The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship readies itself for back-to-back weekends of racing in Fafe, Portugal, beginning with round four, from 12-14 June.
Words and Images by EnduroGP
Approaching the pivotal halfway point in this year’s seven-round Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship, it is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia who leads the way entering the GP of Portugal I. In the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish will aim to extend her points lead.
- Fafe to host FIM EnduroGP rounds four and five
- Challenging Portuguese terrain awaits competitors
- Josep Garcia heads EnduroGP title chase
A fixture on the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship for the past couple of seasons, Fafe is always a well-received location for competitors, teams and fans. The region in Northern Portugal is famed for its scenic mountainous landscape with large boulder passes and rocky trails.
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While the AKRAPOVIC Super Test will be held in the centre of Fafe on Friday evening, a 50-kilometre course will take competitors into the heart of the surrounding countryside during each day of racing on Saturday and Sunday. The route will see riders complete the EXPOTRADE Cross Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test before concluding with the GMOTO Enduro Test. With three laps to contest each day, it will be a demanding weekend of racing for all.
Close racing expected in AKRAPOVIC Super Test
In the AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia maintains his lead in the series. The Spaniard won the opening two rounds, but slipped to ninth at round three.
With rival TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon closing the gap to five points, Garcia will aim to be back to his best on Friday in Fafe.
Garcia leads the way in EnduroGP
As the FIM EnduroGP approaches the midway point in the season, it’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Josep Garcia who currently holds the upper hand over his EnduroGP classmates. Claiming four wins from six starts so far in 2026 has helped the Spaniard build up an 11-point lead over his teammate Andrea Verona in second.
Last time out in Finland, Verona finally secured his first overall victory of the season on day one, before putting in a strong charge on day two to place a close second. The Italian appears to be reaching peak form at this important stage in the championship fight and will be giving it 100 per cent to put himself on the top step of the podium in Fafe.
Third overall, but slipping to 30 points behind Verona, is TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon. The Frenchman has been riding well this year, but has yet to truly challenge the top two riders. Returning to Fafe, where he claimed his maiden EnduroGP victory in 2025, will ensure added motivation to succeed this weekend for Pichon.
Just four points behind Pichon in fourth overall is Sherco Racing Factory’s Steve Holcombe. The Brit is still recovering from his non-score on day one at round two in Spain as he tries to bridge the gap to Pichon. As a rider who is more than capable of claiming a win, Holcombe will be focused on putting himself in contention for victory in Fafe.
Beta Factory Team’s Brad Freeman completes the top five and is the only rider other than Garcia or Verona to have won so far in 2026. Never one to be counted out, the 10-time world champion will aim to hit the ground running this weekend.
Just outside the top five, the Sherco Racing Factory duo of Hamish Macdonald and Antoine Magain, NSA Racing’s Albin Norrbin, Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo and Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Max Ahlin are all capable of shaking up the established running order. Six-time AMA National Enduro Champion, Steward Baylor (Kawasaki) makes a welcome wildcard entry in Fafe.
Tight racing expected in Expotrade Women’s Enduro
After missing the GP of Finland, the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro categories of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship return to action for back-to-back weekends of racing in Fafe, Portugal, for what will be rounds three and four of their five-round series.
Entering this important block of racing in Portugal, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish will look to strengthen her 14-point championship lead.
Moving up to second overall in this year’s title fight is ET James Sherco UK’s Nieve Holmes. Holmes leads a three-way battle for the remainder of the podium positions with Ambiance Moto’s Justine Martel and RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett.
Tsubaki Junior Enduro battle heats up
Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Romain Dagna heads a two-way fight with TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Alberto Elgari in this year’s Tsubaki FIM Junior Enduro World Championship.
Both class rookies for 2026, the duo have claimed the majority of race wins between them, with Dagna currently holding a slender three-point lead over Elgari. However, with a resurgent NSA Racing’s Kevin Cristino stealing a race win at the GP of Finland, things look set to develop into a three-rider title fight.
Behind the top three, it’s Triumph Factory Racing’s Leo Joyon who holds fourth overall. Although needing a little more pace to bridge the gap to the top three on a regular basis, Joyon is well-positioned to capitalise on any mistakes they make.
Fantic Factory Racing’s Thibault Giraudon completes the top five. A non-score on day two in Spain hurt his points tally, but thanks to a podium result on day one in Finland, the Frenchman knows he has the speed to chase down Joyon.
All to play for in Putoline Oil Youth Enduro
It’s all to play for in the Putoline Oil FIM Youth Enduro World Championship. Exceptionally close racing sees Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Simone Cagnoni lead the way after three rounds, with only three points separating the top three riders and 14 points covering the top five competitors in the overall standings.
The Italian has proved himself a model of consistency to date in 2026 with four podium finishes, while never dropping lower than fifth. Although yet to claim a win, he is putting together a strong championship run and currently holds a three-point lead over TM MOTO Costa Ligure’s Pietro Scardina and WP Eric Auge’s Yago Dominguez, jointly.
The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four, GP of Portugal I, in Fafe, on 12-14 June.
