Garcia Holds EnduroGP Points Lead

WORDS: EnduroGP

PHOTOS: Pole Position Communications

After waiting 15 years since its last visit to Wales, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship roared into life for day one of racing at the FORSITESERVICES GP of Wales in Rhayader. With spectators lining the special tests from early morning, there was an air of excitement and anticipation to see if they would be rewarded with a British winner come the end of the day.

With the opening ACERBIS Cross Test located just metres from the start ramp, riders were immediately thrown into the deep end of racing. Mixing a motocross circuit with fast, flowing grass tracks, it was a case of maximum attack straight away.

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman came out swinging and duly topped the ACERBIS Cross Test. But only just. Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe was only one second behind in second, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona a further four tenths of a second back in third.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia clocked the fourth quickest time to hold a one second lead as they headed across the Welsh valley to Saintswell to take on both the MAXXIS Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test.

Spurred on by a wealth of home support, Holcombe was on a mission. Winning both special tests, he ended lap one of three with a seven-second lead over Garcia. Verona sat third, with Freeman now up to fourth and closing in.

Continuing his run of form from round five in Slovakia, CH Racing Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht was up to fifth, with both Nathan Watson (Beta) and Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) hot on his heels in sixth and seventh...

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