Dusty and dry conditions challenge riders on day one at FIM EnduroGP of Portugal I

The opening day of racing at round four of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia charge ahead for victory in Fafe, Portugal.

• Garcia pushes hard for EnduroGP win
• Gutish takes victory in Expotrade Women’s Enduro
• Hot, dry and dusty conditions challenge riders in Fafe

After the excitement of the Friday night AKRAPOVIC Super Test, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship got down to business for the opening day of racing at round four in Fafe, Portugal.

Hot temperatures combined with dry and dusty conditions would be the order of the day. In total, riders completed three laps of the 50 kilometre course, which featured three special tests per lap.

Winning ride for Garcia on day one in Fafe

Fastest in Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia stormed out the blocks on Saturday morning to win the opening GMOTO Enduro Test of the day. The following POLISPORT Extreme Test marked a fastest time for Sherco Racing Factory’s Steve Holcombe, before Garcia closed out lap one of three by winning the Expotrade Cross Test.

Heading into lap two, Garcia led Holcombe by only 4 seconds, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in third and TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon fourth. Only 15 seconds separated the top four, with Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald shadowing them in fifth.

Throughout lap two, special test wins went to Garcia on the GMOTO Enduro Test, Macdonald on the POLISPORT Extreme Test and Verona on the EXPOTRADE Cross Test, to leave the running order unchanged as they began the third and final lap.

Maintaining his advantage, Garcia held firm to win by 13 seconds. However, disaster struck Holcombe on the final test of the day. Lying second, the Brit ran into mechanical trouble and failed to finish the day.

That opened the door for Pichon, who was on a charge during lap three. Fastest on all three tests on the final lap, the Frenchman took second, with Verona third. Macdonald ended his day in a close fourth, with Fantic Factory Racing’s Theo Espinasse fifth.

Victory for Espinasse in Enduro3

Espinasse secured his first win of the season in Enduro3. Capitalising on a retirement by Holcombe on the final test of the day, the Fantic Factory Racing rider was perfectly positioned to claim the top step of the podium. Sherco Racing Factory’s Julien Roussaly took second, with NSA Racing’s Albin Norrbin rounding out the top three.

The Enduro2 class saw Pichon claim his first victory of the season. The Frenchman was on top form all day, pulling 31 seconds clear of Verona in second place. Macdonald kept the pressure on Verona to finish 14 seconds behind the Italian in third.

Garcia was dominant in Enduro1 today, the Spaniard was quickest of his class in all 10 special tests to win by one minute and 44 seconds. Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo followed him home for second, with Triumph Factory Racing’s Jeremy Sydow finishing on the podium in third.

Elgari returns to the top of Tsubaki Junior Enduro

The Tsubaki Junior Enduro class saw TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari return to the top step of the podium. Quickly putting a disappointing GP of Finland behind him, the Italian was back to his best in Fafe. Fastest in six of the day’s 10 special tests, he won by 24 seconds.

As the only rider to get close to Elgari today, Triumph Factory Racing’s Leo Joyon took second, The Frenchman won the AKRAPOVIC Super Test before capping off day one with victory in the final Expotrade Cross Test.

Finishing over one minute behind Elgari, Fantic Factory Racing’s Thibault Giraudon took third, following a closely-fought battle with Johansson MPE’s Will Dennett and NSA Racing’s Kevin Cristino. The three riders were separated by just 1.44 seconds following over one hour and six minutes of timed special test racing.

Scardina dominates Putoline Oil Youth Enduro

TM MOTO Costa Ligure’s Pietro Scardina took his third victory of the season in the Putoline Oil Youth Enduro class. The Italian was on a mission today as he looked to regroup from that costly non-score on day two in Finland, last time out. In the end, he won by 65 seconds.

The remainder of the podium was fought out between Fantic Factory Racing’s Valentin Mersin, Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Simone Cagnoni and WP Eric Auge’s Yago Dominguez. Mersin beat his classmates to take the runner-up result, with Cagnoni finishing six seconds ahead of Dominguez for third.

Gutish leads them home in Expotrade Women’s Enduro

The opening day of racing in the Expotrade Women’s Enduro class belonged to Rachel Gutish, with the RIEJU Factory Team rider winning by 36 seconds. Gutish appeared to enjoy the hot, dry and dusty terrain, consistently finishing inside the top two on special test times. Securing four fastest times on the special tests, the American will hope to match that performance on day two.

In her first EnduroGP appearance, Canada’s Shelby Turner (Triumph) immediately impressed. After a surprise win in the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, she kept that pace high throughout day one as she adapted to the EnduroGP race format. Showing her pace by winning all three EXPOTRADE Cross Tests, Turner will aim to close the gap to Gutish tomorrow.

Highlighted with the fastest time on the second GMOTO Enduro Test, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett kept the pressure on the leading two riders to finish in third. ET James Sherco UK’s Nieve Holmes ended her day in fourth, with Ambiance Moto’s Justine Martel fifth. Finishing seventh, Lorna Lafont (Husqvarna) was the best Expotrade Women’s Junior Enduro rider on day one.

For complete GP of Portugal I results, visit: https://www.endurogp.com/2026-results/

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2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship

Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Finland – Vierumäki, Salpausselkä – 22-24 May
Round 4: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 5: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 6: GP of France – Saint-Agrève – 17-19 July
Round 7: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August

2026 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship
Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 4: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 5: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August