This weekend Steve Holcombe added another world championship to his belt after securing the EnduroGP title on the last round of the season in Portugal.

Third on day 1 and fifth on day 2 at Santiago do Cacém, the BETA Factory Enduro Team rider did enough to take the win in the competition and didn’t hide the nerves he felt: ‘I was feeling the nerves this sunday. 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’.

Holcombe said then that adding this many titles was not on his plans:

– 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.

O conteúdo ‘I never dreamt of being a nine-time world champion, it’s going to take a while for this moment to sink in’ – Steve Holcombe aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

It’s crunch time for competitors in the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship as the seventh and final two-day event of the season takes place in Portugal this coming weekend. After six demanding action-packed races, it’s all or nothing now as the championship readies itself to crown the 2023 world champions. With all titles set to be decided, this weekend is certain to be a showstopper!

From the Italian opener in March through rounds in Spain, Finland, Sweden, and Slovakia, to last weekend’s penultimate event in the north of Portugal, it’s finally time to crown the year’s FIM EnduroGP World Champions as the series remains in Portugal for the final event of 2023.

An important weekend of racing for all, the towns of Santo Andre and Santiago do Cacem in southern Portugal will play host to 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 Polisport Extreme Test each day.

AKRAPOVIC Super Test series yet to be decided

The AKRAPOVIC Super Test will get racing underway on Friday evening. At the head of the Super Test standings it’s Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman who looks all but guaranteed of wrapping things up.

The Brit holds an 18-point lead over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia with just 20 points up for grabs. With Freeman’s teammate Steve Holcombe now 25 points behind him in third, only Garcia can stop Freeman from taking the AKRAPOVIC Super Test award.

Holcombe in EnduroGP driving seat

In the battle for EnduroGP honours it’s Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe who sits in the driving seat. The Brit has put together an incredible season so far, claiming 12 podium results from 12 starts, including two victories, to build a 19-point lead entering the final round of the year. The seven-time champ last held the EnduroGP title in 2020 and would be a welcome winner if he lifts the championship again this weekend.

As the defending EnduroGP champ, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona will be giving it everything he has to stop Steve winning. The Italian has really come on strong during the second half of the season following his switch to 350cc machinery at the beginning of the year. Every bit as fast as Holcombe at last weekend’s GP of Portugal, how much his fall on the penultimate special test will impact his speed and consequently his title hopes this coming weekend only time will tell.

Full of confidence following his double win last weekend at round six, Josep Garcia (KTM) is certain to make things exciting. The Spaniard was able to hold off attacks from both Holcombe and Verona to win on both days in Valpacos and with a chance of finishing as runner-up in the EnduroGP title hunt, you can be sure Garcia will be firing on all cylinders.

After battling through last weekend, Brad Freeman still holds a mathematical chance of taking the EnduroGP title, although now 34 points behind Holcombe. But Freeman is a fighter and with just eight points between Garcia and himself, a championship medal is still possible.

Completing the top five is CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald. The New Zealander is in a comfortable position, so he will be able to push hard for a strong result to finish out his year. With just six points separating Theo Espinasse (Beta), RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson and Zach Pichon (Sherco) the battle for sixth will be a close one.

Garcia, Holcombe, and Freeman head Enduro1, Enduro2 and Enduro3

In the individual senior classes, it’s Josep Garcia who looks favourite to come out on top in Enduro1. The remainder of the podium positions are up for grabs between Theo Espinasse, Zach Pichon and Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney.

At the top of the Enduro2 standings Steve Holcombe holds an 18-point lead over Andrea Verona. The pair are 44 points clear of Hamish MacDonald in third meaning the Enduro2 title will go to either Holcombe or Verona. If Holcombe wins both the EnduroGP and Enduro2 titles he will become a nine-time World Champion!

Putting in a solid recovery effort last weekend, Brad Freeman has strengthened his grasp on the Enduro3 points lead to nine. After an injury hit round five, the Brit will look to hold off nearest challenger Mikael Persson to successfully defend his Enduro3 crown. The final step of the podium should be decided between Antoine Magain (Sherco) and Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing).

Daniels aims to secure Women’s Enduro crown

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship will be decided this weekend. Fantic Racing’s Jane Daniels remains undefeated so far in 2023 with six wins from six starts. Victory on Saturday will see her successfully defend her crown. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) is second overall and holds a 10-point lead over Rieju Factory Racing’s Rosie Rowett in third.

Etchells and Norrbin bid for Junior Enduro title

In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship it’s now a two-horse race between Fantic JET Racing’s Jed Etchells and Fantic Factory Racing’s Albin Norrbin for the title. The pair have swapped wins at round five and six to set up an exciting end to the season. With Etchells 10 points in front of Norrbin, the balance is in his favour.

As the championship rookie, Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) sits third and holds a five-point advantage over Max Ahlin (KTM) in fourth. Sergio Navarro (Husqvarna) rounds out the top five.

Inching ever closer to the Youth Enduro title, Fantic Factory Racing’s Kevin Cristino leads nearest rival Leo Joyon (Beta) by 27 points. Another win from him on Saturday should see him wrap things up with one day to spare. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) is just two points behind Joyon in third.

EnduroGP World Championship Standings (After round 6)

1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 196pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 177pts
3. Josep Garcia (KTM) 170pts
4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 162pts
5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 127pts
6. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 96pts
7. Nathan Watson (Honda) 95pts
8. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 90pts
9. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 73pts
10. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 71pts

O conteúdo Now or never: Portugal hosts title decisions for EnduroGP aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship will see the fight for supremacy heat up this weekend as the title contenders head to Valpaços 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.

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

Source: EnduroGP

O conteúdo EnduroGP title battle to continue in Portugal; Holcombe leads but Freeman, Verona and Garcia still haven’t gave up aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.