Andrea Verona takes the lead of Trèfle Lozérien AMV at the expense of Jérémy Tarroux, heavily sanctioned

Andrea Verona gained momentum throughout the day. – Damien Astruc

The 38th enduro classic started this Friday, May 17, 2024. Josep Garcia (KTM Farioli), in the lead all day, fell in the last special. An error which deprived him of first place in favor of Andrea Verona (GasGas Farioli). The Spaniard was obviously disappointed, but it was nothing compared to Jérémy Tarroux (Team Élite Moto 15). The Tarnais was in fact demoted from first to fourth place, after receiving a ten-second penalty.

His crestfallen expression, once back in the paddock, says a lot about his rage to win, everywhere, all the time. While his mechanics were changing his tires in preparation for the second day of the Trèfle Lozérien AMV this Saturday, May 18, 2024, Josep Garcia (KTM Farioli) remained silent, with a black look, sitting in his orange armchair in the colors of his Austrian stable.

It must be said that the reigning Enduro 1 world champion and current leader in the Enduro GP standings this season was in the lead all Friday until fifth and second place. nbsp;last special, at La Vabre, in Mende, during which he fell. An error which initially caused him to fall back to third place, 1.947 seconds behind Jérémy Tarroux (Team Élite Moto 15), first (we thought) and 0.205 seconds behind Jérémy Tarroux (Team Élite Moto 15). Andrea Verona (GasGas Farioli), second.

Josep Garcia was still in the lead at the end of the fourth special, in Barjac. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

The last two stages for Andrea Verona

"On the fifth special, in the section with bends, I made a lot of mistakes and in the last one I fell, detailed the&rsquo ;Spanish. It doesn't matter. There are still two days left. As in every race, I will fight for victory." The winner of the Clover in 2019 and 2022 knows that the competition will be tough. "The French and Andrea Verona give a lot of gas. This is going to be very interesting."

Jérémy Tarroux, second in the 37th edition in 2023, author of a very good first day, was initially all smiles, coming out of the last special. "I don't know if I've ever won a day on Clover. We had to wait until we were almost 38 to do it, the Tarn pilot even joked. I was consistent throughout. I didn’t make any big mistakes. I think that in pure speed, the two big guns (Andrea Verona and Josep Garcia) were faster. I managed to be there the whole time."

The joy was short-lived, however. The native of Albi was in fact sanctioned with a ten-second penalty for not having crossed the 20 meter line at the start at La Vabre under the power of the engine. The consequences are serious: the Honda driver drops to fourth place.

Jérémy Tarroux was, however, consistent all day. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Andrea Verona took a while to get into shape, before gaining momentum and impressing on the last special. "I’was a little slow on the first few, confided the Italian, Enduro world champion 2 and runner-up to Garcia in Enduro GP, before the sanction fell for Jérémy Tarroux.I have to get used to this kind of ordeal. I won the last two stages, which allowed me to recover what I had lost in the first three. The competition is still long. I have to regain good sensations and increase the lead over the pursuers. We are all going very quickly with Jérémy Tarroux, Josep Garcia and Valérian Debaud. We are very close to each other in the rankings."

This Saturday, rain should accompany the drivers on the Gévaudan Aubrac circuit. Andrea Verona will have the advantage of opening the stages. The Langonese Killian Lunier (DSN Moto), who is in seventh place, also expects a lot from this second day: "I feel it better than the  first. It’s nice grass with tighter stages. That’s what I like. Today (Friday) was really fast. Bottom of five, I think we were not far from 110 or 120 km/h in the specials." His objective remains unchanged& nbsp;: get on the podium and win in junior.

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