On Sunday 18th June the sixth round of the Assoluti d’Italia di Enduro 2023 took place in a single race and the small medieval town of Città della Pieve, in the province of Perugia, hosted the Enduro Circus, offering the numerous spectators a high level event inaugurated on Saturday afternoon by the ‘Prologue’ held on the same track as the Extreme Test of the following race day.
Report and Images by Jet Fantic Racing
The Motoclub Catello della Pieve, assisted by Track Inspector Mario Rinaldi, designed a race course in the shape of a figure of eight with a total length of 65 km, divided into three technical and tricky special tests to be repeated four times for a total of twelve PS disputed in a single race on Sunday under a hot summer sun.
As usual, the start at the paddock, located in the centre of the village, kicked off the race, which was followed, after a 10 km transfer, by the first special test on the programme: a 4.5 km Cross Test, very fast and on hard terrain characterised by numerous ups and downs and counter slopes, followed by a 1.5km Extreme Test inside a sub-forest with beaten terrain mixed with gravel in which natural ups and downs alternated with many areas with artificial obstacles, and at the end of the lap a 6km Enduro Test on hard terrain interspersed with numerous rocks.
Jed Etchells’ race weekend started off on the right foot, with the British rider setting the seventh fastest time overall and fourth fastest time in the Super Test, held on Saturday evening.
Also on race day Jed Etchells recorded some excellent times on the first lap, but then failed to shine on some special tests in the following laps, which cost him several seconds and some positions in the final race standings. The final score for him is a satisfactory seventh place in the Foreigners class and an excellent tenth place in the Overall class.
Excellent race weekend also for team-mate Harry Edmondson who, riding the Fantic XEF 250 4T, rode a good race day collecting an excellent eleventh place in the difficult and hard-fought Foreigner class.
The Assoluti d’Italia Enduro 2023 will now take a break for a month to return on July 22nd and 23rd in Sant’Angelo in Vado (PU) for the seventh and eighth round of the 2023 season.
Team Manager Matthew Savi
“A good race for our two riders, Jed Etchells got into the Top Ten overall but could certainly improve on his result while Harry Edmondson continued his apprenticeship among the top riders.”
Harry Edmondson
“It was definitely a good race with a good final result. At Città della Pieve the transfer was not very demanding, but the special tests, all three of them, made life difficult for all participants. Now maximum concentration for the next round of the enduro world championship.”
Jed Etchells
“I rode a good race although it could have been better, on Saturday I recorded a good overall time in the Super Test but on Sunday I made a mistake in some special tests and compromised the outcome of the race. The final score is nevertheless satisfactory and I got into the Top Ten overall.”
