Philips wins world enduro title!

Tasmanian Matt Phillips put the finishing touches to an incredible 2013 world enduro season in France last weekend (September 7-8), claiming the junior title on his Husqvarna 310R.

In only his first year of world enduro competition, Matt secured seven individual wins to eventually run out a 47pt winner ahead of Giacomo Redondi (KTM), with Danny McCanney (Gas Gas) third.

"Winning the Enduro Junior World Championship has been a great end to my first season in the EWC,” said Phillips. “All weekend the racing was good, and despite the wet weather at the end of day one I really enjoyed it. Danny McCanney was riding really well on day one, and I knew that a decent result would get me the title, so I pushed hard without going too crazy.

“Obviously the title was the most important thing, and to get it is just great. Starting the year not really knowing what the EWC was all about, to end it as the junior champion -- it's just amazing. I really have to say a huge thanks to everyone in the team; they've been great to me and helped me so much.

“I really wanted to win the second day, and thought I had. With only four tests on day two the times were really tight. I was pushing hard but made a mistake on a corner and ran outside the tape. I didn't gain anytime but got penalised for it and dropped back to fifth. Despite that it's been an amazing event, and to now be a world champion is just great.”

Shane Watts was Australia’s first enduro world champion in 1997, followed by New Zealand-born Stefan Merriman in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004.

In the open world championship classes, KTM”s Antione Meo was the victor in E1, Honda’s Alex Salvini in E2, and KTM’s Christophe Nambotin in E3.