Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia has won the EnduroGP class on the second day of competition at the GP of Finland. After securing a third-place podium result on Saturday’s day one, the KTM 250 EXC-F rider pushed hard on Sunday to clinch his first EnduroGP-class win of the 2023 season.
Marking round three of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, and the first of two back-to-back Scandinavian rounds, the EnduroGP of Finland opened on Friday night with the always exciting Super Test. Despite a bobble on one of the log sections, Garcia completed the test in 11th place, less than three seconds from the winner, a result that only motivated the Spaniard further going into day one.
Enduro 1 Championship Standings (After Round 3)
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 117 points
2. Theo Espinasse (FRA), Beta, 81 pts
3. Zach Pichon (FRA), Sherco, 78 pts
4. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 75 pts
5. Matteo Pavoni (ITA), TM Racing, 72 pts
With changeable weather making the tough special tests even more unpredictable, Garcia took the first lap on day one to tailor his riding to suit the mud and demanding forest tracks. Lap two went better for the 2021 E2 World Champion as he increased his pace, completing the day by going quickest on the final test.
Garcia was able to carry that speed into day two, where he took six test wins from the nine raced. And although the final top three in the EnduroGP class were separated by less than nine seconds, Garcia took the overall victory with an advantage of over eight seconds ahead of the runner-up.
EnduroGP Championship Standings
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 117 points
2. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 92 pts
3. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 92 pts
4. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 84 pts
5. Hamish MacDonald (NZL), Sherco, 63 pts
Josep Garcia: “My weekend here in Finland has been good. I made a small mistake in the Super Test, which wasn’t the best start to the GP, but I knew with all the training I have been doing over the past couple of weeks I would have the pace to challenge for the podium. On Saturday I finished third in EnduroGP, but it took me a little time to get used to the different terrain here – especially in the enduro test. On Sunday, I felt a lot more comfortable. And although I was still struggling a little in the enduro test, especially in the rockier sections, I knew I would have to put in some good times if I was to have any chance of a win. I gave it everything I had and came out with my first overall win of the season. I’m looking forward to Sweden now as I think we can do the same again and challenge for that top step overall.”
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