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More British success at the Enduro GP of Portugal

Larrieu won the Enduro GP Akropovic Supertest of Portugal in Castelo Branco. Nathan Watson was runner up and Matthias Bellino was 3rd. In the standings Watson leads with 33 points - one point ahead of Alex Salvini. Steve Holcombe was 8th. Josep Garcia was the quickest E2 ahead of Jamie McCanney. Daniel Mccanney was 6th. Mikael Persson was the Best Junior and Brad Freeman was the runner up.

Day one of the Maxxis FIM EnduroGP of Portugal saw Nathan Watson (KTM) deliver one of the championship’s most dominant winning performances as the Brit secured the top step of the EnduroGP class podium by finishing one-minute and 23 seconds ahead of second placed Matthew Phillips. A day dominated by extreme dust on the motocross and enduro tests, and featuring numerous technical trails, in the Enduro 2 class Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) was the rider to beat as he topped all but one of the day’s special tests to place 23 seconds ahead of championship rival Josep Garcia (KTM).

With few riders making it through the opening day of competition at the Polisport GP of Portugal without mistakes, in the EnduroGP class Nathan Watson made light work of the dry and extremely dusty conditions to dominate the EnduroGP class. Beaten on only two of the day’s special tests, Watson set an unmatchable pace on both the high-speed motocross and enduro tests. ?I had a really excellent day today,? explained Nathan. ?As soon as I saw the tests I knew they would be good for me. Fast, wide and open enduro and motocross tests really suit my riding. I had a solid first lap and managed to put some time between myself and Loic. From then on, I just rode steady and kept chipping away. The dust was pretty bad today. Other than a small slip on the going the day was flawless. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow now and hope to bag another win.? Day one in Portugal saw a return to form for Matt Phillips (Sherco). Although one of many riders unable to match Watson’s pace, the Tasmanian managed to come out on top of a day-long battle with EnduroGP championship leader Steve Holcombe (Beta). Enduring numerous mistakes during the day, in finishing third and ahead of Loic Larrieu (Yamaha), Holcombe extended his championship lead by two points. With Larrieu fourth, fifth went to Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) who returned to the championship following a hand injury picked up at the GP of Hungary. Spain’s Jaume Betriu (KTM) placed sixth, one position ahead of Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna) with local favourite Diogo Ventura (Honda) eighth, Giacomo Redondi (Honda) ninth and Christophe Nambotin (KTM) rounding out the top 10.

Claiming a winning Enduro 2 class result on day one for the first time in 2017, Jamie McCanney (Above Yamaha) showed his class rivals the way home, winning all but one of the day’s special tests. Starting the day unsure if the super-dry conditions would suit him, in winning all three tests on the opening lap he established himself at the top of the E2 class and remained there to the finish. ?Setting off this morning, I wasn’t sure how these fast, dry tests would suit me,? admitted the Manxman. ?Us British riders aren’t so used to riding in these conditions. I tried to ride mistake-free and just take things lap by lap, ticking off the tests as the day went on. The dust wasn’t too bad for me, it just depended on where you hit it. I was unlucky to get caught in a cloud of dust on the cross test and ended up overshooting a corner. It cost me a few seconds getting back on track. Hopefully I can keep this form going into tomorrow and have another good day.? Second to Jamie, Josep Garcia (KTM) fell on both the opening extreme test as well as the second enduro test. Placing an eventual 23 seconds behind McCanney, Josep nevertheless finished a sizeable 30 seconds ahead of third placed Davide Guarneri (Honda). Continuing his impressive run of form, in finishing on the final step of the podium Guarneri secured his third consecutive third place E2 result. Finn Eero Remes (TM) eventually placed fourth, but more than one-minute behind winner Jamie McCanney. Pascal Rauchenecker (Husqvarna) finished one-minute behind Remes in fifth but ahead of Italian Manuel Monni (TM) who placed sixth despite getting things very wrong on the second run through the rock-littered extreme test. Danny McCanney (Husqvarna), Henric Stigell (Husqvarna), Rudy Moroni (KTM) and Thomas Oldrati (Husqvarna) rounded out the top 10.

Earning his first day win of the series, Albin Elowson (Right Husqvarna) got the job done in style on day one. Holding off a hard-charging Mikael Persson (Yamaha) to win the Enduro Junior class by close to seven seconds, Albin topped four of the day’s tests. Consistently fast throughout the day, were it not for an off-the-pace enduro test at the end of lap one Persson might have taken his second win of the series. While a good day for the Swedes, third placed Davide Soreca (Honda) was unable to match the pace of the riders ahead of him placing 38 seconds adrift of Persson. Making too many mistake to challenge for the podium, Brad Freeman (Beta) finished fourth with Anthony Geslin (Beta) fifth. Freeman’s Boano Beta team-mate Matteo Cavallo crashed heavily on the final enduro test and was forced to retire just meters from the end of the day.

Extending his win streak to nine days, Italian TM rider Andrea Verona finished two minutes ahead of Leo Le Quere (TM) to top the 125cc Youth class. Le Quere in turn placed close to two minutes ahead of third placed Gerard Gomez (KTM) from Spain.

