2024 FIM EnduroGP Round 5 Results

Cycle News Staff | July 16, 2024

GasGas Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia shared day wins at the EnduroGP of Slovakia, July 13-14. Verona topped day one, and Garcia topped day two.

Andrea Verona at EnduroGP of Slovakia — **Andrea Verona took day one’s victory at the EnduroGP of Slovakia. Photo: Future7Media**

On Saturday, Verona grabbed the early lead from Beta’s Brad Freeman and spent the rest of the day defending the position from several riders, including Garcia, Beta’s Nathan Watson, Honda rider Steve Holcombe and Freeman. Verona’s fast but, more importantly, steady riding, was good enough to take the day’s overall win by 17 seconds over Watson, who only had a few seconds over Holcombe. Garcia was fourth and Freeman fifth.

“I’m very happy to have got my third overall win of the season here,” Verona said. “I didn’t make any big mistakes all day and rode pretty well from the first test until the last test. It feels great to win by 17 seconds because the riders at the top level are so competitive, but I just felt good on the bike and did my best.”

Josep Garcia at EnduroGP of Slovakia — **Josep Garcia rebounded on day two for the win and championship lead. Photo: Future7Media**

Verona also topped the Enduro2 (255cc+ two-stroke up to 450cc four-stroke), with Watson second and Sherco’s Wil Ruprecht third.

“I started off a bit steady, but after that, I put in some good times all day,” said Watson, who also competes in the Enduro1 (up to 250cc) class. “I had a good day, but honestly, I was hoping for more. I knew from early on that some of the tests were suiting the bigger bikes a bit more, but I just got to work and I’m glad it paid off with the Enduro1 [test] win.”

Freeman was the Enduro3 (255cc+ two-stroke and 450cc+ four-stroke)-class winner.

Garcia dominated the race on Sunday to take the day’s overall (EnduroGP) and the Enduro1-class victory. The win also extended his EnduroGP Championship overall lead.

“Today was great for me,” said Garcia. “After yesterday, the goal was to be back at the top, so from the very first test, I changed my mentality and the way I rode the tests compared to Saturday, which made all the difference. It feels good to be back on the top step of the podium.”

Finishing approximately 20 seconds in back of Garcia on the day was Enduro3-class winner Freeman.

“It’s been an up and down weekend for me with some good test results, but a few too many mistakes, too,” Freeman said. “I really tried my hardest today, and I’m happy to be on the podium, but I know it will take that little bit extra if I want to top the EnduroGP class.”

Finishing just one second behind Freeman was Saturday’s winner Verona.

“Today was pretty up and down as I started out too slow but then had a few good tests on laps two and three,” Verona said. “It was super close today with Brad beating me by less than a second, but I’m happy to have won Enduro2 again.”

Watson and Holcombe rounded out the top five on the day.

In the EnduroGP (overall) Championship standings, Garcia leads Verona by just eight points, 177-169. Holcombe is third with 154 points, followed by Freeman with 113 and Watson with 110.CN