On the penultimate day of competition in the 2024 EnduroGP World Championship, Josep García became EnduroGP world champion for the first time in his career. The Spanish rider secured the title in France, on a day that saw three more world titles awarded.

García’s dominance

After Friday night’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, where CH Racing Sherco’s Zach Pichon led in front of his home crowd, the riders started the first full round of the final round of the Paulo Duarte 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship in France on Saturday morning.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s García dominated from the start, winning the ACERBIS Cross Test with a significant lead. However, Steve Holcombe of the Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team responded by going fastest in the first MAXXIS Enduro Test of the morning.

García regained the lead in the POLISPORT Extreme Test, finishing the first lap with a slight advantage over Holcombe. Andrea Verona, from GASGAS Factory Racing, followed in third, already a little behind.

On the second lap, Garcí extended his lead, winning every race. Zach Pichon impressed in the MAXXIS Enduro Test, recording the second best time.

The final lap was marked by fierce battles. Garcí narrowly won the ACERBIS Cross Test, while Verona took his only victory of the day in the final POLISPORT Extreme Test.

Garcí ended the day as overall winner and 2024 EnduroGP World Champion, having won all but two of the races. Holcombe and Verona completed the podium.

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman took fourth place, while Zach Pichon, buoyed by the support of the local crowd, equaled his best result of the year, finishing fifth.

Women’s Enduro

At the penultimate round of the 2024 season, Spanish rider Mireia Badia, from the RIEJU Factory Racing team, won the 2024 FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion title. Despite finishing second in Saturday’s race, this result was enough to secure her first world title.

The competition in the women’s category was intense, with American Rachel Gutish, from Team KBS Sherco, winning the first day in France. Rosie Rowett, also from RIEJU Factory Racing, completed the podium in third place, after losing precious time in the final MAXXIS Enduro Test.

Enduro 1

Josep Garcia, as well as securing overall victory in EnduroGP, also triumphed in the Enduro1 class. This victory allowed him to increase his lead in the overall standings to nine points.

Britain’s Steve Holcombe finished second on the first day, keeping his hopes of winning the Enduro1 world title alive. The final decision was postponed until Sunday, the last day of competition.

Zach Pichon completed the podium, finishing in third place and showing a good performance on French soil.

Enduro 2

Andrea Verona once again dominated the Enduro2 category, taking his twelfth victory of 2024. The Italian had already secured the title at the sixth round of the championship.

Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini secured second place, while CH Racing Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht completed the podium in third.

Beta Factory Racing’s Nathan Watson was well placed for a podium place, but a crash in the final race forced the Briton to abandon the competition.

Enduro 3

Brad Freeman had a memorable day, winning his tenth world title in ten years and becoming the 2024 FIM Enduro3 World Champion. The Briton won by an impressive margin of 36 seconds over the runner-up.

Hamish Macdonald, from CH Racing Sherco, finished second, while Antoine Magain, also from Sherco, completed the podium in third, ensuring a remarkable result.

Enduro Junior

In the FIM GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship, Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin was crowned world champion for the first time on Saturday. Despite finishing second overall on the first full day of racing in France, the young Swede’s performance throughout the year was enough to secure the world title after an impressive season.

The day’s victory went to Sherco Academy France’s Thibault Giraudon, who managed a series of consistent top-two finishes in the races, much to the delight of the French public. Giraudon managed to keep Ahlin at bay, with less than three seconds separating the two at the end of the day.

Team Beta Oxmoto’s Leo Joyon completed the Enduro Junior podium in third place on home soil.

Enduro Youth

With the Enduro Youth world title already awarded to Manuel Verzeroli (KTM) at round six, the competition at the GP ACERBIS de France focused on winning the race.

Fantic Racing Junior Team’s Pietro Scardina stood out by winning an impressive seven races on the first day, topping the timesheets and taking his first overall victory of the season in the Enduro Youth category.

Frenchman Gabin Allemand (KTM) took second place on the podium, finishing one minute and 20 seconds behind Scardina. Alex Puey (Beta) completed the top three, securing third place in the standings.

