On Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March, the third and fourth rounds of the top Italian enduro Championship 2023 were held in Grado (GO), a historic tourist and thermal town between Trieste and Venice.
A race weekend marked by a warm and sunny weather, with a large audience of fans who flocked to the special stages, characterised by not particularly treacherous but very fast paths that were impeccably designed by the Motoclub Grado.
On Saturday there were four tests that the Beta Factory riders had to repeat four times, for a total of sixteen special tests on the first day, while on Sunday there were three complete laps and only two specials on the fourth and final passage of the weekend.
The figure-of-eight race course was about 30km in length and included a 3km Cross Test mostly on hard ground, followed by a 2.5km fully artificial Extreme Test, at the end of which the riders had to return to the paddock for assistance, and then a 4km flat Enduro Test on hard, rocky and dusty ground, followed by the most spectacular of the four special stages on the programme, a Cross Test of almost 4km on the beach at Grado.
Brad Freeman demonstrated his top form in Grado as well. On Saturday the British rider ran a beautiful race recording four best Overall times. At the end of a long day’s racing Brad finished in second position, less than 15 seconds behind the leader. On the following day, the factory rider, on his Beta RR 300 2T Factory bike, rode a perfect race, recording an incredible second lap that earned him the fastest time Overall and the win in both the Overall and Foreigner Classes.
Steve Holcombe also had an excellent weekend, finishing third Overall on both race days. The British rider made a very cautious start on the first day of the race, losing several seconds, but then improved his pace kilometre after kilometre, recovering several positions. On the last special stage, Steve recorded the best Overall time, which put him in third position.
On the second day of competition, Steve Holcombe ran a steady and consistent race, finishing third Overall and second in the Foreigner Class.
Brad Freeman therefore remains leader of the Overall standings, with Steve Holcombe following him in third position.
The Italian Enduro Championship will now stop for over a month, before returning on 23 April with a one-day race at Fara Filiorum Petri (CH), for round five of the 2023 season.
BRAD FREEMAN
I also had a good race here in Grado, always fighting for first position. I am happy with the feeling with the bike and my speed. Now we have to concentrate for the Enduro World Championship premiere at the end of the month in Arma di Taggia (Italy).
STEVE HOLCOMBE
I am happy with the result, here in Grado I have not yet pushed to the maximum because I am trying some different new solutions to the bike and I must say that with the team we are working in the right direction to arrive prepared for the first round of the World Championship.
