2024 6DAYS®date and venue confirmed

The FIM is pleased to announce that the date and venue for the 2024 FIM International Six Days’ Enduro (ISDE) has now been confirmed. The event will run from 14-19 October at Silleda in Galicia in Spain. While this will be the first time the ISDE has been held in this region of north-west Spain, it will be the fifth time the nation has hosted the event with the most recent edition on Spanish soil staged in 2016 in Navarre.

FIM Enduro Director John Collins welcomed the news, saying: “On behalf of the FIM Enduro Commission I am delighted to be able confirm that the FIM International Six Days’ Enduro will be returning to Spain next year as previously announced, the nation has a long association with the sport. I would like to thank the RFME and everyone involved for their kind co-operation in this important matter.”

Todd Kellett wins inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup

Yentel Martens – Honda completed his domination of the Moto class at the Monte Gordo Sand Experience – the third and final round of the first-ever FIM Sand Races World Cup – when he doubled up on Portugal’s Algarve today, but the history books will show Great Britain’s brave Todd Kellett – Yamaha as this exciting new competition’s inaugural winner.

Following on from his win yesterday, the Belgian picked up where he left off with a commanding victory ahead of Kellett whose pair of second-placed finishes this weekend – coupled with his wins at the opening two rounds at the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais in France and the Enduro del Verano in Argentina – were easily enough to take the title.

Kellett’s performances were all the more remarkable considering he had been unable to ride leading into the event following a huge crash at the start of October and his courage in the face of adversity was fittingly rewarded.

“I’m really proud to have accomplished this and I’m also proud of the team for their support of the FIM Sand Races World Cup,” said Kellett. “This has been my dream from a very young age. I never managed it in Motocross so to finally have an FIM title means a lot to me. If you had asked me two weeks ago I would not have been sure I could win, but I think I have done a good job and my goal is now to go to work for next year’s competition.”

A comfortable victor yesterday, Yentel Martens once again recorded thirty-three laps across the ninety-minute race and he extended his winning margin to just over one-and-a-half minutes in the challenging Portuguese sand, but he could never truly shake off the determined Kellett.

It was France’s Romain Laurent – Husqvarna who led on the opening lap of the approximately three-and-a-half-kilometre course, but Yentel Martens hit the front on lap two and he then gradually cruised clear as home hero Paulo Alberto – Yamaha gave chase for the opening six laps.

With yesterday’s third-placed rider Daymond Martens – Honda on his tail, Kellett moved up to second on lap seven and knowing the position would earn him the FIM Sand Races World Cup the twenty-six-year-old did not need to push out of his comfort zone.

At the halfway mark Yentel Martens was already over thirty seconds clear and never looked likely to be caught as France’s Camille Chapeliere – KTM, who was a fighting fourth on Saturday, again settled into fourth ahead of his fellow countryman Maxime Sot – KTM.

In the closing thirty minutes Yentel Martens pushed hard to double his advantage at the front, but with no-one else able to challenge Kellett it was game over as the sand specialist ended the race more than thirty-five seconds ahead of Daymond Martens who was the final rider to finish on the same lap as the winner.

The fastest female yesterday, Belgium’s Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha was again the highest-placed woman in eighteenth on twenty-eight laps, eleven positions and two laps ahead of France’s Mathilde Denis – Honda.

Today’s racing concludes the 2023 FIM Sand Races World Cup, but fans can already look forward to bigger and better things next season for this gruelling, adrenalin-charged discipline.

Josep Garcia – Spain will fight for victory in Argentina

The FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) stands proud as the longest running off road motorcycle competition. Soon to enter its ninety-seventh edition in San Juan, Argentina, the event has been running for close to one hundred and ten years, attracting nations and riders from all over the world.

Incredibly though, Spain have never won the FIM World Trophy category. Hoping to change all that in Argentina, Josep Garcia (KTM) leads his team to the 6DAYS® with only victory on their minds.

“For Spain to win the 6DAYS® would be a dream come true,” tells Garcia.“We’ve been trying for so long as a nation to do it. When I’ve been on the World Trophy team, we’ve finished in second and third, but not yet on the top step of the podium.”

Regarded as one of the fastest Enduro riders in the world, Garcia will arrive at this year’s 6DAYS® as the newly crowned FIM Enduro1 World Champion, having won the final four days of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship outright. Without a doubt, he is on top form and would love to take the overall individual win for the third time.

“For sure this year in Argentina the goal is to aim for the overall individual win again. I’ve been able to do that for the last two years and to make it three-in-a-row would be incredible.

“I feel like I’m reaching my peak at just the right time. With four victories in a row in EnduroGP, it’s given me a huge boost of confidence. My fitness is good and I’m healthy too. That’s so important leading into a big, long race like this.

Much-loved for his all-out, aggressive, and action-packed riding style, Josep’s excited to see the special tests in San Juan. Competing on a 250F motorcycle, he does not feel disadvantaged over his rivals.

“I think the conditions should suit me. It will be a mixture of everything. Hard pack with stones, but soft fesh-fesh and sandy tests too.

“I’ve shown in EnduroGP that the 250F can be competitive and can win in all conditions including sand, so I will do my best to bring that energy to the 6DAYS®.”

Returning to the topic of the World Trophy, it’s the sense of team spirit, racing for your nation, that makes the 6DAYS® so loved by many. And with Spain yet to win, could history be made in 2023?

“To see Great Britain do it last year is motivating. I feel like with the team we have going to Argentina that it’s possible for us to win too. If we all stay healthy and one hundred per cent focused on fighting for victory from the first special test, then we can be contenders.

“Of course, winning would be historic,I think for an Enduro loving nation like Spain it would mean so much. For the public and the fans to see us on the top step of the podium would be everything. I want to be a part of that. It would be incredible and for sure we will give it our all.”

Full event details can be found at www.fim-isde.com

Get ready for the 2024 FIM ISDE

It is almost that time of year. In just a few weeks the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) will take place in San Juan, Argentina. An event much-loved by all, it’s a chance for both amateur and professional riders to unite and race for the pride of their nation.

Whether this is your first time learning about the FIM ISDE or you are a die-hard Enduro fan, here is a quick refresher guide to all things FIM ISDE.

Importantly, the FIM ISDE is the longest-running off-road motorcycle race on the FIM calendar. In fact, it’s been running for one hundred and ten years. The first event took place in the United Kingdom back in 1913. The race is held annually, with the only exceptions being stoppages for world wars and most recently the COVID pandemic in 2020. When riders roll off the start ramp in San Juan in Argentina on 6th November, it will begin the ninety-seventh edition of this iconic race.

While the race generally moves from country to country and a different location each year, San Juan previously hosted the FIM ISDE in 2014. Back then France won the FIM World Trophy classification.

For 2023 it is Great Britain who start as the defending FIM World Trophy champions. Their victory in France last year marked the first time they had won the race in fifty years. Italy won the FIM Junior World Trophy and Great Britain also won the FIM Women’s World Trophy.

As the name suggests, the FIM ISDE takes place across six days of racing. It is a true test of rider and mechanical reliability in a format that has largely remained unchanged during the last one hundred years. 

Each day competitors face a course of over one hundred kilometres in length that will be completed twice. Riders must adhere to a strict time schedule to complete each day without time penalties. Along the loop are three timed special tests of varying length. The times from these special tests are added together, along with any penalties acuminated, to determine the overall results. The day six final test is a mass start motocross race.

Adding to the uniqueness of the event, no outside assistance is permitted. Once a rider and machine start the event, it is their responsibility to reach the finish line unaided.

At the end of each day riders are allocated fifteen minutes for necessary work, including tyre changing, oil changes, and servicing. Their motorcycles are then put in a restricted access parc ferme overnight. They are allowed a further ten minutes each morning prior to starting, to do any additional work. 

Help from service crews can be given for refuelling or cleaning of number boards, but that is it. This ensures both amateur and professional riders remain on a level playing field.

Although the World Trophy competitors grab the lion’s share of the limelight, it is ultimately the coming together of professional and amateur competitors that makes the FIM ISDE so unique and special. Very rarely in any forms of sport do both groups of people compete against each other at the same time and under the same conditions.

While some amateur riders will be selected for their respective World Trophy team, many opt to compete in the Club Team Award. The club teams feature three riders and form the bulk of the FIM ISDE entry. In total, over three hundred and fifty competitors from thirty nations will be present in San Juan.

The excitement of the FIM ISDE builds with the opening ceremony on Saturday November 4th, with racing taking place from 6th to 11th November.

Full event details can be found at www.fim-isde.com

2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar confirmed

PRIME STADIUM, promoters of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, together with the FIM, are pleased to confirm the dates and locations of the 2024 FIM Paulo Duarte EnduroGP World Championship. Building on the success of the PRIME STADIUM promoted 2022 and 2023 championships, the 2024 series will span six months, starting in Portugal and ending in France, while making a return to three countries not visited in recent years. 

Starting in the same way as the 2023 championship ended, the 2024 series will begin with two events in Portugal. As the only back-to-back races of the year, the season opener will set the tone for the year ahead, utilising the challenging northern Portuguese terrain in and around Fafe. One week later the EnduroGP series will move to Valpacos, home of the penultimate round of the 2023 series. 

May will see the series head to Romania for the championship’s most easterly event and what will be the first EnduroGP round in the country since 2013. The GP of Italy will feature as round four of the 2024 championship. The event will be held two hours south of Milan in Bettola, marking the halfway point of the series.

On the homeward stretch, the championship will visit Gelnica, Slovakia in July for round five. With Gelnica hosting EnduroGP World Championship events in 2022 and 2023, riders will know exactly what to expect from the challenging forest-based special tests. Following Slovakia, there is a reserve date set for the end of July.

The GP of Wales will make a welcome return to the calendar as the penultimate event of the series. Rhayader last hosted a world championship event in 1992 and is a popular area for both enduro and motocross so will make for an exciting addition to the 2024 series.

Finally, the 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship will conclude in mid-September with the GP of France in Brioude. The location of previous thrilling Enduro World Championship finales, Brioude, together with the other six host events, will undoubtedly play their part in ensuring a memorable 2024 FIM Paulo Duarte EnduroGP World Championship.

The opening two rounds of the championship in Portugal together with the GP of Italy, the GP of Wales, and the GP of France, will form the five-event Women’s Enduro World Championship. 

2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar

Round 1 – Portugal – Fafe – 5-7 April
Round 2 – Portugal – Valpacos – 12-14 April
Round 3 – Romania – Bacau – 10-12 May
Round 4 – Italy – Bettola – 21-23 June
Round 5 – Slovakia – Gelnica – 12-14 July
Round 6 – Wales/UK – Rhayader – 2-4 August
Round 7 – France – Brioude – 13-15 September

Reserve date: July 26-28

Steve Holcombe Crowned EnduroGP World Champion On Final Day In Portugal

The 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship has drawn to a close with Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe clinching the EnduroGP title. The Brit capped off an exceptional season by also claiming the Enduro2 World Championship to become a nine-time world champion in Santiago do Cacem, Portugal.

There were further celebrations under the Beta awning with Brad Freeman lifting the Enduro3 crown. Day two at the seventh and final round of the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic JET Racing’s Jed Etchells become champion. 

• Steve Holcombe crowned EnduroGP World Champion along with Enduro2
• Brad Freeman clinched the Enduro3 world title
• Josep Garcia won the final race of the 2023 season

And just like that the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was brought to a close. The final day of racing in Santiago do Cacem for the seventh and final round of the season proved exciting as the remainder of this year’s world champions were crowned.

Garcia takes final victory of the season

As day one winner and the freshly crowned Enduro1 World Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was not taking things slowly this morning. On a mission to secure third or better in the EnduroGP standings, the Spaniard blitzed the opening five special tests. In doing so he built up an early lead of 15 seconds over Steve Holcombe, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona six seconds back in third. With RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson just one tenth behind Verona, it ensured a four-rider battle for the final podium of the season.

Comfortable in the chewed-up sandy special tests, Garcia pushed on to ultimately secure the victory. The Spaniard had done all he could to bolster his place in the final standings. Behind him though and things were spicy. With Watson putting in his best ride of the season, he was making life difficult for Verona. 

Exiting the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, Watson sat in second position. Holcombe was 12 seconds behind, with Verona a further three seconds adrift in fourth. Factor in a charging Jamie McCanney (Fast Eddy Racing), just three seconds behind Verona, and it was all too close to call. 

Holcombe claims EnduroGP World Championship 

Trying to decide between pushing on for a top-three result or wrapping up the EnduroGP title, Holcombe wisely opted for the latter option in the closing stages of the day. Eventually slipping back to fifth in the closing stages, it was more than enough to see him crowned the 2023 EnduroGP World Champion, along with taking the Enduro2 world title.

Watson would stand firm in second to record his best result of the season. With Verona unable to get the better of the Honda rider, it saw Garcia capitalise on the result and end the season as runner-up to Holcombe in the final EnduroGP standings, beating Verona by just one point. Also enjoying a great end to his year, McCanney ended his day in fourth.

Dramatic end to Enduro3 title fight

With Garcia and Holcombe locking down the Enduro1 and Enduro2 titles respectively, the most nail-biting end to the year was in Enduro3. Brad Freeman began the day with a comfortable looking 12 points over nearest rival Mikael Persson (Husqvarna). 

Winning the opening two tests, things looked like business as usual for Freeman, but as the day wore on he was in trouble. Slipping down the order to an eventual sixth place, and with Persson going on to win the day, resulted in many frantically doing the maths for the Enduro3 outcome. In the end, Freeman won the title by just two points and was crowned the Enduro3 World Champion.

Etchells crowned Junior Enduro World Champion

The outcome of the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship was played out between Jed Etchells (Fantic) and Albin Norrbin (Fantic). Etchells began the day with seven points in hand over Norrbin. If Norrbin won, Etchells needed to finish third or better to win his first world championship title. 

Topping the opening test, Etchells was off to a great start. But in the second half of the day, Norrbin was on top form. The Swede won the final six tests of the day to take the win. Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) was riding well and slipped in between Norrbin and Etchells to place second.

However, with Etchells hanging onto third, it was enough to seal him the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship. Although losing out to Etchells in the overall Junior standings, Norrbin did win the Junior2 title.

With the Youth Enduro and Women’s Enduro titles already wrapped up on day one by Kevin Cristino (Fantic) and Jane Daniels (Fantic) respectively, day two saw Cristino win once again to make it 11 victories in 2023. Making it a clean sweep of victories in the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro Championship, Daniels remained unbeaten in 2023. 

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I was feeling the nerves today. It’s been a while since I was in this position of winning a title and I just wanted to get the job done and not make a mistake. I had a good start to the day then kinda lost my rhythm to the top guys in the middle of the day. But I knew where I needed to be, so I focused on that and brought the title home. Becoming EnduroGP and Enduro2 World Champion in one year is incredible. I never dreamt of being a nine-time world champion, so it’s going to take a while for this moment to sink in.”

Brad Freeman (Beta): “I’m happy to come home with the world title in Enduro3. It’s a little bit bittersweet having lost the EnduroGP lead and trying to ride through injuries. But despite the tough year, I’ve ended it with my ninth world title. I’m ready to rest up now!”

Jed Etchells (Fantic): “I’m over the moon to come away with the Junior title after what’s been an amazing year. My team worked so hard to get this over the line and I can’t thank them enough for helping me become a world champion. We’ll celebrate tonight!”