O conteúdo Josep García wins EnduroGP World title on day 1 of EnduroGP de France aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After switching to the GASGAS EC 350F and the Enduro2 category in 2023, where he finished as vice-champion, Andrea Verona dominated the current season. The Italian achieved 11 victories in 12 rounds contested and arrived at the penultimate event with a comfortable 39-point lead in the Enduro2 overall standings.

Despite a minor accident in Friday’s Super Test in Wales, Verona quickly regained his rhythm and won almost all of Saturday’s specials, securing the class victory with a 59-second advantage.

Consistency was the keyword on Sunday. Even with a fall in the cross test of the second lap, the Italian won nine of the ten specials contested and secured the Enduro2 world title with one round to spare.

With the Enduro2 title secured, Verona now focuses on the last round of the EnduroGP World Championship, where he will fight for the title with Josep García. Although he didn’t make it to the podium in Wales, the GASGAS rider currently holds second place in the EnduroGP overall standings and promises to fight until the end in the final round, which takes place in Brioude, France, between September 13 and 15.

In the end, GASGAS Factory Racing’s number 99 didn’t hide his happiness with the title:

– I’m really happy to get the Enduro2 title with one race to spare! It’s been a great season and I’m so happy to have won every single day except one. This was one of our goals for the year and we have pushed hard all season to get here. Thank you to the GASGAS Factory Racing team and everyone who has helped me all year. For sure we will take the fight to Josep Garcia at the final race for the EnduroGP title!

O conteúdo Andrea Verona is E2 world champion and now focuses on the EnduroGP title: ‘We will take the fight to Josep García at the final race!’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues and last week there was another round of the competition, at Gelnica, Slovakia. If Andrea Verona was the fastest on the first day, then on the second it was Josep García.

As usual there were a lot of moments of action and intense racing, with the riders facing off each part of the nature at the best possible way, generating superb images and videos.

You can see the highlights of the day 2 at Gelnica in the following video, shared by the championship’s official YouTube channel:

O conteúdo Video: Best moments of the second day of EnduroGP of Slovakia aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Josep Garcia of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing claimed a commanding victory on day two of the GP of Slovakia, extending his championship lead. Brad Freeman of Beta Factory Racing finished second, followed by day one winner Andrea Verona of GASGAS Factory Racing in third. In the Enduro Junior class, Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) repeated his feat from the previous day to take his second win of the weekend.

Garcia Unstoppable

Garcia set a blistering pace from the start, topping the MAXXIS Enduro Test to open the day and edging out Brad Freeman by seven seconds. The Spaniard continued his relentless charge in the first ACERBIS Cross Test, further extending his lead.

Freeman found his rhythm towards the end of the opening lap and took the win in the POLISPORT Extreme Test over JET Zanardo Husqvarna’s Matteo Pavoni. However, the gap to Garcia was already significant, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider holding an eight-second advantage after the first lap.

Lap two saw Garcia take another test win, but new contenders emerged soon after. Nathan Watson of Beta Factory Racing, the EnduroGP runner-up on day one, claimed victory in the ACERBIS Cross Test.

Demonstrating consistency, Andrea Verona put in a string of top-three finishes before topping the timesheets in the POLISPORT Extreme Test on lap two. His impressive results moved him into second place overall ahead of Freeman after two laps.

The battle between Garcia, Freeman, and Verona intensified on the final lap, with each rider securing a convincing test win apiece. Garcia, fueled by his below-par day one result, emerged victorious, taking the race win by an 18-second margin. Less than half a second separated Freeman and Verona, with the Brit narrowly edging out the Italian to claim second place.

Watson Fourth, Holcombe Fifth

After a test win and multiple podium finishes, Nathan Watson steered his Beta to fourth place, while compatriot Steve Holcombe of Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team followed in fifth, just two-tenths of a second behind.

Garcia Dominates Enduro1

In addition to his overall victory, Garcia also secured his sixth Enduro1 class win of the season, finishing 30 seconds clear of second-placed Steve Holcombe. Theo Espinasse of Team Beta Oxmoto completed the E1 podium in third.

Verona Extends Enduro2 Lead

Andrea Verona notched up his eighth consecutive victory in the Enduro2 class, extending his lead to a remarkable 45 points over Nathan Watson, who finished second on day two. Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in the ACERBIS Cross Test on lap two.

