2023 EnduroGP season preview
By Team TMX on 25th Mar 23
News Enduro Enduro World Championship
The off-road elite get ready to rock against the clock… With the FIM EnduroGP World Championship about to kick off at at Arma di Taggia in Italy, here is break down of who is riding in what class in 2023 and in the season opener in particular with a focus on the Brits of which there are quite a few. So here goes…
While current champ Andrea Verona has moved on, E1 sees the arrival of Red Bull KTM’s Josep Garcia and Junior champ Zachary Pichon (Sherco) who moves into the senior ranks. 2022 runner-up Thomas Oldrati remains in the class on his RedMoto Honda. Also, Honda mounted, is class rookie Roni Kytonen who like Pichon has moved up from the Junior ranks. From a British POV, interest lies with Fast Eddy Racing pairing Jamie McCanney and Jack Edmondson on their black Husqvarnas.
The E2 category is generally the most talent-laden and that remains true for 2023. Leading the way will be current E1 and EnduroGP champ Andrea Verona who moves to the midsize class on a 350cc GASGAS. Reigning E2 champ Wil Ruprecht has moved from TM to Sherco machinery in the off-season and should be in contention for the class win as will battling Brits Steve Holcombe (Beta Factory Racing) and Nathan Watson (RedMoto Honda).
Others to look out for in the E2 class include TM’s Daniel Milner, Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald and for round one at least, three-time SuperEnduro champion of the world – Mr Billy Bolt. This isn’t Timecard Bill’s first EnduroGP rodeo and he’ll be looking to set the pace on Friday night’s Akrapovic Super Test.
Brad Freeman has to start as the favourite in the E3 class as he’s been in incredible form in the pre-season races he’s competed in. On paper, the Beta Factory star should be able to concentrate on the EnduroGP battle and win the E3 class by default although fans of Mikael Persson (Husqvarna), Jaume Betriu (KTM) and Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) might disagree with that. A healthy field of 16 E3 runners is entered for round one which is a much better number than we saw last season.
The Women’s championship ought to be a corker and there’s a decent chance of seeing a British 1-2-3 as 2022 Euro champ Nieve Holmes (Sherco) returns to the world championship where she’ll join Team GB ISDE teammates Rosie Rowett (Rieju) and Jane Daniels (JET Husqvarna). Daniels has been the class of the field in recent years but Rowett’s new buddy at Reiju, Mireia Badia, is looking fast as is RedMoto Honda’s Francesca Nocera. It should be an enthralling year between the tapes.
The chances of a British Junior world champion are quite decent as current Youth champ Harry Edmondson and perennial challenger Jed Etchells get the Factory Fantic hook-up for 2023. Manxman Max Ingham joins them in the J1 division for the series opener in this difficult-to-predict class. Beta’s Samuli Puhakainen should be somewhere near the sharp end along with Frenchman Antoine Alix and former MX2 GP racer Gianluca Facchetti.
No Brits in J2 this year. Swede’s Albin Norrbin and Max Ahlin look to be the two who’ll be up at the front most frequently.
Will 2023 be the year that Kevin Cristino lays claim to the Youth title? Based on previous performances you’d have to say the Italian Fantic star should dominate but every so often a rider comes along and upsets the applecart and it’s not over until it's over. Just over 30 of the screaming 125s are entered for the first round along with two Brits in the form of Sam Davies (Eric Auge KTM) and Doug Lote who represents Chris Hockey’s Kiwi’s Bike Shop Sherco race team. You can support the 18-year-old’s first foray into the world championship right here - gofund.me/632a6f53.
After the opening round of the championship in Italy, Spain hosts the second round at Lalin before the EnduroGP tour swings through Scandinavia and Slovakia before wrapping up on the Iberian Peninsula. We’ll keep you posted on the series' progress throughout the year.
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