Results: Round 7, GP of Portugal, Day 2
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:00:43.45; 2. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:01:01.75; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:01:16.86; 4. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:01:26.55; 5. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:01:30.57; 6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:02:25.93; 7. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 1:02:36.68; 8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:43.99; 9. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:02:44.28; 10. Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) 1:02:53.25…

Final Championship Standings
EnduroGP
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 222pts; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 210pts; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 209pts; 4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 169pts; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 143pts; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 122pts; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 108pts; 8. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 103pts; 9. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 97pts; 10. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 86pts…

Josep Garcia Crowned Enduro1 World Champion On Day One At EnduroGP Of Portugal

The opening day of racing at the seventh and final round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia crowned Enduro1 World Champion. By winning the overall EnduroGP classification, en route to topping the Enduro1 category, Spaniard Garcia became the first 2023 champion crowned in Santiago do Cacem in Portugal.

Further celebrations quickly followed in the paddock with Fantic JET Racing’s Jane Daniels winning the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship. Fantic Factory Racing’s Kevin Cristino added to the occasion on Saturday afternoon by locking down the Youth Enduro world title too.

• World champions crowned on day one at EnduroGP finale in Portugal
• Josep Garcia (KTM) tops EnduroGP and secures Enduro1 title
• Jane Daniels (Fantic) wins Women’s Enduro World Championship

Day one at the seventh and final round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was one of multiple celebrations as the first of our 2023 world champions were crowned in Santiago do Cacem. After an exciting day’s racing, the Enduro1, Youth Enduro, and Women’s Enduro titles were won by Josep Garcia (KTM), Kevin Cristino (Fantic) and Jane Daniels (Fantic) respectively.

Exciting battles throughout EnduroGP classification on day one

Nerves were high among the potential champions as they rolled off the start ramp this morning in Santiago do Cacem. However, with the POLISPORT Extreme Test first on the menu, any remaining butterflies soon disappeared. CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald set the quickest time, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona right behind him in second and Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman third. 

On the following JUST1 Enduro Test, RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson and Samuel Bernardini went 1-2, but with Garcia slotting into third, it moved him into the overall lead. Verona went on to top the opening ACERBIS Cross Test to keep the pressure firmly on Garcia. Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney was holding down third overall, while EnduroGP points leader Steve Holcombe (Beta) was beginning to climb his way up the leaderboard after a bad start.

Winning the opening CrossPro Enduro Test, Garcia held a two-second lead over Verona as the duo ended lap one over 14 seconds clear of McCanney in third. McCanney, who was having one of his best rides of the season, was fending off Watson, MacDonald, and Holcombe, who were all within seven seconds of the Manxman.

At the end of lap two, Garcia had extended his advantage over Verona to 10 seconds, while Holcombe raced his way into third. The third and final lap would tell all.

Holcombe had Verona in his sights and won both the POLISPORT Extreme Test and JUST1 Enduro Test, before Garcia topped the final ACERBIS Cross Test as well as the CrossPro Enduro Test to ultimately win the day. Verona played his cards right and managed the gap perfectly to Holcombe to hold onto second. The EnduroGP title fight will go down to the wire tomorrow. 

McCanney capped off a great ride for fourth overall, while Bernardini got the better of Watson and MacDonald to complete the top five. 

Garcia claims Enduro1 title on day one

With his EnduroGP win, Garcia marched ahead to claim Enduro1 honours and with it secure the Enduro1 world title with a day to spare. McCanney took second, with Pichon rounding out the podium.

The Enduro2 win went to Verona, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Holcombe. Verona’s win also ensures the championship outcome between the duo won’t be decided until tomorrow’s final special test. Bernardini held off Watson to take third.

Brad Freeman put his Beta on top to take a crucial victory in Enduro3. He held off closest championship rival Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) by five seconds to increase his championship lead to 12 points. JET Zanardo Husqvarna’s Christophe Charlier beat WP Eric Auge’s Jaume Betriu by half a second to take the final step of the podium.

Daniels crowned Women’s Enduro World Champion

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship saw Fantic JET Racing’s Jane Daniels crowned world champion by securing her seventh consecutive win of the season. The Brit raced ahead to a 48-second margin of victory. However, she didn’t have things easy. Francesca Nocera (Honda) topped six special tests to finish second. Mireia Badia (Rieju) ended her day third.

Cristino wins Youth Enduro world title

Settling for the runner-up spot behind Leo Joyon (Beta), Fantic’s Kevin Cristino was crowned the 2023 Youth Enduro World Champion. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) completed the top three.

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic Factory Racing’s Albin Norrbin take the win and close the gap to points leader Jed Etchells (Fantic) to seven points heading into tomorrow’s final day of racing.

Etchells finished three seconds behind Norrbin in second, while Max Ahlin (KTM) was third. There was some early celebration for Etchells today, with the Manxman winning the Junior1 title.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “After a big year it’s incredible to come away with the Enduro1 title. There has been lots of ups and downs, but I never gave up trying. I’m happy for my team and everyone supporting me to take this win.”

Kevin Cristino (Fantic): “It feels amazing to win the title. I’ve been working towards this goal for three years and now I’ve done it. Thank you to my team for helping me reach this moment!”

Jane Daniels (Fantic): “I’m so happy to take the title. It wasn’t an easy day. The heat really got to me and I found it tough out there. Winning the title with seven wins from seven starts is amazing. It would be lovely to cap off my year with a perfect season, so I’ll give my best.”

Results: Round 7 – GP of Portugal, Day 1
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:02:04.83; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:02:13.83; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:02:29.05; 4. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:02:53.49; 5. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 1:03:22.52; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:03:28.31; 7. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:03:34.37; 8. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:03:37.99; 9. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:03:59.71; 10. Daniel Milner (TM Racing) 1:04:02.95…

The final day of racing at round six of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was a thriller with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia eventually claiming a hard-fought victory following an epic battle for the top of the podium. The Spaniard took the win by just one second from Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona rounding out the podium.

• Josep Garcia does the EnduroGP double at round six in Portugal
• Steve Holcombe maintains EnduroGP points lead heading into next week’s finale
• Albin Norrbin secures the top spot in Junior Enduro

After a thrilling day of racing yesterday, today’s action at round six of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was every bit as exciting in Valpacos, Portugal. Despite chewed up special tests and intense heat, competitors raced hard in the Portuguese sun.

Following Saturday’s titanic battle between Josep Garcia (KTM), Steve Holcombe (Beta) and Andrea Verona (GASGAS), the trio picked up where they left off on the first POLISPORT Extreme Test. Making amends for his slow start to day one, Holcombe immediately set the pace by clocking the fastest time and then backed that up by winning the opening JUST1 Enduro Test to claim an early lead over Garcia and Verona.

The fight for fourth was just as intense with TM Racing’s Daniel Milner, CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald and teammate Zach Pichon, plus Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) all separated by one second.

Closing out lap one by topping the ACERBIS Cross Test, Garcia gained some ground on Holcombe, but on lap two he got to work topping the Enduro Test and Cross Test, before topping the final POLISPORT Extreme Test to draw within two seconds of the Brit. 

For the rest of the day, there would be little to separate them. A crash from Verona on the final JUST1 Enduro Test saw the Italian drop out of the fight for the overall. With a win on the final ACERBIS Cross Test, Garcia incredibly overhauled Holcombe to claim victory.

Behind the top three it was RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson who worked his way into fourth. The Brit found some extra pace on the final lap to leapfrog MacDonald and Pichon to claim a well-earned result.

Garcia takes top spot in Enduro1

With his fight for EnduroGP honours pulling him clear of his Enduro1 classmates, Josep Garcia took a commanding victory. The Spaniard ended his day one minute and 40 seconds ahead of Zach Pichon in second with Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney third.

Pleased with his day’s performance, Steve Holcombe took victory in Enduro2. The Beta rider was joined on the podium by Andrea Verona in second and Nathan Watson third.

Although losing touch with his EnduroGP rivals, Brad Freeman (Beta) has kept his Enduro3 title hopes on track by securing back-to-back wins in Portugal. Mikael Persson held off JET Zanardo Husqvarna’s Christophe Charlier by one second to take the runner-up result.

Norrbin claims victory in Junior Enduro

In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship it was Fantic Factory Racing’s Albin Norrbin who took the win on day two. After losing out to Fantic JET Racing’s Jed Etchells yesterday, the Swede meant business today. With seven test wins from 11, Norrbin topped the classification by 26 seconds ahead of Etchells. Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) put in a great ride to claim a debut podium with third.

The Youth Enduro class saw Kevin Cristino (Fantic) make it two wins from two starts in Portugal. The Italian now looks favourite to take the title at next weekend’s final round. Beta’s Leo Joyon placed as runner-up again in Valpacos, with Pietro Scardina (Fantic) rounding out the top three.

The 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship concludes with the seventh and final round next weekend in Santiago do Cacém in the south of Portugal, October 6-8.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “Going 1-1 in Portugal is an incredible weekend and is the perfect comeback from injury. Today the battle with Steve was awesome, we were pushing so hard in every test. To get the win today by just one second shows how good it was.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I think that was one of the hardest fought second place results I’ve had. The battle all day with Josep and Andrea was brilliant. To come one second short of winning sucks a little, but the racing was so, so close.”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “The racing was good today. I was battling with Steve and Josep, but a crash in the final enduro test forced me to slow down. I lost some time to the guys then, but I’m happy to save the day with a podium and get ready for next weekend.”

Results: Round 6 – GP of Portugal, Day 2
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:11:51.62; 2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:11:53.52; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:12:50.45; 4. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:13:16.32; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:13:27.40; 6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:13:32.23; 7. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:13:39.47; 8. Daniel Milner (TM Racing) 1:13:41.67; 9. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:13:49.04; 10. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:14:10.64…

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship will see the fight for supremacy heat up this weekend as the title contenders head to Valpacos in Portugal for the penultimate round of the 2023 series. With all classes in this year’s championship yet to be decided, round six in Portugal starts the countdown to the crowning of our 2023 Enduro World Champions.

• EnduroGP arrives in Portugal for the penultimate round
• Steve Holcombe holds a narrow point lead in EnduroGP
• All classes to be decided over next two weekends 

Always an exciting time in any championship chase, the penultimate round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Valpacos, Portugal is set to be a thrilling one. With the AKRAPOVIC Super Test scheduled to get proceedings underway on Friday night, competitors will then face three tough and distinctively Portuguese special tests – JUST1 Enduro Test, ACERBIS Cross Test and Polisport Extreme Test – throughout Saturday and Sunday. Factoring in forecasted temperatures of about 30 degrees, round six could prove to be a race of attrition.

Holcombe heads EnduroGP title fight

Moving into the championship lead at round five in Slovakia, Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe finds himself with a slender 13-point advantage over teammate Brad Freeman. Steve has been nothing short of impressive this season, steadily building as the year has progressed. Now in the right place at the right time, the British rider is focused on hunting down his eighth world title.

After crashing out of the GP of Slovakia on day one, Brad Freeman lost his championship lead. The Brit remained quiet during the summer break, but has hopefully fully recovered to ensure his title fight goes down to the wire.

With a win last time out in Slovakia, defending EnduroGP champ Andrea Verona has put himself back in the mix. The GASGAS Factory Racing rider is third overall and only 19 points behind Holcombe with four full days of racing left. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia sits fourth overall. CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald completes the top five and is the only other rider with a mathematical chance of clinching the EnduroGP title.

Leading the way in Enduro1, Josep Garcia will look to build on his lead in Portugal. The Spaniard has proved the rider to beat with six wins to his credit. Sitting 18 points behind him is Theo Espinasse (Beta) in second. The fight for third remains hot between Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney and Sherco’s Zach Pichon.

In Enduro2, Steve Holcombe tops the standings by 18 points over closest rival Andrea Verona. The duo have proved the strongest so far this year having won all 10 races to date between them. Although now 23 points behind Verona, Hamish MacDonald holds a healthy 21-point advantage over Honda’s Nathan Watson in fourth.

Despite a non-score in Slovakia Brad Freeman still hangs on to the Enduro3 lead by four points thanks to his eight race wins. Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) will be feeling a sense of déjà vu entering Portugal as the Enduro3 title fight once again looks set to be decided between the two riders, as it was in 2022. Sherco-mounted Antoine Magain completes the top three.

Etchells aims to keep Norrbin at bay in Enduro Junior

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship battle continues with Fantic’s Jed Etchells holding the championship lead. The Brit has held the upper hand for the majority of 2023, but Albin Norrbin (Fantic) has gained both some ground and confidence thanks to his recent run of victories. Newly crowned British Enduro Champion Etchells will need to answer back if he wishes to keep the Swede at bay. Rookie Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) leads Max Ahlin (KTM) by one point in the battle for third.

Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) is the rider to beat in Enduro Youth. With eight wins from 10 starts, Cristino has built up a 13-point lead over Sherco’s Thibault Giraudon. Beta’s Leo Joyon sits a further eight points behind in third.

Round six of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship takes place in Valpacos, Portugal this weekend. Racing begins on Friday with the AKRAPOVIC Super Test.

2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar

Round 1 – Italy – San Remo/Arma di Taggia – 31 March-2 April
Round 2 – Spain – Lalin – 5-7 May
Round 3 – Finland – Heinola – 26-28 May
Round 4 – Sweden – Skovde – 1-3 June
Round 5 – Slovakia – Gelnica – 30 June-2 July
Round 6 – Portugal – Valpacos – 29 September-1 October
Round 7 – Portugal – St Andre/Santiago do Cacem – 6-8 October

2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup provisional calendar

Provisional dates for the expanded 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup have been released with a proposed six-round schedule doubling the calendar of this year’s inaugural series.

The series will once again get under way with Europe’s biggest beach race – the legendary Enduropale du Touquet – in France on 2-4 February followed by Argentina’s Enduro Del Verano, widely regarded as Latin America’s premier event of its kind, on 24-26 February.

After a break in the schedule, the action resumes with the Weston Beach Race in Great Britain and then the Bibione Sand Storm event in Italy, which will be on dates still to be announced in October or beginning of November.

Round five is planned for either November or December at a venue to be confirmed in Portugal before the series signs off in France at the famous Ronde des Sables on a yet to be decided date in December.

2024 PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

• 02-04 February – Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais – Le Touquet (France) – FFM
• 24-26 February – Enduro del Verano – Villa Gesell (Argentina) – CAMOD
• TBA – Weston Beach Race – Weston Super Mare (Great Britain) – ACU
• TBA – Bibione Sand Storm – Bibione (Italy) – FMI
• TBA November/December – TBA-TBA (Portugal) – FMP
• TBA December – Ronde des Sables – Hossegor-Capbreton (France) – FFM

Classes catered for are Moto, Quad, Junior, Women, Vintage Moto and Vintage Quad, although Vintage Quads will only be included at French rounds one and six.

More information will be communicated in October.

ABOUT THE FIM (www.fim-moto.com) 

The FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) founded in 1904, is the governing body for motorcycle sport and the global advocate for motorcycling. The FIM is an independent association formed by 118 National Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in motorcycle sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 
Among its 50 FIM World Championships the main events are MotoGP, Superbike, Endurance, Motocross, Supercross, Trial, Enduro, Cross-Country, Speedway and E-Bikes. Furthermore, the FIM is also active and involved in the following areas: public affairs, road safety, touring and protection of the environment. The FIM was the first international sports federation to impose an Environmental Code in 1994.

