Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe has enjoyed a winning start to his 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship with visits to the podium on both days of round one in Portugal. The nine-time world champion, and defending EnduroGP champ, won both the EnduroGP and Enduro1 classes on day two.
• Steve kicks off 2024 season with EnduroGP victory
• Brit claims his first-ever win in Enduro1 to take over the points lead
• Round two takes place next weekend in Valpacos, Portugal
The opening round of the 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship was one Steve Holcombe was looking forward to for a long time. With a big switch up of his program during the offseason, joining the Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team and a move into the Enduro1 category for the first time in his professional career, it was an understatement to say Steve was keen to get going in Portugal.
Feeling good about the special tests in Fafe, and with the weather wet and overcast, Steve quickly settled into the sharp end of the results on his Honda-RedMoto CRF 250RX Enduro on day one. Clocking in consistent top-three times on the fast and open cross and enduro tests, Steve won the third and final extreme test to end day one third overall in EnduroGP and second in Enduro1.
With more to give on day two, Steve took the race lead at the end of the first test. Leading the way as they closed out lap one of three, he was enjoying himself on track. Putting his Honda-RedMoto CRF 250RX Enduro exactly where he wanted to on the challenging special tests, he held firm out front as the battle for victory intensified. Utilising all his experience, Steve won the final test of the event to claim both the EnduroGP and Enduro1 victory on day two.
The Enduro1 win now sees him take an early lead in the standings heading into round two of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship next weekend in Valpacos, Portugal.
Steve Holcombe: “I’m blown away by how well this weekend has gone. Winning both EnduroGP and Enduro1 is the icing on the cake! Switching to the Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team and the Honda-RedMoto CRF 250RX Enduro was a big move for me. I’d never raced a 250F before in EnduroGP, so I wasn’t expecting to win straight away, but I obviously wanted to! Day one conditions were a little challenging in the wet, but I was in the hunt. After finishing third in EnduroGP I spent Saturday evening going back over things and with my team we figured out some areas to improve on. On Sunday I couldn’t ask for more. I felt great on the bike and could put it exactly where I wanted to on the track. Even towards the end of the day when the tests were destroyed, the Honda was so nice to ride. These results are a great confidence boost heading into round two next weekend.”
Results – 2024 FIM EnduroGP World Championship – Round 1, Portugal
EnduroGP – Day 1
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 56:17.60; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 56:49.70; 3. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 56:50.87…
EnduroGP – Day 2
1. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 53:32.40; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 53:36.79; 3. Nathan Watson (Beta) 53:41.95…
Enduro1 – Day 1
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 56:17.60; 2. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 56:50.87; 3. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 58:07.57…
Enduro1 – Day 2
1. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 53:32.40; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 53:36.79; 3. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 54:52.68…
Championship Standings (After round 1)
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 37pts; 2. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 35pts; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 30pts…
Enduro1
1. Steve Holcombe (GBR) Honda, 37pts; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 37pts; 3. Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) 28pts…
Words and Images by Steve Holcombe PR