STEVE HOLCOMBE & JAMIE MCCANNEY VICTORIOUS ON DAY TWO OF POLISPORT GP OF PORTUGAL

Day two of the Polisport EnduroGP of Portugal was one for the Brits as Jamie McCanney (Yamaha), Steve Holcombe (Beta) and Brad Freeman (Beta) respectively topped the Enduro 2, EnduroGP and Enduro Junior podiums. Another long, hot, dusty and demanding day in the saddle, there was plenty of drama with notable retirements in all classes.

Day two of the GP of Portugal was building towards a three-way fight in the EnduroGP class between eventual winner Steve Holcombe (Beta), Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) and Nathan Watson (KTM). But on the second extreme test Watson’s hopes of challenging for victory were ended when a broken gear lever left him stranded inside the extreme test. Forced to fit a new lever, he lost precious minutes and ended the day 10th. Winning only two of the day’s special tests, consistency paid off for Holcombe who completed a strong opening lap before claiming his third day win of the season and also extending his championship lead. “I really wanted to have a good first lap today,” explained Holcombe, “and try and make things a little more straightforward for myself. And I think it worked. I knew the rougher tests would suit me better, and I also removed the mistakes I made on the extreme test on day one. It was a tough day, three or four of us were really pushing hard. I don’t think we’ll see too much more dry and dusty conditions in the world championship now, so I’m excited to start preparing for my home GP. We’re one step closer to the end of the championship, but there’s still a lot of racing to do.” Finishing as runner up to Holcombe, Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) earned his best result of the season to date. Less than four seconds from the top step of the EnduroGP podium, Charlier, who returned to competition having ridden a bike just once in the past four weeks, managed to stay ahead of a hard-charging Matt Phillips (Sherco) who rounded out the podium in third. Crashing in the final enduro test Loic Larrieu (Yamaha) finished fourth, just five seconds behind Phillips with Jaume Betriu (KTM) again delivering an impressive performance to place fifth. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha), Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna), Giacomo Redondi (Honda), Denny Philippaerts (Beta) and Nathan Watson (KTM) rounded out the top 10. On day two Christophe Nambotin (KTM), Alex Salvini (Beta) and local favourite Diogo Ventura (Honda) were all forced retire.

Christophe CHARLIER (F - Husqvarna)

Repeating his day one victory to close the gap at the head of the Enduro 2 class to just six points, Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) earned the first double class win of his career following a consistent day-long performance. Winning five of the day’s tests yet taking things cautiously on the extreme test McCanney placed just under 12 seconds ahead of Garcia. “Today was really tough,” explained Jamie. “I felt like I couldn’t ease off at all, not even in one corner. Like so many times this year things were so tight between myself and Garcia – it was certainly intense. I was a little too cautious in the extreme test but, yeah, we pushed each other really hard right the way to the end of the day and I’m so pleased I was able to get the win – my first double win. I took a few more points back in the championship as well so I’m really excited about the final two rounds of the series.” Giving everything in the hope of beating Jamie, Josep Garcia in turn placed 45 seconds ahead of Eero Remes (TM). Pascal Rauchenecker (Husqvarna) improved on his day one result to finish fourth on day two, while Manuel Monni (TM) also improved his result to place fifth. Thomas Oldrati (Husqvarna), Danny McCanney (Husqvarna), Henric Stigell (Husqvarna), Rudy Moroni (KTM) and Jonathan Barragan (Gas Gas) rounded out the top 10.

Jamie MCCANNEY (GB - Yamaha)

ANDREA VERONA CROWNED 125CC YOUTH WORLD CHAMPION

In the Enduro Junior class it was all-change at the top of the results as day one runner-up Mikael Persson (Yamaha) was forced to retire while Brad Freeman (Beta) replaced Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) as the day winner. Struggling during the opening day’s competition due to a catalogue of errors on all special tests, on day two Freeman found his rhythm and eliminated the costly mistakes. Battling with Elowson throughout the day, the duo were separated by just 11 seconds at the finish with placed Davide Soreca (Honda) a distant third. “I’m not at all pleased with the way I rode on the first day, but I am pleased that I was able to turn things around for day two,” admitted Freeman. “I didn’t make any changes, only that I didn't crash on the second day. I don’t feel like I rode that well, but others made mistakes and I stayed consistent. As far as the championship goes it’s very much game on. I’m looking forward to the next round in the UK, I’ll be working hard during the coming weeks.”

In the 125cc Youth class the first title of the 2017 Maxxis FIM EnduroGP World Championship was awarded as Italy’s Andrea Verona (TM). While Leo Le Quere took the day win by two seconds, in securing the runner-up result Verona collected enough points to wrap-up the title despite the fact that four days of the series remain. Joining Le Quere and Verona on the podium in third was Chilean Ruy Barbosa (Husqvarna).

Organising their first ever world championship enduro event, the Escuderia de Castelo Branco ensured a highly exciting and professionally organised GP.

The 2017 Maxxis FIM EnduroGP World Championship now takes an extended nine-week summer break before firing back into life with the EnduroGP of Great Britain at the iconic Hawkstone Park on September 23/24.