Copyright © 2023 FIM, All rights reserved

Provisional eight-round 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar announced

PRIME STADIUM, promoters of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, together with the FIM, are pleased to announce the provisional dates for the 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship. The planned eight-round series will visit several countries that are regulars hosts of EnduroGP competitions, as well as the inclusion of a number of exciting new events.  

Starting a little earlier than this year’s series, the 2024 championship will begin in early April in Spain. One week later, the championship will cross the border into Portugal for round two. 

Following what will be a busy two weeks for all involved in the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, one month after the Portuguese event, the series will head to Romania. The last time the championship visited the southeastern European country was back in 2013.

June will see the series head to Italy, and an event that, once completed, will mark the mid-way point of the championship with eight full days of competition completed. 

Round five will take place in Slovakia before a TBA event two weeks later. 

At the start of August, the penultimate round of the EnduroGP championship will visit Wales. A long-talked-about location from the 2008 championship, the event will set the series up for the eighth and final round in France on September 13-15. 

Location information for all rounds will be announced soon. 

Provisional 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar

Round 1 – Spain – 5-7 April
Round 2 – Portugal – 12-14 April
Round 3 – Romania – 10-12 May
Round 4 – Italy – 21-23 June
Round 5 – Slovakia – 12-14 July
Round 6 – TBA – 26-28 July
Round 7 – Wales – 2-4 August
Round 8 – France – 13-15 September

So far twenty-eight nations from five continents are represented with entries from twelve Latin American countries demonstrating the popularity of the sport in this region.

With the registration process remaining open until 31 August, the number of pre-registered riders for the ninety-seventh edition of this World-famous event – which currently stands at four-hundred-and-fifty-three – is expected to increase considerably in the lead-up to the closing date.

At present competitors from Latin American countries comprise seventy per cent of pre-registered riders, confirming the strong support for the event in the region. The competitors will set-off from the event headquarters at the Circuito San Juan Villicum in the northern city of San Juan, that lies to the east of the Andes Mountain range.

Argentinean riders make up thirty-eight per cent of the pre-registered entries received so far, a figure that is much higher than usual for a host nation, but they will face stiff opposition from the World’s leading Enduro nations.

Included among the favourites are the defending World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy teams from Great Britain and while unfortunately Australia will not be defending the Junior World Trophy on this occasion (or field teams in the other two main classes) there will be strong challenges in this category from, among other countries, Italy and the Czech Republic who finished second and third last year in France.

Other leading nations expected to excel in Argentina include, but are not limited to, Sweden, Canada, the USA, France, Germany and Spain.

With exceptional terrain awaiting the ever-growing entry list, the ninety-seventh edition of the ISDE in Argentina is set to be a memorable one.

More infos here FIM ISDE

FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy host venues confirmed until 2026

The FIM, Polski Zwiazek Motorowy (PZM), Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI) and the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e. V. (DMSB) are pleased to announce the host venues for the three editions of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy (EVT) that will run from 2024 until 2026.

This announcement follows a recent meeting with FIM President Jorge Viegas together with the Presidents and representatives of the relevant National Federations who had expressed interest in organising the event in forthcoming years.

The selected host venues are as follows:

• 2024 – Camerino (Italy)
• 2025 – Kielce (Poland)
• 2026 – Zschopau (Germany)

Since its debut at the 2016 FIM International Six Days of Enduro in Spain, the EVT has grown steadily in popularity and in 2021 was made a stand-alone event when it was held on the Italian Mediterranean island of Elba.

The event features two main categories – the Vintage Veterans Trophy Team class for three-rider national teams all with riders over the age of fifty and the Vintage Silver Vase Team class for three-rider teams all with riders over the age of forty. Individual entries are also welcomed, with the machines being split into five period classes ranging from 1975 to 1991.The event now also includes the Women’s Club Team class for three riders aged over twenty-five on 1 January of the event year.

After the success of last year’s event in Portugal, the 2023 EVT will be staged by the RFME in north-east Spain from 18-21 October with the tests being held between the towns of Fontanals de Cerdanya and Alp, close to the borders with Andorra and France.

Italy will travel to Spain as the reigning champions in the Vintage Veterans Trophy after its three-rider team comprising Enrico Tortoli, Giorgio Grasso and Tulio Pellegrinelli raced to victory over four highly competitive days at Santiago Do Cacem ahead of Germany and Portugal.

An Italian trio also won the Vintage Silver Vase class title with Maurizio Bettini, Luigi Mazzoni and Mario Graziani topping the podium for MC Pantera 1 while America’s Fred Hoess produced the best Individual performance ahead of the Italian duo of Giorgio Volpi and Adriano Micozzi.

FIM President Jorge Viegas is delighted by the announcement, saying: “It is such a fantastic event, so it is really good news that we have confirmed the host venues for the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy up to and including 2026. This event has really captured the imagination of riders and fans in a relatively short space of time. The friendly, nostalgic atmosphere is unique, but while the riders and their machines may belong to a different generation the competitive spirit remains unchanged.”

John Collins, FIM Enduro Commission Director, stated: “The popularity of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy has grown and grown since it was introduced in 2016 and every year it is eagerly awaited so we are very happy to be able to confirm the venues for a further three years. I have no doubt that this event will continue to grow even further over the coming years.”

ABOUT THE FIM (www.fim-moto.com) The FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) founded in 1904, is the governing body for motorcycle sport and the global advocate for motorcycling. The FIM is an independent association formed by 119 National Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in motorcycle sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Among its 50 FIM World Championships the main events are MotoGP, Superbike, Endurance, Motocross, Supercross, Trial, Enduro, Cross-Country, Speedway and E-Bikes. Furthermore, the FIM is also active and involved in the following areas: public affairs, road safety, touring and protection of the environment. The FIM was the first international sports federation to impose an Environmental Code in 1994.

Copyright © 2023 FIM, All rights reserved.

La Fédération Française de Motocyclisme a le plaisir de présenter l’Équipe de France qui portera nos couleurs lors des International Six Days of Enduro qui auront lieux à San Juan (Argentine) du 6 au 11 novembre prochains. 

La délégation française sera composée de 10 pilotes répartis en 3 catégories (Trophée Mondial, Trophée Junior et Trophée Féminin). Chaque équipe tricolore engagée dans cette compétition aura à coeur de défendre les couleurs de la nation pour cette 97ème édition des ISDE. 

Lors de la dernière édition en France en 2022, l’équipe Trophée Mondial avait terminé au pied du podium, et nos féminines avaient remporté le titre de vice-championnes du monde. Nous sommes certains que chaque équipe saura relever le défi argentin cette année.

Rappelons-le, en 2014 la caravane des ISDE s’était déjà installée à San Juan et l’équipe Trophée Mondial avait remporté l’édition. 

La Fédération Française de Motocyclisme exprime son plein soutien à l’Équipe de France qui défendra nos couleurs.

ÉQUIPE TROPHÉE

Hugo BLANJOUE

Loïc LARRIEU

Théophile ESPINASSE

Zachary PICHON

ÉQUIPE JUNIORS

Antoine ALIX

Léo JOYON

Thibault GIRAUDON

ÉQUIPE FÉMININE

Marine LEMOINE

Justine MARTEL

Élodie CHAPLOT

10 World, Junior and Women’s Trophy riders — and 21 Club Team riders — to represent the United States at the 2023 FIM International Six Days Enduro

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 23, 2023) — The American Motorcyclist Association proudly announces the 10 Trophy riders and 21 Club Team riders who will represent the United States at the 97th FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), which takes place Nov. 6-11 in San Juan, Argentina — the fifth time the ISDE has been held in South America.

The 10 Trophy riders will compete as the U.S. World Trophy, Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy teams. Every country participating in the ISDE is allowed four riders on its World Trophy Team, three riders age 23 or younger on its Junior Trophy Team, and three female riders on its Women’s team.

The U.S. Women’s World Trophy Team won in 2021, and previously had won in 2019 and 2007. The U.S. World Trophy Team last won the ISDE in 2019, which was the second ISDE World Trophy title for the United States. The U.S. Junior World Trophy Team last won in Argentina in 2014.

The 2023 U.S. World Trophy Team includes Taylor Robert, Johnny Girroir, Dante Oliveira and Cole Martinez.

“I’m looking forward to some redemption after our last year’s performance in France,” said KTM Director of Offroad Racing and ISDE Team Manager, Anti Kallonen, “and I can assure you, so are our riders. We have started our preparation now and will continue it until the end with only one goal in mind.”

“I’m pleased with the teams we were able to build,” Kallonen added. “Our Trophy team consists of four of the fastest riders in the country for the style of racing and terrain we will have in Argentina.”

The 2023 U.S. Women’s World Trophy Team includes Brandy Richards, Rachel Gutish and Korie Steede.

“I’m happy to announce we are bringing back the same Women’s team as last year,” said Kallonen. “They are hungry for redemption, and I expect great performances from all three riders.”

The 2023 U.S. Junior World Trophy Team, made up of riders age 23 and younger, includes Mateo Oliveira, Kai Aiello and Grant Davis.

“Our Junior Trophy team is expected to perform well, and a championship is long overdue. The last time we won the category was actually in San Juan, Argentina, in 2014,” Kallonen said.

The AMA’s two three-day qualifiers — one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast — resulted in the qualification of 16 individuals, while five riders were selected by the ISDE committee. Club teams and riders include:

Team XC Gear:

• Josh Toth

• Ryan Surratt

• Austin Serpa

Team GTBN:

• Jaden Dahners

• Nathan Ferderer

• Thorn Devlin

Team Missouri Mudders:

• Jhak Walker

• Trevor Maley

• Cade Henderson

Team BRAAPtastic.com:

• Zachary Toth

• Preston Campbell

• Axel Pearson

Team Steve Hatch Racing POTM:

• Jackson Davis

• Hunter Smith

• Chase Bright

Team Eric Cleveland Memorial:

• Kyle Tichenor

• Nolan Cate

• Ava Silvestri

Team The Elizabeth Scott Community:

• Rick Emerson

• Jeremy Shoning

• John Beal

“Argentina has proven to be a demanding and challenging place for the ISDE in the past,” said AMA Offroad Manager Michael Jolly. “This year the event will be held at the same location as in 2014. This year’s qualifier events were scheduled to reflect Argentina’s terrain, allowing us to find the very best riders for the job. I believe our Club Teams will perform exceptionally, and they are expected to be in contention for the overall Club Team win.”

Club Team riders have started raising money to support their efforts to attend the 2023 ISDE. Check with individual riders on these teams to discover how you can help support their quest to represent the United States in Argentina this November.

The AMA’s ISDE effort would be impossible without the support of the ISDE Advisory Committee, which includes Jay and Jarred Hall, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jeff Fredette, Eric Fredette, Dave Chamberline, and Asa Abel, and the event’s current sponsors. Sponsors include KTM, BI-CON, FMF, Motorex, Rabaconda, Arai Helmets and Motion Pro.

To learn more about the U.S. ISDE team, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/isde/.

Those planning to travel and stay with the U.S. team can register at https://form.jotform.com/amatech/2023-ama-isde-registration . The deadline for registration is July 10.

FIM ISDE Argentina 2023 continues its preparations

The 97th edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) continues its set-up and will take place as scheduled from 6 to 11November in the province of San Juan, Argentina.

ISDE Trophies @ Future7Media

Already with more than 300 riders contesting Club Team Awards (CTAs) with a strong participation of South American competitors, and also expecting a large number of national teams, this legendary annual team competition will visit the country for the second time in its history, after its first and successful time in 2014.

The FIM ISDE Argentina 2023 promises to be an unforgettable experience for both riders and enduro fans. The organising committee continues working diligently to finalise details. Only four months away from the competition, David Eli, Director of +Eventos and local organiser of the FIM ISDE 2023, commented on this great upcoming event: “We are very excited to organise the Six Days again in our country. San Juan has a great variety of terrains that will allow for a formidable competition. And although it is true that in the last few hours the Secretary of Sports of San Juan, Jorge Chica, informed me that the governmental support of the province will be restricted, we can still carry out the event thanks to the support of our sponsors and our business structure that allows us to give guarantees in this sense. So I look forward to welcoming all the teams coming to our country soon”.

The countdown to the return of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro 2023 to South America after five years has already begun. With planning underway, the local organiser is looking forward to welcoming riders and teams from around the world with the opening of the paddock at the Villicum Circuit in San Juan scheduled for 31 October and the inaugural parade of nations to be held on Saturday, 4 November this year.

COISDE Communication

Full event details can be found at FULL DETAILS HERE

The final day of racing at round five of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was a memorable one for GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona as the Italian secured victory. In what’s been a difficult season to date for the defending EnduroGP champion, Andrea came good, while making the most of a technical issue suffered by Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe, to master the mud and rain and claim the overall win. Holcombe placed a close second to take over the EnduroGP championship points lead while CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald secured his debut EnduroGP podium with third.

Fantic’s Albin Norrbin recorded his second victory of the weekend in the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship.

• Andrea Verona wins a muddy day two in Slovakia
• Steve Holcombe takes over EnduroGP points lead with runner-up result
• Hamish MacDonald enjoys debut EnduroGP podium in third

The champ is back! It feels like a long time coming, but defending EnduroGP champion Andrea Verona finally got his first victory of the season under his belt on day two at round five of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. After pushing Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe hard yesterday, the GASGAS Factory Racing rider came into his own when the sunshine was replaced with torrential rain and deep mud. In what proved a physically demanding day, heavy rain turned conditions slippery, and very unpredictable for all. At times it really was a case of sink or swim!

Verona returns to his best 

Showing signs of his pace of old on day one, Italian Andrea Verona looked ready to build on his impressive speed as he began day two in Gelnica. With CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald fastest in the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test, Verona went quickest on the ACERBIS Cross Test, leaving the top three of MacDonald, Holcombe, and Verona separated by only two seconds.

The back-to-back JUST1 Enduro Test and Cross Pro Enduro Test would prove crucial to see who could gain advantage before the extreme weather conditions began to take their toll. Holcombe rose to the occasion by winning both. Moving into the lead as they began lap two, he held the upper hand, but not by a lot.

The second POLISPORT Extreme Test saw Fantic’s Lorenzo Macoritto (Fantic) best master the conditions. After a disappointing time, Holcombe was back up to speed and won the ACERBIS Cross Test to extend his lead to 10 seconds. But just when it looked like he was in control, the tables quickly turned. A technical issue on the JUST1 Enduro Test cost him over 30 seconds, putting Verona back into the lead.

As they began the final lap, Verona was 13 seconds to the good over a fast-recovering Holcombe. Crucially winning the final ACERBIS Cross Test, Verona pulled his advantage out to 20 seconds with both Enduro Tests to run. With both riders chasing victory, Verona hung on by two seconds to get the job done. Despite a heroic effort on the final two special stages, Holcombe just fell short of victory. However, as runner-up to Verona, Holcombe did enough to head home from Slovakia as the new EnduroGP points leader.

Debut EnduroGP podium for MacDonald

Giving the leading duo a close fight during the first half of the day played dividends for MacDonald. With a comfortable cushion over the chasing pack, the new Zealander earned his debut EnduroGP podium. Coming into his own in the muddy terrain, Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) won the final POLISPORT Extreme Test to take fourth overall, with Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney fifth.

