Cycle News Staff | October 13, 2021
Spain’s Josep Garcia swept both days of racing at the FIM Enduro World Championship in Portugal, October 9-10.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pilot, Garcia, finished well clear of EnduroGP (overall championship classification) points leader Brad Freeman (Beta) on day one, savoring a 54-second cushion over the Beta rider at the end of the day.
Spain’s Josep Garcia topped both days at the penultimate round of the FIM EnduroGP Championship in Portugal. Photo: Andrea Belluschi/Future7Media
Freeman was just four-plus seconds ahead of third place Andrea Verona (GasGas).
“On Saturday I started with a lot of confidence, I liked the stages and I felt good on the bike,” Garcia said. “I pushed from the beginning and, although I made a mistake in the first Enduro test, I was able to get a good advantage already in the middle of the race, so I was riding very comfortable all day, and so I won in EnduroGP and E2. It was an amazing day.”
On day two (Sunday), it was much closer for Garcia. The Spaniard had his hands full with Freeman, who was the overall leader at one point during the day, but Garcia stepped it up later in the afternoon and ended up edging out the Beta rider by just 2.75 seconds when all was said and done.
Honda rider Nathan Watson of Great Britain was third overall on the day another 30 seconds behind Freeman.
“On Sunday we started with the same objective, to push from the beginning,” Garcia said. “And that’s how it went. Although Brad was much faster and more successful today. I made a couple of mistakes and had a fall, which brought us to the last stage with just one second of advantage. In the end the victory was mine, so I am very happy with how the whole weekend has gone, after achieving this double victory in both EnduroGP and Enduro.
The double victory moved Garcia a little closer to Freeman in the race for the 2021 EnduroGP Championship with just one round (two days) left of racing to do in France. Garcia also leads the Enduro2 division by 22 points over Australia’s Will Rupretch (TM).
Italy’s Andrea Verona (GasGas) won both days in Enduro1 and is third overall in the EnduroGP classification, 34 points behind Garcia. Verona, however, enjoys a 16-point lead over fellow countryman Davide Guarneri (Fantic), who was runner-up both days in Portugal, in the Enduro1 class. CN
Andrea Verona takes double Enduro 1 class win at GP of Portugal. Photo Courtesy of GasGas
2021 EnduroGP of Portugal Results
2021 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 5, Day 1
Enduro1
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 53:28.49
2. Davide Guarneri (Fantic) 54:09.34
3. Matteo Cavallo (TM) 54:50.04
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 52:29.53
2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 53:23.99
3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 53:28.49
2021 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 5, Day 2
Enduro1
1. Andrea Verona (GasGas) 52:44.45
2. Davide Guarneri (Fantic) 52:46.77
3. Davide Soreca (Husqvarna) 54:39.71
EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 51:42.52
2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 51:45.28
3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 52:15.85
4. Andrea Verona (GasGas) 52:44.45
2021 EnduroGP World Championship Standings
Enduro1
1. Andrea Verona (GasGas) 192 points
2. Davide Guarneri (Fantic) 176 pts
3. Samuele Bernardini (Honda) 131 pts
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 180 points
2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 164 pts
3. Andrea Verona (GasGas) 130 pts
