The ACERBIS GP of France didn’t disappoint for the seventh and final round of the 2024 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. The French countryside played host to plenty of intense battles, passionate fans and saw our final five world champions crowned. After an incredible season finale, here’s what everyone was talking about…
10 is the magic number for Freeman
Claiming the 2024 FIM Enduro3 World Championship on day one in France, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman added a 10th world title to his collection. The Brit now has the second-highest number of enduro world championships, behind Juha Salminen with 13, and is the most successful rider of the last decade. Not only that, but it was also a special one for Brad as Brioude was where he won his first race in a world championship, 10 years ago in 2014.
Success for all manufacturers
If you were looking for an answer this year to the question, ‘which bike is best?’, you will find it difficult to get just one answer. Race-winning bikes in 2024 came from KTM, GASGAS, Beta, Fantic, Sherco, Honda, RIEJU and more, with six different brands featuring in the EnduroGP top 10 at the end of the season. It’s been great to see such diversity!
French fans out in force
The fans at the ACERBIS GP of France didn’t disappoint! Spectators were out in full force, lining the tapes at every special test with chainsaws, horns and impressive sound systems. The atmosphere was electric, with the thousands-strong crowd spurring on riders of all nationalities.
Home glory for Pichon
Much to the delight of the passionate French supporters, it was home hero CH Racing Sherco’s Zach Pichon who topped the timesheets in the final AKRAPOVIC Super Test of the year by two tenths of a second. However, it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia who would claim the overall victory in the 2024 AKRAPOVIC Super Test series.
Garcia presented with Brave One Award
On top of his EnduroGP and Enduro1 titles, KTM superstar Josep Garcia also left France with another prestigious award. The Mika Ahola Brave One Award is given to the rider who achieves the fastest time in the MAXXIS Enduro Test throughout the season, which to no surprise was Josep Garcia.
Legends respect legends
Despite being fierce competitors between the tapes, Josep Garcia and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe are both class acts when their helmets come off. Steve was the first to congratulate Josep on his EnduroGP title, both under the KTM awning and on the podium, showing the deep respect the pair have for each other.
Manuel Verzeroli impresses in Junior ranks
Crowned 2024 FIM Youth Enduro World Champion at round six in Wales, Manuel Verzeroli (KTM) decided to make his move into the Enduro Junior ranks early ahead of the 2025 EnduroGP season. Already making his mark in the category, the young Italian finished
11th on day one, and 14th on day two.
First EnduroGP title for KTM
Claiming their first overall title in the modern EnduroGP era, it was hard to miss the celebrations under the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing awning. Despite securing world championships in Enduro1 and Enduro2 with Josep Garcia in recent years, this is the first EnduroGP title that the Austrian outfit have won since the category was introduced in 2017.
Next generation of Enduro Women
After the recent domination of Jane Daniels (Fantic), the Enduro Women category was competitively fought out in 2024 with three different race winners. RIEJU Factory Racing’s Mireia Badia claimed her well-deserved debut world title at the ACERBIS GP of France, after an incredible season. Team KBS Sherco’s Rachel Gutish also had an impressive debut year in EnduroGP, becoming the most successful rider from the USA in the series, overtaking Taylor Robert with three wins in Enduro Women this year.
Junior1 went down to the wire
With Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin winning the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship and Junior2 title on day one, all eyes were on the Junior 1 class on the final day of racing. Heading into Sunday lying third in the category, just four points down on the leader, Fantic Racing Team’s Kevin Cristino had his eyes on the prize. The battle between Cristino and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Manolo Morettini went down to the final test, with Kevin crowned day two winner and 2024 Junior1 champion shortly after.
The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship returns in April 2025 for another year of action-packed racing from the world’s best enduro riders.
Words and Images by EnduroGP
