Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia has topped the EnduroGP timesheets on both days of racing at the GP of Estonia, earning his first EnduroGP class victory of the 2021 season. Backing up his winning day one performance with a second consecutive victory on Sunday, the KTM 350 EXC-F rider enjoyed a massively positive weekend and moved himself up into the runner-up position in both the EnduroGP and Enduro2 championship standings.
Coming into the round lying fourth in the overall EnduroGP standings, Josep Garcia immediately threw down the gauntlet to his rivals, topping proceedings in the short, Friday night Super Test. With his confidence high, the young Spaniard went into Saturday’s full day of racing hungry for more success, and ready to push hard. Increasing his pace over the course of the four laps, Garcia entered the final Super Test of the day with over nine seconds advantage on the second-placed rider. Putting in another strong test time, Josep successfully secured his and Red Bull KTM’s first EnduroGP win of the year.
Day two carried on very much like the first, with Garcia and closest rival Brad Freeman swapping places at the top of the timesheets. After 11 tests, and well over one hour of timed racing in the heat and dust of Estonia, Garcia trailed the Brit by just under two seconds. With just the short, final Super Test between him and another day win, Josep gave it his all, ultimately posting a time two-and-a-half-seconds faster than Freeman to clinch the win and secure the Estonia double.
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Josep Garcia: “Finally everything came good for me here in Estonia and I was able to claim the victory in both Enduro2 and EnduroGP. It was hard work, but after winning day one, I knew if I stayed focused, I should be in the fight for day two as well. I made a few mistakes on Saturday and had a couple of crashes, thankfully nothing too serious and it didn’t lose me too much time. On Sunday, I had one crash, but I think Brad did too, and the battle with him stayed really close. We were pushing the limits all day, in every test. Arriving at the last test less than two seconds behind, I knew I had to give it my all – if I crashed, I crashed, but I had to make up those seconds to take the win. Thankfully, the test was perfect, and I was able to claim another victory in EnduroGP. It’s an amazing feeling and I’m really looking forward to going to Sweden now, hopefully for more of the same.”
EnduroGP Championship Standings (After Round 3)
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 111 points
2. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 94 pts
3. Wil Ruprecht (AUS), TM, 89 pts
4. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 75 pts
5. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 72 pts
STORY: Josep Garcia And KTM Sign Two-Year Contract Extension (August 2021)
STORY: Ankle Injury Hampers Holcombe’s Estonia EnduroGP Performance (July 2021)
STORY: KTM & Josep Garcia Return To FIM Enduro World Championship (January 2021)
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