All roads lead to Zschopau, Germany, for the seventh and final round of the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship, where this year’s FIM Enduro World Champions will be decided.
- Josep Garcia aiming for seventh world title with EnduroGP crown
- Rachel Gutish racing to become USA’s first Enduro World Champion
- Enduro2, Junior and Youth battles set to go down to the wire
After six tough, demanding and action-packed rounds, the outcome of this year’s 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship will be decided at this weekend’s seventh and final round in Zschopau, Germany. In what’s proved an incredible and closely fought season of racing, filled with many twists and turns, the stage is now set for an explosive season finale at the POLISPORT GP of Germany.
A region steeped in enduro history, Zschopau and Saxony will provide a fitting end to the 2025 championship. For 70 years, Zschopau has played an important role in shaping enduro, while hosting rounds of the world championship in 1990, 2004, 2017 and most recently, 2022.
READ MORE: ENDUROGP NEWS
For 2025, event organisers, MSC Rund um Zschopau are pulling out all the stops for this season finale. From the paddock, situated on the grounds of the former iconic MZ Factory, the event will come to life from Thursday with a rider parade and autograph session, and continue throughout the weekend’s racing, culminating on Sunday evening with the end-of-season awards ceremony and after-party.
For round seven, racing begins with the customary AKRAPOVIC Super Test on Friday evening. The 64-kilometre course for Saturday and Sunday will include four special tests – the POLISPORT Extreme Test, GMOTO Enduro Test, ACERBIS Cross Test and HEINRICH SCHMID Cross Test. The Zschopau course is also famous for its many iconic spectator points dotted along the route that will provide some spectacular action.
Gloves are off for AKRAPOVIC Super Test battle
On Friday evening, the AKRAPOVIC Super Test will see the POLISPORT GP of Germany roar into life. Entering Zschopau, it’s TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon who leads the way by five points over KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia, with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona a further seven points back in third.
Both Garcia and Verona have claimed AKRAPOVIC Super Test wins this season, along with RIEJU Factory Team’s Dominik Olszowy in fourth, while Pichon has yet to get a win on the board. With the points race so tight, Pichon must finish at least second to claim the overall if Garcia clocks the fastest time.
Can Garcia defend his EnduroGP crown in Germany?
As we approach the season finale at the POLISPORT GP of Germany, it is KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia who leads the way in the EnduroGP title fight. However, the final day of racing last time out in Italy dramatically changed everything.
From holding a 34-point lead on Saturday evening, the Spaniard saw his advantage cut to pieces come the end of Sunday. With Garcia riding injured, he could only limp to 15th position and score one point, while championship rival GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona raced to victory. With 15 points between Garcia and Verona, it’s clear that the outcome of EnduroGP is anything but decided.
For Verona, he must go on the attack once more and give everything he has to win each day if he wishes to reclaim the EnduroGP crown he last held in 2022. For Garcia, those 15 points could prove crucial if he is not yet back to 100 per cent. The Spaniard has said he aims to be recovered and back at his best for Germany. So, if one thing is certain, it’s that we know he won’t give up the defence of his EnduroGP crown, and chance of a seventh world title, without a proper fight.
Holding third in the EnduroGP championship battle, TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon is a rider both Garcia and Verona hope can play a factor in the results in their favour. However, Pichon’s condition also remains uncertain as he heads into Germany.
The Frenchman heavily injured his ankle on Sunday in Italy and may not be at his best this weekend. Sitting 11 points behind Verona in the EnduroGP standings, he has at worst secured third overall in the championship, thanks to his 48-point lead over Sherco Racing Factory’s Hamish Macdonald in fourth.
After a slightly frustrating performance last time out in Italy, Macdonald will be eager to end his 2025 EnduroGP campaign on a high in Zschopau. The New Zealander has performed well here in the past, enjoying the traditional enduro terrain of forests and mud. His teammate, Antoine Magain completes the top five.
