Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia rides to victory on day two at the POLISPORT GP of Sweden at round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship.

  • Josep Garcia claims EnduroGP win on day two in Sweden
  • Joy for Axel Semb with another Junior class victory
  • Testing conditions in low temperatures make for tough racing in Skövde

Day two brought the POLISPORT GP of Sweden to a close for round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Skövde. A further drop in temperatures made for a winter feel as riders battled a tough day of beaten-up special tests.

Garcia masters the tough Swedish terrain

Regrouping overnight, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was determined not to finish as runner-up for the second day running. Re-walking the GMOTO Enduro Test, ACERBIS Cross Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test quickly paid off for the Spaniard. Fastest in all three opening special tests, the defending EnduroGP champion ended lap one of three with a confidence-boosting nine-second lead.

Also on the move, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona held second, with day one winner TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon two seconds behind Verona in third. Triumph Racing Factory Enduro Team’s Mikael Persson was fourth on home soil, with Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald and Antoine Magain just behind in fifth and sixth, respectively.

There were no major changes to the leaderboard on lap two, with Garcia adding another two test wins to his collection to extend his advantage over Verona to 16 seconds. Controlling his lead, Garcia rode on to claim a strong win in EnduroGP. Verona placed 15 seconds behind as runner-up, while Pichon, unsettled by a couple of mistakes, had to settle for third. Macdonald got the better of Persson to claim fourth, pushing the Swede back to fifth in his home race.

Victory for Verona in Enduro2

Despite missing out on the overall EnduroGP win, Verona could be pleased with claiming the top step of the Enduro2 podium. Pichon followed him home for second, albeit 31 seconds adrift. A great ride by Sherco Racing Factory’s Theo Espinasse saw him take third.

The Enduro1 class once again saw a flawless performance by Garcia to claim a commanding margin of victory. Enjoying a strong ride in his home race, Persson placed as runner-up. Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo improved on his day one result of fourth to take third.

Beginning to establish himself as the rider to beat in Enduro3, Macdonald took his second class win of the weekend in Skövde. Teammate Antoine Magain joined Macdonald in a Sherco 1-2, while TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Leo Le Quere completed the podium with third.

Axel Semb does the double on home soil in Junior class

Capping off a remarkable POLISPORT GP of Sweden home race, Fantic Factory Racing Team’s Axel Semb secured his second victory of the weekend in the Junior class. Another dominant ride by the young Swede saw him win by 41 seconds.

From the opening special test there was simply no stopping Semb today. Racking up six consecutive fastest times, he had established a 34-second lead at the end of the second POLISPORT Extreme Test. With just the final lap remaining, he controlled his advantage to take home a well-deserved win.

MGR Kawasaki’s Kyron Bacon was once again the next-best rider to Semb in Sweden. The Australian showed he’d got the measure of the rocky Swedish terrain, picking up the fastest time on the final GMOTO Enduro Test, to complete his day as runner-up.

The battle for the final step of the podium came right down to the wire between Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) and Ox Moto Beta’s Leo Joyon. The French duo both wanted third, but it was Giraudon who sealed the deal with a better time on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test. With Joyon finishing just two seconds behind in fourth, Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Kevin Cristino completed the top five.

Victory for Scardina, but Elgari takes over Youth class points lead

The fight for supremacy in the Youth class was once again fought out between Fantic Factory Racing Enduro Team Specia’s Pietro Scardina, TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari and Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Romain Dagna.

Day one winner Elgari initially led the way, thanks to a fastest time on the opening GMOTO Enduro Test, with Scardina and Dagna second and third, respectively. Scardina went on a charge thereafter, winning the next three special tests, building a five-second lead over Elgari.

As the day roared on, Scardina and Elgari pulled clear of Dagna. Scardina led Elgari by 27 seconds as they exited the final GMOTO Enduro Test. But the TM MOTO rider fought back, winning the final two special tests in Sweden. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and Scardina held on to claim victory by 12 seconds over Elgari. Over one minute further back, Dagna completed the top three. Entering the summer break, it’s Elgari who now takes over the championship lead in the Youth class.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four at the Forsiteservices GP of Wales, on 1-3 August.

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I didn’t expect to win in these conditions. It feels more than a win, having been injured since the GP of Spain. It’s an amazing result. I’m very happy for myself and the team for doing this.”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “Day two was definitely better than yesterday. Everything felt a lot more positive for me, I felt faster and understood better how to ride the Enduro Test. The overall win would have been nice, but I’m happy with things.”

Zach Pichon (TM MOTO): “It was difficult for me to find the same rhythm in the Enduro Test as I had yesterday. Also two big mistakes in the Extreme Test cost me a lot too. But it goes like that sometimes. For sure, it’s been the toughest race of the season so far.”

Axel Semb (Fantic): “For sure, I wanted this result, but you never know how it can go. To go 1-1 is something I’m more than super happy about. It’s great to have this lead heading into the summer break, but there is still a long way to go in the championship.”

Pietro Scardina (Fantic): “I’m super happy with the win today. I had a great fight all day with my friend Alberto Elgari. We pushed each other hard, which was nice.”

Results: POLISPORT GP of Sweden, Day 2

EnduroGP

1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 58:53.90; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 59:09.21; 3. Zach Pichon (TM MOTO) 59:40.57; 4. Hamish Macdonald (Sherco) 59:50.70; 5. Mikael Persson (Triumph) 1:00:02.67; 6. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:00:43.47; 7. Theo Espinasse (Sherco) 1:01:02.75; 8. Nathan Watson (Beta) 1:01:18.08; 9. Leo Le Quere (TM MOTO) 1:01:19.94; 10. Albin Norrbin (Fantic) 1:01:21.45…

Championship Standings (After round 3 of 6)

EnduroGP

1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 109pts; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 95pts; 3. Zach Pichon (TM MOTO) 91pts; 4. Hamish Macdonald (Sherco) 71pts; 5. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 60pts; 6. Mikael Persson (Triumph) 55pts; 7. Nathan Watson (Beta) 53pts; 8. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 46pts; 9. Morgan Lesiardo (Triumph) 33pts; 10. Albin Norrbin (Fantic) 32pts…

Event Information: Polisport GP of Sweden

Complete entry list for Polisport GP of Sweden: HERE

Follow results from round three, 23-25 May: LIVE RESULTS

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2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship

Round 1: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 4-6 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 2-4 May
Round 3: GP of Sweden – Skövde – 23-25 May
Round 4: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 1-3 August
Round 5: GP of Italy – Darfo Boario Terme – 26-28 September
Round 6: GP of Germany – Zschopau – 17-19 October

2025 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship

Round 1: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 4-6 April
Round 2: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 1-3 August
Round 3: GP of Germany – Zschopau – 17-19 October