It’s full steam ahead for the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship this week as the series travels to Slovakia and the first of two back-to-back events that mark the fifth and sixth rounds of what’s proving to be an incredibly exciting championship battle. As the series makes a long-awaited return to Slovakia it’s GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona who’ll start with the EnduroGP leader’s plate this weekend in Gelnica.
Although suffering his first defeat of 2022 last time out in Portugal, Team Sherco CH Racing’s Zachary Pichon holds a healthy lead in the Enduro Junior class, while Fantic’s Harry Edmondson remains in charge of the Enduro Youth class.
- Andrea Verona leads the way as EnduroGP heads for Slovakia
- Josep Garcia returns to action following injury
- Beta’s Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman both back on pace
Can anyone reel Verona back in?
In what’s become a super competitive championship battle, we saw the EnduroGP standings turn on their head once again last time out in Portugal. Verona was a big winner at round four, despite not claiming an EnduroGP day win!
The Italian played his hand to perfection, securing a pair of runner-up finishes over the weekend. That outcome sees the GASGAS rider firmly in the championship driving seat with a healthy 23- point lead. Naturally, as we head into round five of seven, Verona will have an eye on the bigger prize of becoming an FIM EnduroGP World Champion, but he’s experienced enough to know there’s still a long way to go. On peak form, claiming another victory will make him tough to beat in the EnduroGP title race.
After an impressive round three in Italy, TM Racing’s Wil Ruprecht’s championship lead fell apart in the heat and dust of round four in Coimbra. Just scraping into the points on both days following a big crash on day one, the Australian dropped from first in the standings to second. No doubt he’ll be looking to bounce back in Slovakia, but he’s got a big task on his hands if he’s to reel in Verona, who’s now hit his stride.
While Verona headed home from Portugal as EnduroGP championship leader, Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro’s Nathan Watson was the standout performer. Achieving a career-first double win in EnduroGP, the Brit was too hot to handle for his rivals. He moves up to third in the title chase and is only three points behind Ruprecht in second.
We missed watching Josep Garcia’s full gas riding style last time out in Coimbra and are excited to see him back in action in Gelnica. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider is healed up from his high-speed get off in Italy and will look to build on his win tally. Fifth in the title chase, Thomas Oldrati has showed real consistency this season, but has yet to deliver a breakout ride.
After a tough first half to 2022, Beta Factory Racing’s duo Brad Freeman and Steve Holcombe are getting back on the pace. With multiple injury setbacks between them, they’ve yet to show their true speed. Defending EnduroGP champ Freeman should prove strong in Slovakia, while Holcombe won’t be holding back either.
Verona, Ruprecht, and Freeman lead Enduro1, Enduro2, and Enduro3
In the individual senior classes it’s all still very close, except in Enduro1. As you might have guessed, Verona has ruled the roost in the quarter litre capacity category since round one. Eight wins from eight starts puts him 28 points clear of Oldrati in second, who in turn is 28 points ahead of TM Racing’s Matteo Cavallo in third.
Ruprecht heads Enduro2. The Australian leads by eight points over Watson and will look to extend that advantage in Slovakia. However, Garcia and Holcombe should present some serious
competition for the leading two. After losing his points lead in Italy, Freeman won it back in Portugal with a brilliant double victory. Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson is enjoying a great 2022 and will hope the Slovakian terrain will favour him at round five. TM Racing’s Matteo Pavoni is third in points.
Pichon and Edmondson head Junior and Youth classes respectively
Despite starting 2022 as a rookie, Zach Pichon has made the Enduro Junior class his own. With five wins to his credit, he’s racked up a 38-point lead over Finland’s Roni Kytonen in second. Kytonen finally beat Pichon last time out in Portugal and will need to do so again to keep his title hopes in check. Beta’s Luc Fargier is only two points behind Kytonen in third having enjoyed multiple podium results in recent rounds.
Fantic’s Harry Edmondson is beginning to stretch out a lead in the Enduro Youth category. The Brit got a double win in the bag last time out in Portugal and will aim to repeat that trick in Slovakia to further cement his title hopes. Twice a winner in 2022, teammate Kevin Cristino is his closest challenger. Finland’s Samuli Puhakainen (TM) holds third, but faces a motivated Leo Joyon (Beta) in fourth.
The WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship goes racing in Gelnica, Slovakia this coming weekend, starting on Friday with the AKRAPOVIC Super Test.
WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship Standings (After round 5)
EnduroGP
- Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 133pts
- Wil Ruprecht (TM) 110pts
- Nathan Watson (Honda) 107pts
- Josep Garcia (KTM) 87pts
- Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 83pts
- Brad Freeman (Beta) 57pts
- Steve Holcombe (Beta) 53pts
- Daniel Milner (Fantic) 52pts
- Hugo Blanjoue (KTM) 45pts
- Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 43pts
Enduro Junior
- Zach Pichon (Sherco) 157pts
- Roni Kytonen (Honda) 119pts
- Luc Fargier (Beta) 117pts
- Jed Etchells (Fantic) 104pts
- Max Ahlin (Beta) 86pts
Enduro Youth
- Harry Edmondson (Fantic) 148pts
- Kevin Cristino (Fantic) 121pts
- Samuli Puhakainen (TM Racing) 102pts
- Leo Joyon (Beta) 97pts
- Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) 87pts
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.
