FRUSTRATING WEEKEND FOR ANDREA VERONA AT ENDUROGP OF SPAIN.
GASGAS FACTORY RACING STAR BATTLES HARD AT SECOND ROUND OF THE ENDUROGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t. That’s how it is in enduro! And for GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona, things kinda didn’t go his way at round two of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Still fighting at the front of the overall results, ultimately it was a weekend of frustration for the Italian. Unable to find his best form out on the special tests, the reigning EnduroGP World Champ nevertheless battled hard to place a solid fourth overall on both days, twice finishing as runner-up in Enduro2.
After a strong start to his title defense at the series opener in Italy last month, Verona was aiming for a solid ride on his EC 350F in Lalin, Spain. However, a crash in Friday’s Super Test frustratingly set the tone for what was to come.
With day one featuring a mixture of rain in the morning and sun in the afternoon, Verona was fighting hard in the early slippery conditions. But as the tests dried, he struggled a little and finished just four seconds shy of the EnduroGP podium, in fourth.
Striving for more on Sunday, Andrea ended lap one of three in third overall. Losing some time on lap two, he signed off from the event with the third quickest time on the final special test but again finished fourth overall and second in Enduro2.
Putting the GP of Spain behind him, Andrea is now focused on bouncing back to form in more favorable conditions at the GP of Finland at the end of May.
Andrea Verona:“I’m not too happy with my weekend. I don’t feel like I rode how I should. I was struggling on day one. I kept making many mistakes and crashes and wasn’t able to go with the leaders in the fight for the EnduroGP victory. Sunday was a better start, but then I struggled to keep that pace going. I just think the tests weren’t for me this weekend. Twice fourth in EnduroGP is not where I want to be. In Enduro2 the result was better, finishing second each day. With a few weeks until the next round in Finland and then Sweden I will reset and go again!”
Results – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 2
Day 1 – Enduro2
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:17.11
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:21.99
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:14:53.87
Day 1 – EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:12:22.05
2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:12:33.60
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:17.11
4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:21.99
Day 2 – Enduro2
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:07:09.17
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:40.65
3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:08:28.01
Day 2 – EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:19.44
2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:06:31.35
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:07:09.17
4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:40.65
Championship Standings – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, (after Round 2)
Enduro2
1. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 74 pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 74 pts
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 30 pts
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 80 pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 60 pts
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 60 pts
Text/Bild: GasGas