Steve Holcombe shines on Sherco debut with EnduroGP podium in Italy opener
By Team TMX on 13th Apr 26
Sherco Racing Factory rider Steve Holcombe made an immediate statement on his return to the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, securing an EnduroGP podium and Enduro3 class victory at the opening round of the 2026 season in Custonaci, Italy.
Holcombe began his weekend with a solid showing in Friday’s Super Test, setting the ninth fastest time as he adapted to the rocky Sicilian terrain in his first competitive outing with Sherco.
Carrying that momentum into Saturday, the Brit quickly established himself among the front runners. Consistently inside the top three across the demanding special tests, Holcombe delivered a composed and competitive ride to secure second overall in EnduroGP, while also claiming victory in the Enduro3 category.
Sunday’s action initially followed a similar pattern, with Holcombe running at the front and building confidence as conditions deteriorated.
However, a crash on the Enduro Test during the third lap proved costly. The incident dropped him out of overall podium contention, and despite a determined push through the final stages, he was unable to recover lost ground—eventually finishing fifth in EnduroGP.
He did, however, salvage a strong result in class, taking second in Enduro3 to cap a productive weekend.
Holcombe leaves the Italian opener third in the EnduroGP standings, just seven points off the championship lead, underlining the strength of his return after a difficult 2025 season.
In Enduro3, he leads the standings by five points, marking an encouraging start to his debut campaign with Sherco.
Reflecting on the weekend, Holcombe said: “It’s really good to be back in the EnduroGP paddock and back racing again after a tough year away last season. Day one started well and I was right in the fight at the front, battling with Josep which was positive.
“Sunday began strongly too, but unfortunately, I had a crash on the third enduro test. I was lucky to get away with it, and the bike wasn’t in too bad of a shape, so I could carry on andtry to recover the time.
“With how tight the margins are, it was always going to be tough to claw back time, but I kept pushing until the end. Overall, it’s been a solid opening round and a good base to build from.”
The 2026 EnduroGP World Championship resumes in early May with the GP of Spain in Oliana, where Holcombe will look to build on a promising return and continue his push at the front of the series.
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