The 2024 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend in Brioude for the ACERBIS GP of France with all but one world title up for grabs – can Josep Garcia finally claim the overall crown for KTM?

It is fitting that the seventh and final round of this year’s EnduroGP World Championship should conclude in France. History fans will note that not since the days of Antoine Meo and Christophe Nambotin has KTM taken the outright crown and this weekend could finally see that repeated.

Sure, back in the day those guys were winning their respective classes, before EnduroGP became a thing, but who wasn’t looking at the scratch results?

More remarkable than an orange bike never sitting on top in the modern EGP era is the fact the Spanish rocket Josep Garcia has also not claimed that prize.

It has not been for want of trying as the Farioli-backed rider has “only” ever claimed individual world crowns, plus consecutive ISDE scratch wins but never the golden prize in an era which has been dominated by Beta with Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman.

The bookies favourite

With a 10-point lead, Garcia looks favourite in Brioude having delivered one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, claiming a GP day win at every round. That means Josep has a 17-point lead over GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona, and a further six points over Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Steve Holcombe.

Garcia could take the title with one day to spare if he rides to victory on Saturday, putting himself more than 20-points clear.

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There’s not a chance either Verona or Holcombe will be doing anything other than everything to prevent that but we must factor in here the likes of Freeman (yet to take a GP win in 2024) and Zach Pichon on home soil wanting to spoil this party.

Results have often been decided by fractions of a second this season and there are some serious candidates set to repeat that trend this weekend.

EnduroGP overall standings with one round remaining:

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Category world titles go to the wire

With the 2024 E2 title standing as the only senior crown already claimed, by Andrea Verona, all else is mathematically still to play for across the classes. Watch the podium places in E2 too though with Nathan Watson currently second and 14-point ahead of Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini.

Garcia sits six points to the good of Holcombe in E1, and Brad Freeman should be good for a 10th (yes, 10th) world title on Saturday with a 37-point lead in E3.

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The GP of France marks the final round of the FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship also and it is Rieju’s Mireia Badia who is poised to secure a debut world title. The Spaniard holds a 37-point lead over teammate Rosie Rowett which also means she should be crowned champion on Saturday afternoon.

Expect a French female or two to be in the mix this weekend as the podium places get decided. Rowett holds an eight-point advantage over Team KBS Sherco’s Rachel Gutish in third, who in turn is only 10 points clear of Elodie Chaplot (Beta) in third.

Ahlin ready to follow illustrious Swedish heritage with Junior title

In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship, Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Max Ahlin starts in Brioude as favourite having nearly secured the title last time out in Wales. If the Swede finishes no lower than second he should also become a world champion on Saturday.

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Team KTM Pro Racing Sport’s Manuel Verzeroli already took the Enduro Youth title in Wales but will have French rivals aiming to cap off the year with a win including Romain Dagna (Sherco) and the newly signed to the Beta Factory Racing brothers, Maxime and Clement Clauzier.

French classic enduro tests

It's a decade since organisers Moto-Club Brioude have hosted the world championship and we expect the same high standards as then and as ever from the French GP. Riders will face the ACERBIS Cross Test, MAXXIS Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test on the main race days with racing beginning in front of an appreciative crowd on Friday with the AKRAPOVIC Super Test.

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Stay tuned to Enduro21 for news, rider interviews and videos from across the weekend.

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media