That ride to fifth overall for McCanney set him up perfectly to win the Enduro1 class for the first time this season. Continuing to nurse an elbow injury, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia could be pleased with second, while Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse rounded out the podium.

The Enduro2 victory belonged to Verona, with the Italian taking the top spot over Holcombe and MacDonald. Carding his second Enduro3 class win of the weekend, Mikael Persson moves to within four points of championship leader Brad Freeman (Beta). Antoine Magain (Sherco) and Luc Fargier (Beta) were second and third respectively.

Norrbin does the double in Juniors 

As ever, the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship was a hotly contested affair. Rising to the occasion in the extreme mud and rain, Fantic’s Albin Norrbin secured his second victory of the weekend. Jed Etchells (Fantic) fought back hard on the final lap, but despite taking three of the four special tests, he had to settle for second. Max Ahlin (KTM) made it a Swedish 1-3, finishing eight seconds behind Etchells in third.

The Youth Enduro class was an exciting affair, with a new winner emerging. The difficult conditions played havoc and it was Beta’s Leo Joyon who made the race his own to secure his first victory of the season. Winner yesterday, Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) was second today, with Clement Clauzier (Fantic) third.

With five rounds complete, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship takes a much-welcomed extended summer break, before concluding with back-to-back rounds in Portugal, beginning September 29.

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “I’m really happy with that. It’s been a great day. It feels incredible to finally get an overall win. The conditions today were super tough in the mud and rain, but I think everyone was finding it tough, so I had to keep pushing and not panic about mistakes. These last few GPs were tough, so I want to thank everyone who helped me get this win.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “It’s been a fantastic battle with Andrea today in the rain. The conditions were a bit wild out there, so it was a case of battling through. I had an issue on one of the enduro tests and lost a bunch of time. I gave it everything towards the end, but it wasn’t enough to win. Overall, it’s been a very good race for me, heading into this summer break I’m now leading the EnduroGP and Enduro2 classes, so it will be big motivation to keep working hard and be ready for the final two races in Portugal.”

Hamish MacDonald (Sherco): “I’m really happy to get on the podium today. We came here with a new bike and it’s gone great. The conditions today seemed to suit me a lot. I kept chipping away at each test and managed to get my first EnduroGP podium.”

Albin Norrbin (Fantic): “I’ve enjoyed these tough races and to come away with a double victory in Slovakia is perfect. I feel like I showed some good, consistent speed. With these wins, it brings a nice feeling heading into the summer break.”

Results: Round 5, Day 2
EnduroGP
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:19:49.03; 2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:19:51.49; 3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:20:37.80; 4. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:21:38.54; 5. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:21:47.12; 6. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:22:15.99; 7. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:22:25.14; 8. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 1:22:45.87; 9. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:23:04.21; 10. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:23:21.72…

The opening day of racing at round five of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe secure the overall victory. In what’s been a difficult 24 hours for the EnduroGP paddock following the untimely passing of Jaroslav Diro in yesterday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Holcombe was joined on the podium by GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and CH Racing Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht. 

• Steve Holcombe races to EnduroGP victory on day one in Slovakia
• Championship leader Brad Freeman crashes out
• EnduroGP paddock in mourning following tragic loss of Jaroslav Diro

Tight racing at the top of EnduroGP

The POLISPORT Extreme Test marked an early wake up call for all riders. Setting the fastest time, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona took an early lead ahead of Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna), with CH Racing Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht close in third.

At over nine minutes in length, the ACERBIS Cross Test saw Verona continue to lead. It was clear the Italian had found his form again after a disappointing couple of rounds. But so too had Ruprecht. The defending Enduro2 champion was charging, winning the test, he sat just one hundredth of a second adrift.

With Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney and RedMoto Honda Racing’s Nathan Watson in third and fourth, things were proving very competitive. Drama struck Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman with the EnduroGP points leader crashing out on the second test.

The JUST1 Enduro Test and Cross Pro Enduro Test were next up to close out lap one. Steve Holcombe (Beta) set an incredible time on the JUST1 Enduro Test that edged him into the lead. Verona answered back by topping the Cross Pro Test. Beginning lap two, Holcombe led by just nine hundredths of a second. Ruprecht was 23 seconds behind in third, but had Theo Espinasse (Beta), Watson, and now Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) in pursuit.

The race lead changed hands again on the second POLISPORT Extreme Test, before Holcombe won it back on the ACERBIS Cross Test. Topping the JUST1 Enduro Test and Cross Pro Enduro Test, he managed to gain some breathing room over Verona as he began lap two with a 12-second advantage. 

But the Italian refused to be outdone and closed that gap to nine seconds on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test. Knowing he needed to answer back, Holcombe turned up the heat. Fastest in the final three tests, he pulled clear to win by 27 seconds. For Verona, day one in Slovakia proved an incredible comeback following a tough couple of rounds. Runner-up today, he will aim to better that tomorrow.

Likewise, Ruprecht was a welcome return to the EnduroGP podium in third, following a slow start to his season. Continuing to string together a series of impressive results, Espinasse split the CH Racing Sherco duo of Ruprecht and MacDonald with fourth.

Victory for Espinasse in Enduro1

The Enduro1 class saw Espinasse claim his second victory of the season for Beta Oxmoto. McCanney enjoyed a strong ride for second. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia battled through his shoulder injury to keep his championship lead intact with third.

The Enduro2 class results were a carbon copy of EnduroGP with Holcombe winning from Verona and Ruprecht. MacDonald and Watson completed the top five. The shock departure of Freeman on special test two saw his unbeaten run of form finally end in Enduro3. Persson raced on to secure the win from Luca Fischeder (Sherco) and Antoine Magain (Sherco).

Norrbin takes Junior win

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic’s Albin Norrbin ride clear to a comfortable victory. The Swede was on top form in the Slovakian mud and ruts. Jed Etchells (Fantic) placed 43 seconds behind in second, with Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) third.

There was a large upset in the Youth Enduro class with Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) taking victory for the first time this season. Leo Joyon (Beta) and Maxime Clauzier (Fantic) completed the podium. Championship leader Kevin Cristino (Fantic) had a tough day at the office for fifth – his first loss of the season.

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “Our enduro world was rocked yesterday with the sad passing of Jaroslav Diro in yesterday’s Super Test. My thoughts are with his family today, and naturally I want to dedicate this victory to him. As ever Slovakia always puts on a great race and I really enjoyed the tests today. They got chewed out towards the end of the day. I was able to keep pushing hard and come out on top.”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “It feels great to be back on the EnduroGP podium after what’s been a difficult couple of rounds. I fought a lot with Steve today and I feel like I can build on that tomorrow. I would like to send my thoughts to the family and friends of Jaroslav Diro after yesterday’s events.”

Wil Ruprecht (Sherco): “It was devastating to learn the passing of Jaroslav Diro and he was in my thoughts all day. He was one of us and I send my condolences to his family. Despite the difficult circumstances, it is nice to be back inside the EnduroGP top three after a tough start to the year. The course was good today and I hope to carry my form into tomorrow.”

Results – Round 5, Day 1
EnduroGP
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:21:06.96; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:21:34.30; 3. Wil Ruprecht (Sherco) 1:22:41.52; 4. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:23:01.19; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:23:16.10; 6. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:23:18.28; 7. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:23:47.76; 8. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:24:01.86; 9. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 1:24:14.24; 10. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:24:16.06…

Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023: German ace Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) takes masterful win at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo

Manuel Lettenbichler has won his second-straight Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, making him the seventh person in 27 editions of the race to become a multiple-times winner. The 25-year-old trailed Great Britain’s Billy Bolt for much of the race, before a decisive pass in the latter stages sealed victory. Canada’s Trystan Hart finished third for the second successive year. 

Eisenerz (AUSTRIA) – Reigning FIM Hard Enduro world champion Manuel Lettenbichler of Germany has overcome 500 competitors and a mountain referred to as the ‘Iron Giant’ to win Austria’s iconic Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in two hours, 31-minutes. Once in the lead, Lettenbichler put on a masterclass to beat his closest challenger Bolt by 11-minutes. Of 500 starters, 17 managed to finish the course containing 27 checkpoints across varied terrain within the four-hour race time limit. 

Held in the Austrian mining town of Eisenerz and first launched in 1995, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is the most revered race in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. It takes place around the gravity defying Erzberg mountain, a functioning mine producing more than three million tons of iron ore per year. At each edition of the race, a mix of professionals and amateurs take part. 

Lettenbichler paced himself early in the race, trailing eventual third place finisher Trystan Hart before taking the lead. Soon after he conceded first to a hard-charging Billy Bolt, who had crashed at the beginning of the race and was on a mission to try and win the famed event for the first time. 

After one hour and 17 minutes chasing Bolt, Lettenbichler snatched the lead back at checkpoint 22 of 27. From there he rode off into the distance to not only win the race for a second time, but also secure his second-straight win in the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. The win cementing his place on top of the series standings.  

“I’m speechless that I had such a big gap at the end,” on overjoyed Lettenbichler said. 

“I don’t really believe it. I had a really good start and then Billy caught and passed me, and I tried to stay with him, but I couldn’t. He pulled a gap, so I tried to save some energy. When I could see him again, I decided push and I would say he was pretty tired. Then I just rode a really good line to pass him.”

“This race is such a crazy motorbike festival and everyone in the world just comes and wants to do this challenge and finish this race. It’s super unique. It feels amazing to win a second time in a row.”

Despite seeing victory dissipate before his eyes, Bolt managed to record his best finish at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, despite a litany of drama which only became apparent post-race.  

“That was my worst ever start and then the next 10 minutes was a blur, and I knew I needed to pass as many people as possible before the course got technical. I bent the front disc on my bike in the crash, 

I also dented my exhaust pretty badly. I’ve had a fair bit of drama, all self-induced,” Bolt recalled. 

“When Mani passed me, I thought I would struggle to keep up with him, just with how my bike was. I didn’t take it easy, I just made sure I could get home in second. But all things considered I am very very happy.” 

Rounding out the podium was Trystan Hart, making it two podiums in three attempts at the race. 

“Back-to-back podiums, lots of people would be happy. But to be honest I’m not super happy with this year. I put myself in a really good position, I was leading, which I didn’t really expect and then I just got tight and made a lot of mistakes in the first hour,” Hart lamented. 

“To get the holeshot and then make a lot of mistakes like that is kind of heartbreaking. I was right where I needed to be with Billy and Mani, and then kind of threw it all away. To be back on the podium is good.” 

Red Bull Erzbergrodeo marked round two of the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. However, only a small portion of those entered in this event were the elite professionals chasing the world championship, the rest being ambitious amateurs. The prologue narrowed 1,300 entrants to 500 qualifiers for the start of Sunday’s main race, and the predictably brutal course was mastered by just 17 riders. 

The best placed local was Austrian Michael Walkner, cousin of 2018 Dakar Rally champion Matthias Walkner, who finished in seventh position. Compatriot Marcel Hirscher – a multiple times gold medallist at the Olympics and World Championships in Alpine Skiing made his second start in Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. The skier turned motorcycle racer managed to make it to checkpoint 19, an improvement on 2022 when his race ended at checkpoint 17.  

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship now moves to Romania for ‘Romaniacs’ from July 25-29.  

2023 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo finishers (all times provisional at time of writing)

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (Germany) – 2:31:15

2. Billy Bolt (Great Britain) – 2:42:15

3. Trystan Hart (Canada) – 2:57:09

4. Jonny Walker (Great Britain) – 2:59:30

5. Wade Young (South Africa) – 3:04:21

6. Graham Jarvis (Great Britain) – 3:13:55

7. Michael Walkner (Austria) – 3:22:18

8. Alfredo Gomez (Spain) – 3:24:30

9. Teodor Kabakchiev (Bulgaria) – 3:25:00

10. Cody Webb (United States of America) – 3:29:09

11. Matthew Green (South Africa) – 3:31:45

12. Sonny Goggia (Italy) – 3:49:21

13. Dominik Olszowy (Poland) – 3:51:59

14. Jack Price (Great Britain) – 3:52:08

15. Dan Peace (Great Britain) – 3:55:58

16. Mitch Brightmore (Great Britain) – 3:58:39

17. Will Hoare (Great Britain) – 3:59:13

The final day of racing at round four of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe claim a dramatic win. After leading early on, day one winner Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia crashed out of the race, which allowed Holcombe to overtake his teammate Brad Freeman on the final lap for victory. RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson thrived in the Swedish terrain for third.

Fantic’s Albin Norrbin enjoyed a perfect day at the office to win the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship class. Fantic’s Jane Daniels raced ahead to win the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship category.

• Steve Holcombe takes first EnduroGP class win of 2023
• Holcombe, Freeman, and Watson ensure all-British EnduroGP podium
• Day one winner Josep Garcia crashed out while leading

Day two at round four of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Skovde, Sweden was dramatic to say the least. The final day in a busy fortnight of racing in Scandinavia, for the riders it was far from easy. Beaten up special tests and another one hour and 30 minutes of timed racing for the frontrunners meant everyone will be glad of some rest following this exciting northern European tour.

First EnduroGP win of 2023 for Steve Holcombe
After his victory yesterday, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was hungry to win again. However, starting his day with ninth on the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test left him with some work to do. Upfront and it was the familiar Beta Factory Racing duo of Brad Freeman and Steve Holcombe leading the way. Winning the back-to-back JUST1 Enduro Test and Cross Pro Enduro Test, Garcia managed to put himself into the lead over Freeman and Holcombe.

With the race back on, we were set for another exciting three-way fight for victory. On lap two Garcia again went quickest on both enduro tests to stretch a lead over Holcombe and Freeman. Sixteen seconds clear, the Spaniard was looking tough to beat. But on the final JUST1 Enduro Test his luck suddenly ran out.

Crashing out of the race with a collarbone injury Garcia’s day was over, putting Freeman back into the lead by 12 seconds, with Holcombe and Watson giving chase. Holcombe then topped the Cross Pro Enduro Test and with a crash from Freeman the lead changed hands once again. Now six seconds to the good, Holcombe would not be beaten, and he stayed clean to win EnduroGP for the first time this season.

Behind Holcombe and Freeman, RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson was also on a charge. With the exit of Garcia, he knew a podium result was up for grabs. Fighting off GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona, Watson topped the final POLISPORT Extreme test to get the job done and make it a British 1-2-3 in EnduroGP.

Although missing out on a top three result, day two was a much improved one for Verona. Three seconds behind Watson, he ended his day in fourth. Another strong result from Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse saw him complete the top five.

Enduro1 win for Theo Espinasse
With Garcia crashing out, it opened the door for a new Enduro1 class winner to come through. Holding off CH Racing Sherco’s Zach Pichon, Theo Espinasse (Beta) took a well-deserved victory. Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney took third.

With his EnduroGP victory, Beta’s Steve Holcombe extended his Enduro2 points lead with another win. Nathan Watson (Honda) and Andrea Verona (GASGAS) completed the podium. Beta’s Brad Freeman remains undefeated in Enduro3 with another class win. TM Racing’s Matteo Cavallo edged out Morgan Lesiardo (Sherco) by just half of a second for the runner-up result.

In the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship there was no change at the top of the leader board. Fantic’s Jane Daniels topped the first four special tests to cement an early lead. Unchallenged she won the day by over one minute. RedMoto Honda’s Francesca Nocera put in a fast final lap to finish in second place. Yamaha’s Jessica Gardiner took third thanks to the fastest time on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test.

