ENDUROGP of Germany ( Round 7/Zschopau – DAY 1: Video Highlights, report & results!

• Enduro3 title celebrations for Hamish Macdonald on day one in Germany
• Josep Garcia secures dominant EnduroGP victory
• Rachel Gutish claims important Expotrade Women’s Enduro win

The seventh and final round of the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship got underway in earnest, with day one at the POLISPORT GP of Germany delivering excitement, drama and celebration in Zschopau.

Beginning his day with an 18-point lead in the Enduro3 title chase, Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald was focused on getting the job done today. Throughout the day he was locked in a fierce battle with his closest rival and teammate, Antoine Magain. Knowing that by beating Magain would secure him his first senior class world championship, the New Zealander did confidently by taking victory.

Returning to the paddock at the end of the day, Macdonald and the entire Sherco Racing Factory team celebrated in style. As the newly crowned FIM Enduro3 World Champion, Macdonald is now a three-time world champion and the first New Zealander to claim a senior class title.

Garcia at his best on day one in Zschopau

In the fight for EnduroGP honours, eyes were on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia. The championship leader had limped home from the previous round in Italy with multiple injuries, but firmly put them behind him with a statement ride on day one in Zschopau. The Spaniard was masterful in the extremely tough and demanding conditions. From winning the opening GMOTO Enduro Test, he claimed six wins out of a total 13 special tests as he raced his way to a commanding 48-second margin of victory.

Giving chase, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona won the opening ACERBIS Cross Test, but a major error on the second GMOTO Enduro Test from the Italian allowed Garcia to build an advantage that would prove unattainable. Signing off with the fastest time in the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, Verona had to be content with second.

In the fight for third, it was Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini who claimed his third EnduroGP podium result of 2025. Bernardini was involved in an intense battle with Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin, and the Sherco Racing Factory quartet of Macdonald, Magain, Theo Espinasse and Jeremy Sydow for the position.

In the end, Bernardini fended off Macdonald in fourth by seven seconds to finish on the podium, with Magain placing 16 seconds behind Macdonald in fifth. Just one second behind, Sydow took sixth, while Ahlin finished 0.25 seconds behind Sydow after almost one hour and 20 minutes of timed special test racing to finish seventh, proving just how competitive this year’s EnduroGP class is.

Verona takes control of Enduro2 title fight

The Enduro2 category saw a big upset in the fight for this year’s championship between Verona and points leader, TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon. With Verona powering ahead for the win, Pichon suffered his worst result of the season in fifth. Entering the final day of the season, Verona is the new championship leader, with a seven-point advantage over the Frenchman. Ahlin and Espinasse joined Verona on the podium in second and third, respectively.

In the Enduro3 class, we saw the crowning of Macdonald as the 2025 world champion. The New Zealander led home teammate Magain in second to secure his 10th victory of the season. Julien Roussaly made it a Sherco 1-2-3.

Josep Garcia was at his best in the Enduro1 category, winning by one minute and 34 seconds. Bernardini followed him home for second, while an on-form Sydow gave his home crowd plenty to cheer for with third.

Gutish dominates Expotrade Women’s Enduro

Asserting herself as the champion elect of the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish claimed a commanding victory on day one in Zschopau. The American was in her element on the unforgiving terrain, riding clear to a one-minute-and-28-second margin of victory.

Behind her, it was HRC Honda’s Francesca Nocera who ended her day in second. The Italian fared well on the ACERBIS Cross Test, but had no answer for Gutish on the GMOTO Enduro Test. Gutish’s teammate, Rosie Rowett put in a strong ride to claim third, with Justine Martel (Beta) and Marine Lemoine (KTM) rounding out the top five.

The Expotrade Junior Women’s Enduro class saw Lorna Lafont (Sherco) take an important win over her championship rival, Electraction TM MOTO’s Elizabeth Tett in second. Poland’s Maja Kozolowska (KTM) completed the podium in third.

Drama unfolds in Junior Enduro on day one

The Junior Enduro class was a drama-filled day, with Zschopau proving decisive in the championship battle. Arriving at the POLISPORT GP of Germany with a strong 15-point lead, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Kevin Cristino saw that advantage evaporate today with a critical DNF. The Italian’s day went from bad to worse, with Cristino eventually retiring on the final lap.

His loss was rival Axel Semb’s gain. With Cristino in trouble, the Fantic Factory Racing Team rider was on a charge. Fighting his way into the race lead, the young Swede remained out front to claim victory by 23 seconds. That result now sees him move from second into the championship lead by seven points entering the final day of racing.

Ox MOTO Beta’s Leo Joyon was also on top form today, pushing Semb all of the way. The Frenchman finished as runner-up, ahead of Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) in third. Triumph Italia Racing’s Luca Colorio took fourth, with TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Manuel Verzeroli fifth.

Scardina races to Youth Enduro victory

The Youth Enduro class was another fierce battle between the top two title contenders. Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Pietro Scardina pushed hard today to take the win over Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Romain Dagna in second. Dagna still remains in charge of the title chase, but Scardina has cut Dagna’s points lead to 11. TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari ended his day in third.

The 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship concludes with tomorrow’s final day of racing at the Polisport GP of Germany in Zschopau.

Hamish Macdonald (Sherco): “From winning in 2019 in Youth, 2020 in Junior and now, 2025 with the big boys in Enduro3, it’s unbelievable. I can’t complain! I mean, it’s been a lot of hard work to get here to this moment, but we did it. It’s hard to put these emotions into words.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “It was a difficult day, the tests were rough from the second lap, so you had to be 100 per cent concentrated in every single moment. In the end, I was happy with my riding and felt good on the bike.”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “It’s been a long and hard day, but I’m quite happy with my day, winning Enduro2 and finishing second in EnduroGP. I need to find a little bit for tomorrow to match Josep, but I will do my best to push until the end.”

Samuele Bernardini (Honda): “Today went really well. For my first time here, I was nervous about the terrain, but immediately found my rhythm with it and did my best.”

Axel Semb (Fantic): “Today was really good. I gave it my all. I came into the weekend knowing I had to do that and just hoped luck would be on my side. Today it was, but nothing is certain, so I’ll give everything again tomorrow.”

Rachel Gutish (RIEJU): “Today was a fantastic day for me and I really loved it out there. The conditions suited me so well, and it was a tough enduro. I loved the enduro test and felt comfortable there. Tomorrow, my focus is to try and repeat what I have done today.”