ENDUROGP 2023 – Round 3 FINLAND: Day 1 & 2 – VIDEO Highlights + Results / Ergebnisse + report, gallery – Finally top spot for Garcia!

ENDUROGP Highlights – Day 1 Highlights – Part 1

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ENDUROGP Highlights – Day 1 Highlights – Part 2

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After Friday’s action packed AKRAPOVIC Super Test in Heinola, Finland, today was time to get down to business with the opening day of racing at round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. While the weather was proving ever changeable, the biggest talking point for riders starting their day was the JUST1 Enduro Test. Rugged, gnarly, forest-based and typically Finnish – at over 11 minutes in length for the fastest riders – it was set to prove decisive for all.

Freeman proves flawless in EnduroGP
Chasing his fifth EnduroGP victory on the bounce, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman was quick to attack on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test. Stopping the clock over 15 seconds faster than Steve Holcombe (Beta) in second, Freeman was off to a flying start.

Although losing a little time on the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test won by Holcombe, Freeman duly won the following ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test to extend his lead. A mistake from Holcombe on the final ACERBIS Cross Test offered some added breathing room to Freeman’s lead as he held strong to win the day.

Enjoying the demanding, old school enduro terrain, Holcombe too was pushing hard. Pleased with topping two of the day’s three POLISPORT Extreme Tests, he was rewarded with the runner-up overall result for his efforts.

Behind the leading Beta riders, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia steadily progressed during the day. Needing more time than he hoped to adjust to the terrain, he ended his day with a solid final lap for third overall and will be one the that the leading duo will need to watch for tomorrow.

Coming through for his best result of the season, CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald finally cracked the top five with fourth today in Heinola. The New Zealander enjoyed the ‘home-like’ terrain in Finland.

Closing out the top five, the battle for fifth between GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse went right to the wire. Coming down to the final test, Verona narrowly beat Espinasse by half of a second.

In Enduro1, Josep Garcia (KTM) was top of the pile. The Spaniard took the win, with Theo Espinasse (Beta) in second. Zach Pichon (Sherco) completed the top three. Steve Holcombe (Beta) was best of the Enduro2 riders, winning by over one minute from Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald. With Andrea Verona (GASGAS) third, Holcombe also gained some ground in their title battle. There was no stopping Freeman in Enduro3 as he powered clear to a three-minute margin of victory. The fight for second was much closer, with TM Racing’s Matteo Cavallo holding off Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) by 20 seconds to finish as runner-up.

Daniels on a roll in Women’s Enduro
There was no one to touch Fantic’s Jane Daniels in the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship. Leading from the off, she won the first four special tests. Taking chunks of time off her rivals in the crucial JUST1 Enduro Test, Daniels will prove hard to stop tomorrow.

Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Britain’s Rosie Rowett (Rieju) battled it out for the runner-up result. Neck and neck all day, Gardiner bettered Rowett on the final two tests to get the job done. Sweden’s Hedvig Malm (KTM) and Britain’s Nieve Holmes (Sherco) completed the top five.

Etchells tops Junior Enduro on day one
As ever the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship was closely contested. Continuing his winning form from the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Jed Etchells (Fantic) won the first two tests of the day in Heinola. With two more test wins and remaining inside the top three, Etchells did enough to hold off Sweden’s Albin Norrbin (Fantic) for the win. Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM) joined them on the podium for third.

The Youth Enduro class saw Kevin Cristino (Fantic) top the time sheets for the fifth consecutive race day. The Italian is so far showing no signs of slowing down and added to his win tally in Finland. Leo Joyon (Beta) and Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) rounded out the podium.

Brad Freeman (Beta):
“That’s definitely been one of the most gnarliest enduro days we’ve had for a while. It was a hustle. I felt like I rode within my limits and managed to get through the day with no crashes or major errors. If I pushed more then a risk of a crash was higher, so I think in these conditions that approach was key. Hopefully it goes well again tomorrow!”

Steve Holcombe (Beta):
“It’s been a great day, a proper, old-school style enduro. It’s definitely brought Finland back into the series with a bang for sure! I think I only had one mistake, but otherwise I rode steady, and I feel that was key.”

Josep Garcia (KTM):
“To go third overall and first in Enduro1 is quite a good day. I think my feeling was not the best in the enduro test and that’s where I was losing some time. I’ll debrief and think about how today went and look to being a little stronger for tomorrow.”

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – EnduroGP Day 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E1 Day 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E2 DAY 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E3 DAY 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior DAY 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior 1 DAY 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior 2 DAY 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Youth DAY 1

DEUTSCHE FAHRER DAY 1

• E3: Luca Fischeder E3 (Sherco) auf P5
• Junior: Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) auf P4
• Junior 1:Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) auf P2

ENDUROGP Highlights – Day 2 Highlights – Part 1

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ENDUROGP Highlights – Day 2 Highlights – Part 2

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Day two at the GP of Finland for round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw a new name, finally, top the results sheet. Having won every race so far in 2023, Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman would have to play second best to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia today. Overnight the Spaniard found that little bit extra needed to fight with the leading duo of Freeman and Steve Holcombe (Beta) on day two and duly won.

