One month after the last Italian round in Venezia Giulia, this weekend the Assoluti d’Italia made a stop at San Martino sulla Marrucina, a few kilometres from the Majella National Park, near Chieti, to run the fifth round of the 2023 season of the top Italian enduro Championship in a single race on Sunday 23rd April.
Report and Images by Betamotor
The Motoclub DG, assisted by Track Inspector Mario Rinaldi, designed a high-level race course for the occasion, with a total length of 49 km, divided into four very technical and treacherous special tests to be repeated four times, for a total of sixteen tests. To these was then added, with a completely new formula, the ‘Prologue’ special stage disputed by the riders on the afternoon of Saturday 22/4, and valid as a special test for the following race day and as an exciting anticipation for the numerous spectators present.
The race day was organised as follows: after the start from the paddock, and a transfer of 10 km, the first test was characterised by an Extreme Test on a 2.7 km natural track inside a canal characterised by gravel, stones and boulders, followed by the Prologo special test in a field a short distance away, with a total length of 2.5 km.
After the first two special tests on the program, the riders in the race had to contend with the penultimate special test, a Cross Test at a distance of 1 km from the Paddock, developed within a field of grass for a total of 4 km, which was followed at the end of the lap by the last of the four special tests, a 5 km Enduro Test within a beautiful undergrowth.
Steve Holcombe rode an incredible race at San Martino sulla Marrucina, going on to win the Foreigners Class and the prestigious Overall. The British rider recorded several excellent times in all special tests, returning to the top step of the podium in the Italian Enduro Championship after a long period.
Brad Freeman also had an excellent race, finishing fourth in the Overall and second in the hard-fought Foreigners Class.
The British rider, on his Beta Factory RR 300 2T, was weighed down by a mistake in the second Cross Test, in which he lost several seconds, compromising the outcome of the race.
Brad Freeman, despite finishing fourth on the day is still the leader of the Overall Classification.
Both riders showed an excellent condition and a very good feeling with their bikes.
After the fifth round of the 2023 season, the Italian Enduro Championship will stop for over a month to make way for the three rounds of the EnduroGP World Championship to be held in Spain, Finland and Sweden, before returning on 18/06 in Città della Pieve (PG) for the sixth round of the 2023 season.
STEVE HOLCOMBE
“A very good day’s racing and a very good feeling with the bike, which is improving from race to race. I am happy to have won both the Foreigners class and the Overall. Now maximum concentration for the Spanish GP.”
BRAD FREEMAN
“I am not fully satisfied with my race here in San Martino sulla Marrucina. We have to work to arrive prepared for the Spanish GP but I am sure we will succeed.”
