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All content © Bob MuIIins | |||
 
STEVE HOLCOMBE READY TO KICK OFF ENDUROGP TITLE DEFENCE IN FINLAND Following months of preparation, reigning EnduroGP World Champion Steve Holcombe is all-set to kick off his 2018 Enduro World Championship campaign this coming weekend around the frozen Lake Päijänne in Finland. Returning to the Enduro 3 category for 2018, the 23-year-old Brit has his eyes set on successfully defending the overall EnduroGP title as well as hoping to secure E3 championship honours for a second time.
Remaining aboard two-stroke machinery for another year, Holcombe will contest the upcoming Enduro World Championship on the updated for 2018 Beta RR 300 Racing model. Making the most of the experience gained during a successful first participation in the Päijänne Finnish GP a year ago, Steve is looking forward to what’s expected to be a hugely challenging season opener in real winter conditions. Featuring eight rounds, the 2018 EnduroGP series will be a true challenge for all competitors. The opening round of the championship takes place this weekend, March 17/18, around Lake Päijänne, Finland.
Calendar - 2018 FIM EnduroGP World Championship
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With
the Enduro World Championship going back to a three-class (senior) structure,
2018 will see Holcombe make a return to the class where he earned his first
World Championship back in 2016. After a solid 2017 campaign that saw him secure
six victories and another seven top three EnduroGP class results, Steve is
entering the new season as one of the favourites for championship honours in
both the Enduro 3 class and the overall EnduroGP classification.
Steve
Holcombe: “I’m really excited to be getting the 2018 EnduroGP World
Championship started. It’s been a long off-season, a very productive
off-season, so it’s good to be getting back to racing again. 2017 was an
incredible year for me. Winning the EnduroGP title, my second world title, took
a lot of work, but it was a great championship and a great result. Being back in
the Enduro3 class takes me to where I was in 2016, which I’m looking forward
to, and having a new team-mate freshens things up within the Beta camp. The
first round of the series is going to be really challenging – a real winter
race. Conditions in Finland are completely different to 12 months ago and having
spent some time there training recently I know just how hard this weekend’s
championship opener is going to be. But I’m looking forward to it. I feel good
and ready to start the new series.”