Bacon Triumphs in Enduro Junior

Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) dominated the Enduro Junior class with six test wins, taking his second victory of the weekend. Bacon emerged victorious from a close battle with championship leader Max Ahlin of Team KTM Pro racing Sport, with Ahlin claiming second place.

Kevin Cristino of Fantic Racing Team finished third, followed by Matej Skuta of KBS Team and Leo Joyon of Team Beta Oxmoto, with just twelve seconds separating the trio.

Verzeroli Doubles Up in Enduro Youth

Manuel Verzeroli (KTM) consolidated his Enduro Youth lead with a victory on day two of the Slovakia GP, extending his advantage to 42 points. Romain Dagna finished second, just eight seconds behind Verzeroli. An unfortunate injury for Alberto Elgari (TM Racing) ruled the Italian out of contention early on.

Pietro Scardina of Fantic Racing Team completed the podium, with Clement Clauzier (Beta) in fourth and Luca Colorio of JET Zanardo Husqvarna in fifth.

The FIM EnduroGP World Championship resumes in three weeks’ time with the ForSiteServices GP of Wales in Rhayader, taking place from August 2-4.

O conteúdo Josep Garcia returns to the top with EnduroGP win at GP of Slovakia aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The EnduroGP had this weekend the fourth round of the world championship, in Italy, were a home rider got to win the overall: Andrea Verona.

The GASGAS Factory Racing came back to EnduroGP action with a bang at round four, claiming the overall win on home soil on day two and topping the Enduro2 podium both days.

He was naturally super proud of what he did, saying then in a team statement:

– To win the overall on day two at my home GP is an unbelievable feeling! I put up a fight all day for the win and managed to make a decent gap. I nearly lost it when I crashed near the end of the day, but I went full gas on the final test and managed to get back on top! Saturday was an up and down day with some good results, but I just made too many mistakes. Overall though, I’m super happy to have won at home and the support of the fans has been incredible, it made all the difference.

O conteúdo Andrea Verona won EnduroGP of Italy: ‘To win the overall on day two at my home GP is an unbelievable feeling!’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Another round of the EnduroGP World Championship is concluding, with Italy hosting the fourth round of the calendar this weekend, where Andrea Verona, racing on home soil, won.

The GASGAS rider was the strongest, in general terms, in the competition and would even end up winning, but on the first day of the competition the strongest was Josep García.

Watch the video of the best moments, shared on the competition’s official YouTube:

O conteúdo VIdeo: Best moments of EnduroGP of Italy, day 2 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

It was a day of celebration in Italy, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona claiming a home victory on day two at round four of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. In wet and wild weather, the Italian narrowly beat Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe by half a second to secure the top step of the POLISPORT GP of Italy podium.

After the scorching heat on day one at round four of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Bettola, Italy, day two was a contrasting mud bath. Heavy overnight rain ensured the dust of day one would be a distant memory as riders battled slippery special tests, littered with lots of mud holes.

With organisers opting to reverse the POLISPORT Extreme Test, riders faced an untimed run on lap one, before taking on the MAXXIS Enduro Test, which would prove a crucial one for riders to get right throughout the day due to its testing conditions.

Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe executed it perfectly on lap one. Setting the quickest time, he held an early four-second advantage over GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona, with Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman third. There was trouble for day one winner Josep Garcia when the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider crashed in the trees and cost himself almost 50 seconds.

Quickly shaking it off, Garcia topped the ACERBIS Cross Test to begin his charge back to the front as Verona overhauled Holcombe to end lap one of three as the race leader. Fastest on the following POLISPORT Extreme Test and MAXXIS Enduro Test, before finishing second to Garcia on the ACERBIS Cross Test, Verona ended lap two 18 seconds clear of Holcombe in second.

Garcia had made an incredible recovery and was up to third with one lap remaining. Freeman held fourth, while CH Racing Sherco’s Antoine Magain was holding fifth. But with the rain returning hard for lap three, positions were about to change once more.

