JOSEP GARCIA ENJOYS WINNING ENDUROGP RETURN 

Rnd 3, EnduroGP 2020 - Marco de Canaveses, Portugal

Winning the first day’s opening special test, Josep Garcia made the perfect start to his return to EnduroGP competition. Quickly finding his rhythm on the soft, rutted and rock-strewn Portuguese terrain, he soon found himself in a close Enduro 2 class battle with Brit Steve Holcombe. Trading special test wins throughout the day, a mistake in the opening test on lap two and then a fall on the event’s final extreme test ultimately saw Garcia end the day in second, also placing third in the overall EnduroGP class.

 In winning seven of the second day’s nine special tests, Garcia set the pace in Enduro 2. One-second from topping the day’s first special test, he quickly set about putting his name at the top of the result sheets before going on to extend his class lead. Removing the mistakes he’d made on day one, the Spaniard kept charging to end the day a little over 30 seconds ahead of his closest challenger, Steve Holcombe. In addition to his Enduro 2 victory, Garcia also ended the day as the outright overall fastest rider, topping the EnduroGP class ahead of Brad Freeman and Holcombe. 

Josep will remain in Portugal and compete in the final round of the 2020 FIM Enduro World Championship, which takes place next weekend, November 14-15. 

Josep Garcia: “It’s been three years since I last raced in EnduroGP, so I was really motivated to do well this weekend. It has been a really difficult GP, but also great to be back racing and of course to come away with good results. Day one was going really well, it was very close between myself, Brad and Steve, but I took myself out of the battle with a big mistake on the final extreme test. Even with the mistake I was pleased with my results and riding during the day. Today, day two, my plan was to push hard like I did on day one, but to not make any mistakes. I fell on the first enduro test, so things didn’t go exactly to plan, but I kept pushing. In the second lap I managed to open up a small advantage so in the final few special tests I didn’t push too hard. This was a difficult race, but my experience in extreme races really helped me. I’m looking forward to the next GP now, next weekend.” 

Results – 2020 FIM EnduroGP World Championship, Round 3 

Day 1 

Enduro 2
 1. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 57:02.01 
2. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 57:18.76 +16.75 
3. Daniel McCanney (GBR), Honda, 58:24.91 +1:22.90 
4. Loic Larrieu (FRA), TM, 58:41.21 +1:39.20 
5. Matteo Cavallo (ITA), Sherco, 58:46.87 +1:44:86 

EnduroGP 
1. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 57:02.01 
2. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 57:03.77 +1.76 
3. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 57:18.76 +16.75 
4. Andrea Verona (ITA), TM, 58:00.18 +58.17 
5. Antoine Magain (BEL), Sherco, 58:17.29 +1:15.28 

Day 2

 Enduro 2 
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 58:11.95 
2. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 58:43.08 +31.13 
3. Daniel McCanney (GBR), Honda, 1:00:11.80 +1:59.85 
4. Joe Wootton (GBR), Husqvarna, 1:01:43.39 +3:31.44 
5. Loic Larrieu (FRA), TM, 1:02:05.77 +3:53.82 

EnduroGP 
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 58:11.95 
2. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 58:27.21 +15.26 
3. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 58:43.08 +31.13 
4. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 59:22.34 +1:10.39 
5. Andrea Verona (ITA), TM, 59:24.43 +1:12.48

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