The opening day of racing at the seventh and last round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia win in Wales.
- Commanding EnduroGP win for Garcia
- Rowett races to Expotrade Women’s Enduro success
- Scardina wins Putoline Oil Youth Enduro title
Garcia sets the speed on the first day in Wales
After protecting both the EnduroGP and Enduro1 world titles last time out in France, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia approached putting the ending up touches to an amazing season on the first day at the Forsiteservices GP of Wales.
A win on the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test saw him lead by 3 seconds over TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon, with Sherco Racing Factory’s Steve Holcombe lying 3rd in his home Grand Prix.
Fastest on the following GMOTO Enduro Test and EXPOTRADE Cross Test to finish lap one, Garcia extended that space out to nearly 13 seconds, and from there he was never ever genuinely challenged. Continuing to develop his benefit, he ultimately rode clear to a commanding 34-second margin of triumph. With it he clinched his 49th EnduroGP class win to reinforce his hopes off signing off the 2026 season tomorrow with 50 profession wins in the EnduroGP classification.
Behind Garcia, Pichon completely safeguarded his position of 2nd. Not rather able to make inroads into Garcia’s lead, the Frenchman was two times fastest in the EXPOTRADE Cross Test. 2nd today sees the TM MOTO rider go up to 2nd total in the champion with simply one day of racing staying.
The defend the last action of the podium was fiercely objected to in between Holcombe and Beta Factory Team’s Nathan Watson. Holcombe held the benefit throughout most of the day, however it remained in the afternoon when Watson started to up his speed. Progressively shutting down a nine-second deficit, the Brit took 3rd with a strong trip on the last EXPOTRADE Cross Test of the day.
Losing out on a podium outcome on the first day, Holcombe needed to be content with 4th, positioning an agonising 0.29 seconds behind Watson. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona finished the leading 5.
Enduro3 home win for Holcombe
In the Enduro3 class, Holcombe provided a strong trip to take the success on home soil. The Sherco rider won by 41 seconds. Fantic Factory Racing’s Theo Espinasse ended his day as runner-up, with Beta Factory Team’s Brad Freeman finishing the leading 3.
Pichon raced to an essential triumph in the Enduro2 class, ahead of Watson in 2nd, with Verona 3rd. The outcome now sees Verona’s champion lead cut to simply one point by Pichon. With whatever to bet tomorrow, the Enduro2 title battle is set for a thrilling ending in between the 2 riders.
Garcia continued to edge closer to an ideal season in the Enduro1 classification by winning today. Victory Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo took 2nd with Triumph Factory Racing’s Jeremy Sydow finishing the leading 3.
Rowett leads them home in Expotrade Women’s Enduro
The Expotrade Women’s Enduro class saw RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett take triumph in her home Grand Prix. The young Brit remained in extraordinary kind in the dry and dirty conditions, setting the rate throughout the day. Racing clear to a commanding one-minute-and-eight-second margin of success, she will be wishing for repeat success tomorrow.
After a sluggish start to her early morning, world champ, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish started to discover her rhythm as the day advanced. Winning both the last POLISPORT Extreme Test and GMOTO Enduro Test, she protected 2nd total. With Rowett setting a commanding speed on the EXPOTRADE Cross Test, Gutish understands she will require to strike the ground running tomorrow to effectively challenge her colleague.
Making it a British 1-3, ET James Sherco UK’s Nieve Holmes took 3rd. Holmes took 3 of the day’s fastest times and will be another risk for leading honours to the RIEJU Factory Team pairing tomorrow.
France’s Mauricette Brisebard (Beta) and Justine Martel (Beta) completed the leading 5 on the first day. Electraction TM MOTO’s Elizabeth Tett won the Expotrade Junior Women’s classification.
Joyon keeps Tsubaki Junior Enduro title battle alive with the first day win
The Tsubaki Junior Enduro class saw Triumph Factory Racing’s Leo Joyon claim success on the first day to keep his title hopes alive going into the last day of racing. The Frenchman is on leading type throughout this 2nd half of the season, and today won by 19 seconds.
As champion leader, TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari was not able to protect the world title today with 2nd location. The Italian will need to wait a minimum of another day, however with an 18-point cause handle, he does have a virtual grasp on his very first world crown.
Elgari’s colleague, Manuel Verzeroli put in a strong trip to end up on the podium in 3rd. Group KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Romain Dagna took 4th today. There was an included event for Dagna who won the FIM Junior2 Enduro World Cup.
Scardina Crowned Putoline Oil FIM Youth Enduro World Champion
There was lots of event in the TM MOTO Costa Ligure camp at the end of the first day, with Pietro Scardina winning the Putoline Oil FIM Youth Enduro World Championship. Beginning today with a healthy points lead, the young Italian rode a wise and calculated race to complete out the day in 2nd location and protect his very first world title.
Fantic Factory Racing’s Valentin Mersin won by 16 seconds over Scardina. WP Eric Auge’s Yago Dominguez finished the podium in 3rd.
The 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship concludes tomorrow with day 2 of the Forsiteservices GP of Wales.
2027 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship
Round 1: GP of Spain– Valverde del Camino– 2-4 April
Round 2: GP of Spain II– Oliana– 23-25 April
Round 3: GP of Portugal– Fafe– 11-13 June
Round 4: GP of Portugal II– Fafe– 18-20 June
Round 5: GP of Italy– Carpinetti– 2-4 July
Round 6: GP of Isle of Man– Douglas– 30 July– 1 August
Round 7: GP of Greece– TBA– 15-17 October
Round 8: GP of Greece II– TBA– 22-24 October
2027 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship
Round 1: GP of Spain II– Oliana– 23-25 April
Round 2: GP of Portugal– Fafe– 11-13 June
Round 3: GP of Portugal II– Fafe– 18-20 June
Round 4: GP of Isle of Man– Douglas– 30 July– 1 August
Round 5: GP of Greece– TBA– 15-17 October
Round 6: GP of Greece II– TBA– 22-24 October
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