Norrbin takes Junior Enduro win
While yesterday’s GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship was a close race, today Fantic’s Albin Norrbin made sure things went to script. The Swede kicked off his day as the rider to beat, setting the fastest times in the first seven special tests. Building up a very healthy lead, Norrbin backed it off a little on the final lap to ensure victory.

Fifth yesterday, Axel Semb (Husqvarna) showed he had some extra speed up his sleeve. Battling with day one winner Max Ahlin (KTM) and Jed Etchells (Fantic), Semb ended his day as the runner-up, with Ahlin holding Etchells off by six seconds for third. Sergio Navarro (Husqvarna) signed off his GP of Sweden with fifth.

The Youth Enduro class was hotly contested. Although Fantic’s Kevin Cristino still managed to take his eighth consecutive win, he had to work for it. Beta’s Leo Joyon was on flying form, pushing the Italian hard. With the pair swapping test wins throughout the day, Cristino hung on by half of a second to win. Sherco’s Thibault Giraudon finished over one minute and 39 seconds behind in third.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship now takes a short but well-earned break before returning to action for round five in Gelnica, Slovakia on June 30 – July 2.

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “It feels brilliant to win. I didn’t start off too strong. The tests were pretty beaten up and I needed time to settle in. I started to pick up my pace midday and then when Josep crashed out, things started to come to me. I’m so happy to win in EnduroGP again, it feels a long time coming.”

Brad Freeman (Beta): “I was struggling today. I pulled some time back midway through the day, but I couldn’t keep my riding consistent. I had some big moments and the chance of winning slipped away on the final lap.”

Nathan Watson (Honda): “Getting my first EnduroGP podium of the year is great. I had a lot of stress going into the final test because I knew Andrea Verona would also be fast there too. I gave it my all and it came together.”

Results – Round 4, Day 2

EnduroGP
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:29:59.33; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:30:07.16; 3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:30:21.70; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:30:25.44; 5. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:31:19.26; 6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:31:33.58; 7. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 1:31:51.29; 8. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:31:54.25; 9. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 1:32:00.69; 10. Morgan Lesiardo (Sherco) 1:32:01.25…

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia claims victory on day one at the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Skovde, Sweden. Going head-to-head with Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman, Garcia narrowly beat his rival for the win by just eight seconds after almost one hour and 30 minutes of timed racing. Yet again proving just how tight the top three are in EnduroGP, Beta’s Steve Holcombe closed out the podium 19 seconds behind his teammate Freeman.

Max Ahlin (KTM) carried over his stunning form from last night’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test to win the GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship class. Jane Daniels was the runaway winner of the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship with victory on day one in Skovde.

• Josep Garcia tops EnduroGP on day one with hard-fought win.
• Back-to-back enduro tests put competitors through their paces.
• Max Ahlin delivers a home win in Junior Enduro.

There was an excited atmosphere in the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship paddock as competitors rolled out for day one’s racing at round four in Skovde, Sweden. A big day at the office was on the cards for all with 11 special tests dishing out a super-sized one hour and 30 minutes of timed racing for the front runners. The big talking point for competitors as they left the MILWAUKEE Parc Ferme was the back-to-back enduro tests. With a nine-minute Cross Pro Enduro Test added to the nine-minute JUST1 Enduro Test, today was set to favour those most comfortable between the trees. 

Straight off the bat, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman kept his lead from the AKRAPOVIC Super Test alive by winning the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test and then going quickest in the JUST1 Enduro Test to open a three-second advantage over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia, with Steve Holcombe (Beta) a further nine seconds back in third. The CH Racing Sherco duo of Hamish MacDonald and Zach Pichon were jointly five seconds behind to remain in the hunt.

While Freeman topped the opening JUST1 Enduro Test it was by a minuscule three hundredths of a second, meaning it wasn’t like the killer blow he had landed last week in Finland. Garcia was quick to sense that and won the following Cross Pro Enduro Test to halve Freeman’s lead. And with the pair virtually tying on time in the ACERBIS Cross Test, it was game on as they headed into lap two of three.

For the rest of the day the pair went toe-to-toe, with Holcombe sneaking in a Cross Pro Enduro Test win too. On the final Cross Pro Enduro Test it was Freeman who cracked. A crash handed Garcia the breathing room he needed, and with time running out, victory went the Spaniard’s way.

With Freeman forced to concede defeat today, it was Holcombe who followed him home for third. While the battle for victory grabbed the majority of the limelight, there was little to separate the gap to fourth, fifth and sixth. Putting in his best ride of the season, RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson won the final ACERBIS Cross test to take fourth. GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona was super consistent all day for fifth, with MacDonald placing an eventual sixth.

The Enduro1 category saw another victory for Josep Garica (KTM). Zach Pichon (Sherco) fended off Theo Espinasse (Beta) for second. Steve Holcombe (Beta) appears to have the measure of Enduro2 and won again. Nathan Watson (Honda) kept in front of Andrea Verona (GASGAS) for second. Beta’s Brad Freeman was best of the Enduro3 class for the seventh consecutive time. Morgan Lesiardo (Sherco) and Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) rounded out the podium.

Daniels tops Women’s Enduro podium

In the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship, Fantic’s Jane Daniels once again put in a winning ride. After Rieju’s Rosie Rowett won the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Daniels didn’t waste any time restoring order by going on a lap one winning spree. Winning three tests she put herself in the lead and didn’t falter for the remainder of the day.

For Rowett it was a very strong ride for second. Along with many top-two special test times, she also took an ACERBIS Cross Test win. Yamaha’s Jessica Gardiner was third. Linnes Akesson (Beta) finished fourth on home soil, with Nieve Holmes (Sherco) rounding out the top five.

Home win for Max Ahlin in Junior Enduro

The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship was all about the battle of the Swede’s Max Ahlin (KTM) and Albin Norrbin (Fantic), with Jed Etchells (Fantic) in tow. While Ahlin enjoyed a stunning ride in the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Norrbin did not. Ending it 39th and 23 seconds behind Ahlin, he would spend his day trying to race back into contention.

Doing exactly that he went on a winning run midday, setting the quickest time in five consecutive tests. However, Ahlin was never too far behind and with that gap only gradually closing, Ahlin did everything right to win. Despite his best efforts, Norrbin will have to try again tomorrow if he wants to stand on the top step of the podium on home soil. Coming on strong on the final lap, Etchells topped two special tests for third overall and may just have a little more in the tank for the Swedes tomorrow.

Class rookie Jeremy Sydow was much more confident in the Scandinavian terrain this race and was a competitive fourth. Always a stronger rider on day two, he could be someone the leaders will need to watch out for. Axel Semb (Husqvarna) took fifth to ensure three Swedes placed inside the top five.

In Youth Enduro, Kevin Cristino (Fantic) remains on top. However, the Italian only just got it across the line. Sherco’s Thibault Giraudon was back on song today and finished just three seconds behind as runner-up. Leo Joyon (Beta) completed the podium.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I felt good on the bike the whole day, which was important because the fight at the top is so tight. I had a one crash, but luckily it wasn’t too major. I’m enjoying the battle now, everything is feeling good and I’m ready for more tomorrow.”

Brad Freeman (Beta): “It’s been good results all round, but I feel like I let that win slip away if I’m honest about it. Josep and myself were battling every test and in the final enduro test I lost nine seconds and that was it.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “Finishing on the podium again is brilliant. But I wasn’t quite able to get to Josep and Brad today. After walking all the tests they didn’t cut in how I expected them too and I think that caught me off guard a bit. I’ll do some homework tonight and see if I can close the gap tomorrow.”

Results: Round 4, Day 1
EnduroGP

1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:28:39.67; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:28:48.53; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:29:07.75; 4. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:29:46.13; 5. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:29:51.86; 6. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:29:55.50; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:30:05.71; 8. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:30:11.24; 9. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:30:51.86; 10. Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) 1:31:00.40…

The tables turned on the second day of competition at round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Finland with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia emerging as victor.

Putting an end to Beta Factory Racing star Brad Freeman’s unbeaten run of form, the Spaniard rose to the occasion in some of the toughest conditions seen for some time in EnduroGP. Although denied a clean sweep of EnduroGP class wins in Finland, Freeman hung tough for second, with his Beta teammate Steve Holcombe taking third to remain on the EnduroGP podium at every race so far in 2023.

In the GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship Fantic’s Albin Norrbin secured his first victory of the season, while Jane Daniels (Fantic) was once again unbeatable in the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship.

• Josep Garcia tops EnduroGP on day two in Heinola
• Albin Norrbin emerges victorious in Junior Enduro
• EnduroGP heads to Sweden for round four beginning Thursday June 1

Day two at the GP of Finland for round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw a new name, finally, top the results sheet. Having won every race so far in 2023, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman would have to play second best to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia today. Overnight the Spaniard found that little bit extra needed to fight with the leading duo of Freeman and Steve Holcombe (Beta) on day two and duly won. 

Showing solid pace in the closing stages of day one, Garcia knew the JUST1 Enduro Test was his weak point. And despite having just completed six hours of racing, he headed back out into the forest that evening to walk the special test again and find some gains.

That tactic paid off and by winning the opening ACERBIS Cross Test the Spaniard was up to speed with his rivals. Freeman attacked on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test to lead over Holcombe and Garcia, but with Garcia answering back with the fastest time on the first POLISPORT Extreme Test, Freeman’s advantage was not as big as he hoped for. 

Lap two saw Garcia fastest again on the ACERBIS Cross Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test. But with a crash from Freeman on the JUST1 Enduro Test the tables had turned. Holcombe was now in control of the race lead as they began the third and final lap, with Garcia second and Freeman third.

Again, Garcia topped the JUST1 Enduro Test on lap three to see the lead change once more. But with the JUST1 Enduro Test to follow, the pressure was on. With conditions now at their toughest the Spaniard was incredibly fastest for the first time this weekend. And with enough in hand on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, he played his cards just right to take a memorable win.

For Holcombe it looked like he also had the better of his teammate. However, despite having three seconds in hand entering the final test, it wasn’t to be. A brilliant effort from Freeman on the POLISPORT Extreme Test saw him snatch the runner-up result by just seven tenths of a second.

With the battle for victory taking centre stage in Heinola, it was GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona who came through for fourth, finishing 14 seconds ahead of CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald in fifth.

Garcia, Holcombe and Freeman do the double in Enduro1, Enduro2 and Enduro3

Mirroring yesterday’s results, Garcia, Holcombe, and Freeman again topped their respective Enduro1, Enduro2 and Enduro3 categories. Theo Espinasse (Beta) could be very pleased with his efforts in Finland with the Frenchman taking second in Enduro1. Class rookie Zach Pichon (Sherco) showed good form with third place.

In Enduro 2 it was Verona who this time took the runner-up result to Holcombe, with MacDonald completing the top three. Third yesterday, Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) went one better today in Enduro3 to finish as runner-up to a dominant Freeman. Sherco’s Antoine Magain put in a solid ride for third.

Competitive racing in the Women’s Enduro

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship was once again all about Jane Daniels (Fantic) with the Brit making it four wins from four starts in 2023. However, her winning margin on day two was halved compared to day one, with RedMoto Honda’s Francesca Norcera putting in a fighting ride for second. The Italian also had a battle on her hands with Sweden’s Hedvig Malm (KTM) chasing her home for third place. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Rosie Rowett (Rieju) completed the top five.

In the GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship the battle for victory between the Fantic pairing of Jed Etchells and Albin Norrbin rumbled on into day two. Day one winner Etchells had a fight on his hands if he wished to make it a double. Norrbin was in a determined mode and the Swede was comfortable in the ‘home-like’ terrain. Fastest in the final four special tests, Norrbin reeled in early leader Etchells and secured his first victory of the season. With Etchells pushed back to second, Max Ahlin (KTM) rounded out the podium.

It seems that Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) has the measure of the Youth Enduro class now. Racing clear for his sixth straight win, Cristino will be aiming to keep this winning momentum rolling in Sweden from next Thursday. Day two saw Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) put in an improved ride to finish in second, while Leo Joyon (Beta) took third.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four in Skovde, Sweden on June 1-3.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “It feels so good to win in these conditions in Finland. After yesterday I knew I needed to find some more speed in enduro test to close the gap to Brad and Steve. I walked it again last night and for sure it definitely helped. My times were more competitive and with my speed in the cross test I was fighting all day. I gave it my all on the final enduro test and was fastest for the first time this weekend in it to win the day!”

Brad Freeman (Beta): “I’m a little disappointed with how I rode today. It was just an off day. I had the lead on the first lap, but on the second enduro test I pushed too hard and crashed. I managed to pull enough time back to get second at the end. « 

Jane Daniels (Fantic): “So far it’s been the perfect season, but I’m taking nothing for granted. These conditions favoured me and I really enjoyed the enduro test, it was my sort of going. I’m really happy with how everything went. My team, my bike, it’s been perfect.”

Results – Round 3, GP of Finland
EnduroGP: Day 2

1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 56:50.87; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 56:59.11; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 56:59.82; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 57:51.70; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 58:06.09; 6. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 58:44.72; 7. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 59:15.04; 8. Nathan Watson (Honda) 59:22.03; 9. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 59:24.45; 10. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 59:35.05…

The opening day of competition at round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Heinola, Finland was a battle of the ages. Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman best managed the rugged, old school enduro terrain to claim his fifth consecutive EnduroGP day victory. Teammate Steve Holcombe was next best in second, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia third. All three won their respective Enduro3, Enduro2, and Enduro1 categories.

GALGER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship points leader Jed Etchells (Fantic) came out on top on day one, while Fantic’s Jane Daniels dominated the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship.

• Finland returns to EnduroGP calendar with a welcome bang
• Beta’s Brad Freeman took his fifth consecutive EnduroGP day win
• Fantic’s Jane Daniels rode clear to the Women’s Enduro victory

After Friday’s action packed AKRAPOVIC Super Test in Heinola, Finland, today was time to get down to business with the opening day of racing at round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. While the weather was proving ever changeable, the biggest talking point for riders starting their day was the JUST1 Enduro Test. Rugged, gnarly, forest-based and typically Finnish – at over 11 minutes in length for the fastest riders – it was set to prove decisive for all. 

Freeman proves flawless in EnduroGP

Chasing his fifth EnduroGP victory on the bounce, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman was quick to attack on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test. Stopping the clock over 15 seconds faster than Steve Holcombe (Beta) in second, Freeman was off to a flying start. 

Although losing a little time on the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test won by Holcombe, Freeman duly won the following ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test to extend his lead. A mistake from Holcombe on the final ACERBIS Cross Test offered some added breathing room to Freeman’s lead as he held strong to win the day.

Enjoying the demanding, old school enduro terrain, Holcombe too was pushing hard. Pleased with topping two of the day’s three POLISPORT Extreme Tests, he was rewarded with the runner-up overall result for his efforts.

Behind the leading Beta riders, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia steadily progressed during the day. Needing more time than he hoped to adjust to the terrain, he ended his day with a solid final lap for third overall and will be one the that the leading duo will need to watch for tomorrow.

Coming through for his best result of the season, CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald finally cracked the top five with fourth today in Heinola. The New Zealander enjoyed the ‘home-like’ terrain in Finland.

Closing out the top five, the battle for fifth between GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse went right to the wire. Coming down to the final test, Verona narrowly beat Espinasse by half of a second.

