The 2026 Italian Enduro Championship roared back into action over the weekend with round four at Pianello Val Tidone, where riders tackled one of the toughest events of the season in scorching temperatures.
The 55km course featured a 2.5km man-made Extreme Test, a 4km Cross Test packed with steep counter-slopes and a demanding 7km Enduro Test through the forests. Riders completed 21 special tests across the two-day event, with the heat adding another level of difficulty.
Beta Factory Enduro Team rider Nathan Watson delivered the squad’s best result, riding a clean and consistent race to finish fourth outright on Saturday while claiming second in the Foreigners class. He backed it up with fifth outright and fourth in class on Sunday to cap off a solid weekend.
“I rode a good race on Saturday and I’m pleased with the result,” Watson said. “On the following day’s race, the final result was fifth place overall and fourth in the Foreigners’ class. Now it’s time to focus fully on the penultimate round of the World Championship in France.”
Brad Freeman looked capable of fighting for the outright podium after setting the third-fastest time in Friday night’s Super Test and opening strongly on Saturday morning.
However, a series of mistakes during the middle stages of Saturday’s race dropped the British rider to seventh outright and fifth in the Foreigners class. Fatigue and the extreme conditions took their toll on Sunday, with Freeman slipping to 12th outright and seventh in class.
“Another race weekend with very high temperatures,” Freeman said. “I’m disappointed with the results because we were aiming for the overall podium, but I made too many mistakes and it cost me. Now it’s time to focus fully on the final stretch of the Italian Championship and the last two rounds of the World Championship.”
Despite the mixed fortunes, Beta placed all of its factory riders inside the overall top 10 across the weekend as attention now shifts to the penultimate round of the 2026 EnduroGP World Championship in France.
