Josep Garcia

The rugged course was incredibly tough with the dry and dusty ground affording riders little in the way of rest, The.49 kilometers lap consisted of the Extreme Test at Penas Blancas, Enduro Test at Penas Blancas and MX Test at Polideportivo - where the Friday night Super Test took place. Matthew Phillips set the fastest time on the first Extreme test but he was playing catch up and Nathan Watson took an early lead from Alex Salvini and Steve Holcombe. Josep Garcia fended off a pincer attack from Jamie and Danny McCanney in the E2 class. Josh Gotts was 17th. Mikael Persson topped the Juniors with Brad Freeman 7th, Tom Ellwood 13th and Luke Flack 20th.  Live Coverage from Matthias Bellino .

Steve Holcombe set the fastest time on the first Enduro Test and he took the lead ahead of Nathan Watson. Matthew Phillips came back on the MX track and at the end of the first lap he led from Holcombe and Watson. After a great start Alex Salvinin was out with a dislocated shoulder. The E2 trio of Josep Garcia, Jamie and Danny McCanney seemed set in stone but Eero Remes was pushing hard to get a foot onto the podium. There was plenty of excitement in the Juniors with Davide Soreca taking the lead ahead of Kirian Mirabet and an improving Brad Freeman moving up into 3rd. Germany's Maria Franke led the Women's class from Laia Sanz and Jane Daniels. 

On lap 2 Steve Holcombe shone on the Enduro Test and he re-took the lead but once again Matthew Phillips fought back on the MX test and he went on to win. Steve Holcombe was runner up and Nathan Watson was 3rd. Josep Garcia won the E2 class with Jamie McCanney 2nd and Eero Remes 3rd. Danny McCanney was 6th. Josh Gotts was dusty but his timecard was clean in 17th. Davide Soreca topped the Juniors ahead of Brad Freeman. Tom Ellwood made to top ten and Luke Flack finished 17th. Italian Andrea Verona (TM) won in the 125cc Youth class, finishing 20 seconds ahead of Chilean Ruy Barbosa (Husqvarna) with Frenchman Leo Le Quere (TM) completing the podium in third. Laia Sanz won Day 1 after a huge battle with Maria Franke and Jane Daniels.

Due to environmental issues the Day 2 course was shortened to two and a half laps. Steve Holcombe got off to a flying start by taking the lead on the MX Test. Christophe Nambotin was 2nd, Loic Laeeieu 3rd, Matthew Phillips 4th and Nathan Watsion 5th. Josep Garcia led the E2 class ahead of Eero Remes with Danny McCanney 3rd and Jamie McCanney 6th. Josh Gotts in 19th had a problem - dropping over a minute on 18th placed Tommy Sjostrom.

Brad Freeman topped the Juniors with a 3 second lead over Davide Soreca. Tom Ellwood was 10th and Luke Flack 16th. Andrea Verona led Youth class, Steve Holcombe maintained his 4 second lead over Christophe Nambotin on the first Extreme Test Extreme Test LIVE . Sadly Nathan Watson retired with a wrist injury. Jamie McCanney moved up into 3rd in E2 and Brad Freeman held on to his Junior lead.

At the end of the first lap Steve Holcombe led the GP class from Christophe Nambotin and Matthew Phillips. Jamie McCanney had closed to 2nd in the E2 class behind Eero Remes and ahead of Jonathan Barragan and Danny McCanney. Josep Garcia had his moment . Brad Freeman consolidated his hold on the Juniors. Day 1 winner Matthew Phillips pushed hard on the second lap to take the second day. Christophe Nambotin was runner up and Steve Holcombe was 3rd. Loic Larrieu (Yamaha) was another EnduroGP class rider to show impressive form on day two as the Frenchman placed just over five seconds behind Holcombe and ahead of countryman Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna). 

“It’s been an awesome weekend for me and the Sherco guys,” commented Phillips. “I can't remember the last time it was that close between three guys for the win. It was tough, we were all giving it everything and I enjoyed the close competition. I lost about 11 seconds during the first two special tests, so I had some work to do after that. I just kept pushing and pushing and got back level with Nambo’ and Steve and finally things came good. I can’t ask for more than two wins.” 

Winning four of the day’s seven special tests Eero Remes wrapped up his third day win of the series to extend his lead at the top of the E2 championship standings. Runner-up on day two went to Jamie McCanney (Yamaha), who completed a solid weekend having placed third on day one. A little cautious on some of the tests, despite being unable to match Remes’ pace he finished eight seconds ahead of his brother Danny. Struggling to gel with the dry, slippery and unpredictable terrain on day one, Danny (Husqvarna) turned things around on day two to finish ahead of team-mate Pascal Rauchenecker (Husqvarna) with day one winner Josep Garcia (KTM) placing fifth.

Brad Freeman

Brad Freeman went one better on day two and claimed his first ever world championship day win. Unable to get to grips with the incredibly dusty Extreme Test on day one, on day two the young Brit’s best performances came on the Extreme Test. Winning four of the day’s tests Brad placed ahead of Mikael Persson (Yamaha) and day one winner Davide Soreca (Honda). With Matteo Cavallo (Beta) fourth, the best performing Spaniard in the Enduro Junior class was Kirian Mirabet (Sherco) in fifth. Tom Ellwood finished 11th. 

Italy’s Andrea Verona (TM) claimed victory in the 125 Enduro Youth class, finishing close to half a minute ahead of France’s Leo le Quere (TM). Third went to Chilean Ruy Barbosa (Husqvarna).

Laia Sanz (KTM) emerged from the second day’s competition with another haul of 25 championship points. Topping three of the day’s tests, once again it was Germany’s Maria Frank (KTM) who pushed her every step of the way. Also with three test wins to her credit just 21 seconds separated the pair. As on day one Jane Daniels (Husqvarna) rounded out the podium.

Laia Sanz

“It’s been a great weekend for me but I had to work so hard for these victories,” admitted Laia. “During both days myself and Maria were pushing so much. I pushed really hard during the second enduro test today, and it was nice to have a small advantage after that. I’m really relived that after all the hard work I managed to get two wins. It could easily have been Maria who won, so I expect some great battles between us this year."