In Enduro1, Josep Garcia (KTM) was top of the pile. The Spaniard took the win, with Theo Espinasse (Beta) in second. Zach Pichon (Sherco) completed the top three. Steve Holcombe (Beta) was best of the Enduro2 riders, winning by over one minute from Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald. With Andrea Verona (GASGAS) third, Holcombe also gained some ground in their title battle. There was no stopping Freeman in Enduro3 as he powered clear to a three-minute margin of victory. The fight for second was much closer, with TM Racing’s Matteo Cavallo holding off Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) by 20 seconds to finish as runner-up.

Daniels on a roll in Women’s Enduro

There was no one to touch Fantic’s Jane Daniels in the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship. Leading from the off, she won the first four special tests. Taking chunks of time off her rivals in the crucial JUST1 Enduro Test, Daniels will prove hard to stop tomorrow.

Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Britain’s Rosie Rowett (Rieju) battled it out for the runner-up result. Neck and neck all day, Gardiner bettered Rowett on the final two tests to get the job done. Sweden’s Hedvig Malm (KTM) and Britain’s Nieve Holmes (Sherco) completed the top five.

Etchells tops Junior Enduro on day one

As ever the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship was closely contested. Continuing his winning form from the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Jed Etchells (Fantic) won the first two tests of the day in Heinola. With two more test wins and remaining inside the top three, Etchells did enough to hold off Sweden’s Albin Norrbin (Fantic) for the win. Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM) joined them on the podium for third.

The Youth Enduro class saw Kevin Cristino (Fantic) top the time sheets for the fifth consecutive race day. The Italian is so far showing no signs of slowing down and added to his win tally in Finland. Leo Joyon (Beta) and Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) rounded out the podium.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “That’s definitely been one of the most gnarliest enduro days we’ve had for a while. It was a hustle. I felt like I rode within my limits and managed to get through the day with no crashes or major errors. If I pushed more then a risk of a crash was higher, so I think in these conditions that approach was key. Hopefully it goes well again tomorrow!”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “It’s been a great day, a proper, old-school style enduro. It’s definitely brought Finland back into the series with a bang for sure! I think I only had one mistake, but otherwise I rode steady, and I feel that was key.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “To go third overall and first in Enduro1 is quite a good day. I think my feeling was not the best in the enduro test and that’s where I was losing some time. I’ll debrief and think about how today went and look to being a little stronger for tomorrow.”

Results – Round 3; GP of Finland
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 58:05.88; 2. 59:00.60; 2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 59:00:60; 3. Josep Garcia (KTM) 59:33.84; 4. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:00:04.96; 5. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:00:28.09; 6. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:00:28.55; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:00:53.27; 8. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 1:01:05.57; 9. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:01:26.06; 10. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:01:26.11…

Building momentum, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads north to Scandinavia this coming weekend for round three of the series, the highly anticipated GP of Finland. Set to mark a welcome return to the EnduroGP calendar, the Finnish event, and the iconic terrain in Heinola, is steeped in enduro history and a firm favourite among riders.

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman remains unbeaten so far in this year’s title hunt having claimed four wins from four starts. In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship Fantic’s Jed Etchells leads the way, while Fantic’s Jane Daniels will be aiming to top the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship category.

• FIM EnduroGP World Championship set to return to Finland
• Beta’s Brad Freeman so far unbeaten in 2023
• GP of Finland marks first of two back-to-back Scandinavian races

After two exciting rounds in Italy and Spain, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads to Scandinavia. Set to be a busy couple of weeks for competitors and teams, this weekend’s GP of Finland marks the first of two back-to-back races, with the GP of Sweden taking place the following weekend. With the championship chase in full stride, potential title contenders will be aiming to master the challenging Finnish terrain and hit their peak form in Heinola.

Famous for its lengthy forest special tests and loose, rocky, sandy terrain, Finland will no doubt put riders through their paces. With a full set of special tests – the ACERBIS Cross Test, JUST1 Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test – to contend with each day, plus Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, remaining sharp, strong, and mistake-free will be a big challenge.

Freeman aiming to keep EnduroGP win streak alive in Finland

With four EnduroGP victories from four starts, Beta’s Brad Freeman will be aiming to keep his win streak alive. The Brit has so far proved unstoppable this year and having achieved some come-from-behind rides to win, has proved his fitness and speed certainly isn’t in question. Already 20 points clear of his championship rivals, Brad knows that others will be focused on trying to reel him back in.

Tied for second overall are GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta’s Steve Holcombe. Verona had a strong home round in Italy but didn’t quite hit the mark last time out in Spain. With the competition so tight, the defending EnduroGP champion knows he can’t let his game slip again.

Holcombe on the other hand has been a model of consistency, with four third-place results to his name. However, the seven-time world champ wants to win and will hope to get back on top in Heinola. This weekend’s tests may play to Steve’s smooth riding style, making him a rider to watch for.

Three points behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia sits fourth overall. After a disappointing outing at round one, the Spaniard turned his fortunes around at his home round in Spain by challenging Freeman each day.

CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald is fifth overall in points. The New Zealander has been consistently strong so far, but still needs to find that little bit extra to bridge the gap to the top four. Red Moto Honda Racing’s Nathan Watson took his best result of the season last time out in Spain with fifth.

In Enduro1, Josep Garcia is beginning to edge clear with a 25-point lead thanks to his three wins to date. Behind him only five points separate second and sixth in the standings. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) holds second, with TM Racing’s Matteo Pavoni third. Zach Pichon (Sherco), Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna), and Theo Espinasse (Beta) are all in the mix too.

The battle for Enduro2 honours is being played out by Steve Holcombe (Beta) and Andrea Verona (GASGAS). Although tied on points, Holcombe provisionally tops the standings heading to Finland. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) completes the top three. Brad Freeman (Beta) leads the way in Enduro3. With four wins to his name, he’ll prove tough to beat this weekend. Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) is second in points and should figure highly in this Scandinavian leg of the championship. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) is third.

Finland set to challenge Junior Enduro riders

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship has delivered some brilliant racing so far this season. Jed Etchells (Fantic) leads the way with two wins to his name. Class rookie Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) has enjoyed a great start to the season too. Claiming two wins, both on the second day of racing, shows he’s adapting well. Max Ahlin (KTM), Serjio Navarro (Husqvarna), and Albin Norrbin (Fantic) are all locked in a battle for third.

The Youth Enduro category has seen Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) come out on top every time this year. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) has challenged him hard but has been unable to gain an edge on the Italian. Leo Joyon (Beta) follows close behind in third.

Bumper entry for Women’s Enduro category

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship will be racing in Finland. In total 17 riders have entered. Fantic’s Jane Daniels was a double winner at round one in Italy. The defending champion is always a tough rider to beat. Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) holds down second overall, with Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju) in third.

Round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship takes place in Heinola, Finland on May 26-28.

2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar

Round 1 – Italy – San Remo/Arma di Taggia – 31 March-2 April
Round 2 – Spain – Lalin – 5-7 May
Round 3 – Finland – Heinola – 26-28 May
Round 4 – Sweden – Skovde – 1-3 June
Round 5 – Slovakia – Gelnica – 30 June-2 July
Round 6 – Portugal – Valpacos – 29 September-1 October
Round 7 – Portugal – St Andre/Santiago do Cacem – 6-8 October

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S HARD ENDURO ACE ENDURES TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER IN SERBIA WITH 10TH PLACE FINISH

The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia proved to be one of mixed fortunes for Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt. Returning to the championship after being sidelined through injury in 2022, the newly crowned FIM SuperEnduro World Champion was in high spirits arriving to the Xross Hard Enduro Rally.

Staged over four days in Serbia, the event took in an action-packed endurocross prologue on Wednesday, before setting out on three 100-kilometre-long days of Hard Enduro racing with GPS navigation.

Hitting the ground running, Billy was on flying form around the short endurocross course on his TE 300. Fastest in qualification, the SuperEnduro champ stepped it up another level for the six minute plus one lap race. With a clear holeshot, he quickly distanced himself from the rest of the pack to win by an incredible 37 seconds. Importantly, his prologue victory also earned him three championship points.

With the option to start Offroad Day 1 in third, Billy began the wet and rainy day confident of a strong result. Clocking in some incredibly quick times, he was pushing hard for the win. However, a navigation error in the closing stages of the day unfortunately saw him drop down the leaderboard from a potential top-three placing to ninth thanks to a 43-minute penalty.

Bouncing back, the Husqvarna rider won the following day in style. Charging hard through traffic, he consistently set the pace all day on his TE 300. Reaching as high as second overall on the road, he triumphed with a six-second margin of victory on corrected time. Climbing back up to third in the outright standings, second overall suddenly looked possible.

Unfortunately, despite a strong start to the final day, bad luck struck again. Battling a technical issue as he arrived at the midday service, Bolt lost a lot of time. Regrouping, he soldiered on to finish the day in 22nd and 10th overall in the final classification.

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round two at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in Austria on June 8-11.

Billy Bolt: “It’s been quite the up and down sort of week for me. Everything started off great by winning the prologue. On day one I was riding really good in the rain. In the afternoon I got my navigation mixed up and unfortunately that led to a 43-minute penalty, which dropped me to ninth. I bounced back to win the following day and got back in podium contention. Sitting third, I felt second was possible and if I could achieve that then I would still tie on points for the championship lead thanks to my prologue victory. However, I ran into some problems and despite the team’s best efforts at the service point I had to ride steady to the finish line. There are a lot of positives to take though. My riding is good, and the bike setup is very nice to ride. We’ve a long season ahead of us and although this week wasn’t meant to be, I know there are better races to come.”

FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – Round 1

Xross Hard Enduro Rally Provisional Event Classification

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 9:49:28.60; 2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 10:22:38.10; 3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 10:29:04.12; 4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 10:33:04.42; 5. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 10:36:49.98… 10. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11:41:41.05…

Championship Standings (After round 1)

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 20pts; 2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 17pts; 3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 15pts; 4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 14pts; 5. Alfredo Gomez (Rieju) 11pts; 5. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 11pts… 8. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9pts

Freeman Edges Out Garcia For EnduroGP Victory
On Day Two Of ACERBIS GP Of Spain

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman has claimed victory on day two of the second round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Keeping his unbeaten run of form alive, Freeman came out on top following a day-long battle with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia to secure his fourth day win of the season. Mirroring day one’s results at the ACERBIS GP of Spain, Steve Holcombe (Beta) joined Freeman and Garcia on the EnduroGP podium in third.

The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw rookie Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) secure his second victory of the season with a win on Sunday, while Fantic’s Kevin Cristino made it two wins from two starts in Youth Enduro in Lalin.

• Brad Freeman wins again in EnduroGP class at ACERBIS GP of Spain
• Josep Garcia and Steve Holcombe mirror yesterday’s EnduroGP results with second and third
• Jeremy Sydow tops the Junior Enduro category

Freeman and Garcia go blow for blow in EnduroGP

Landing an early blow to his rivals, Beta’s Brad Freeman topped the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test by a sizeable five seconds from Josep Garcia (KTM) with Antoine Magain (Sherco), Andreas Verona (GASGAS) and Steve Holcombe (Beta) in close succession.

Fastest in the following ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test, Freeman made a clean sweep of the special tests on lap one, and then backed that performance up by remaining unbeaten a further four times.

However, those wins were extremely hard fought with Garcia shadowing him across the line every time. With only fractions of a second at times splitting them, the fight was unquestionably on and the result set to go either way.

But those fractions gradually added up and despite Garcia’s best efforts of winning the final ACERBIS Cross Test, he couldn’t deny Freeman his fourth constitutive victory of the season in EnduroGP.

Always in the hunt, but not quite able to bridge the gap to the leading duo, Holcombe had to settle for third. GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona had a relatively disappointing outing by the EnduroGP champ’s high standards, finishing 31 seconds behind Holcombe in fourth.

The battle for fifth went down to the wire. RedMoto Honda Racing’s Nathan Watson narrowly beat Magain by one second to seal the deal.

Although second best to Freeman in the overall classification, Josep Garcia won the Enduro1 class for the second day running. Team Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse took second, while Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney completed the top three.

Firing on all cylinders in 2023, Steve Holcombe took his second Enduro2 class win of the weekend in Lalin, the Beta rider showing that he’s back to his best. Andrea Verona was second, with Watson in third. Brad Freeman ran a clear winner of Enduro3, with Antoine Magain and Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) rounding out the podium.

Jeremy Sydow Takes Junior Enduro Win

The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) bounce back to win on Sunday. The rookie took his debut victory on day two at round one and with another day two win, looks capable of challenging the established names. Day one winner Jed Etchells (Fantic) put in another solid ride to take second and keep his championship lead intact. Albin Norrbin (Fantic) took third.

Proving even stronger on day two, Fantic’s Kevin Cristino powered clear to the Youth Enduro win. The Italian upped his winning margin to 27 seconds over Thibault Giraudon (Sherco). Leo Joyon (Beta) finished third.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round three in Heinola, Finland on May 26-28 before heading to Skovde in Sweden for round four the following weekend.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “To end the GP of Spain with another victory is fantastic. Today I finally felt like I was riding like I know how. Nerves played a part at round one in Italy, but today I was relaxed and just enjoying the battle with Josep. There was nothing really between us all day.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I pushed hard all day with Brad for the victory. We were in the same second on almost every test but it kept working out in his favour and the win just slipped away. But to take a double win in Enduro1 is so nice. This weekend was a big improvement over round one, and with a long season ahead I’ll take it race by race.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I was pretty happy with my riding today and I was consistent all day. Another win in Enduro2 is great. Last year I ended the GP of Spain injured so this season so far had been a big step forward for me. I’m looking forward to the next round and will try to get a bit closer to the top.”

Jeremy Sydow (Sherco): “Maybe Sunday is my day! My first ever win came last time out on a Sunday, so to do it again is great. It was a perfect day. I didn’t make many mistakes and tried to be strong the whole day.”

Kevin Cristino (Fantic): “Getting a double victory here in Spain is awesome. I’m really happy with how the weekend went. My bike was running great, and I gave it my best.”

Results: ACERBIS GP of Spain, Day 2
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:19.44; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:06:31.35; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:07:09.17; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:40.65; 5. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:08:28.01; 6. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:08:29.24; 7. Wil Ruprecht (Sherco) 1:09:00.55; 8. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:09:02.35; 9. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 1:09:05.71; 10. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:09:10.70…

Brad Freeman Powers Through To Win Day One At ACERBIS GP Of Spain

The opening day of racing at round two of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman secure overall victory. Putting in a come-from-behind ride, the British rider took over the lead on the final lap of the ACERBIS GP of Spain to win in Lalin.

After leading for the majority of the day, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was denied a home win and had to settle for second. Beta’s Steve Holcombe claimed a close-fought third. The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic’s Jed Etchells secure his second victory of the season with a win on day one. Kevin Cristino (Fantic) was best of the Youth Enduro category.

• Brad Freeman rides to EnduroGP victory on day one in Lalin
• Leading most of the day, local favourite Josep Garcia finished second
• Jed Etchells topped the Junior Enduro podium

Freeman and Garcia fight it out in EnduroGP

After the excitement of Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, many wondered if Josep Garcia (KTM) would continue his winning ways to claim a home win on Day One. However, with overnight rain remaining through the morning, conditions on the special tests were hard to judge.

