2021 FIM EnduroGP of Italy Results

Cycle News Staff | July 1, 2021

Brad Freeman won both days at the second round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Edolo, Italy, June 26-27.

2021 FIM EnduroGP of Italy Results — **Beta’s Brad Freeman was a double winner at the EnduroGP round in Italy.**

The Beta rider from Great Britain, Freeman, extended his points lead over his nearest rival, TM-mounted Wil Ruprecht of Australia.

Freeman and Ruprecht had a great battle all day Saturday. Ruprecht went into the 12th and final test leading Freeman by five seconds, but Freeman fought for those five seconds back and then some, winning the test and the day’s overall by just two seconds.

KTM rider Josep Garcia was third on the day.

“It’s been one of the best battles I’ve had in EnduroGP,” said Freeman. “Wil and myself were fighting for the top time almost every test and that really pushed us on. We were both on the limit and coming into the final [Enduro test] I had to give it 100 percent to win. Hopefully tomorrow is more of the same!”

It was.

Freeman and Ruprecht went at it again, but this time Freeman slowly edged away from Ruprecht as the day wore on and eventually took the win by 27 seconds over the TM rider.

Third on the day (and eighth on Saturday) went to seven-time World Champion Steve Holcombe. The Beta rider came into the weekend with a broken rib suffered at the previous week’s EnduroGP in Portugal.

“That’s been a brutally tough weekend to be honest,” Holcombe said. “I was on the back foot coming here, having found out I’d broken a rib during my crash on day one in Portugal last weekend. I was struggling for strength and to get comfortable, and that showed with Saturday’s result. We changed the bike setup a little for Sunday and I changed my mindset. I stressed less about the injury and rode for enjoyment. Somehow it worked out well for third in EnduroGP.”

But Freeman was firing on all eight cylinders. “It’s been brilliant to pick up a double win this weekend; I can’t ask for more than that!” said Freeman. “After yesterday’s effort I knew another four laps today would be hard work. I rode good this morning and that made the difference for sure, I was able to control things from there.”

Ruprecht came away with the Enduro2-class win both days, while Freeman also topped the Enduro3 class. CN