2022 EnduroGP of Slovakia Results

Cycle News Staff | August 2, 2022

Australian Wil Ruprecht won both days of muddy racing at the WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Gelnica, Slovakia, July 29-31. Ruprecht completed the perfect weekend by finishing less than half a second ahead of Steve Holcombe.

Wil Ruprecht at 2022 EnduroGP of Slovakia — **TM Racing’s Wil Ruprecht stood on the top step of the podium after both days of the EnduroGP of Slovakia.**

Photos by Future7Media

TM Racing’s Ruprecht battled GasGas rider Andrea Verona for the win on Saturday. It all came down to the last test that would decide the day’s winner. Verona led Ruprecht by just three seconds going into the final test of the day, but a couple of crashes by Verona ultimately gave Ruprecht the win by approximately 12 seconds.

“I was fortunate to get the win today,” Ruprecht said, “but I wasn’t completely happy with how I rode. After my crash at the GP of Portugal [the previous round] my bike time was a bit limited coming into this race but, hey, I’ll definitely take a win if I can! It’s also my first win in the wet and mud, so that was cool. Hopefully I can do it again tomorrow.”

Verona was still pleased with his performance. “It’s been a good day,” he said. “There were some mistakes today, but that was always going to happen in these muddy conditions. Overall, I was consistent, and I think I was actually leading entering the final test until I crashed twice. Hopefully tomorrow I can stay on two wheels!”

Steve Holcombe at 2022 EnduroGP of Slovakia — **Beta’s Steve Holcombe made a run on Ruprecht on day two but came up four-tenths of a second short.**

Holcombe was third on the day, followed by KTM’s Josep Garcia, who was returning from injury, and Beta’s Brad Freeman.

On day two and after a night of rain, Ruprecht again had to fight his way onto the top step of the podium but this time he had to deal with Holcombe, who made a run on Ruprecht after getting off to a slow start.

Holcombe trailed Ruprecht by approximately 11 seconds going into the final test. The Beta rider gave it his all but came up four-tenths of a second short!

“The tracks were so slippery this morning with the overnight rain,” Ruprecht said. “I went out hard this morning and it worked for me, building a big lead. But I suffered for it on the final lap. The 15-minute enduro test was tough work. Steve [Holcombe] was coming back strong, but I just managed to keep him back. Overall, it’s been awesome to bounce back like this with a double win.”

“[The tests] were proper long, and I love that,” Holcombe said. “Normally, I have more confidence in the mud, but I struggled with mistakes this morning. I got it together when the rain eased and was battling for the win. It felt good to be doing that again.”

Wil Ruprecht — **Double winner Ruprecht made up ground on championship leader Andrea Verona.**

Garcia improved from the previous day by filling out the podium. “It’s been a good weekend for my results, but quite tough physically coming back from my injury,” Garcia said. “I still have to build the race speed back up. I was tired this morning, but felt good midday, until a crash on the cross test dropped me back. But I’m happy with third overall today.”

Honda rider Thomas Oldrati was fourth on the day and Verona was fifth.

Verona leads the championship over Ruprecht by 11 points, 161-150. Great Britain’s Nathan Watson (Honda) is third with 123 points, followed by Garcia with 115 and Oldrati with 106. CN