ENDUROGP of Italy ( Round 6) – DAY 1: Video Highlights, report & results!

The opening day of racing at round six of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Darfo Boario Terme, Italy, saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia beat TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon by three seconds to claim victory.

• Unsettled weather ensures challenging day one at POLISPORT GP of Italy
• Close battles across all classes in Darfo Boario Terme
• EnduroGP victory for Josep Garcia

Saturday marked the first full day of racing for competitors at round six of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Darfo Boario Terme, Italy. Four laps of the course, with a reduced number of three special tests per lap instead of an originally planned four, due to heavy overnight rain, ensured a demanding and closely fought day of racing for all.

After his victory in Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, home hero GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona was focused on keeping that momentum rolling into Saturday. However, faced with a determined Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia and TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon, the Italian knew he would have a tough battle on his hands if he wished to claim the top step of the EnduroGP podium.

From the off, Garcia and Pichon had the edge on Verona, with the duo placing first and second on the opening GMOTO Enduro Test in that order. Verona slotted into third, but was already five seconds behind leader Garcia.

Exiting the first ACERBIS Cross Test, Verona had regrouped. Finishing just 0.04 seconds behind Garcia in the test, he had moved his way back up to second, with Pichon slipping to third. Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo held fourth, with Sherco Racing Factory’s Antoine Magain less than one second back in fifth.

Throughout lap two, Garcia began to build a lead out front. Little by little, he extended his advantage to almost 27 seconds. Pichon and Verona were virtually tied on time for second, with the Frenchman heading Verona by just half of a second. Magain was now fourth, with Lesiardo fifth and fending off Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald in sixth.

With rain continuing to fall, conditions deteriorated, leaving the special tests slippery and unpredictable. After looking strong in the lead, Garcia fell foul of the conditions on the GMOTO Enduro Test as they ended lap three. With Garcia’s advantage reduced to 10 seconds, Pichon sensed an opportunity to beat the Spaniard as they began a shortened fourth and final lap.

Winning the GMOTO Enduro Test to open lap four, Pichon cut Garcia’s lead down to nine seconds. With just the ACERBIS Cross Test left to play, it was Lesiardo who clocked the fastest time over Verona, with Pichon in third. Garcia could only place 10th, but it was enough to seal him the EnduroGP victory by three seconds over Pichon in second.

Verona completed the top three. A superb ride by Magain saw him come home in fourth. Spurred on by topping the final ACERBIS Cross Test, Lesiardo rounded out the top five.

Magain secures victory in Enduro3

The Enduro3 class saw Magain race to his second victory of the season on day one of the POLISPORT GP of Italy. Magain led home his teammate Macdonald in second, with TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Leo Le Quere third.

In the Enduro1 class, it was business as usual for Garcia, with the Spaniard winning the category for the 11th time this season. Eager to impress on home soil, Lesiardo took an excellent runner-up result, ahead of Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini in third.

The battle for Enduro2 honours saw points leader Pichon claim an important victory on day one. The Frenchman’s win sees him extend his championship lead back out to seven points over Verona, who finished second today. Sherco Racing Factory’s Theo Espinasse ended his day in third.

Cristino claims home win in Junior Enduro

Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Kevin Cristino once again proved unstoppable in the Junior Enduro class. On home soil, the Italian raced to victory on day one in Darfo Boario Terme. After a strong morning by Thibault Giraudon (Sherco), who led early on, Cristino overhauled the Frenchman to secure the win by 10 seconds.

With Giraudon second, Ox Moto Beta’s Leo Joyon rounded out the podium in third. Joyon won the final ACERBIS Cross Test to finish just five seconds behind his fellow Frenchman. Clement Clauzier (Beta) and Manuel Verzeroli (TM MOTO) rounded out the top five.

Scardina takes the win in Youth Enduro

The Youth Enduro class resulted in a home win for Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Pietro Scardina, leading home an Italian 1-2-3. TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari took second, with Scardina’s teammate Riccardo Pasquato third. RFME Spain National Team’s Yago Dominguez and Valentin Mersin (Fantic) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “It was a really good day of racing. I felt good and was riding perfectly. On the last Enduro Test on lap three, I had a big crash on the stones on downhill. After that I needed to manage the gap until the end. But all is good and I will go again tomorrow, 100 per cent!”

Zach Pichon (TM MOTO): “It was close to Josep today. My day was good, only some mistakes early on. I made my way back up. In the end, it was a good day, I’m just a little disappointed to finish so close to Josep. We’ll try again tomorrow!”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “It wasn’t a perfect day for me. I started well, but made some mistakes. I had a big crash on the third last test, which cost me a lot of time.”