The decisive moment has arrived for the competitors of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship Paulo Duarte, as the seventh and final two-day event of the season takes place in Portugal next weekend. After six demanding races full of action, it’s all or nothing now as the championship prepares to crown the 2023 world champions. With all titles to be decided, this weekend will surely be a spectacle!
From the opening in Italy in March, through the rounds in Spain, Finland, Sweden, and Slovakia, to the penultimate event last weekend in northern Portugal, it’s finally time to crown the FIM EnduroGP World Champions of the year, as the series remains in Portugal for the final event of 2023.
An important racing weekend for all, the cities of Santo André and Santiago do Cacém in southern Portugal will host the seventh and final round of the season. With so much at stake, the event will feature two enduro tests – the JUST1 Enduro Test and the CrossPro Enduro Test – along with the ACERBIS Cross Test and the Polisport Extreme Test every day.
AKRAPOVIC Super Test series still to be decided
The AKRAPOVIC Super Test kicks off on Friday night. Leading the Super Test standings is Brad Freeman of Beta Factory Racing, who seems to have everything secured.
The Brit has an 18-point advantage over Josep García of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, with only 20 points up for grabs. With Freeman’s teammate, Steve Holcombe, 25 points behind in third, only Garcia can prevent Freeman from taking the AKRAPOVIC Super Test prize.
Holcombe leading EnduroGP
In the battle for EnduroGP honors, it’s Steve Holcombe of Beta Factory Racing who is in the driver’s seat. The Brit has had an incredible season so far, securing 12 podium finishes in 12 rounds, including two wins, to build a 19-point lead heading into the final round of the year. The seven-time champion last won the EnduroGP title in 2020 and would be a welcome winner if he were to lift the championship again this weekend.
As the current EnduroGP champion, Andrea Verona of GASGAS Factory Racing will give everything he has to stop Steve from winning. The Italian has shown great strength during the second half of the season, after switching to 350cc machines earlier in the year. As fast as Holcombe at last weekend’s GP of Portugal, only time will tell how much the fall in the penultimate special test will impact his speed and, consequently, his title hopes next weekend.
Cheio de confiança após a sua dupla vitória no fim de semana passado na sexta ronda, Josep García (KTM) vai certamente tornar as coisas emocionantes. O espanhol foi capaz de aguentar os ataques de Holcombe e Verona para vencer em ambos os dias em Valpaços e com a hipótese de terminar como segundo classificado na luta pelo título de EnduroGP, pode ter a certeza que García vai estar a disparar em todos os cilindros.
Depois de ter lutado durante o fim de semana passado, Brad Freeman ainda tem uma hipótese matemática de conquistar o título de EnduroGP, apesar de estar agora a 34 pontos de Holcombe. Mas Freeman é um lutador e com apenas oito pontos entre ele e Garcia, uma medalha de campeão ainda é possível.
Completando os cinco primeiros está Hamish MacDonald, da CH Racing Sherco. O neozelandês está numa posição confortável, por isso vai poder esforçar-se para conseguir um resultado forte para terminar o ano. Com apenas seis pontos a separar Theo Espinasse (Beta), Nathan Watson da RedMoto Honda e Zach Pichon (Sherco) a luta pelo sexto lugar vai ser renhida.
García, Holcombe e Freeman lideram Enduro1, Enduro2 e Enduro3
Nas classes individuais de seniores, Josep Garcia parece ser o favorito para chegar ao topo em Enduro1. As restantes posições do pódio estão em disputa entre Theo Espinasse, Zach Pichon e Jamie McCanney, da Fast Eddy Racing.
At the top of the Enduro2 standings, Steve Holcombe has an 18-point advantage over Andrea Verona. The pair has a 44-point lead over Hamish MacDonald in third, meaning the Enduro2 title will go to either Holcombe or Verona. If Holcombe wins the EnduroGP and Enduro2 titles, he will become a nine-time World Champion!
With a solid recovery effort last weekend, Brad Freeman has strengthened his lead in the Enduro3 points to nine. After an injury in the fifth round, the Brit will try to hold off closest competitor Mikael Persson to successfully defend his Enduro3 crown. The final spot on the podium is expected to be decided between Antoine Magain (Sherco) and Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing).
Daniels aims to secure the Women’s Enduro crown
The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship will be decided this weekend. Jane Daniels of Fantic Racing remains undefeated so far in 2023, with six wins in six outings. A victory on Saturday will see her successfully defend her crown. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) is second overall and has a 10-point lead over Rosie Rowett of Rieju Factory Racing in third.
Etchells and Norrbin battle for the Junior Enduro title
In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship, it is now a two-horse race between Jed Etchells of Fantic JET Racing and Albin Norrbin of Fantic Factory Racing for the title. The pair traded wins in rounds five and six to set up an exciting end to the season. With Etchells 10 points ahead of Norrbin, the scales are in his favor.
As a newcomer in the championship, Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) occupies the third place and has a five-point advantage over Max Ahlin (KTM) in fourth. Sergio Navarro (Husqvarna) completes the top five.
Getting closer to the Youth Enduro title, Kevin Cristino, from Fantic Factory Racing, leads the closest rival Leo Joyon (Beta) by 27 points. Another victory on Saturday should allow him to finish the championship one day early. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) is just two points behind Joyon in third.
EnduroGP Standings (after six rounds)
- Steve Holcombe (Beta) 196 points
- Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 177
- Josep Garcia (KTM) 170
- Brad Freeman (Beta) 162
- Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 127
- Theo Espinasse (Beta) 96
- Nathan Watson (Honda) 95
- Zach Pichon (Sherco) 90
- Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 73
- Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 71