Holcombe won the final POLISPORT Extreme Test and then the MAXXIS Enduro Test. Also capitalising on a crash from Verona, he took over the race lead with just the final ACERBIS Cross Test remaining. Could the Brit deny his Italian rival a home victory?

With it all to play for, Verona left it all on the line for his Italian fans. By the narrowest of margins, he fought back past Holcombe to secure the top step of the podium by an astonishing 46 hundredths of a second. For Holcombe it was a case of so close, but so far. Naturally disappointed, he had to settle for the runner-up result. Arguably one of the best recovery rides of the day went to Garcia in third.

For Belgium’s Magain it was a day to savour, with the Sherco rider securing one of his best results in a long time with fourth. Magain headed a Sherco freight train, with Zach Pichon and Hamish MacDonald also taking fifth and sixth respectively.

Mireia Badia gets a double win

In the Enduro Women’s class, it was RIEJU Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia who mastered the mud to secure her second victory of the weekend in Bettola. The Spaniard was supreme as she made short work of the rutted MAXXIS Enduro Test and slippery ACERBIS Cross Test. Claiming a 56-second margin of victory, she was pleased with her efforts today.

Adding to the celebrations in the RIEJU camp, teammate Rosie Rowett took second. The Brit fended off a big challenge by Beta’s Elodie Chaplot to beat her rival by just three seconds. Justine Martel (Beta) and Emelie Borg (Sherco) rounded out the top five.

In Enduro1, Holcombe was rewarded with the win. The Honda rider took the top step of the podium ahead of Garcia in second, with Pichon in third.

Verona added the Enduro2 class victory to his win tally on day two in Bettola. With Jet Zanardo Husqvarna’s Matteo Pavoni in second and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini in third, it was an all-Italian Enduro2 podium.

The Enduro3 podium saw Sherco lockdown the top two positions. With a win for Magain, MacDonald followed him home for second. Freeman took third.

Manolo Morettini also dominated

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship saw Manolo Morettini (Honda) come through to win in Bettola. The young Italian was riding well in the slippery conditions and opened up an early lead. At the end of lap two, he held a 12-second advantage over Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin. Keeping his cool, he remained strong to secure his first victory of the season.

Despite a crash on the penultimate test, Ahlin ended his day in second. Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) delivered in the tough conditions to finish third. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) and Enrico Rinaldi (GASGAS) completed the top five.

The Enduro Youth class saw Jet Zanardo Husqvarna’s Luca Colorio come through to secure his debut victory. The young Italian had come within eight hundredths of a second from winning on day one, but today was his day. An exceptional ride saw him take a memorable win. Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Manuel Verzeroli was second, with TM MOTO’s Alberto Elgari third to complete an Italian clean sweep in Enduro Youth.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship now heads to Gelnica in Slovakia for the POLISPORT GP of Slovakia on July 12-14.

Results: Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship, Round four – Day two
EnduroGP
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 42:11.34
2. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 42:11.80
3. Josep Garcia (KTM) 42:33.81
4. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 43:05.60
5. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 43:11.91
6. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 43:12.43
7. Matteo Pavoni (Husqvarna) 43:16.64
8. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 43:18.05
9. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 43:21.43
10. Brad Freeman (Beta) 43:32.72…

Championship Standings (After round four)
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 144pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 134pts
3. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 128pts
4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 85pts
5. Nathan Watson (Beta) 80pts
6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 63pts
7. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 59pts
8. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 55pts
9. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 50pts
10. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 46pts…

O conteúdo At home this one is on me! Andrea Verona wins EnduroGP of Italy aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The third round of the EnduroGP World Championship took place last weekend, with Andrea Verona and Josep García claiming victories at the EnduroGP of Romania in Bacau.

On the first day, Saturday, Verona (GasGas) was the fastest in seven of the 13 Special Tests, finishing with a time of 1h12m23.92s to surpass García (Red Bull KTM) by 13.62s, winning the Enduro 2 (E2) and Enduro 1 (E1) classes respectively. Steve Holcombe (Honda Racing RedMoto) came in third, 58.04s behind, followed by Brad Freeman (Beta) who won the Enduro 3 (E3) class.

