2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship results from day one at the GP of Italy in Darfo Boario Terme where the wet weather grabbed all the limelight but Josep Garcia stole the show with victory to edge closer to the E1 world crown and Zach Pichon a narrow runner-up.

EnduroGP of Italy day 1 in a nutshell:

The rain made conditions tricky, not least in the Extreme test which ran up and down a rocky-as-hell river. It was one of those which the old boys would say was good to go but they decided to cancel it and riders went through without times or racing.

But it was default mode for Josep Garcia on a damp day one in Darfo, a day he described as “a good day of enduro” in, at times, challenging conditions.

The Red Bull KTM rider has one basic setting: go fast, rain or shine. Just like the reigning EnduroGP World Champion has demonstrated all season, and just as we saw last month at the ISDE in these same valleys, the Spaniard is as at home in the Italian mountains, forests, rocky streams and grass tests as he is anywhere on the planet. That’s why he is the master of the sport right now.

Brink of E1 world title for Josep

After a confusing day on the time sheets (many times were not visible) the net result was victory for Garcia, his seventh of the season although he did nearly throw it away with a mistake in the very last test. That allowed Zach Pichon, his most consistent challenger today on the TM, to finish within four seconds at the final timing beam.

Garcia also continued his 100% win record in E1 class and is tantalisingly close to the title after nearest challenger, Mikael Persson finished down the order today, P7 in E1. The Triumph rider is carrying injuries but also incurred a time penalty today which didn’t help and Josep’s lead is 59 points. With a total of 60 left to play for it is his to win tomorrow baring a DNF.

Third overall on the day, Andrea Verona was surely hoping for better at his home GP. But, while his championship rivals Garcia and Pichon, traded P1 and P2 for most of the 11 timed tests today, the GASGAS factory rider made notable mistakes and finishes over 20 seconds adrift. Pichon also slightly opens a gap in the E2 class title race.

Belgian bags E3 win and top 5 

Fourth scratch in conditions he revelled in, Antoine Magain also took a rare victory in E3 over his Sherco teammate, Hamish Macdonald. The Belgian was over a minute behind the top three but claims best of the rest award with fourth, beating Morgan Lesiardo into fifth by a slender 2.7s. It was a result not to be sniffed at, not just for beating Macdonald but with such a wealth of Italian talent stacked up behind him on the results sheets in these very Italian tests.

Back-to-back Youth and Junior world titles?

Italian talent in the diminutive form of Kevin Cristino topped the Junior rankings today, however. The Fantic rider was solid in taking on the French boys Thibault Giraudon and Leo Joyon who, in the end, clocked in 10 and 15 seconds behind the Italian respectively.

Another victory for Cristino tomorrow could really cement his stake to take back-to-back Youth and Junior world titles in consecutive years.

Dagna falls foul of FIM sticker

France’s Romain Dagna reversed the favour in the Youth class taking the win ahead of Pietro Scardina and Alberto Elgari as this trio continue both their season-long battle and the one they staged a the ISDE just up the road and just a few weeks ago.

But championship leader Dagna was stopped from edging closer to the Youth 125 world title after his FIM sticker from the front wheel was not there when he entered his bike to parc ferme. The rules enforced, Scardina was handed the day win while Dagna scored nil point.

Hungary doesn’t see too many winners at world enduro level but Roland Liska claimed a slice of podium pie with the Open World Cup (unofficial) scratch win, and (officially) the Open 2T victory.

EnduroGP of Italy scratch overall result:

E1 class:

E2 class:

E3 class:

Junior overall:

Youth 125 class:

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi