Over the weekend, the FIM EnduroGP World Championship 2024 officially kicked off, and the town of Fafe, Portugal, saw the opening round, a race organised by the Motoclub Natureza Alternativa. The race weekend started on Friday with the traditional parade through the streets of the town of Fafe, followed in the evening by the long-awaited Super Test crowded with visitors, giving the official start to the race weekend and the 2024 EnduroGP season.
The first-round track featured a 4.8km Cross Test on hard and occasionally muddy ground, followed by a 6km Enduro Test with hard terrain mixed with stones, and an Extreme Test at the end of the round, which was both spectacular and tricky due to its classic rocks and stones. Three laps were to be completed on each race day for a total of eighteen special tests over the entire weekend.
A very successful start for Nathan Watson who, in his first Beta season, showed great ability and took the win in the E2 Class on both Saturday and Sunday. Also, securing himself the red leader’s plate and 4th position overall in the Championship Standings.
An excellent Saturday for Brad Freeman who, despite not yet having fully recovered from his hand injury, finished first in the E3 Class. Unfortunately, not as positive was Sunday’s race, which ended with the rider withdrawing after only one special stage due to health problems.
Also worth mentioning are Leo Joyon and Antoine Alix, both Team OX Moto riders in the Junior Category, who finished respectively 5th and 10th on Saturday, and 4th and 1st on Sunday. An excellent performance also for the brothers Maxime Clauzier and Clement Clauzier in the Youth category, who finished 2nd and 3rd on Saturday, 3rd and 4th on Sunday.
Nathan Watson: “I am very satisfied with my Beta debut and the feeling with the bike that allows me to show my best. A very good start to the season which we will try to confirm over the next few races. We have been doing a great job with the team over the last few months and I have been training hard to get ready for the start of the season, hopefully we will continue to reap the rewards.”
Brad Freeman: “Both on Friday and Saturday I was very satisfied with my performances and I was convinced that I would have finished this first weekend in a positive way despite the hand injury, but unfortunately my physical condition on Sunday did not allow me to continue the race and achieve the goals I had hoped for. Now a few days of rest and then focus on the next GP here in Portugal.”
The Beta Factory Enduro Team has now ended the first stage and is heading towards Valpagos, also in Portugal, for the second round of the Enduro GP, next weekend on 13th and 14th April.
Words and Images by Beta
