EnduroGP World Championship returns to Slovakia this weekend for the first of two back-to-back rounds in Eastern Europe (Hungary next week) with GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in charge of the gold plate but a whole heap of challengers aiming squarely at him.

If Andrea Verona has been consistant and predictable in this 2022 World Enduro Championship season, it has been despite the drama, crashes and super-competitive racing while a certain amount of chaos has reigned around him. The Italian has hammered home the mantra that to finish first, first you have to finish and while he has yet to take a GP win, crucially he’s always been there.

In the Junior and Youth classes, things are more clear-cut with Zach Pichon holding a healthy lead in EJ, and Harry Edmondson in charge of the 125 smokers.

Riders to watch this weekend

While Andrea Verona headed home from Portugal as EnduroGP championship leader, Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro’s Nathan Watson was the standout performer and moved up to third in the title chase, only three points behind Wil Ruprecht in second. Ruprecht arrives in Gelnica needing to regroup after crashing and losing the points lead at the last round.

Nathan Watson is the rider in form after a career-first double win in Portugal and carries both confidence and momentum to Slovakia with the big CRF450RX dialled at last.

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Josep Garcia’s full gas riding style was AWOL last time out in Coimbra but the Spaniard is healed up from his high-speed get off in Italy and, as Josep said in an interview with Enduro21, “you can’t throw in the towel until the end.”

Keep an eye on Thomas Oldrati always too plus the Beta Factory Racing’s duo Brad Freeman and Steve Holcombe who remain on the upwards slope after multiple injury setbacks between them, they’ve yet to show their true speed this year but are climbing closer.

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Pichon and Edmondson head Junior and Youth classes

Despite starting 2022 as a rookie, Zach Pichon has made the Enduro Junior class his own with five wins and a 38-point lead over Finland’s Roni Kytonen in second. Kytonen finally beat Pichon last time out in Portugal and will need to do so again to keep his title hopes in check. Beta’s Luc Fargier is only two points behind Kytonen in third having enjoyed multiple podium results in recent rounds.

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Fantic’s Harry Edmondson bagged a double win last time out in Portugal and has staretd to establish a lead in the points but this class is super-competitive. Twice a winner already in 2022, Kevin Cristino is his closest challenger ahead of Samuli Puhakainen third and Leo Joyonin fourth – all are capable of winning.

WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship Standings (after round 4):

EnduroGP

1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 133pts; 2. Wil Ruprecht (TM) 110pts; 3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 107pts; 4. Josep Garcia (KTM) 87pts; 5. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 83pts; 6. Brad Freeman (Beta) 57pts; 7. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 53pts; 8. Daniel Milner (Fantic) 52pts; 9. Hugo Blanjoue (KTM) 45pts; 10. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 43pts...

Enduro Junior

1. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 157pts; 2. Roni Kytonen (Honda) 119pts; 3. Luc Fargier (Beta) 117pts; 4. Jed Etchells (Fantic) 104pts; 5. Max Ahlin (Beta) 86pts...

Enduro Youth

1. Harry Edmondson (Fantic) 148pts; 2. Kevin Cristino (Fantic) 121pts; 3. Samuli Puhakainen (TM Racing) 102pts; 4. Leo Joyon (Beta) 97pts; 5. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) 87pts...

 

The WPTGlobal FIM EnduroGP World Championship kicks-off in Gelnica on Friday with the AKRAPOVIC Super Test. Stay tuned to Enduro21 for results, insight and videos across the weekend.

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media