Newly crowned EnduroGP and E1 World Champion, Red Bull Factory Racing rider Josep Garcia talks with Enduro21 about his near perfect 2024 season, how fatherhood and accepting criticism have helped achieve his life ambition.

Josep Garcia has finally fulfilled the dream he’s had since childhood: becoming EnduroGP World Champion. After two seasons falling just short, he completed a near faultless campaign in 2024, staying injury-free and taking a GP day win at each round of the championship to secure the coveted overall title, while also defending his crown in Enduro1.

His record speaks for itself: five world titles in various categories, 16 national championships, and three individual victories in the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE).

And it might not be over yet as Josep enters the upcoming ISDE 2024 in Galicia, Spain as one of the top contenders both individually and in the team events… Could this be Garcia’s best year yet?

Josep explains to Enduro21 how fatherhood, listening to criticism and perseverance made his dream come true and how this victory has removed a burden, allowing him to become an even better rider.

Congratulations Josep, EnduroGP World Champion!

Josep Garcia: “The title has finally arrived after three years of chasing it! The last few years, although you can’t live on the “what if...”, I think injuries robbed me of being able to fight to the end. This year I was finally able to complete a whole world championship without injury, physically fine, with some scares, but nothing bad.

“It’s been a good year in which we’ve won at least one day in every GP, and that says a lot, because sometimes you go to a country where the race doesn’t go well for you or it’s hard for you to adapt to the conditions. And if you don’t have a good ‘feeling’ on Saturday, it’s difficult to turn the omelette on Sunday. And this year we got it, so I’m really happy.”

A title that’s even more valuable with all the leading riders at 100%...

“The last few years have been a bit strange because when I haven’t been injured, Freeman or Holcombe have been... This year, you’ve seen how strong we’ve been, all the riders have been fighting to be in front of me. Maybe we’ve had small issues, like everyone else, but no injury that stops you of going to a race or an injury in which you have to go through surgery and force a long recovery, which is where the seasons get complicated. I think it showed that we were all at the front fighting every race at 100%.

“I’m happy that we were all in each race because that way, when you win you say, ‘yes! I won with everyone there!’ We’ve all been at our best, all physically well, so on a personal level it makes me even happier.”

Until now you had won world championships in your category, but you had never won the big one in EnduroGP, what has changed?

“Well, in the end enduro has also changed. Before, the titles of each category were celebrated as if it were the EnduroGP title. I have always celebrated it in the same way, because a world champion title is always a title. Although, for the past 4 or 5 years, since the EnduroGP category was created, it seemed that if you don’t win the overall EnduroGP, something is missing.

This year, on a personal level, I told myself that I wanted to win EnduroGP. It was like a pressure that I put on myself, and after I won, I think I finally got a weight off my shoulders.

For the last two years I had been the fastest rider and the most wins in the whole championship, but I needed to win it.

And in the end, having done it, I think that next year and the rest of the years in enduro, I have taken a weight off me that will allow me to improve even more as a rider.”

Has there been a chip change?

“The only thing that has changed is that I am now a father! (laughs). I’m serious, because being a father has helped me in the sense that before, after a bad race or when I didn’t do well, I would beat myself up and look for reasons.

“Now, if Helga and Célia [his wife and daughter] are not at the race with me, I make a video call, talk to them and I don’t worry anymore. When you hang up, you say a little ‘hit the sack’ and tomorrow will be another day.

“In the end there is life beyond racing and you don’t always have to be upset if you don’t win. I used to do it, now I can say that fatherhood has helped me in this aspect.”

Respect the Tof...

“In terms of training, I have continued as usual. Last year, when we changed bikes, the adaptation to the new KTM 250 EXC-F 2024 cost me a little.

“On the other hand, I trained again with my French coach, Christophe, with whom we already had at home [KTM] in 2017, when I won my first title. This has also helped me a lot, both in terms of perfecting my technique on the bike and my confidence.

“That’s all apart from continuing to work in the gym, because it is clear that if you are physically fit and have muscle mass, you can avoid possible injuries.”

What role has Christophe played in all this?

“Tof, as we call him, is my personal trainer, he is not part of KTM. Simply, when I joined KTM in 2017, he was the coach of Antoine Meo. Then, when the Meo decided to jump into the world of rallies, Fabio [Farioli, team principal] kept him in the team and, when I joined KTM, he was already there. We often went to train at Meo’s house. And the first year we won the E2 world championship with KTM.

“In 2016 and 2017, there came a time when I thought I was already good on the bike and had reached my level, but if you find the right person who can help you improve even more, with good advice, it’s always better. It worked well for me, it doesn’t mean it works for everyone.”

“Despite being world champion, as a rider you always pick up vices on the bike, like the body position. He helps me perfect small details that make the difference. When, after a 10-minute test with roots, stones, mud, the first four finish within two seconds. This means that everything is decided by very little and he helps me improve in small things.”

It sounds like he gave you a boost of confidence?

“He is a person who says things as they are. There are riders who can’t stand being corrected or told they’re not doing things quite right. Sometimes you need to find someone you can trust. He knows me well, he knows how I ride a motorcycle and when I hesitate on any route and he tells me, it’s this way, I trust him fully and I don’t doubt for a second that it’s where he says it is.”

“My uncle Rafa is also good at the races, but he has another role. He takes care of my backpack, gives me water, food and everything to help me. He’s also there to show me the difficult places in the mudf or the best route on the climbs. More or less, they play the same role, but Tof’s job is more of a coach, he’s the one who perfects me on the bike.”

What else has changed apart from injuries?

“With the new bike, last year, despite continuing with KTM, I always said it was as if I had signed for another brand, because the bike was completely new. Everything changed from top to bottom, from the chassis to the engine, even the position of the body on the bike. Everything. So this always involves an adjustment period.

“Last year it was difficult for us to adapt, it was a year of evolutions, of finding what worked and what didn’t.

“This year we already started with the bike ready. With changes compared to last year, but with a clear vision of where we wanted to go.”

You have managed to make this 250 practically the same power as a 350.

“It’s only 100cc, not that big of a change either. It may sound like a lot, but KTM really makes their 250s race hard.

“And for me the difference from the 250 to the 350 isn’t that it revs more or less, it’s the engine torque. The 350 is a fatter engine, with more power.

“I’ve always said that a rider has a level and that, whatever bike you give him, he’ll go just as fast. You simply need to adapt your riding style. You have to adapt your level to the bike you ride.”

Will you continue in 2025 with the EXC-F 250 or are you considering a change of bike and category?

“We still don’t know for sure and it’s not 100% certain, but we’ll probably stick with the two and a half for another year. I’m having a good time. I’m already adapted to it.

“We still have two more years of contract with KTM, so I think I will continue with the 250 4T for another year, now that we have a good base. Looking ahead to the last year [of contract], we’ll see what we do, maybe change the displacement. This is the plan.”

You look good on this bike...

“I also had a great time with the 350, I could ride a little more relaxed and I didn’t have to go to the limit. With the 250 I have found the compromise I was looking for between going to the limit and fast. I have found a good balance with this bike.”

How are plans for the ISDE going?

“Well, of course we all race to win. After having done it three years in a row the objective remains the same. When you’ve been on top, you’re not satisfied with being second or third. I will fight to win once again. This is the goal.

Winning the Six Days is never easy because you have to square a lot of things and be very good all week. In EnduroGP you can have a regular weekend but at the ISDE you always have to give everything, otherwise the opportunity slips away.”

Victory at the ISDE would be the icing on the cake for a perfect 2024.

“Well, it would be the best way to end the year, the perfect season I’ve always dreamed of.

“At the moment I am very happy with how everything has gone, the most important goal has been achieved. EnduroGP is always the number one goal.

“At ISDE you race as a team, but obviously you want to win with the whole team and as an individual rider. But to win as a team on home soil would be incredible.”

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi