The 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship has drawn to a close with Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe clinching the EnduroGP title. The Brit capped off an exceptional season by also claiming the Enduro2 World Championship to become a nine-time world champion in Santiago do Cacem, Portugal.
Race Report & Images by EnduroGP
There were further celebrations under the Beta awning with Brad Freeman lifting the Enduro3 crown. Day two at the seventh and final round of the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic JET Racing’s Jed Etchells become champion.
- Steve Holcombe crowned EnduroGP World Champion along with Enduro2
- Brad Freeman clinched the Enduro3 world title
- Josep Garcia won the final race of the 2023 season
And just like that the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship was brought to a close. The final day of racing in Santiago do Cacem for the seventh and final round of the season proved exciting as the remainder of this year’s world champions were crowned.
Garcia takes final victory of the season
As day one winner and the freshly crowned Enduro1 World Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was not taking things slowly this morning. On a mission to secure third or better in the EnduroGP standings, the Spaniard blitzed the opening five special tests. In doing so he built up an early lead of 15 seconds over Steve Holcombe, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona six seconds back in third. With RedMoto Honda’s Nathan Watson just one tenth behind Verona, it ensured a four-rider battle for the final podium of the season.
Comfortable in the chewed-up sandy special tests, Garcia pushed on to ultimately secure the victory. The Spaniard had done all he could to bolster his place in the final standings. Behind him though and things were spicy. With Watson putting in his best ride of the season, he was making life difficult for Verona.
Exiting the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, Watson sat in second position. Holcombe was 12 seconds behind, with Verona a further three seconds adrift in fourth. Factor in a charging Jamie McCanney (Fast Eddy Racing), just three seconds behind Verona, and it was all too close to call.
Holcombe claims EnduroGP World Championship
Trying to decide between pushing on for a top-three result or wrapping up the EnduroGP title, Holcombe wisely opted for the latter option in the closing stages of the day. Eventually slipping back to fifth in the closing stages, it was more than enough to see him crowned the 2023 EnduroGP World Champion, along with taking the Enduro2 world title.
Watson would stand firm in second to record his best result of the season. With Verona unable to get the better of the Honda rider, it saw Garcia capitalise on the result and end the season as runner-up to Holcombe in the final EnduroGP standings, beating Verona by just one point. Also enjoying a great end to his year, McCanney ended his day in fourth.
Dramatic end to Enduro3 title fight
With Garcia and Holcombe locking down the Enduro1 and Enduro2 titles respectively, the most nail-biting end to the year was in Enduro3. Brad Freeman began the day with a comfortable looking 12 points over nearest rival Mikael Persson (Husqvarna).
Winning the opening two tests, things looked like business as usual for Freeman, but as the day wore on he was in trouble. Slipping down the order to an eventual sixth place, and with Persson going on to win the day, resulted in many frantically doing the maths for the Enduro3 outcome. In the end, Freeman won the title by just two points and was crowned the Enduro3 World Champion.
Etchells crowned Junior Enduro World Champion
The outcome of the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship was played out between Jed Etchells (Fantic) and Albin Norrbin (Fantic). Etchells began the day with seven points in hand over Norrbin. If Norrbin won, Etchells needed to finish third or better to win his first world championship title.
Topping the opening test, Etchells was off to a great start. But in the second half of the day, Norrbin was on top form. The Swede won the final six tests of the day to take the win. Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Yamaha) was riding well and slipped in between Norrbin and Etchells to place second.
However, with Etchells hanging onto third, it was enough to seal him the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship. Although losing out to Etchells in the overall Junior standings, Norrbin did win the Junior2 title.
With the Youth Enduro and Women’s Enduro titles already wrapped up on day one by Kevin Cristino (Fantic) and Jane Daniels (Fantic) respectively, day two saw Cristino win once again to make it 11 victories in 2023. Making it a clean sweep of victories in the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro Championship, Daniels remained unbeaten in 2023.
Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I was feeling the nerves today. It’s been a while since I was in this position of winning a title and I just wanted to get the job done and not make a mistake. I had a good start to the day then kinda lost my rhythm to the top guys in the middle of the day. But I knew where I needed to be, so I focused on that and brought the title home. Becoming EnduroGP and Enduro2 World Champion in one year is incredible. I never dreamt of being a nine-time world champion, so it’s going to take a while for this moment to sink in.”
Brad Freeman (Beta): “I’m happy to come home with the world title in Enduro3. It’s a little bit bittersweet having lost the EnduroGP lead and trying to ride through injuries. But despite the tough year, I’ve ended it with my ninth world title. I’m ready to rest up now!”
Jed Etchells (Fantic): “I’m over the moon to come away with the Junior title after what’s been an amazing year. My team worked so hard to get this over the line and I can’t thank them enough for helping me become a world champion. We’ll celebrate tonight!”
Results: Round 7, GP of Portugal, Day 2
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:00:43.45; 2. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:01:01.75; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:01:16.86; 4. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 1:01:26.55; 5. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:01:30.57; 6. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:02:25.93; 7. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 1:02:36.68; 8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:43.99; 9. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:02:44.28; 10. Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) 1:02:53.25…
Final Championship Standings
EnduroGP
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 222pts; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 210pts; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 209pts; 4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 169pts; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 143pts; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 122pts; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 108pts; 8. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 103pts; 9. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 97pts; 10. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 86pts…