On the second stage of the Romanian round, held on Sunday, García set the pace. He won six of the 12 Special Tests, but the battle with Verona was much closer: the two finished separated by just 22.59s. Freeman, winner of E3, was third, over a minute behind the top, followed by Nathan Watson (Beta) and Holcombe.

In the Youth category, Alberto Elgari (TM Moto) secured a double victory: on Saturday, he was 16.22s faster than Manuel Verzeroli (KTM), while on Sunday he finished 57.56s ahead of Pietro Scardina (Fantic Racing Junior). Max Bror elvis Ahlin (KTM) also achieved a double win in the Junior category, defeating Kevin Cristino (Fantic Racing) on the first day and Axel Semb (Fantic Racing) on the second. Cristino prevailed in Junior 1 on both days, ahead of Thibault Giraudon (Sherco).

In Open Senior, Andrea Beloti (MC Lago D’Iseo/KTM) beat Patrik Andersson (Yamaha) by over a minute on both days. Arvid Karlsson (KTM) won in Open 4s against Emanuel Gyenes (KTM) on both Saturday and Sunday, while in Open 2s Tim Louis (Sherco) defeated Jiri Hadek (Sherco) on Saturday, and Hadek beat Inbar Selinger (KTM) on Sunday.

O conteúdo Andrea Verona and Josep García Victorious in EnduroGP of Romania aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

This weekend marks a significant milestone for the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship as it makes a much-anticipated return to Romania after more than a decade. The city of Bacau is set to host the third round of the championship, reintroducing the thrilling competition to a region rich in motorsport history.

The championship heads into Romania with a fierce battle at the top. Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia are currently tied in the EnduroGP standings, each with two wins under their belt this season. The stage is set for a showdown that could see either rider take a definitive lead in the points race.

The Competition Heats Up

The AKRAPOVIC Super Test will kick off the racing on Friday evening near the Bacau Business and Exhibition Centre. Garcia, having dominated the previous Friday tests, aims for a hat-trick of wins in these critical opening challenges. The weekend will then unfold over two grueling days of racing, with each day demanding riders complete a 54-kilometre course three times, totaling six hours of riding daily.

The technical and physically demanding course includes several tests like the ACERBIS Cross test, the POLISPORT Extreme Test, and the MAXXIS Enduro Test. Each segment will challenge the riders’ endurance and skill, making for an exciting spectacle.

Key Players and Potential Outcomes

While Holcombe and Garcia are the headline acts, they are not without strong competition. GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta Factory Racing’s Nathan Watson have been close contenders, often finishing just seconds behind the leaders. Both are well-positioned to vie for the top spot in Bacau.

Injuries and illness have hampered some riders’ early-season performances, notably Brad Freeman from Beta, who is eager to return to form and compete for victories once again. Samuele Bernardini and Jamie McCanney are also ones to watch, as both have shown podium potential this season.

Class Battles and Championship Dynamics

The Enduro1 class also sees Holcombe and Garcia tied, with Jamie McCanney not far behind in third place. The Enduro2 class has Andrea Verona pulling ahead with three wins, though Nathan Watson and Samuele Bernardini remain strong contenders.

In Enduro3, TM Racing’s Matteo Cavallo leads but faces stiff competition from Hamish MacDonald and Brad Freeman, with mere points separating the top contenders.

Junior and Youth Competitions

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship is witnessing a tight race with Axel Semb leading a competitive group. The Enduro Youth category, led by Manuel Verzeroli, is equally contested, with several young riders proving they can challenge for the top spots.

As the EnduroGP World Championship revs up for an exhilarating weekend in Bacau, the stage is set not just for individual glory but for ongoing battles across various classes. With the championship’s return to Romania, the riders are not just racing for points but also making history in one of the sport’s most celebrated arenas.

O conteúdo EnduroGP Ignites as It Returns to Romania After 11 Years aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Valpaços, in Portugal hosted the second round of the EnduroGP World Championship a week after, in the same country, Fafe welcomed the start of the season. Steve Holcombe this sunday, and Josep García the day before.

Stay with some of the best moments on each day of the competition in Portugal.

Best of day 1:

Best of day 2:

O conteúdo Video: Best moments of the EnduroGP in Valpaços – day 1 and 2 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.