2024 Enduro European Championship results: double win for Andrea Verona in Italy
The 2024 Enduro European Championship kicked-off with two days racing Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy and a rash of EnduroGP World Championship regulars entered for race practice – Andre Verona takes charge with a double victory.
“Incisive” Andrea Verona came, saw and conquered a decent list of Enduro World Championship riders at first round of the 24mx Enduro European Championship.
Like many, Verona took part in this European event to train for the world championship which begins in Portugal next week and went away with a double victory across two days in in Castiglion Fiorentino.
The Italian flag was flying strongly in this opening round with the factory GASGAS pilot bettering Honda RedMoto’s Samuele Bernardini on day one by a minute and a half adrift with third place overall going to Davide Soreca a few seconds behind.
Now on a Kawasaki, Soreca got an early wake-up call on this drop-off…
Soreca recovered to take the win in E1 class ahead of Davide Mei (Diligenti Racing) and Jacopo Traini.
Verona, in addition to the overall, took the E2 victory ahead of Bernardini and Daniel Mundell (TNT Corse) in third place, returning to the European championship after a year.
In E3 the French national anthem echoed thanks to the determination of Anthony Geslin (Atomic Moto) who won by 14 seconds ahead of Mattia Capuzzo, with whom he battled throughout the day. Andrea Castellana completed the podium.
Junior class
Day one in Castiglion Fiorentino proved a good one for the return to the European stage for Killian Lunier. The Frenchman won the Junior1 category ahead of his compatriot David Scheid Guillemot (Atomic Moto) and the British Yamaha rider Charlie Charter. Off the podium was Kevin Cristino, protagonist of the top of the standings all day long and youth world champion but relegated due to a TC penalty.
In Junior2 Riccardo Fabris and Matej Skuta were protagonists of this first day of the championship. The winner after nine special tests was the 2023 champion Fabris, who managed to take home the victory by less than three seconds over Skuta.
The Finnish flag flies on the third step for Samuli Puhakainen who placed just two seconds ahead of Matyas Chlum.
The young guys from Youth class gave an intense day with the top three all within seven seconds. Riccardo Pasquato (Fantic Specia) took his Fantic to the first step and fifth place scratch. Luca Piersigilli (Diligenti Racing) finished in second place, while third place went to Valentino Corsi (Fantic Specia).
In the Senior, first place still has the signature of Maurizio Micheluz, reigning champion of this class. The Italian rider won ahead of the German Nico Rambow and Martin Gottvald.
Women
10 female riders began their 2024 Enduro European Championship with Tanja Schlosser setting the best time on day one.The young German knows no rivals and won the class with 1 minute and 17 seconds ahead of Team Atomic Moto rider Mauricette Brisebard. Closing the podium was Argentine rider Carla Scaglioni.
Overall scratch results day 1 (top 18):
Day 2
Overall victory again for Andrea Verona on the second day but, unlike yesterday, with a gap of just 25 seconds on Samuele Bernardini. The two Italian riders battled throughout the day, giving the large crowd a great spectacle with Verona making the difference on the 10-minute Enduro test each lap.
Rain didn’t arrive, giving the 186 riders Spring conditions to complete the three special tests.
Making amends for missing a time control on day one, Kevin Cristino took home third overall and first in the class – the Team Fantic motor rider winning the J1 classification ahead of Killian Lunier, winner yesterday, and David Scheid Guillemot.
In J2 Czech Republic Matej Skuta won his class by 21 seconds (and fourth overall) over Diego Haution (Atomic Moto), with Samuli Puhakainen 38 seconds behind. Day one winner Ricardo Fabris could only muster P6.
Among the young Youth, Team Specia teammates Valentino Corsi and Riccardo Pasquato claimed a one-two on the podium ahead of Simone Cagnoni.
Seniors
In the seniors Davide Soreca conquered the E1 class ahead of a battle for second position between Jacopo Traini and Davide Mei who fought until to the last special. Traini took the second step of the podium and over Mei by less than a second.
As in the overall, Andrea Verona and Samuele Bernardini claimed the first two positions in the E2 standings, with Mundell closing the podium in third position (and fifth overall).
In the E3, a worry-free victory again for Team Atomic Moto’s Anthony Geslin, ahead of Mattia Capuzzo by over a minute and a half and Robert Riedel third.
It was a double victory also for Maurizio Micheluz in the Senior class in front of Nico Rambow and Martin Gottvald.
The Women’s class was won again by Tanja Schlosser who was in a class of her own in all the special tests. In second place we found Sara Traini and in third Mauricette Brisebard.
Overall scratch results day 2 (top 18):
The 2024 season continues on June 15-16 in San Marino, which will host a European championship race for the first time, with the MiniEnduro European Cup opening their 2024 season in Aviano, Italy again on May 25-26.
More information and full results: www.europeanenduro.com
Photo Credit: European Enduro | Maxim