But the Spaniard did indeed continue to deliver his best form and mastered the grip levels to perfection. By the end of the JUST1 Enduro Test, at the conclusion of lap one, he had built up a 12 second lead over his closest rivals Holcombe in second and Freeman third, and was looking tough to beat.

At the end of the second ACERBIS Cross Test Garcia was still leading, but his advantage had shrunk to just five seconds. With the sun coming out, Freeman was on a charge. After winning the second JUST1 Enduro Test, the Brit took over the lead with the fastest time in the POLISPORT Extreme Test as they began their third and final lap. On song, he topped the final two special tests to claim his third victory of the season.

For Garcia, hopes of a home win on day one didn’t materialise. With some small crashes and errors on the final lap, victory slipped away. The Spaniard will look to regroup tomorrow. Completing the third step of the EnduroGP podium, Steve Holcombe put in another solid performance. The Brit managed two special test wins along the way. Just four seconds behind Holcombe was GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in fourth. CH Sherco Racing’s Hamish MacDonald completed the top five.

In Enduro1 Josep Garcia ruled the roost. Untouchable throughout the day, the Spaniard won his category by almost three minutes. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) got the better of Zach Pichon (Sherco) by seven seconds to finish as runner-up.

Putting his first win of the season on the board, Steve Holcombe was best of the Enduro2 class. Andrea Verona had to settle for second behind the Beta rider. However, the duo are proving to be the class leaders, placing almost 90 seconds clear of Hamish MacDonald in third.

Securing the biggest winning margin of the day, Brad Freeman dominated proceedings in Enduro3. The Beta rider finished three minutes and 50 seconds clear of Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) in second with Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) third.

Etchells fights back to win Junior Enduro

The GALFER Junior Enduro Championship was exciting to watch in Lalin. Brimming with talent, the top six riders were ultimately separated by approximately 50 seconds at the end of day one. Finishing Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test in 20th, Jed Etchells (Fantic) had put himself on the back foot and with work to do this morning. However, the Manx rider was in determined mood and hungry to fight back.

At the end of lap one he was incredibly tied for the race lead with Jeremy Sydow (Sherco), but there was still a long way to go. Consistently in the top three, he held firm to win by seven seconds over Albin Norribin (Fantic). Despite claiming three special test wins, Sydow had to settle for third. Sergio Navarro (Husqvarna) and Max Ahlin (KTM) completed the top five.

In Youth Enduro Kevin Cristino (Fantic) again proved the rider to beat. The Italian was enjoying the early wet and slippery conditions. Taking seven test wins, he never slipped outside the top two to claim the top step of the podium by 10 seconds. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) challenged him throughout the day, and despite taking the other three test wins, he couldn’t reel his rival in. Leo Joyon (Beta) completed the podium, albeit finishing almost 90 seconds behind Cristino.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “It’s awesome to get my third win in a row. It’s been a good day at the office. The rain this morning made conditions tricky. It wasn’t overly muddy, just slippery and I found it hard to judge. After lap one there was a better racing line settled in.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I really wanted that victory, but I just missed out on the final lap. I had some small crashes that cost me and Brad got too far away. Still, it’s good to be back on the EnduroGP podium and nice to have the win in Enduro1. Tomorrow I will try my best again.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “It’s been a good day, and great to win Enduro2. It’s been a while since I stood on top of the podium so I’m happy. But I’m a little frustrated with my middle part of the day. I messed up the second Extreme Test, so Brad and Josep got away from me. But I’m enjoying my riding and keen to make amends tomorrow.”

Results: ACEBIS GP of Spain, Day 1
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:12:22.05; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:12:33.60; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:17.11; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:21.99; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:14:53.87; 6. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) 1:15:27.95; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:15:35.56; 8. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:15:59.17; 9. Daniel Milner (TM Racing) 1:16:08.00; 10. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:16:11.61…

Brad Freeman Claims Double EnduroGP Win At
Season Opener In Italy

Day two of racing at the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship opener in Italy saw Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman once again rise to the top to secure his second EnduroGP class win of the weekend. The 2021 EnduroGP World Champion has shown that he’s back to his absolute best for this season, claiming the top step of the podium at what was a memorable ACERBIS GP of Italy. Mirroring yesterday’s results, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe finished second and third respectively.

After a daylong fight for victory, Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) emerged on top in the GALFER FIM Enduro Junior World Championship class, while Kevin Cristino (Fantic) narrowly topped the Enduro Youth class. Ensuring a perfect start to the defence of her Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship title, Jane Daniels (Fantic) also took her second victory of the weekend at the ACERBIS GP of Italy.

• Brad Freeman (Beta) claims double EnduroGP victory in Italy

• Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) secures debut Enduro Junior victory on day two

• Jane Daniels (Fantic) enjoys perfect weekend with two Women’s Enduro class wins

Building on a thrilling start to the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship with close daylong racing on Saturday in Arma di Taggia/San Remo, the action lifted to an even higher level on day two. Despite rougher conditions on all of the special tests, times were incredibly tight across the majority of the classes.

At the head of the field, Beta’s Brad Freeman was out to underline his dominant day one victory. With his former EnduroGP championship winning speed returned, Freeman blitzed his rivals on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test by an astonishing 13 seconds to lead on lap one of four.

Despite Steve Holcombe (Beta) winning the following POLISPORT Extreme Test, Freeman began lap two with the fastest time in the ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test to extend his lead out to 20 seconds. Controlling proceedings during the second half of the day, Freeman maintained a comfortable advantage to collect his second EnduroGP victory of the weekend and with it, move into an early lead in the championship.

As was the case on Saturday, both Verona and Holcombe fought it out for the final two places on the EnduroGP podium, but today they also had Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia for company. Determined to give his best on home soil, Verona claimed four test wins to finally grab second. Holding off a late final lap charge by Garcia – who won the final JUST1 Enduro Test – Holcombe made it home for third overall.

Giving his all, but falling just three second shy of the podium, Garcia had to be content with fourth overall, while CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald completed the top five for the second day running.

Tight battles in Women’s Enduro class

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship was once again won by Jane Daniels (Fantic). Fast from the off, Daniels was challenged all the way by Mireia Badia (Rieju) and Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) with both riders managing to grab a couple of special test wins over Daniels to keep the pressure on. Behind the top three, Francesca Nocera (Honda) and Rosie Rowett (Rieju) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

While naturally disappointed to miss the EnduroGP podium, Josep Garcia was still pleased with a win in Enduro1. In fact, the KTM rider won all of the day’s tests in the Enduro1 class to take a commanding one minute and 37 second margin of victory. Putting on a good show on home soil, RedMoto Honda Racing’s Thomas Oldrati placed second, with Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse third.

In the Enduro2 class, Andrea Verona went two-for-two in Italy. However, one thing is clear, Verona likely won’t have an easy time of things this season with Steve Holcombe once again pushing him all the way. The former EnduroGP champion was looking smooth and fast in Italy and will now be aiming to get the better of Verona at round two. Hamish MacDonald completed the top three but has a little work to do to bridge the gap to the leading duo.

Clear out front, Brad Freeman also powered his way to victory in the Enduro3 class with a clean sweep of special test wins. Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) was next best in second, with Antoine Magain (Sherco) third.

Debut Enduro Junior win for Jeremy Sydow

Proving as competitive as ever, the GALFER Enduro Junior World Championship dished up some close racing. Today it was the turn of Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) to make his mark with the German claiming a debut victory. Winner on day one, Fantic’s Jed Etchells was just five seconds behind as runner-up. Max Ahlin (KTM) ended his day in third.

The racing was as tight as it gets in Enduro Youth with Kevin Cristino (Fantic) claiming victory by the narrowest of margins. Split by next to nothing, the Italian won the class by an incredible one tenth of a second after 70 minutes of timed special test racing. Coming up agonisingly short on victory, despite topping the final test by one second, Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) placed as runner-up to Cristino. Beta’s Leo Joyon took third.The 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round two in Lalin, Spain on May 5-7.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “The day started off great. I went for it on the first enduro test and put in a fast time to build a lead. I lost a bit of my rhythm in the middle part of the day but was able to control things and regroup for a final push on the last lap, despite a crash on the last enduro test. It was hard to judge conditions at times and I think that’s why I crashed. But a double win is a perfect start to the season!”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “Overall, I’m happy with my weekend and first race in the Enduro2 class. So twice finishing second in EnduroGP and a double win in Enduro2 is a very strong start to the year. The racing is tight out there, Brad was fast this weekend and Steve was pushing hard too. But now we’re up and running I’m pleased with things. As a home round it was exciting and stressful in many ways, but having the crowd behind you in each test was wonderful.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I honestly didn’t expect to podium both days, so it’s been an awesome result. I kept things as smooth as I could. In the last couple of years, I injured myself at round one, so I didn’t want to do that this year and ruin my season. San Remo has been tough riding, but it’s been good for my confidence, and I’ve really enjoyed these battles.”

Jeremy Sydow (Sherco): “To win here was way better than I expected. It’s my first season in EnduroGP so I didn’t know where I would fit in. My background is in motocross, so I’ve a lot to learn in enduro, but it’s exciting and so crazy to take a win.”

Jane Daniels (Fantic): “It was a tough day and I had to dig deep in each test. The battle for the victory was tight between myself, Jessica and Mireia, so I’m pleased to have won.”.

Results – ACERBIS GP of Italy, Day 2
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:23.86; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16; 4. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:05.52.80; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:06:42.54; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:07:05.28; 7. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:07:14.22; 8. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 1:07:30.11; 9. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:07:46.48; 10. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:07:52.17…

RESULTS

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ACE TAKES HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE INDOOR TITLE WITH DOMINANT SHOWING IN GLIWICE, POLAND

Rising to the occasion, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt delivered the goods at the fifth and final round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to become the 2023 champion. Best described as a clinical performance from the Brit, Billy took his FE 350 to a convincing overall victory and with it secured his third consecutive world crown indoors.

With the stadium lights dimmed for the night show, Bolt wasted no time in moving ever closer to clinching his third world crown. Laying down a blisteringly fast lap for the SuperPole, he added another three important points to his championship tally.

Lining up for the first of three races, Billy knew victory in race one could potentially see him become the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Champion. Grabbing the holeshot put him in prime position, and by executing a series of clean, early laps, he opened up a four-second lead. Overcoming a small tip-over in the rocks, Bolt still rode away to a six-second margin of victory and with it, his third consecutive SuperEnduro world crown on his FE 350.

With the pressure of the title lifted from his shoulders, Billy was at his absolute best for the remainder of the night in Gliwice. Despite a second-row start for race two, he rocketed out of the gate and lead the field of riders before the end of lap one. Never headed and not once putting a foot out of place, Billy delivered arguably his best ride of the entire season and took a 35-second margin of victory.

Signing off an incredible 2023 SuperEnduro campaign, Billy ended his season on a high with victory in race three to remain unbeaten in Poland. With everything going to script, like it had done in his previous two races, he took the chequered flag for the third time on the night to claim the overall win.

Over the course of his dominant indoor season, Billy took his FE 350 to 14 out of a possible 15 race wins, while winning all SuperPole hot laps. Topping the overall podium five times out of five, he proved himself to be a very worthy FIM SuperEnduro World Champion in 2023.

Billy and Husqvarna Factory Racing will now turn their attention to the opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia on May 17-20.

Billy Bolt: “What can I say, it’s been an incredible season! This is my third world title in a row, but with each one they get that little bit sweeter. Coming into the night, I knew I had a comfortable points lead to play with, but I wanted to go out there and give my best. Topping SuperPole helped the nerves and I rode hard in race one knowing that if I won I would also win the title. That felt so good. Race two was incredible too. Overall it’s been great, but hard fought at every round too. Naturally a big thank you goes to everyone involved in helping to achieve this. It’s a big team effort for sure.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 5

Prestige Overall Classification

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 49pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 45pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 8 laps, 6:57.883; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 8 laps, 7:03.129; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 8 laps, 7:22.587…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:39.980; 2. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 8:15.719; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 8:21.826…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:36.511; 2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:42.209; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:45.101…

Final Championship Standings

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 310pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 260pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 194pts

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ENDURO ACE SECURES DECISIVE VICTORY IN 2023 SUPERENDURO TITLE HUNT

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has taken his fourth straight overall win of the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship with an outstanding display of riding at round four in Jerusalem, Israel. The Brit now heads into the final round of the series in Poland with a healthy 36-point lead.

Getting the evening’s racing underway with the SuperPole hot lap, Billy was keen to keep his unbeaten run of form going on his FE 350, making it four consecutive SuperPole wins. As the only rider to dip under the 33-second marker, he topped the time sheets and with it secured three important championship points.

With the track proving tight and one-lined in places, the world champ focused on grabbing the holeshot for the opening prestige class race. Timing the drop of the gate to perfection, he was immediately out front on his FE 350. Although later admitting to making numerous mistakes, Billy built up a firm two second lead over rival Jonny Walker and was able to claim his first race win of the night in Jerusalem.

Race two saw the Husqvarna star begin from row two of the reversed-grid start. But it proved to be of little consequence for Billy. Already up to second position on lap one, he took over the race lead on lap two and began to put on a master class of riding. Clocking in clean, fast laps, he quickly checked out. Despite colliding with a back marker midway through the race, Billy raced on to secure win number two.

Pleased with his own performance in race two, Billy unquestionably found his flow in race three. Third off the start, he took control of the race lead on lap one and was never headed. Building up a 13-second advantage, the Brit was clearly in a class of his own as he made light work of the slippery track. With 12 laps complete and the night’s fastest race time, he took the win and yet another maximum SuperEnduro points haul.

With just one round remaining in the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Billy will arrive in Poland on March 18 with a 36-point championship lead as he looks to claim his third consecutive world title indoors.

Billy Bolt: “Winning SuperPole and then all three races to claim maximum points is brilliant, it’s been a really, really good night for me. But I’m super critical of how I rode in race one. There were too many mistakes on my part and when I watched the race back on video I saw where I could improve. Race two was much better and then I couldn’t really ask for more in race three because it went that well. Although I’m winning, I’m always trying to improve. With one round to go in the championship, things are looking good for me. I’ve got a solid points lead now and will keep chipping away to get my third title on the bounce, in two weeks’ time!”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 4

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 53pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 44pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 7:07.417; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:09.577; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 7:20.577…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 7:09.924; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:22.187; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 12 laps, 7:40.133…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 6:59.341; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:16.869; 3. Taddy Blazusiak 11 laps, 7:20.708…

Championship Standings (After round 4)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 247pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 211pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 152pts

Todd Kellett extends FIM Sand Races World Cup lead with victory in Argentina

British star Todd Kellett – Drag’on Tek Yamaha raced to victory at the Enduro del Verano – round two of the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup – and in the process maintained his one hundred per cent winning record in the new-for-2023 competition.

The Argentinian event, the biggest of its kind in South America, represented a very different challenge to the Enduropale du Touquet that got the series under way earlier this month.

Instead of three arduous hours in the saddle, over four-hundred-and-fifty competitors faced an incredibly intense race duration of up to six laps of a twelve-and-a-half-kilometre course. This represented less than an hour of punishing action in sweltering heat, but while the format was different the result was the same with Kellett emerging on top to extend his series lead.

“This race was really, really different,” said Kellett. “I had to take a lot of care here and the first time in training I was very nervous. I have really taken my time this week and worked on my mental state.”

