Two days of racing – two podium finishes! Andrea Verona has delivered a weekend of top results at the opening round of the 2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Portugal to secure a double podium in the hotly contested Enduro2 class. The GASGAS Factory Racing rider lies third overall in the EnduroGP standings, heading into round two.
- Double E2 podium result for Andrea in Fafe, Portugal
- Italian star competes on GASGAS EC 450F for the first time
- Verona lies second overall in E2 category after strong opening round
EnduroGP fired back into action on Friday night with the fan-favorite Super Test. Despite rain falling all evening, and the track becoming more and more challenging at the event went on, Verona stepped up and gave it everything he had to deliver the fourth-quickest time in Enduro2.
The overnight rain made conditions tricky for day one in Portugal, but Verona came out fighting. Posting the second-fastest time in the first four tests of the day. After winning the next two tests, a mistake on the extreme test cost him valuable seconds, knocking the GASGAS rider back down the order. Regrouping and putting in two strong final tests, Verona secured third place in E2, just 13 seconds off the leader after close to one hour of racing between the tapes.
Day two started off well for Verona. Excelling in the enduro test on his EC 450F, the #99 placed third in Enduro2 at the end of the first lap. Getting his head down and making up good time on the second lap, the Italian moved up to second in E2 and overall, just less than 10 seconds down on the leader. A blistering third lap saw the reigning Enduro2 World Champion come agonizingly close to taking the win, ultimately finishing the day as runner-up overall, less than three seconds from victory.
Pleased with his world championship debut on the formidable EC 450F, Verona now looks ahead to round two of the 2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship, held in Oriana, Spain, on May 2-4.
Andrea Verona: “End of the first round here in Portugal and I’m really happy with the weekend. I really settled in a lot better on day two and was able to come away with second in E2 and second in EnduroGP, just two and a half seconds off the win. It’s a bit frustrating to miss out by such a small amount, but I know I gave everything out there. I was losing a little time to the others on the extreme test, but then making it back up in the enduro test, which is important. I know what I need to work now and we’ll try again in Spain in a few weeks’ time.”
Results: FIM EnduroGP World Championship, Round 1
Day 1 – EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 54:08.59
2. Zach Pichon (TM) 54:13.38
3. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 54:16.29
4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 54:26.54
Day 2 – EnduroGP
1. Zach Pichon (TM) 52:08.70
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 52:11.45
3. Josep Garcia (KTM) 52:19.33
Day 1 – Enduro2
1. Zach Pichon (TM) 54:13.38
2. Steve Holcombe (Honda) 54:16.29
3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 54:26.54
Day 2 – Enduro2
1. Zach Pichon (TM) 52:08.70
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 52:11.45
3. Nathan Watson (Beta) 52:27.24
Championship Standings (After Round 1)
EnduroGP
1. Zach Pichon (TM) 37pts
2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 35pts
3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 30pts
Enduro2
1. Zach Pichon (TM) 40pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 32pts
3. Albin Norrbin (Fantic) 26pts