KTM Factory riders ready to race at EnduroGP season finale

Rnd 8, EnduroGP 2017 – Zschopau, Germany

After seven rounds of the EnduroGP World Championship, the series moves on to Zschopau in Germany this weekend for the season finale. The event in Zschopau has a rich history and has been host to many enduro world championship events in the past. Famous for its tough tests involving steep hill climbs and dense forests, the autumn weather may also play a big part in the difficulty of the course.

 In the Enduro 2 class Josep Garcia holds a 13-point advantage over his closest rival, Jamie McCanney. With two strong podium results at round seven – the GP of Great Britain – Garcia increased his championship lead and now goes into the final in Germany as favourite for the class title. 

Garcia: “I’m feeling really good at the moment. I trained hard after the GP in England and I’m confident of a good result going into the final round. I’m approaching the event in Germany like I would any other round – I will do my best. I don’t have any specific expectations I just plan to push and ride as fast as I can.

 “The terrain should be good for me, but if we get some rain before the race things could get a little trickier. I won’t think about the championship too much, I’ll just ride my best and enjoy the race.” 

In the EnduroGP class, Nathan Watson had an incredibly strong weekend at his home event at Hawkstone Park, GB. The KTM 350 EXC-F rider topped five of the six cross tests on day one’s sprint enduro and topped his class at the end of the gruelling three-hour cross-country race on day two. Mathematically, Watson is unable to take the championship title in Germany, but a very strong ride could net him the runner-up position. 

Watson: “I’m really excited for the final GP this weekend in Zschopau. I have heard it should be quite a hard event, but I've ridden some physically demanding races recently so I know I am strong, fit and up to the job.

“I am sitting third in the championship right now but second is still possible so I'm going to push as hard as I dare this weekend to pick up as many points as I can, hopefully it will be enough."

 Multiple Enduro World Champion, Christophe Nambotin will be returning to EnduroGP competition in Germany after injuring his hand at the ISDE in France. The Frenchman currently lies fifth in the championship standings and is eager for a good result.

 Australian, Daniel Sanders will also be keen for a strong finish to his 2017 season. The two-time ISDE class winner should excel on the more technical German special tests. 

Championship Standings (after round 7) 

EnduroGP
 1. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 300 points 
2. Loic Larrieu (FRA), Yamaha, 260 
3. Nathan Watson (GBR), KTM, 247 
4. Matt Phillips (AUS), Sherco, 216 
5. Christophe Nambotin (FRA), KTM, 180 

Enduro 2 
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 312 points 
2. Jamie McCanney (GBR), Yamaha, 299 
3. Eero Remes (FIN), TM, 274 
4. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT), Husqvarna, 244 
5. Danny McCanney (GBR), Husqvarna, 207 
Other KTM 
8. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 162

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