A weekend that’s all about character: resistance in EnduroGP and lessons in style in the Italian Trial Championship.
The chequered flag has come down on another intense weekend for Beta colours, spread across the four corners of the globe. Whether it was taming the rocks of the far north of Europe, dancing through the mud of Italian tracks or dominating the Australian dust, our riders have once again demonstrated their unshakeable determination. From leadership positions secured, comebacks in fine form and outright victories, here is a recap of a weekend spent, as always, pushing the limits.
The FIM EnduroGP World Championship made a stop in Finland, in the spectacular and treacherous setting of Vierumäki. The 59 km track, characterised by a tough mix of sand, rocks and slippery roots, was complemented by three very different tests: a natural Extreme Test, a fast-paced Enduro Test and a rapid, dusty Cross Test.
For Brad Freeman, it was a weekend of pure resilience: fresh from the severe abdominal injury sustained in Spain, the Englishman gritted his teeth to secure a 3rd place in the E3 class on Saturday, before improving on Sunday with an excellent 2nd place (and 4th in the overall EnduroGP standings). “After the crash at the Spanish GP, I tried to recover my strength and energy,” explained Freeman. “I’d say the two results achieved are satisfactory. At the double Portuguese GP, we must aim for the best possible result.”
A more challenging weekend for Nathan Watson, as he struggled to find the right feel for the Finnish special stages. The Briton finished with a 6th and a 5th place in the E2 class, retaining fifth place in the championship. “I’m not satisfied; I couldn’t find the right feel to perform at my best. In Portugal, I need to try and put in an excellent race,” he said.
Among the youngsters, Clément Clauzier stood out, delivering a very solid weekend and two consecutive third-place finishes in the Junior 1 category.
The Asiago Plateau provided the setting for the third round of the Italian Championship, which saw riders compete across 12 sections in total: 11 set out in extremely slippery undergrowth and a spectacular indoor area created with logs right in the village.
In the top TR1 class, Matteo Grattarola demonstrated class and composure: after a slightly sub-par first lap on Saturday, he fought back with a sensational second run to win the day. On Sunday, he gave his rivals no chance, proving unbeatable from the very first sections and securing victory and the championship lead. “The race went well; I didn’t get off to the best start but I made up for it. The bike ran brilliantly and the team did a great job. We’re starting to prepare for the World Championship in Andorra!”, commented the star rider from Lecco.
In Women’s A, the unchallenged dominance of Andrea Sofia Rabino continues, as she won both days, demonstrating a perfect feel for her Sincro. In her own words: “It was a positive weekend; the feeling was excellent.
The sections were slippery, quite long and technical; overall a difficult race, but I rode well and I’m very happy.”
The weekend also saw excellent results in the other categories: victories on Saturday for Giacomo Brunisso (TR2), Edio Poncia (TR3 125), Graziano Ronca (TR3-Open) and Alice Parodi (Women’s B). On Sunday, Federico Bonfanti (TR3 125) and Graziano Ronca (TR3-Open) once again claimed the top step of the podium.
After a five-week break, the MXGP revved up its engines again at the French circuit of Lacapelle-Marival.
Jago Geerts, riding the Beta RX 450, enjoyed a weekend of steady improvement. After finishing 18th in qualifying and 16th in Race 1, the Belgian rider found excellent rhythm in Race 2, finishing in 13th place (15th overall for the day), thus moving up to 19th place in the championship standings. “I had a positive weekend in France. My feeling with the bike has improved a lot and I feel much more competitive on the bike,” said Geerts. “The aim is to keep improving to get as close as possible to the top ten.”
Next stop: Teutschenthal for the German Grand Prix.
Ruben Chadwick dominated the second round of the Australian Championship at Esk (Queensland).
In a dry, dusty setting that suited him perfectly, the Australian rider first won Saturday’s prologue after coming from the back of the field, and then crushed the competition on Sunday. Amidst dry waterfalls and rocky mule tracks, Chadwick was one of only two riders in the race to complete the scheduled three laps, finishing over an hour ahead of his closest rival. The undisputed championship leader commented: “Physically I felt good and the bike worked brilliantly all weekend.”
The weekend also brought great satisfaction in Eastern Europe.
In Třemešné (Czech Republic), David Fabián showed no mercy in the Trial Championship. Riding the Beta Sincro Factory 300, he dominated the natural technical sections, winning on both Saturday and Sunday in the TR1 and Junior categories. “ The sunny weather made everything more difficult, but I managed to avoid any serious mistakes,” he said.
In Poland, at Siedlęcin, Samuel Stuchlík made a triumphant return in the Endurocross-Ipone Series Championship: starting second on his new RR 200 Racing, he upped the pace lap after lap until he overpowered the competition, winning the race and securing first place in the overall standings.
Stay tuned: the season is still long and the throttle is wide open!
Beta shines in Africa and Portugal
Beta shines across X-Trial and Hard Enduro
Beta spotlights the MY26 innovations
Busy weekend for Beta: race results
