The GP of Portugal marked an incredible start to the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Host city Fafe delivered an outstanding event as the world’s best enduro riders got down to business for round one.
In a weekend where so much happened, both on and off the special tests, here are just some of the major talking points from Fafe…
Triumph officially arrive in EnduroGP!
Triumph Motorcycles are the new crew in town for the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Celebrating their official arrival to the championship in style, Friday saw the British manufacturer showcase their all-new enduro offerings with SuperEnduro vice-champion Jonny Walker and five-time world champion Ivan Cervantes enjoying a parade lap of the Akrapovič Super Test. Triumph Factory Racing Enduro Team then went on to claim their first-ever podium results with Mikael Persson placing third in Enduro1 each day. With Triumph’s official factory team presence, plus Triumph Italia Racing and Johansson MPE, it’s fantastic to see the EnduroGP paddock expand for 2025.
Let the good times roll!
At the GP of Portugal, we saw Kawasaki return to the top of a podium in the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Armed with the all-new KX300X, MGR Motocross Team’s Kyron Bacon claimed victory both days in the Junior class. Following his wildcard double win in 2024, Tasmania’s Bacon is in the championship full-time for 2025. Already proving an incredible talent, he’s now won four of the six EnduroGP race days he has started and is an exciting addition to the Junior category. We hope to see Kawasaki become a regular podium fixture this year!
New era as Junior Women class introduced
The GP of Portugal saw the newly introduced Expotrade FIM Junior Women’s Enduro World Cup get underway. For riders under the age of 23, the class offers a much-needed platform for them to compete in world-level enduro. Electraction TM UK’s Elizabeth Tett created a little piece of enduro history in Fafe by winning both days of racing.
EnduroGP airs on LIVE TV!
The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship garnered extensive media and television coverage during the GP of Portugal. The championship also aired on one of Portugal’s leading broadcasters, SPORT TV. Prime Stadium Eventos’ Francisco Pita and Portugal’s top female rider Joana Gonçalves joined SPORT TV, following the GP of Portugal, to highlight the success of the event and the passion within enduro, while boosting the visibility of EnduroGP to a wider audience.
Sherco lockout Enduro3
Sherco Racing Factory were leaders of the pack in Enduro3. With Hamish Macdonald securing a double win, they also locked out the podium not once, but twice in Portugal. A sea of blue by the French manufacturer on the podium was an incredible sight to see.
FIM Ride Green success in Fafe
Naturally, the focus of attention at round one surrounded the race results, but there were many other activities taking place. As part of the FIM Ride Green initiatives, promoters Prime Stadium Eventos and event organisers Natureza Alternativa organised many events from Thursday through Sunday. Highlights included FIM Ride Green ambassador Alex Salvini and Portugal’s top female rider Joana Gonçalves meeting with school children for an environmental awareness session which included planting trees in the local park, while children from the Fafe municipalities did the drawings included on the trophies and helped to present trophies during the podium celebrations.
Injuries force Freeman and Holcombe to the sidelines
Unfortunately, round one was not without its injuries. In Fafe, we saw the exit of the championship’s most-decorated riders, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe. Arriving in Portugal with a knee injury, FIM Enduro3 World Champion Brad Freeman raced to fourth in class on Saturday but chose not to start on Sunday. He’ll now miss the remainder of the season to recover. Midway through Sunday, Holcombe led by 20 seconds, but a misplaced footing in a deep rut on the GMoto Enduro Test saw him immediately retire. He’s since announced a torn ACL in his knee and will undergo surgery to recover. We wish our two champions well and look forward to seeing them return fit and healthy.
GMoto Enduro Test
GMoto provided a welcome new look to the Enduro Test in Fafe with their branded start and finish arches. The test itself was laid out across picturesque rolling hills, weaving among numerous boulder formations. As the weekend progressed, the soft terrain was chewed up, providing a punishing test of skill and physical fitness to all. Come Sunday evening, many riders commented that it was one of the most beaten-up special tests they’d ever raced.
Lucky-ish with the weather!
The GP of Portugal saw some unpredictable weather sweep through Fafe and its surroundings. A cold spell was frequented by numerous heavy showers. Far from dry and dusty, Saturday’s opening day of racing provided plenty of mud challenges and marked a tough outing for riders on the super-slippery Polisport Extreme Test. Thankfully, riders were treated a relatively dry day on Sunday. Unfortunately, nobody in the EnduroGP class escaped a soaking from the torrential rain that fell on Friday night as they began the Akrapovič Super Test.
EnduroGP joins forces with EEC
The opening round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Fafe also welcomed the addition of round two of the FIM Europe Enduro European Championship. Creating a unique and action-packed weekend of enduro racing, this landmark event offered an elevated experience for riders and teams in the European series, while showcasing the synergy between the two championships. With almost 90 additional competitors present, spectators in Fafe enjoyed a bumper weekend of enduro.
Words and Images by EnduroGP
