Results from day one at the GP of Spain, round one of the 2022 EnduroGP World Championship, in Lalin, Galicia, where the last test decides it for Andrea Verona ahead of Steve Holcombe and Wil Ruprecht narrowly in third.

 

Day 1 in a nutshell:

  • Riders took on the first special tests of the 2022 EnduroGP World Championship, a 10-minute long Enduro test which combined a forest and an open field; a grass Cross test; and an Extreme test that featured a really technical start.
  • If yesterday Super Test times were close, today they have been even closer. During the whole day the top five has just been separated by a handful of seconds with the last special test being the decider.
  • Andrea Verona it was who bagged the win today – the first overall scratch victory of his career – after blitzing the last Enduro test to post the second fastest time, despite hitting the ground once. That was enough for him to go from third to first in EnduroGP.
  • “It feels amazing and I’m really happy for my first overall win,” said Verona. “I have no words to describe my feelings. This year my goal was to win at least one day at a GP and I got it done at the first one. I hope that I can continue like this during the whole championship”.
  • Steve Holcombe has to settle for second place after leading the race from the second lap onwards. The Beta rider was slowed down by a big get off at the second Cross test which he admitted “was lucky to walk away from”.
  • “The day started really good, I had a great ride in the first Extreme test”, said Holcombe. “I had a massive crash on the second Cross test which I’m lucky to walk away from. The bike was a bit bent after that and I really struggled a bit, I think that the crash knocked me a bit. But I can complain, I put on a fight and I'm looking forward for day two.”
  • Third place, by just 0.16 seconds, went to Wil Ruprecht. The Australian showed some speed today, but he was dragged down all day by a poor performance at the opening Extreme test where he was 14th.
  • “What a way to open the season, what a way to open the season!” said Ruprecht. “The top five was really close today. I’m a bit disappointed to get pipped for the E2 win by just 0.16s but anyway I'm really happy for the way I have ridden”.
  • Josep Garcia was fourth today after too many crashes during the first lap. The KTM rider made up some of the lost time during the second and third lap but it wasn’t enough in the overall plus he was third in E2.
  • Brad Freeman had a day to forget after just managing ninth overall, although first in E3 was a consolation – we can't remember the last time we saw the Beta rider so far down the timing sheet.
  • In Juniors, the win went to newboy Zach Pichon who was slowed down by rear brake issues at the first special test. The Sherco rider repaired his bike after the opening lap and was back at the top for the rest of the day. Roni Kytonen and Jed Etchells completed the podium.
  • Harry Edmondson bagged the Youth win, his maiden overall, but only after Kevin Cristino’s Fantic expired in the last special test of the day. Samuli Puhakainen and Thibault finished second and third respectively.
  • In Women’s Enduroc class, Jane Daniels was miles ahead of her rivals and finished the day with a 1m50s advantage. Mireia Badia was second and Rossie Rowett, fastest overall female rider in the Cross test, third.

GP of Spain day 1 results – EnduroGP:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – E1:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – E2:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – E3:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – Women’s Enduro:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – Junior:

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GP of Spain day 1 results – Youth:

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Photo Credit: Enduro21 | Andrea Belluschi + Nicki Martinez