“I’m so proud to take the victory. I made a good start and a big thanks to the team – everyone has put a lot into this and without these guys this just would not be possible.”

“It was hot but the race was shorter. I think I preferred Le Touquet just because I had a little more preparation but they are both special. I will remember this race for a very long time. The fans are crazy – all the barbecues, I could smell them while I was racing – and it is really cool for them to see the whole course.”

The twenty-five-year-old’s victory was not as clear cut as his Enduropale du Touquet win and after six laps of hard-fought racing he recorded a time of just over forty-five minutes which saw him finish with an advantage of eleven-and-a-half seconds ahead of France’s Camille Chapeliere – KTM.

Home hero Agustin Poli – Kawasaki was a further three seconds behind ahead of Belgium’s Yentel Martens – Honda who was the third rider registered for the FIM Sand Races World Cup to cross the line.

Martens’ finish moves him into a strong second position in the series with one round remaining, scheduled for Monte Gordo Beach in Portugal’s Algarve region.

Dutch racer Lars Van Berkel – SR Honda and 2017 Enduropale du Touquet champion Daymond Martens – Honda from Belgium completed the top-five of riders registered for the series.

Former Enduropale du Touquet Women’s champion Mathilde Denis – Honda made the eleven-thousand-kilometre journey from her home in France worthwhile as the first female finisher with a total of five laps.

MOTO CLASSIFICATION

Local hero Pablo Leonel leads home Quad contenders at second round of FIM Sand Races World Cup

Local hero Vera Pablo Leonel led home the challenge of Quad riders registered for the all-new FIM Sand Races World Cup at Sunday’s second round, the Enduro del Verano in Argentina, though fast Frenchman Michel Trannin maintained his series lead.

Vera ended the race in second behind compatriot Jose Guerra, but Trannin – who was forced to overcome early adversity – fought his way up to third among the registered riders which, when coupled with his maximum points from the season-opening Enduropale du Touquet, ensured he remains at the top of the leaderboard.

Competing against almost three-hundred-and-fifty rivals over a maximum of five laps of the twelve-and-a-half-kilometre course on the Atlantic coast south of the capital Buenos Aires, an early collision pushed Trannin back towards the tail end of the field.

Quickly regrouping, in soaring temperatures he put together a string of passes that carried him all the way up to thirtieth at the flag, but more importantly he was the third rider registered for the series to cross the line. This, coupled with his podium finish at the Enduropale du Touquet, was enough to cement his position as class leader with one round remaining.

“I did not plan to come here initially,” said Trannin. “It was a good idea. I am a bit disappointed with my scratch ranking as I had a contact early in the race. I resumed the race around two-hundredth position. It was tough from that point, and I thought I would do my best with the World Cup standings in mind. I came back strong, but the race is so fast here.”

Guerra won the Quad class the last time the event was staged in 2020 and he was on top again with his total time of forty-three minutes giving him a twenty-eight second advantage over Vera.

Despite his powerful performance, following his early exit from the Enduropale du Touquet at the beginning of February, Vera was unable to make major inroads on Trannin’s series advantage.

“I like both races – France and here,” said Vera. “They are different races and [Argentina] is very fast. I have raced here for twelve years, and I feel very confident. I am so happy to be the first World Cup rider here and to finish on the podium.”

With the series decider scheduled on Monte Gordo Beach in Portugal’s Algarve region, Trannin’s main competition is likely to come from French racer Pablo Violet who finished in fifteenth on Sunday, although was the second registered rider to take the chequered flag.

This performance, when combined with his eighth-placed overall finish at the Enduropale du Touquet, makes him a definite contender for what will be an historic inaugural title.

The top-five of registered riders was completed by the French duo of Axel Dutrie and Frederic Lefebvre.

QUAD CLASSIFICATION

Enduro news

Making his 2023 competitive debut, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia has won both Enduro1 and the overall ‘Scratch’ categories at round one of the Spanish Enduro Championship held in Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna. After deciding to make the switch to E1 and the KTM 250 EXC-F for this season, Garcia has firmly thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals by winning all but one of the 22 special tests held over the course of the weekend.

Garcia made his intentions for the weekend clear right from the start by topping the timesheets on the Friday night Supertest. Completing the short course over one-second clear of his nearest rival, Josep then went into the first full day of competition on Saturday full of confidence.

Immediately feeling comfortable on his KTM 250 EXC-F, Garcia was able to push hard on the dry, dusty conditions. And despite having a few crashes along the way, the 26-year-old mastered the loose rocks and slippery roots that made up the varied terrain to win 11 of the 12 special tests and take the day-one victory by an impressive one minute and 29 seconds.

Day two in Spain went very much like the first. Although riders raced for one lap less than on Saturday, Josep was still able to open up a large time advantage over his rivals. Going on to win each of Sunday’s nine tests, the Red Bull KTM rider secured the overall win by just over one minute, making it a two-day clean sweep for the 2022 ISDE winner.

With his confidence high, Josep now looks ahead to the second round of his national series, the Oliana Enduro on March 17-19, which will aid in his preparations for round one of the 2023 FIM EnduroGP World Championship held just two weeks later in San Remo, Italy.

Josep Garcia: “I haven’t had an opportunity to ride the KTM 250 EXC-F in race conditions so far this year, so this weekend has been great! We have very good base settings and, although it’s clear we still have some settings to work on, we’re definitely going in the right direction. I’m really happy to start the season like this, taking the wins on both days. Saturday’s times were very good and on Sunday, I felt just as fast, and the times came out the same. We made some small modifications to the suspension over the pre-season to help me race more consistently and stop mistakes. Despite it being a technical race with a lot of heavily rutted specials, I’ve felt really confident on the bike, so the changes seem to be working well. I’m really happy with how everything is going, so we’ll continue working hard into the second round of the Spanish championship and then look ahead to the first world round in late March.”

Results – 2023 Spanish Enduro Championship – Round 1, Al Coruna

Day 1

Enduro1

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 1:10:20.31

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 1:11:49.59

3. Pau Tomas, Rieju, 1:14:47.40

Overall

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 1:10:20.31

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 1:11:49.59

3. Zachary Pichon, Sherco, 1:11:49.82

Day 2

Enduro1

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 51:58.30

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 53:13.35

3. Pau Tomas, Rieju, 55:55.36

Overall

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 51:58.30

2. Marc Sans, Yamaha, 53:04.42

3. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 53:13.3

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR EXTENDS FIM SUPERENDURO POINTS LEAD WITH STUNNING PERFORMANCE IN HUNGARY

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt put in a commanding showing at round three of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Hungary to secure the overall victory. Topping the SuperPole hot lap, before going on to win all three Prestige class races, the defending world champion further extended his championship lead in Budapest.

Dominating the evening’s SuperPole by almost one and a half seconds on his FE 350, Billy was keen to make good on that momentum when the start gate dropped for race one. Exiting the first corner in second position, a hectic lap one saw him slip back to third. Recomposing himself, he went on the attack and by the end of lap two had taken over the lead. Once out front, Bolt pulled clear to eventually claim victory by three seconds.

With the start order reversed for race two, Billy cut his way through the field to reach third position on lap one. After a couple of exchanges, he took the lead on lap three and quickly opened up a healthy advantage. Looking set to claim a convincing win, drama unfolded when he got his front wheel lodged in the rock garden with three laps to go. Dropping to second, he put in maximum effort to reel leader Cody Webb back in and take his second victory of the night.

Setting his sights on a clean sweep in Budapest, Bolt emerged from the second corner of race three in third. Quickly moving into the lead, Billy was determined to do no wrong this time and set about checking out. Executing precision laps on his FE 350 saw the Brit build a commanding lead to cross the chequered flag over 20 seconds clear of his rivals.

With maximum points gained on the night thanks to his three race wins and SuperPole victory, Billy now heads to round four in Israel on March 2 with a 26-point championship lead.

Billy Bolt: “With three wins and topping SuperPole, it was a great night at the office. I knew my speed was good from the off, but in the first two races I seemed to keep tripping myself up. I would get into the lead and then just make a mistake or judge the lapped traffic wrong. Thankfully I was able to recover each time, but I really wanted to do better. I feel like race three was my best of the night. Mistakes were minimal and I was able to ride my lines with confidence. It was a great way to end the night!”

Results: SuperEnduro, Round 3

Overall Classification

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 42pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 6 laps, 4:44.087; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 6 laps, 4:45.815; 3. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 6 laps, 5:02.030…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:35.071; 2. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:38.798; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:43.281…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:58.254; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:18.193; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:33.496…

Championship Standings (After round 3)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 184pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 158pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 124pts

Returning to classic enduro action in 2021 aboard the KTM 350 EXC-F in the Enduro2 class, Josep promptly went on to claim the world title and secure the individual overall ISDE win along the way.

In 2022, despite a crash at the GP of Italy resulting in him being unable to compete in the second Portuguese round and forcing him to miss out on three point-paying days in the EnduroGP class, Garcia went on to complete the season as runner-up. It was a similar story in E2, where after returning to action after injury, Josep won the final four days of competition to also finish second overall, a mere nine points down on the winner.

Garcia also showed his class and speed at the 2022 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in France. Riding the KTM 350 EXC-F, Josep topped three of the five days of racing before delivering a strong runner-up performance in the final motocross to secure back-to-back overall individual wins at the iconic enduro event.

Now, heading into the packed 2023 season and looking for a new challenge, Garcia will make a return to the KTM 250 EXC-F – the bike that took him to his first world championship title in 2017. Racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the seventh consecutive season, Josep has his eyes set on winning each and every championship he enters and ultimately claiming the EnduroGP crown.

Josep Garcia: “The decision to move from E2 to the Enduro1 class was made by both KTM and me. It’s always good to set new goals, and with a new bike for 2023, it made sense to ride the KTM 250 EXC-F for new motivation and a new challenge in the E1 class. Last year was an incredible year for me riding the KTM 350 EXC-F – I finished as runner-up in EnduroGP and Enduro2, I won the individual ISDE, and completed the year as Spanish Champion. The injury in Italy cost me the fight for the world title, but thankfully I was able to come back and still finish the year on a high. For me, I’m just looking to mix things up a little for this year. The 250 really suits my riding style and I know I can make it work in the world championship as well as the other events throughout the year. The 2023 season will also be my seventh year with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, which is great. It shows how well the relationship works between me and Fabio and the whole of the factory team. I’m hoping 2023 will be another great year for us and I’m definitely going to be fighting hard to claim that EnduroGP title.”

Round one of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship kicks off in Italy on March 31 – April 2.

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR MAKES IT A CLEAN SWEEP OF WINS ON HIS RETURN FROM INJURY AT OPENING ROUND IN KRAKOW

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt got his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship title defence off to a perfect start with victory at round one in Poland. In what was his first return to racing following a five-month injury, Bolt won all three Prestige races in Krakow, along with topping the SuperPole hot lap, to make it a clean sweep at the season opener.

Dominating the SuperPole hot lap by nearly one and a half seconds, Billy earned himself the first gate pick for the opening Prestige race of the night. Despite it marking his first competitive outing in over five months, the FE 350 mounted rider was quick to show everyone that he’d lost none of his race craft. Taking control of the lead, the Husqvarna rider checked out to secure the first race win of the night in Krakow.

With the grid order reversed for the second Prestige race, Billy opted for a steady start from row two before carefully cutting his way through the field with rapid precision. Working safe, clean overtakes, he quickly moved to the front of the field. Once past leader Taddy Blazusiak, he upped his pace during the midway point to pull clear of his rivals for an eventual 30-second margin of victory.

As the gate dropped on the third and final Prestige race in Krakow, Billy set his sights on making it a clean sweep of wins at round one and he didn’t disappoint. Although getting a little boxed in during the first few corners of lap one, the Brit remained calm and composed as he moved up to second. After a couple of laps battling with early leader Jonny Walker, Bolt soon put his Husqvarna out front and wasn’t headed.

Claiming three wins from three starts at round one in Poland, the defending world champion has bounced back from injury in perfect style to establish himself as the rider to beat in the new SuperEnduro season.

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two’s GP of Germany on January 7, 2023.

Billy Bolt: “I’m so pleased to be back racing, but to make my comeback with a clean sweep of wins and taking SuperPole is the dream start to the championship I had hoped for. It’s felt like a long and tough five months off the bike, but I’m chuffed to be back on the bike and racing hard again. It’s what I love to do. Although tonight went to plan, I feel like I’ve some work to do to get back to my very best. We’ve a couple of weeks until round two in Germany, so I’ll keep working hard to be even stronger there.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 1

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:41.953; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:58.900; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 8:14.278…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:25.807; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:55.102; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 10 laps, 8:05.578…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:19.638; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:41.718; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 7:49.157…

Championship Standings (After round 1)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR HANGS TOUGH FOR DRAMATIC AND HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY IN RIESA

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has delivered the goods to claim victory at round two of the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Riesa, Germany. In what proved to be a night of edge-of-the-seat SuperEnduro action, the defending World Champion overcame numerous incident-filled races to secure the top step of the podium and extend his points lead.

With a full house of spectators in Riesa, Billy wasted no time in putting on a show. Blitzing the course for the SuperPole, Bolt topped the time sheets on his FE 350 by over one and a half seconds.

Eager to carry that form into the rest of the night, Bolt timed the gate drop of race one to perfection to claim the holeshot and take an early lead. Settling into a fast rhythm, Billy pushed hard to increase his advantage. However, a slight lapse in concentration overtaking lapped riders allowed rival Jonny Walker to momentarily slip by. Immediately regrouping, Billy put his Husqvarna back in front and with a couple of laps to go, he attacked hard to ride clear for a five-second margin of victory.

With the start order reversed for race two, Billy made his now customary cautious start to the race. Putting on a charge, he slotted into second place on lap two. Tangling with Walker while challenging for the lead, both riders crashed in the sand corner. Bolt was quick to his feet and a lap later had fought his way into the lead. However, despite building up a comfortable advantage, a crash on the penultimate lap dropped him back to fourth. Fighting hard to recover, he crossed the finish line in third, despite a dramatic clash with Taddy Blazusiak, which saw both riders hit the dirt after the chequered flag.

Putting race two behind him, Billy focused on winning race three to seal the overall victory in Germany. Third off the start, he took the lead on lap one only to crash once more on the rocky climb. A second crash knocked him back to third. Racing up to second place, he faced a five second deficit to leader Walker with three laps to go. Muscling his FE 350 around the course, he finally drew level with Walker and took the lead with one lap to go. This time holding firm, he claimed a dramatic and hard-fought race three victory to secure the top step of the podium in Riesa.

The 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round three in Budapest, Hungary on February 4.

Billy Bolt: “I made life hard for myself tonight, but I’m happy to have come out on top in the end. It was pretty hectic on track all night and to be honest I made too many stupid mistakes. I hold my hands up for that. The speed was there, but with only one good line on the track mistakes were easily made. Maybe tonight was about shaking off that Christmas break, but I feel like I have room to improve for round three. Overall, I’ve finished on top of the podium and extended my points leads, so I’m happy with the outcome and look forward to Budapest.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 2

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 58pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 56pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 41pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:51.036; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 6:56.548; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:23.394…

Prestige Race 2

1. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:34.392; 2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps 7:37.662; 3. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:38.662…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:08.805; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:11.138; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:32.626…

Championship Standings (After round 2)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 121pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 107pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 84pts