Steve Holcombe continued his winning start to the 2026 season with Sherco Factory Racing taking a convincing victory at popular British event, the Santon Enduro in Thetford.

Round one 2026 GH Motorcycles Beta ACUE Enduro Championship annually attracts a bumper entry list that never lacks a quality. This year’s star attraction at the Santon Enduro was Steve Holcombe making a maiden race appearance in Britain and his second (after a winning debut in the “Trofeo Enduro Sardegna” last month) since signing for Sherco and the CH Racing team.

It was Holcombe’s first chance to show a winter of training on the new bike, and with a new knee following last year’s write-off of a season, is paying off. And we think it is fair to say the nine-times enduro world champion is in good form as he made the 300 two-stroke Sherco sing between the East Anglian trees for a comfortable win.

A full entry of 200 riders from all over the UK made the journey to Thetford Forest for this popular early season event. Despite recent wet weather and overnight rain, the course was in prime condition and Holcombe looked prime in the sand, dominating the test clocking five to six seconds faster than anyone on each of the four tests.

The battle behind for the podium was won by Ben Cole (GH/G&B Finch Yamaha) closely followed by Charlie Chater Sherco also now racing on a Sherco UK machine.

A tough element of the Santon Enduro is the final, tight check with Championship riders having to work hard to beat the clock on the relentless forest loop.

On the last lap riders were expected to complete the 11 miles of bumpy twisty forest going in 24 minutes. Three riders managed to clock in a minute early: Holcombe was fastest with Clark and Chater about half a minute behind him. A further six riders clocked in on time confirming the finishing positions.

Shoutouts to Nieve Holmes (ET James Sherco) who added to the sea of Sherco blue at this event and just missed out on the top 10 as she returns to fitness. And to 16-year-old Ed Belton (150 GH G&B Finch Husqvarna) who clocked 23rd in his first ride in this highly competitive Championship class.

2026 Santon Enduro Results:

Class acts

In the Expert class some sixteen riders went clean on the going so the two special tests decided the results. However, Charlie Crossland (250 JSM GASGAS) was the only rider to clock in with two minutes to spare. Former MX star Syd Bales (250 GASGAS) took the victory by 0.2 seconds from Adam Reeve (450 Nama Media Yamaha) with Dan Willis (250 TMJ Honda) making a welcome return to enduro in a solid third.

The Expert Vets saw five riders with no time penalties and Jamie Powell (350 KTM) topped the class, three seconds clear of James Yearley (300 Beta) with Tim Rose (350 TF Mcs KTM) in third.

With some sixty-four riders, the popular clubman class saw only seven riders go clean with the second to fifth placed riders all clocking in with a minute to spare. Luke Evans (350 KTM) stayed on time, and his test times saw him take the win by three seconds. Aaron Bates (250 ET James Sherco) was second with Stephen Cornwall (250 Yamaha) a further two seconds back, taking third.

Just three riders stayed clean on time in the Clubman Vets class with Alex Pringle (300 QBG Sherco UK Sherco) six seconds clear of Christian Drane (450 GASGAS) with Michael Ridge (250 Ridgeracing Yamaha) a second back, in third.

The popular Clubman Super Vets (50+) saw five riders stay clean. John Hilton (300 Fab-Weld KTM) yet again was the winner, two seconds faster than Spencer Newland (350 HMS KTM) with Darren Osborne (249 Crescent Yamaha) some twenty-two seconds behind the leading duo.

Finally in the Clubman Super Vets (60+) Diss Club’s Mark Chapman (250 Beta) was the only rider with no time penalties, and he was some seven seconds faster than runner up Paul Armstrong (250 Enduro Tyres Husqvarna) with Paul Davis (125 Sherco) finishing in third.

(Words credit above: Richard Snowden)

As ever, the Diss MCC extend thanks to Forestry England to enable the running of this forestry event, GH Motorcycles for their continued support of both our event and the overall championship, East Anglia Medical Care, our paramedics, all our great team of volunteers that make this event possible and last, but not least, all the riders for supporting our event.

Round Two of the ACUE championship, run by Woodbridge MCC at Iken on March 1.

Photo Credit: Paul Flack