Showing solid pace in the closing stages of day one, Garcia knew the JUST1 Enduro Test was his weak point. And despite having just completed six hours of racing, he headed back out into the forest that evening to walk the special test again and find some gains.

That tactic paid off and by winning the opening ACERBIS Cross Test the Spaniard was up to speed with his rivals. Freeman attacked on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test to lead over Holcombe and Garcia, but with Garcia answering back with the fastest time on the first POLISPORT Extreme Test, Freeman’s advantage was not as big as he hoped for.

Lap two saw Garcia fastest again on the ACERBIS Cross Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test. But with a crash from Freeman on the JUST1 Enduro Test the tables had turned. Holcombe was now in control of the race lead as they began the third and final lap, with Garcia second and Freeman third.

Again, Garcia topped the JUST1 Enduro Test on lap three to see the lead change once more. But with the JUST1 Enduro Test to follow, the pressure was on. With conditions now at their toughest the Spaniard was incredibly fastest for the first time this weekend. And with enough in hand on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, he played his cards just right to take a memorable win.

For Holcombe it looked like he also had the better of his teammate. However, despite having three seconds in hand entering the final test, it wasn’t to be. A brilliant effort from Freeman on the POLISPORT Extreme Test saw him snatch the runner-up result by just seven tenths of a second.

With the battle for victory taking centre stage in Heinola, it was GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona who came through for fourth, finishing 14 seconds ahead of CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald in fifth.

Garcia, Holcombe and Freeman do the double in Enduro1, Enduro2 and Enduro3
Mirroring yesterday’s results, Garcia, Holcombe, and Freeman again topped their respective Enduro1, Enduro2 and Enduro3 categories. Theo Espinasse (Beta) could be very pleased with his efforts in Finland with the Frenchman taking second in Enduro1. Class rookie Zach Pichon (Sherco) showed good form with third place.

In Enduro 2 it was Verona who this time took the runner-up result to Holcombe, with MacDonald completing the top three. Third yesterday, Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) went one better today in Enduro3 to finish as runner-up to a dominant Freeman. Sherco’s Antoine Magain put in a solid ride for third.

Competitive racing in the Women’s Enduro
The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship was once again all about Jane Daniels (Fantic) with the Brit making it four wins from four starts in 2023. However, her winning margin on day two was halved compared to day one, with RedMoto Honda’s Francesca Norcera putting in a fighting ride for second. The Italian also had a battle on her hands with Sweden’s Hedvig Malm (KTM) chasing her home for third place. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Rosie Rowett (Rieju) completed the top five.

In the GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship the battle for victory between the Fantic pairing of Jed Etchells and Albin Norrbin rumbled on into day two. Day one winner Etchells had a fight on his hands if he wished to make it a double. Norrbin was in a determined mode and the Swede was comfortable in the ‘home-like’ terrain. Fastest in the final four special tests, Norrbin reeled in early leader Etchells and secured his first victory of the season. With Etchells pushed back to second, Max Ahlin (KTM) rounded out the podium.

It seems that Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) has the measure of the Youth Enduro class now. Racing clear for his sixth straight win, Cristino will be aiming to keep this winning momentum rolling in Sweden from next Thursday. Day two saw Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) put in an improved ride to finish in second, while Leo Joyon (Beta) took third.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four in Skovde, Sweden on June 1-3.

Josep Garcia (KTM):
“It feels so good to win in these conditions in Finland. After yesterday I knew I needed to find some more speed in enduro test to close the gap to Brad and Steve. I walked it again last night and for sure it definitely helped. My times were more competitive and with my speed in the cross test I was fighting all day. I gave it my all on the final enduro test and was fastest for the first time this weekend in it to win the day!”

Brad Freeman (Beta):
“I’m a little disappointed with how I rode today. It was just an off day. I had the lead on the first lap, but on the second enduro test I pushed too hard and crashed. I managed to pull enough time back to get second at the end. “

Jane Daniels (Fantic):
“So far it’s been the perfect season, but I’m taking nothing for granted. These conditions favoured me and I really enjoyed the enduro test, it was my sort of going. I’m really happy with how everything went. My team, my bike, it’s been perfect.”

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – EnduroGP DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – EnduroGP

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E1 DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – E1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E2 DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – E2

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – E3 DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – E3

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – Junior

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior 1 DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – Junior 1

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Junior 2 DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – Junior 2

RESULTS / ERGEBNISSE – Youth DAY 2

STANDINGS / TABELLENSTAND – Youth

ENDUROGP Highlights – Akrapovic Super Test

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ENDUROGP FINLAND 2023

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Quelle / Source: EnduroGP