ENDUROGP of PORTUGAL ( Round 5) – Day 2: Video Highlights, report & results!

Day 2 – Part 1

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The second day of racing at the GP of Portugal in Vila de Rei for round five of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw all the main title contenders battle it out for victory. With some close racing on rough and rutted dusty tracks, remaining mistake-free was key for success.

Confidence-boosting EnduroGP win for Verona

In the EnduroGP class, the battle for top honours was once again fierce between the main title contenders. Championship leader, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was eager to add a second win in EnduroGP to his weekend’s tally, but faced a highly-motivated duo of TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon and GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona.

Runner-up on day one, Pichon was fastest out of the blocks on day two, topping the opening ACERBIS Cross Test by 1.82 seconds over Garcia, with Verona just a further 0.33 seconds behind in third. On the following POLISPORT Extreme Test, all three riders were separated by less than one second, with Garcia this time proving quickest.

Closing out lap one with the GMOTO Enduro Test, Pichon responded, setting the fastest time by just 0.28 seconds after the nine-minute-plus special test. Entering lap two, there was little to split Pichon, Garcia and Verona. Pichon led, but only by 1.21 seconds over Garcia in second, with Verona less than four seconds back in third.

A decisive run through what proved to be the final GMOTO Enduro Test of a shortened day two ultimately gave Verona a much-deserved win. Topping the time sheets by over six seconds, while capitalising on mistakes by Garcia and Pichon, the EnduroGP win was his. With Garcia claiming second and Pichon third, the championship standings now see Garcia lead Verona by 29-points heading into the penultimate round in Italy.

Behind the leading trio, day two was another strong ride for Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald. Second quickest on the final GMOTO Enduro Test, Macdonald secured fourth overall. Triumph Factory Racing Enduro Team’s Mikael Persson improved strongly on his day one result of 12th to finish fifth on day two. Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo finished just two seconds behind in sixth.

Garcia remains unbeaten in Enduro1

Keeping his Enduro1 winning streak alive, Garcia took victory on day two. Persson held off Lesiardo by two seconds to secure the runner-up result.

Making it two wins in Portugal, Verona topped the Enduro2 class on day two. Pichon had to settle for the runner-up result, while seeing his points lead reduced to four. Sherco Racing Factory’s Theo Espinasse completed the podium in third.

Capping off a strong weekend in Portugal, Macdonald won the Enduro3 category. His teammate, Antoine Magain, finished second, with Julien Roussaly taking third to ensure a Sherco 1-2-3.

Nocera wins Expotrade Women’s Enduro on day two

The Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship saw HRC Honda’s Francesca Nocera return to the top step of the podium on day two in Vila de Rei. The Italian had her championship lead evaporate yesterday with a retirement, but today she meant business. Racing ahead to win by one-minute-and-12-seconds, she could be pleased with her performance.

Behind her, it was the RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish and Vilde Holt (KTM) fighting it out for the remainder of the podium. Holt was enjoying her best performance of the season so far. With a win on the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test, she pushed Gutish all the way. In the end, only six seconds separated the duo, with Gutish taking second and Holt third. RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett finished fourth, with Marine Lemoine (KTM) fifth.

The Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup saw Electraction TM MOTO’s Elizabeth Tett take the win by 10 seconds over day one winner, Lorna Lafont (Sherco). Delun Davies (TM MOTO) completed the top three.

Cristino takes Junior Enduro championship lead with day two win

In the Junior Enduro category, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Kevin Cristino rode clear to claim his second victory of the weekend and fourth consecutive win. Thanks to his incredible run of form, the Italian has moved into the championship lead.

Despite a strong start from OX MOTO Beta’s Leo Joyon this morning, Cristino worked his way into the lead at the end of lap one. With the Italian’s pace high, Cristino was untouchable on the final lap and won by 21 seconds.

Locked in a fight for the runner-up with Thibault Giraudon (Sherco), Joyon was able to win the final GMOTO Enduro Test to secure second, with Giraudon less than two seconds behind in third.

Winning result for Elgari in Youth Enduro

The Youth Enduro class saw TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari claim three of the day’s six special tests to win by 10 seconds. Elgari led home day one winner Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Romain Dagna in second.

Although fastest in both of the POLISPORT Extreme Tests, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Pietro Scardina didn’t have the measure of his two classmates in the GMOTO Enduro Test to fully challenge for the win. Ending his day 14 seconds behind Dagna, he completed the podium in third. Scardina’s teammate Riccardo Pasquato finished four seconds behind in fourth, with Chile’s Jose Ramdohr (Fantic) rounding out the top five.

Finally, day two of the GP of Portugal was shortened in length due to the event organisers adhering to local authority safety protocols regarding an isolated forest fire in the region. Immediately extinguished, promoters Prime Stadium Eventos thank everyone involved for their understanding.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship now looks forward to the sixth and penultimate round of the season at the POLISPORT GP of Italy in Darfo Boario Terme, on 26-28 September.

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “I’m super happy to win EnduroGP and Enduro2. I felt really good on the bike today, and throughout the weekend. Many thanks to the team for all their hard work. Now I can look forward to my home race in two weeks.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “It was a good fight today, but it’s second for me in EnduroGP, with the win in Enduro1. I am happy with my riding, I just had too many mistakes in the second Enduro Test. After this race, it’s time to rest a little and come back ready for the Italian GP.”

Zach Pichon (TM MOTO): “The day started well and I was leading on lap one. But then I began to make some mistakes. I tried to do my best, but it was not enough. It’s not my best GP, but I have taken some good points.”

Francesca Nocera (Honda): “After yesterday’s disappointment, I woke up today and told myself I was going to win. I managed to do that by more than one minute, which is great. I was able to push hard all day and I was happy with my pace. I’m looking forward to going to the last round now in a good place.”

Kevin Cristino (Fantic): “I’m really happy with my weekend. We started out with a small issue, but fixed it very quickly. Yesterday, I was able to win and take a lot of points back in the championship. Today was the same, I managed to lead for all of the day. We did a great job this weekend and now we are leading the championship, which is super important.”

Alberto Elgari (TM MOTO): “I had a good feeling all day and started fast from the beginning. It’s nice to have the win here. I’m looking forward to the next race now.”

Day 2 – Part 2

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GP – Day 2

GP – Standing

E1 – Day 2

E1 – Standing

E2 – Day 2

E2 – Standing

E3 – Day 2

E3 – Standing

Junior – Day 2

Junior – Standing

Youth – Day 2

Youth – Standing

Women – Day 2

Women – Standing

Quelle / Source / Bilder / Pictures: EnduroGP