Holcombe came close to victory in the EnduroGP while Verona, Oldrati, Freeman, Kytonen and Cristino excelled in their respective classes in a GP where the three special tests were at the limit of practicability due to the heavy rain
Gelnica (Slovakia), 1 August 2022 - The fifth round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship was held in Gelnica, Slovakia, an extremely technical race characterised by a track with a varied surface and intermittent rain on Saturday and Sunday. There were three special tests (Extreme, Cross Test, Enduro Test) to be repeated two and a half times over the two days of the race, to which was added the Super Test on Friday evening, drawn on the route of the slightly shortened Extreme special test.
Metzeler Six Days Extreme
The Slovakian GP saw our riders measure themselves against a race course of around 70 km characterised by high-level and very technical special tests in which experience and control played a fundamental role in the success of the race. At the start of both race days, the course included a 1.1 kilometre long Extreme Test full of artificial obstacles inside a football pitch, a 6-kilometre long Cross Test very technical - and characterised by counter-slopes, motocross-style jumps and banks; and at the end of the round a very long and technical 8.5-kilometre Enduro Test inside a wood with soft and muddy terrain with numerous slippery roots.
Andrea Verona
In the EnduroGP class the new leader of the provisional standings is Andrea Verona, official Gas Gas rider, who collected a second and a fifth place in Slovakia, thus maintaining the ladership. Steve Holcombe (Team Beta Factory Enduro) did an excellent job, redeeming himself after his injury at the beginning of the season with a third place and a second place by just 0.45 from the first classified. Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), on the other hand, failed to shine at Gelnica, the Spanish rider picking up a podium finish on Sunday (third place).
Steve Holcombe
All the riders competing at Gelnica opted for a Metzeler Six Days Extreme soft compound like Andrea Verona (Gas Gas Gas Factory Racing). The E1 class leader shared podiums and victories with rival Thomas Oldrati (Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team). The score for both is one first and one second place on the two race days.
Andrea Verona
In the E2 class Steve Holcombe (Team Beta Factory Enduro) was the best of the Metzeler riders in the race. The British rider collected two excellent second places after his injury at the start of the season. Absent due to injury at the GP of Portugal, valid as the fourth round, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) returned to competition in Slovakia and the final score in the E2 class is two third places.
Steve Holcombe
Brad Freeman (Team Beta Factory Enduro) is still not at his best after injuring his left hand at the start of the season, but he won both E3 class race days at Gelnica. Currently the British rider is firmly in the lead followed by another Metzeler rider, Mikael Persson (Husqvarna Factory Racing), who collected two second places at the GP in Slovakia.
Brad Freeman
The best rider equipped with Metzeler Six Days Extreme tyres in the Junior class was Roni Kytonen (Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team), who took victory on Sunday.
Roni Kytonen
With two second places in the Gelnica GP Harry Edmondson (Fantic JET Racing) is still the provisional Youth class leader. After a decent first day of racing Kevin Cristino (Fantic Factory Team E/50 Racing) took the win on the closing day.
Youth Class podium
With the Slovakian GP over, teams and riders are already on their way to Zalaegerszeg in Hungary where the sixth and penultimate race of the 2022 season will take place next weekend (5-7 August 2022).
Results (METZELER riders in bold):
Classification EnduroGP
VERONA Andrea p.161
RUPRECHT Wil p.150
WATSON Nathan p.123
Classification Classe E1
VERONA Andrea p.197
OLDRATI Thomas p.169
CAVALLO Mattteo p.134
Classification Classe E2
RUPRECHT Wil p.174
WATSON Nathan p.152
GARCIA Josep p.130
Classification Classe E3
FREEMAN Brad p.169
PERSSON Mikael p.158
PAVONI Matteo p.142
Classification Classe Junior
PICHON Zachary. p.189
KYTONEN Roni p.152
FARGIER Luca p.141
Classification Classe Youth
EDMONDSON Harry p.182
CRISTINO Kevin p.154
PUHAKAINEN Samuli p.122
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