The all-important final round of the 2021 Borilli FIM EnduroGP World Championship promises to bring the series to an exciting close this weekend, October 15-17, as the GP of France looks set to offer up long days of competition and challenging special tests.
At the top of the EnduroGP class Brad Freeman (Beta) carries a 16-point lead into the GP of France, one of only two riders that can win the title. Soaking up the pressure of being the class leader, while also in the enviable position of not needing to win on either day to secure the crown, Freeman will have to decide whether it’s best to attack the French special tests or ease off and simply do enough to get the job done.
Topping the EnduroGP class on both days at the TERRA ÚNICA GP of Portugal, Josep Garcia (KTM) is the other rider that has a mathematical chance of winning the title. Certain to go all out for the win in France, Josep will hope to take the maximum championship points to put himself in the best position possible should anything unfortunate happen to Freeman.
Behind the top-two riders in the EnduroGP class, a number of competitors are looking to end their 2021 campaigns on a high. Andrea Verona (GASGAS), Will Ruprecht (TM), Davide Guarneri (Fantic), Steve Holcombe (Beta), Jaume Betriu (KTM), and Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) will be among those looking for a podium result in Langeac.
Just as in the EnduroGP class, two riders have a mathematical chance of lifting the Enduro1 World Championship title – current class leader Andrea Verona (GASGAS) and fellow Italian Davide Guarneri (Fantic). Separated by 16 points, the two riders have dominated the E1 title fight since round one. Needing just a handful of points to secure the title, Verona can wrap things up on day one, but only if Guarneri places third or lower.
Of the riders chasing possible podium results at the final round of the series, Samuele Bernardini (Honda), Antoine Magain (Sherco), Davide Soreca (Husqvarna), and Matteo Cavallo (TM) will be among those battling hardest.
Claiming a double class victory at the TERRA ÚNICA GP of Portugal, while also seeing early Enduro2 World Championship leader Wil Ruprecht (TM) suffer a technical issue and subsequent loss of 20 championship points, Josep Garcia (KTM) heads into the GP of France 22 points ahead of his Australian rival. Very much on form, the flying Spaniard will no doubt push to secure the E2 title with a day one win.
Comfortably ahead of third placed Steve Holcombe (Beta), Ruprecht will no doubt be looking to bounce back from his disappointment in Portugal and go all out for the E2 class win on both days in France, even if the title looks unlikely. The same goes for outgoing EnduroGP World Champion Steve Holcombe, who after a frustrating season blighted by injury and illness will be wanting to finish on the podium at the last time of asking in 2021.
In the Enduro3 class Brad Freeman (Beta) is just two days away from completing the perfect season. Securing the double class win in Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, and Portugal, the Brit will be looking to add a further 40 points to his championship tally. However, to secure the title Brad needs just eight points from the first day of racing in Langeac.
Jaume Betriu (KTM) sits second in points to Freeman and ready to complete his positive season. McCanney brothers Danny (Sherco) and Jamie (Husqvarna) sit third and fourth respectively in E3 with home rider Antoine Basset (Beta) fifth, all riders that will want to wrap-up 2021 on the podium.
Italian Matteo Pavoni (TM) holds a comfortable 15-point lead in the Enduro Junior World Championship class, with only his TM team-mate Lorenzo Macoritto able to finish ahead of him. With Finn Roni Kytonen (Honda) the only other rider to claim a day win in the Enduro Junior class this season, a final battle between the hard-charging duo of Pavoni and Macoritto is expected on both days of competition.
Welcoming the Enduro Women class back to the 2021 Borilli FIM EnduroGP World Championship, the GP of France will see Laia Sanz (GASGAS) try and put the finishing touches to her impressive season. Only eight points ahead of her closest rival Mireia Badia (GASGAS), who in turn is just one-point ahead of Britain’s Jane Daniels (Fantic), Laia will unquestionably have to stay fast and mistake free if she is to secure yet another Women’s enduro title.
The GP of France begins this evening with the event’s Akrapovic Super Test, ahead of two long days of competition.
Stay tuned to www.enduroGP.com throughout the weekend for championship updates and live results, and to @Enduro_GP on Instagram for event story content.
2021 Borilli FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar
Round 1 GP of Portugal Marco de Canaveses 18-20 June
Round 2 GP of Italy Edolo 25-27 June
Round 3 GP of Estonia Saaremaa 16-18 July
Round 4 GP of Sweden Skövde 22-24 July
Round 5 GP of Portugal Santiago do Cacem 8-10 October
Round 6 GP of France Langeac 15-17 October
