The penultimate day of the 2022 WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship has seen Italy’s Andrea Verona clinch the coveted overall EnduroGP title in Zschopau, Germany. With a virtual grasp on the crown entering the final round of the season, the GASGAS Factory Racing rider rode to a fifth-place finish on day one becoming a deserved FIM EnduroGP World Champion for the first time.
It was a day of celebration in the paddock in Germany as Fantic’s Jane Daniels rode to victory to secure the 2022 Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro Championship title. In the overall classification, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia topped the podium, with Beta Factory Racing team-mates Brad Freeman and Steve Holcombe finishing second and third respectively.
• Andrea Verona crowned 2022 FIM EnduroGP World Champion
• Jane Daniels is crowned FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion
• Josep Garcia wins outright on Day One in Germany
After Friday night’s all-action AKRAPOVIC Super Test, the penultimate day of the 2022 WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship got underway in Zschopau, Germany. Despite the weather showing the first signs of winter, spirits were high, and mud was back on the menu for the first time since the EnduroGP of Slovakia.
Verona races to debut EnduroGP crown
With a healthy lead in the EnduroGP points standings, GASGAS’ Andrea Verona began the day focused on securing his debut EnduroGP title. Opting to put in a safe ride in the slippery and muddy conditions, the Italian returned to the paddock at the end of the day in fifth overall. More importantly he’d done enough to secure the 2022 FIM EnduroGP World Championship.
At the head of the field there was no holding back for Josep Garcia (KTM). The Spaniard was on a mission from the off. Fastest in the opening JUST1 Enduro Test, he went on to win the following four tests to open up a comfortable gap at the head of the field. Adding another two test wins to his tally, he won the day by a commanding 43 seconds.
Behind him and things were a little tighter. Finally showing signs of returning to his best, Brad Freeman - the outgoing EnduroGP champ - kicked off his day by topping the POLISPORT Extreme Test. At the midway point in the day both he and teammate Steve Holcombe were fighting for second, until a strong final lap saw Freeman pull 13 seconds clear. With Holcombe third, TM Racing’s Wil Ruprecht took fourth overall, with Verona completing the top five.
Enduro2 and Enduro 3 titles set to go to the wire
With his Enduro1 title already wrapped up last time out at round six in Hungary, Verona added another category win to his 2022 tally. Behind him, Honda Racing RedMoto’s Thomas Oldrati took second, with Fantic’s Daniel Milner third.
Adding to his EnduroGP win, Garcia dominated the proceedings in Enduro2. With an outside chance of clinching the title, the Spaniard certainly kept his hopes alive with one more day of racing to go. Enjoying the mud, Holcombe brought his Beta home in second. Finishing third to maintain control of the Enduro2 points standings, Ruprecht is now just one day away from taking his first senior championship title.
Delivering his best ride of the season when it counted the most, Brad Freeman’s Enduro3 victory has now levelled the points standings between himself and Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson. With Persson ending his day second to Freeman both riders are now tied on points with just one day of racing remaining. In what is set to be his final ever weekend of EnduroGP racing following an illustrious 11-year career, Team Sherco CH Racing’s Daniel McCanney put in a terrific ride to join Freeman and Persson on the podium for third.
Daniels crowned Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion
In the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship, Fantic’s Jane Daniels took the title in style by claiming yet another day win. The British rider was unstoppable in the mud and ruts. Winning all but one test, she topped the classification by an incredible three minutes and nine seconds. Making it a British 1-2 in Zschopau, Rosie Rowett (KTM) took second, with Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju) third.
The Enduro Junior category saw newly crowned champion Zach Pichon take the win. The Team Sherco CH Racing’s rider had to dig deep though. Pushed all the way by Fantic’s Albin Norrbin, Pichon won by just under three seconds. Max Ahlin (Beta) rounded out the podium.
With a win on Saturday, Fantic’s Kevin Cristino kept his Enduro Youth title hopes alive. The Italian edged out Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) by six seconds to claim victory. Championship leader Harry Edmondson (Fantic) finished third and enters the final day of racing as the champion elect thanks to a 14-point lead over Cristino.
The 2022 WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship concludes tomorrow with the final day of racing at round seven’s GP of Germany in Zschopau.
Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “It feels amazing to reach this goal of becoming the EnduroGP World Champion this season. I always believed that I could win the title, but I honestly didn’t expect to do it this year. But slowly, slowly the feeling began to grow inside me that this year I could do it. It’s the biggest achievement in enduro and of my career, so to be the world champion is unbelievable. A big thank you to GASGAS, my family and supporters and everyone who’s pushed me to get to this moment!”
Josep Garcia (KTM): “It’s been a great day in the mud. I went out to give my best like always. I knew if I could win I could keep my hopes of the Enduro2 title alive. Of course, it’s a long shot, but it’s still possible with one more day to go.”
Jane Daniels (Fantic): “I just went out there and rode my own race. I knew if I could win today then I could seal the championship, but I didn’t want to think too much about the title. I just pushed hard in every test and let the win come to me. It’s been a great year, winning the world championship and helping Great Britain win the ISDE is just incredible!”
Results: Round 7: GP of Germany, Day 1
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:05:59.24; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:43.15; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:06:56.65; 4. Wil Ruprecht (TM Racing) 1:07:14.91; 5. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:18.40; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:07:25.60; 7. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 1:08:29.55; 8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:09:09.76; 9. Daniel Milner (Fantic) 1:09:25.02; 10. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 1:09:38.87...
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