After two weeks from the opening race of the 2023 season in Andora (SV), this weekend the Assoluti d’Italia di Enduro made a stop in Grado (GO), picturesque seaside town famous for being called the “Prima Venezia” for its resemblance to the Venetian city of which it recalls the charm and atmosphere, which for the occasion hosted the third and fourth round of the current season.
Report and Images by Fantic Jet Racing
The Motoclub Grado, assisted by Track Inspector Mario Rinaldi, designed a very fast race course, divided into four special tests mostly on flat terrain and to be repeated four times on Saturday and three and a half times on Sunday.
In the Friuli-based race our riders had to measure themselves against a 30 km course with special tests that were quite similar to each other in terms of type of terrain, located a short distance from each other and with transfers of medium difficulty given the flat morphology of the Grado area and which included in order: a Cross Test of 3 km mainly on hard ground, followed by an Extreme Test entirely artificial of over 2.5 km and a stony and dusty Enduro test of 4 km to be covered immediately after the first CO at the Paddock. At the end of the lap awaiting the riders was the last of the four special tests on the programme: a Cross Test of about 4 km in the spectacular setting of the Grado beach.
Reigning World Enduro Woman class Champion Jane Daniels rode a good race in Grado in her class, ending the weekend with a second place finish. On the opening day the British rider rode a consistent race trying out different technical solutions on her bike. On Sunday Jane Daniels shortened the gap on her rival by finishing in second place.
In the hard-fought Foreigners class the the best among our riders in the race was Jed Etchells with a tenth place on the opening day and an eleventh place on Sunday. The British rider has a very good feeling with the bike and will certainly be the protagonist at the first round of the enduro world championship in the Junior class.
The reigning world champion in the Youth class Harry Edmondson is working hard to be fast also with the new bike, Fantic XEF 250. In Grado he rode a good race finishing fourteenth and sixteenth in the hard-fought Foreigners class.
Following the third and fourth rounds of the Assoluti d’Italia di Enduro, teams and riders are preparing to face the inaugural GP of the 2023 season of the EnduroGP World Championship to be held in Arma di Taggia on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April.
The next appointment with the top Italian Enduro Championship is scheduled in over a month’s time at Fara Filiorum Petri (CH).
Team Manager Matthew Savi
“A good race for all three of our riders. Jane Daniels took a morale-boosting second place, while Jed Etchells is doing his best to be 100% ready for the first round of the enduro world championship. Harry Edmondson, on the other hand, is gaining confidence with the new bike and will certainly improve from the next races.”
Harry Edmondson
“Also here in Grado I learned a lot about the new bike and I saw an improvement compared to the Andora race. This year I will have to try to learn as much as possible to improve the results. “
Jed Etchells
“I am happy with the feeling with the bike that the team has prepared for me. For sure we are ready to do well at the first round of the World Championship in Arma di Taggia.”
Jane Daniels
“I am happy with the result but also with the work we did with the whole team during the race weekend trying different technical solutions.”
