Round six of the 2025 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Darfo Boario Terme, Italy, produced two days of high drama, changing conditions, and historic results as Josep Garcia secured his sixth world crown while Andrea Verona delighted home fans with a career-defining EnduroGP victory.
Heavy overnight rain before Saturday’s opening full day of racing forced organisers to cut the loop to three tests per lap, setting the stage for a tense and unpredictable contest. From the outset, Garcia and Zach Pichon set the pace, with Verona in close pursuit after his AKRAPOVIC Super Test win on Friday. Garcia built a commanding 27-second lead through lap two before a costly crash on the stones of the GMOTO Enduro Test reduced his advantage to just 10 seconds. Pichon pressed hard, cutting the gap further, but Garcia hung on to take the EnduroGP day one victory by three seconds. Verona completed the podium ahead of a superb ride from Antoine Magain in fourth, with Morgan Lesiardo fifth.
The class battles were equally fierce. Garcia dominated Enduro1 for his 11th win of the season, with Lesiardo taking second on home soil and Samuele Bernardini third. In Enduro2, Pichon claimed a vital win to stretch his championship lead back out to seven points, beating Verona and Theo Espinasse. Magain was outstanding in Enduro3, earning his second victory of the season over teammate Hamish Macdonald and Leo Le Quere.
Italy also celebrated victories in the junior ranks. Kevin Cristino stormed to Junior Enduro glory, overcoming early leader Thibault Giraudon by 10 seconds, with Leo Joyon third. The Youth Enduro class produced a home 1-2-3, led by Pietro Scardina ahead of Alberto Elgari and Riccardo Pasquato.
“It was a really good day of racing,” said Garcia. “I felt good and was riding perfectly, but I had a big crash on the last Enduro Test of lap three. After that I just managed the gap. I’ll go again tomorrow at 100 per cent.” Pichon admitted, “It was close with Josep. I’m happy with my day, but a little disappointed to finish so close.” Verona added, “It wasn’t perfect — I had a big crash late on that cost me time.”
If Saturday belonged to Garcia, Sunday was Verona’s day. With drier conditions restoring pace to the course, Verona seized control of the EnduroGP fight as Garcia struggled with pain from his day one crash. Pichon set the early tone with the opening GMOTO Enduro Test win, but soon faltered, while Lesiardo surged into contention and even led outright at one stage. By lap three, Verona stretched clear with a 25-second advantage as Pichon slipped down the order.
The final lap became a career-making moment for Italy’s Lesiardo. Locked in a tense scrap with Max Ahlin and Jeremy Sydow for the podium, he delivered a faultless closing run to secure second place and his maiden EnduroGP podium, as well as a breakthrough win in Enduro1. Sydow snatched third in dramatic fashion by topping the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, leaving Ahlin fourth and Magain fifth.
Verona was elated with the EnduroGP win and the Enduro2 class victory, closing Pichon’s title lead to just two points heading into the German finale. “I’m happy with my performance,” Verona said. “Conditions were drier, and I was able to give my best. With this win, I gained a lot of points, and I’m in a good position for the last round.”
Lesiardo could hardly believe his achievements: “My first EnduroGP podium and first Enduro1 win, at my home GP — this result means something extra. It’s also the first victory for Triumph in the world championship. It’s hard to describe the feeling.”
For Sydow, the breakthrough was equally emotional. “I’m speechless,” said the Sherco rider. “It was a big fight all day, and it came down to the final test. To get third overall in EnduroGP and repay the team after my injury is very special.”
Despite his struggles, Garcia’s fourth place in Enduro1 was enough to mathematically secure the 2025 Enduro1 World Championship, his sixth career world title. “There’s a lot of emotion today,” Garcia reflected. “We worked hard all year for this. I crashed yesterday and injured my elbow and hip, then had another crash this morning. I was in a lot of pain, but somehow I kept going and got it done.”
Elsewhere, Sherco Racing Factory dominated Enduro3 with Magain taking a double victory and Macdonald second both days, joined on Sunday’s podium by Julien Roussaly. In Junior Enduro, Cristino completed a perfect weekend with a thrilling two-second win over Axel Semb, with Manuel Verzeroli third. “I had to ride most of the day in only third gear, but I managed and I’m super happy to win at home,” Cristino said.
Youth Enduro brought redemption for Romain Dagna, who bounced back from a day one technical exclusion to win day two by 38 seconds. Scardina and Elgari completed the podium, while Saturday’s victor Scardina settled for second.
As the championship heads to its decider in Zschopau, Germany, Garcia retains a slim 15-point lead over Verona in EnduroGP, with Pichon just behind in third. With world titles still on the line in EnduroGP, Enduro2, Junior and Youth, the 2025 season is set for a dramatic finale.
