The AKRAPOVIC Super Test at round two of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia deliver another masterclass of riding to top proceedings in Valpacos, Portugal.
- Exciting battles in AKRAPOVIC Super Test get round two underway
- Spain’s Josep Garcia once again tops the time sheets
- Britain’s Rosie Rowett clocks the fastest time in Enduro Women
For the second Friday night in a row, Spain’s Josep Garcia proved the rider to beat in the AKRAPOVIC Super Test. The KTM star put on an incredible show alongside rival Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe. Putting in a near-flawless ride, Garcia topped the time sheets by more than one second.
Looking to have the pace of Garcia as they battled head-to-head on the fast and technical course, a couple of errors from Holcombe dropped him behind the flying Spaniard. It was still a hot pace from the Brit that was good enough to slot him into second.
GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona also enjoyed the night’s racing. The Italian was third and just eight hundredths of a second behind Holcombe. With less than two seconds separating Garcia, Holcombe and Verona, tomorrow’s day one of racing in Valpacos is already shaping up to be a scorcher.
JET Zanardo Husqvarna’s Matteo Pavoni was one second behind Verona in fourth, while Fantic Racing Team’s Jed Etchells completed the top five. The 2023 Enduro Junior world champion is showing great form as he steps up into the senior ranks for 2024.
Zach Pichon (Sherco), Brad Freeman (Beta), Samuele Bernardini (Honda) and Nathan Watson (Beta) didn’t get off to the best of starts in Valpacos. All four riders picked up a 10-second penalty for off-track excursions and will have to work hard tomorrow in order to climb their way back up the leaderboard.
In the FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship, it was RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett who topped the AKRAPOVIC Super Test classification in Valpacos. The Brit was also three tenths of a second quicker than Team KBS Sherco’s Rachel Gutish. Rowett’s teammate Mireia Badia carded the third quickest time, placing just seven hundredths of a second behind championship leader Gutish.
French youngster Leo Joyon enjoyed a great night in the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship. The Team Beta Oxmoto rider was fastest in class. Motoclub RS 77’s Enrico Rinaldi was over one second slower than Joyon in second, with Albert Fontova (GASGAS) third.
With the top five Enduro Youth class riders all finishing within one second of each other, this GP of Portugal is already shaping up to be an exciting one. Italy’s Manuel Verzeroli (KTM) set the fastest time ahead of Clauzier twin brothers Clement and Maxime in second and third, respectively.
Highlights
