Marking the mid-way point of the 2022 series, the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues at pace this weekend with round four taking competitors to Coimbra, Portugal. Following the action-packed racing in Italy at round three, competitors get straight back to business this weekend as TM Racing’s Wil Ruprecht looks to further extend his EnduroGP championship lead.
The GP of Portugal also sees the return of the Magnorange FIM Women Enduro World Championship where Fantic’s Jane Daniels is aiming to continue her run of unbeaten form in 2022.
- Portugal ready for round four of the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship • Australia’s Wil Ruprecht (TM) arrives in Coimbra as EnduroGP points leader
- Sherco mounted Frenchman Zach Pichon starts as favourite in Enduro Junior
- The Magnorange FIM Women Enduro World Championship class returns
With little time to celebrate (or dwell on!) results earned at last weekend’s GP of Italy, it’s all systems go for the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship as the series makes a return visit to Portugal for the fourth stop of the season. After an exciting Portuguese race in Peso da Régua back in May for round two, this time it’s the turn of host towns Coimbra and Souselas to play centre stage to the world’s best enduro riders.
Ruprecht looks to extend EnduroGP lead
Just days ago in Italy we were treated to a duel of epic proportions between TM Racing’s Wil Ruprecht and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia. Spaniard Garcia was on flying form, taking victory on Saturday, but it was Ruprecht who ruled the roost on Sunday. The pair were virtually neck-and-neck until a crash from Garcia gave Ruprecht an open door through which he raced to overall victory. As the series hits the mid-way point, Ruprecht will be looking to extend his six-point lead in the EnduroGP standings.
Although gritting his teeth and finishing the day, a 16th place result from Garcia ultimately put a serious dent in the Spaniard’s title hopes. Undergoing surgery on a broken thumb on Tuesday, Garcia will miss this weekend’s GP of Portugal. We hope to see the hard-charging KTM rider back racing soon.
Although unable to claim the home victory he’d hoped for, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona delivered a quiet-but-solid ride in Italy. The Italian is now second in the overall standings and only six points adrift of EnduroGP classmate Ruprecht. Expect Verona to go all out in Coimbra and bring the fight to Ruprecht.
Outside the top three, the battle for the places inside the top five is tight between Honda Racing Redmoto World Enduro teammates Thomas Oldrati and Nathan Watson. With one point separating them, Oldrati holds the upper hand over Watson, but it’s the Brit who looks to have the momentum. Earning his best result of the season to date in Italy, Watson claimed his first podium of 2022 and will be hunting down a place inside that EnduroGP top three in Portugal.
Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman holds down sixth overall in what’s proving to be a frustrating and injury-hit season for the defending EnduroGP champ. Fantic’s Daniel Milner and Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson sit seventh and eighth respectively, but naturally have their sights set on getting ahead of the struggling Freeman.
In Enduro1 there’s no change at the top of the standings with Verona holding a clear lead over Oldrati who’s comfortably ahead of third-placed Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing). Ruprecht has built an 11-point lead in Enduro2 over Garcia in second, with Watson sitting third. Arguably the most competitive it’s ever been, Enduro3 saw the GP of Italy end with Persson as the new championship leader. A double win has put the Swede out front, with Freeman seven points behind in second. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) is a further five points adrift in third.
Women Enduro is back in action in Portugal
Absent in Italy, the Magnorange FIM Women Enduro World Championship makes a welcome return to the paddock in Portugal. We’ve seen Fantic’s Jane Daniels dominate proceedings in Spain and Portugal and she will arrive in Portugal eager to remain unbeaten.
With four second-place results, Rieju’s Mireia Badia is second overall but must be growing tired of missing out on that victory. Expect her to take the fight to Daniels. Ready to capitalise on another home race, Portugal’s Rita Vieira (Yamaha) sits third in the standings.
Pichon unstoppable so far in Enduro Junior
Although a 2022 enduro rookie, Team Sherco CH Racing’s Zachary Pichon has made the Enduro Junior class his own. The Frenchman has claimed six wins from six starts and is looking hard pushed to be stopped. Behind him, it appears to be wide open with five points separating second, third, and fourth. Luc Fargier (Beta) has been super solid and sits second to Pichon. Fantic’s Jed Etchells is just one point behind in third, while Roni Kytonen (Honda) holds fourth.
Never dipping outside of the top two so far in 2022, Fantic’s Harry Edmondson leads the Enduro Youth standings after round three. Teammate Kevin Cristino is second, with TM Racing’s Samuli Puhakainen in third.
The WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four in Coimbra- Souselas, Portugal on July 1-3.
WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship Standings (After round 3)
EnduroGP
- Wil Ruprecht (TM Racing) 105pts
- Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 99pts
- Josep Garcia (KTM) 87pts
- Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 68pts
- Nathan Watson (Honda) 67pts
- Brad Freeman (Beta) 38pts
- Daniel Milner (Fantic) 37pts
- Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 31pts
- Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 30pts
- Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 30pts
Enduro Junior
- Zachary Pichon (Sherco) 120pts
- Luc Fargier (Beta) 87pts
- Jed Etchells (Fantic) 86pts
- Roni Kytonen (Honda) 82pts
- Max Ahlin (Beta) 60pts
Enduro Youth
- Harry Edmondson (Fantic) 108pts
- Kevin Cristino (Fantic) 87pts
- Samuli Puhakainen (TM Racing) 74pts
- Leo Joyon (Beta) 71pts
- Albert Fontova (KTM) 66pts
Enduro Women
- Jane Daniels (Fantic) 80pts
- Mireia Badia (Rieju) 68pts
- Rita Vieira (Yamaha) 58pts
- Rosie Rowett (KTM) 52pts
- Elodie Chaplot (Sherco) 42pts
2022 WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar
Round 1 – ACERBIS GP of Spain – Lalin – 6-8 May
Round 2 – GP of Portugal – Peso da Régua – Armamar – 13-15 May
Round 3 – GP of Italy – Carpineti – 24-26 June
Round 4 – GP of Portugal – Coimbra – Souselas – 1-3 July
Round 5 – GP of Slovakia – Gelnica – 29-31 July
Round 6 – GP of Hungary – Zalaegerszeg – 5-7 August
Round 7 – GP of Germany – Zschopau – 14-16 October
Underlining the importance of the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship, the series continues to receive support from many of the offroad motorcycle industry’s biggest names. ACERBIS, AKRAPOVIC, Polisport, JUST1, MAXXIS Tires, KTM, GASGAS, and Husqvarna Motorcycles all take a front row seat.
Putting their weight behind the championship, WPTGlobal, AMV, PRAMAC, CROSSPRO, WP, Magnorange, pgm, GALFER, Milwaukee, Quinta do Mourao, Quinta da Figueirinha, Galati, Paulo Duarte Group, Race For Good (our social responsibility partner), Segafredo, and more, are also lending their support to the 2022 WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship.
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.
