The small town of Valpacos hosted the second round of the FIM World Enduro GP Championship which took place over the weekend of 4 and 5 May.
The Motoclub US Prigoru organized a high-level competition leaving nothing to chance. The three special tests were located close to the paddock: the Cross Test inside the motocross circuit, the extreme in true Portuguese style with many boulders and a technical and insidious Enduro test.
Reigning Champion Steve Holcombe started the Portuguese weekend well and set the fastest time on Friday night’s SuperTest.
Also, on Saturday the English rider of the Beta Factory Enduro Team immediately started to push hard and recorded better absolute times. Steve Holcombe found in Brad Freeman, Beta Boano Team rider, a tough rival to beat. The two Beta riders wowed the audience and at the end of a long day of competition (twelve special tests), Steve Holcombe climbed the top step of the podium in the Enduro GP while Brad Freeman occupied the second place.
The Day 2 ended with another great result for Beta riders which switched their positions: Brad Freeman indeed preceded Steve Holcombe. This result – together with the two victories in the E3 (Holcombe) and in the E1 (Freeman) – states the dominance of the Tuscan manufacturer. With 77 points, Steve Holcombe is the leader of the Enduro GP and keeps the gold-table just ahead of Brad Freeman. Furthermore, both the riders are on the top of their categories.
Good performance also for Benjamin Herrera in the E2 and Enduro GP classes. The Chilean rider took the 11th place on Day 1 and then improved on Sunday with a 9th position in the Enduro GP class and a 5th and 4th place in the E2 class.
Congratulations to the French rider Anthony Geslin who conquered two third places in the E3 class.
The Beta Factory Team is currently traveling to Spain where this weekend will take place the third round of the FIM World Enduro GP Championship in Santiago de Compostela.
STEVE HOLCOMBE
“The weekend started in the best way with the victory in the SuperTest. Honestly, I was surprised by Saturday’s victory because this kind of hard ground is certainly not my favourite. On Sunday I found difficulties in all the special tests because I could not find alternative lines and trajectories and I also made a mistake in the second Enduro test that ousted me from the final victory “.
BENJAMIN HERRERA
“I am happy with the results obtained this weekend. On Day 1 I missed the tenth place in the Enduro GP but I managed to improve on the following day. The feeling with the bike improves from race to race and I hope soon to be able to get on the podium in the E2 class. ”