The final round of the Enduro GP World Championship took place over the past weekend of 6-8 October in Santiago Do Cacem, a tiny town in southern Portugal, for the seventh and final round of the 2023 season.
Words and Images by Betamotor
The Motoclub Motorsport St. Andrè, supported by Track Inspector Maurizio Micheluz, organised a high-level race with a course of over 60 km to be repeated three times on both race days. The test was structured in four different special stages and a Super Test on Friday evening, which played a key role in making this last GP both spectacular and adrenaline-pumping. The special tests included: a challenging 1.2 km long extreme test on hard ground mixed with rocks; a very fast Enduro Test 1 on sandy ground; a 4.2 km long Cross Test on hard, dusty ground; and a second 2.4 km long Enduro Test on hard, dusty ground set beneath a castle.
All Beta riders finished the 2023 season in the best possible way!
Steve Holcombe is the new Enduro GP and E2 class World Champion for the ninth time in his career. The weekend for the British rider was very exciting and after a rather complicated start due to a few mistakes and crashes, on Sunday the party broke out under the Beta tent for Steve’s two world titles.
Also on Sunday, Brad Freeman celebrated his World Title in the E3 class. The rider arrived in Portugal not in the best of physical condition but clenched his teeth and finished the season in the best possible way.
In addition to the world titles won by Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman, the Italian manufacturer Betamotor also won the Constructors’ title for the 2023 season.
Also worthy of mention are the great performances of Team Beta OXMOTO Officiel France with Leo Joyon in 2nd position of the World Championship in the Youth Category and Theophile Espinasse in 2nd position of the Championship in the E1 Category.
Steve Holcombe:
“I am extremely happy because the past few seasons have been riddled with injuries while this year I started from the first GP strong and resolute to win these two world titles at the end of the season.”
Brad Freeman:
“It was a somewhat complicate season, I started off very strong winning a few races but then the injury happened and the break during the summer was not very helpful. Anyway, we ended with a victory in the E3 class.”
The GP of Portugal in Santiago do Cacem brought the 2023 Enduro GP World Championship season to an end. After the winter break, teams and riders will be back on track in Spain in April for the first race of the 2024 season.
