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.