Excitement builds for this weekend’s EnduroGP of Wales – Preview and Event info

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Excitement builds as the 2024 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads to Rhayader, Wales, for the sixth and penultimate round of the season this weekend. Making a welcome return to the calendar following a 15-year absence, the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales is set to test the best enduro riders in the world.

EnduroGP returns to Wales for the first time in 15 years
Round six marks penultimate race of the 2024 season
Josep Garcia maintains slender eight-point championship lead

Not since 2008 has the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship visited Wales. Making a long-overdue return to the schedule, this weekend’s round six is eagerly anticipated by all. Located in the heart of Wales, the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales will be a true test of traditional enduro featuring forest tracks, mountains and moorland.

Split into two locations, the hub of the weekend’s activity will be based at Cwmythig Hill in Rhayader for the paddock, AKRAPOVIC Super Test and ACERBIS Cross Test. With the course taking competitors across the Welsh valley to nearby Saintswell, it’s here where both the MAXXIS Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test are located. With live entertainment each evening in Cwmythig Hill, the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales has all the ingredients necessary to become one of the highlight events of the season.

The AKRAPOVIC Super Test will get round six underway on Friday evening in Cwmythig Hill, Rhayader. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia holds a 10-point lead in the standings over CH Racing Sherco’s Zach Pichon, with Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman in third. Topping the billing last time out in Slovakia, Freeman would love to kick off this weekend’s racing with a win.

EnduroGP title fight remains super tight

At the head of the EnduroGP classification, it’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia who leads the way. The Spaniard has built up an eight-point lead over GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in second, thanks to securing a victory at every round so far this season. With round six marking the penultimate race in the championship, the Spaniard will be focused on growing that tally in Wales.

Fighting hard with Garcia, Verona has kept this year’s championship battle exciting. With only eight points between the duo, and a maximum of 80 points still up for grabs in 2024, the Italian knows his title hopes are very much alive. Like in Slovakia and Romania, he’ll want to lay down his marker on day one with victory.

Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe is one rider who’s been eagerly awaiting this weekend’s racing in Wales. The British rider will be fired up to deliver a memorable result in front of his home crowd. Trailing Garcia by 23 points, you can be sure Holcombe will put it all on the line at round six.

Lying fourth and fifth in the championship fight are the Beta Factory Racing British pairing of Brad Freeman and Nathan Watson. Along with Holcombe, both are highly motivated for what’s considered their home round of the championship. With a chance to impress in front of family and friends, they too will be in the hunt for podium placings.

With a pair of sixth-place results in Slovakia, Australia’s Wil Ruprecht (Sherco) is a rider back on pace. The former Enduro2 World Champion will arrive in Wales brimming with confidence and could deliver an upset result among the top five contenders.

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. With the potential of a wet weekend on the cards, the Spaniard will be hoping to show that her victory in the Italian mud was no fluke.

RIEJU Factory Racing’s Rosie Rowett arrives in Wales now second in the championship. The British rider will be pushing hard to reach the top step of the podium on home soil. After a tough outing in Italy, Team KBS Sherco’s Rachel Gutish will hope to bounce back in Rhayader.

Verona hoping to clinch Enduro2 title in Wales

In Enduro1, Josep Garcia (KTM) tops the billing, with Steve Holcombe (Honda) just six points behind in second. The pair have locked out the top two positions at every round so far in 2024. Zach Pichon (Sherco) holds third, with Team Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse fourth.

As the rider to beat in Enduro2, Andrea Verona (GASGAS) has established a 45-point lead entering round six. If the Italian claims another pair of victories, he will leave Wales as the 2024 FIM Enduro2 World Champion. Nathan Watson (Beta) is second, with Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini 10 points behind in third.

Brad Freeman (Beta) leads the Enduro3 category. The Brit is now 28 points clear of his closest rival, TM MOTO’s Matteo Cavallo in second. CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald is just three points behind Cavallo in third.

Ahlin heads Enduro Junior title chase in Wales

In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship, Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin is edging ever closer to his 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 having struggled through the last two rounds, the Swede will need to regain some of his early-season winning pace to hold off teammate Kevin Cristino, who’s now seven points behind him in third.

Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Manolo Morettini lies fourth, with Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) completing the top five.

Verzeroli champion elect of Enduro Youth

Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Manuel Verzeroli is another rider who could wrap a title up this weekend in Wales if everything goes his way. With the Italian leading Enduro Youth by 42 points, another pair of race wins would clinch him his first world crown.

However, the class has proved super competitive this year. Romain Dagna (Sherco), Alberto Elgari (TM) and Pietro Scardina (Fantic) will all be fighting hard to ensure the championship goes down to the wire at the final round in France.

There is also a stacked National support class with plenty of the top UK riders outside of the World Championship taking part >>CLICK HERE<< to see who is in the National class.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round six at the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales this weekend, August 2-4.

Championship Standings (After round five)

EnduroGP
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…

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