third away from Young within sight of the chequered flag.
Alfredo Gómez is another rider looking for redemption in Kemer. In 2014 a mechanical problem left him stranded on the beach start line. Fighting his way from outside the top 40, Gomez incredibly finished inside the top 10. With a second Xtreme XL de Lagares win now under his belt, he too is ready to shake things up in Turkey.
The Red Bull Sea to Sky takes place in Kemer, Turkey, on October 2-4.