Rachel Gutish: USA’s first FIM Enduro World Champion

When the curtain fell on the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Zschopau, Germany, it marked the crowning of multiple first-time world champions, but most notably, Rachel Gutish as the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion.

Achieving a major milestone in her racing career, Rachel also became the first American to win an FIM Enduro World Championship. Incredibly, up until Sunday evening, no man or woman from the United States had ever ended an EnduroGP campaign as world champion. Now, finally, Rachel has broken that streak.

As the 2024 vice-champion in her debut EnduroGP season, Gutish stood forward as a natural pre-season favourite for the 2025 title when her predecessor Mireia Badia retired. However, within the Gutish camp, things were far from clear cut.

Rachel was without a ride for this year, and up until a couple of weeks before the season opener in April, it looked likely she would be sitting out the 2025 EnduroGP championship entirely. Thankfully, her fortunes changed, with the RIEJU Factory Team stepping in at the eleventh hour to effectively offer her Badia’s vacated seat.

After a late dash to Portugal for round one, where she rode her race bike for the first time at the test track, the rest is now history. Seven months later, she is a world champion.

“It is an interesting feeling, a different one than I expected,” reflects Rachel with her gold FIM world champion medal in hand. “I think that I expected it to be euphoric. Instead, I am content. I have never felt this way before.

“While less exciting, I find this feeling to be better, because it lasts longer than fleeting joy would. I accomplished what I set out to do. In a way, I feel like I have achieved my purpose.”

In the immediate aftermath of championship celebrations, it’s difficult to take stock of accomplishments. Rachel describes it perfectly as content, but national pride was clearly visible too when the stars and stripes flag of the United States was raised.

“There may have been only three of us from America here this weekend, but in spirit it felt as though my entire country stood behind me on the podium. And I think this is part of the reason I feel the sense of peace I described above. I knew even in the moment that this is the crowning achievement of my career, the thing I will be remembered for.”

With three different race winners, six different podium finishers, 18 point scorers, plus the introduction of a Junior Women’s Enduro category for 2025, momentum is building for women’s competition in EnduroGP, but what can be done to inspire more to follow in her footsteps?

“You need to understand that as a group, the top level women do not lack inspiration, we lack opportunity,” she answers, honestly. “It is a great thing for girls to see us racing at the top level and understand that this sport can be for them too, not just for their father or brother. But it is important that we are given the opportunity to continue to provide that inspiration.”

For now, Rachel will continue to let her racing do the inspiring. While it’s still too early to talk about next year, becoming world champion has lit a fire in her belly for more.

“I plan to race for many more years and hope to win many more championships, so don’t interpret this as a retirement speech or a sign that I’m going to grow complacent and quit pushing to improve. But if something were to happen, and I was unable to continue, I think I could accept it and be at peace. This was never true before.”

Congratulations, Rachel. You are now a world champion!

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

*The Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship will be announced shortly.