2024 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads to Rhayader, Wales, for the sixth and penultimate round of the season this weekend with plenty of points still on offer, at least two titles could be decided and intrigue as the best of British battle on home soil for the win.
Making a welcome return to the calendar following a 15-year absence, the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales promises to be an absolute cracker. With a close contest in the EnduroGP class, E2 and 125 world championship potentially to be celebrated and some of the world’s best riders gunning for home glory on the carefully planned tests we can’t wait.
Making a long-overdue return to the schedule, the world championship hasn’t visited Wales since 2008. Located in the heart of Wales, the GP of Wales will be a true test of traditional enduro conditions forest tracks, mountains and moorland in some stunning scenery and yes, a likelihood of some rain along the way.
Enduro21 got a preview last month of the course: 2024 EnduroGP of Wales – Enduro21 checks out the venue and tastes the dirt
The AKRAPOVIC Super Test will get round six underway on Friday evening at the Cwmythig Hill venue, host to the main paddock.
Cwmythig Hill also hosts the Cross Test during the weekend with lots of spectators and camping across the fields close-by the atmosphere should be awesome.
Competitors will follow a route across the Welsh valley to nearby Saintswell for the MAXXIS Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test with a reasonable lap along the way which takes them into a typical Welsh forest with a time check for any not used to the local conditions.
All-to-play-for EnduroGP title fight
At the head of the EnduroGP classification and 2024 GP of Wales entry list, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia leads with just an eight-point lead over GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in second and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro team’s Steve Holcombe third, 24 points adrift.
Each has secured day wins this year but it is Garcia who proves the age-old truth that consistency wins titles with a day victory at every round so far this season.
But with a maximum of 80 points still up for grabs the title hopes are very much alive. Aside from the battalion of British riders wanting to win on home soil, Verona has been impressive in the last two rounds taking victories with consistency across the weekend which Garcia hasn’t matched.
The reigning EnduroGP World Champion and Welsh Open Sprint Enduro Champion Steve Holcombe has been putting in the hours on Welsh soil and knows the terrain as well as the Welsh locals. Steve heads that battalion of British riders aiming for home glory and will certainly arrive at the weekend with top marks for doing his homework.
Lying fourth and fifth in the championship, the Beta Factory Racing British pairing of Brad Freeman and Nathan Watson will have something to say about the best of British honour. Watson has been the most consistent of the Beta pair but no question each will want to stand on that top step as badly as anyone.
With a pair of sixth-place results in Slovakia, Australia’s Wil Ruprecht is back in the picture and along with his Sherco teammates, Zach Pichon and Hamish Macdonald, the sit in a super-competitive top 10.
While many eyes will be on the fight for the win, some of the best and most competitive racing you will see lies in that battle, which also usually means class podium places and at this GP features a wild card ride from Josh Toth.
EnduroGP Championship Standings (after round five)
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 177pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 169pts
3. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 154pts
4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 113pts
5. Nathan Watson (Beta) 110pts
6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 73pts
7. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 73pts
8. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 68pts
9. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 60pts
10. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 55pts
Class title hopes – Verona could be crowned E2 champion
Josep Garcia tops the E1 class points with Steve Holcombe just six points behind in second. The pair have locked out the top two positions at every round so far in 2024 with French duo Zach Pichon third and Theo Espinasse fourth.
The rider to beat in Enduro2 is Andrea Verona now with a 45-point lead entering round six. If the Italian claims another pair of victories, he will leave Wales as the 2024 FIM E2 World Champion. Nathan Watson is second, with Samuele Bernardini 10 points behind in third.
Brad Freeman is the default Enduro3 category leader, no matter what injury he seems to do to himself in recent years! The Brit is 28 points clear of his closest rival Matteo Cavallo in second with recent convert to the 300 two-stroke Hamish MacDonald just three points behind Cavallo in third. The trio have been training last week in the UK ahead of the Welsh GP also.
Badia aiming to extend points lead in Enduro Women
Absent in Slovakia, the FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship makes a welcome return to the paddock in Wales.
RIEJU Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia was the rider to beat last time out in Italy, winning in both the sunshine and rain to stake her claim for the enduro Women title which this year will see a new winner.
Her RIEJU teammate Rosie Rowett, Team KBS Sherco’s Rachel Gutish and Nieve Holmes, French duo Justine Martel and Elodie Chaplot, Marie Holt from Norway all will hope to take advantage of the northern European conditions expected in Rhayader.
Ahlin heads Enduro Junior title chase in Wales
In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship, the first of the impressive Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s riders Max Ahlin is edging towards a first world title. The Swede should fare well in the Welsh terrain, with conditions similar to home.
Fantic Factory Racing’s Axel Semb holds second overall but needs to regain some of his early-season winning pace to hold off teammate Kevin Cristino, who’s now seven points behind him in third.
Verzeroli champion elect of Enduro Youth
Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s other rider flying high, Manuel Verzeroli, is another rider who could wrap a title up this weekend in Wales. The Italian leads the 125 class by 42 points, another pair of race wins would clinch him his first world crown and yet another for a bike with a Farioli sticker on the headlight.
Romain Dagna, Alberto Elgari and Pietro Scardina will continue their fizzy fight to match Verzeroli to ensure the championship goes down to the wire at the final round in France.
The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round six this weekend, August 2-4 where Enduro21 will of course be bringing news, results, riders quotes, video highlights and more. Stay tuned…
Photo Credit: Future7Media + Vision Media
