The 2026 Spanish Enduro Championship got underway this weekend in Valverde del Camino (Huelva), one of the most iconic events on the national calendar, returning after several years without being held.
The race, organized by Moto Club Valverdeño, was demanding and maintained the authentic enduro spirit. The special tests attracted a large number of spectators eager to watch the riders in action. The terrain was initially in good condition, although rain arrived on Saturday night, making the second day more challenging.
The Rieju Factory Team could not count on its main official rider, Dominik Olszowy, who is currently sidelined due to an injury sustained during SuperEnduro. Therefore, four riders represented Rieju in their respective categories.
In the main classes, Liam Sanjuan made his debut with the team in the national championship and is still adapting to the two-stroke. He secured sixth place in the Enduro1 class on the first day, while on the second day, with muddy conditions, the race became more complicated and he finished in eighth position. Meanwhile, Jordi Galera, Junior Vice-Champion in 2025, had an irregular weekend. On Saturday he was fighting for second place but made a mistake that forced him to retire. On Sunday he improved, once again battling for a podium position, but an error in the extreme test dropped him down to finish fourth in the Junior Open class.
More positive results came from Juan Rey, who demonstrated both his technique and speed, dominating the competition to claim two victories in the TN Junior class across the two days. In the Women’s category, María San Miguel delivered a very consistent performance, reaching the podium in both races with two second-place finishes.
Family&Friends debut
A great debut for the Family&Friends project in Valverde del Camino, where the Rieju team provided assistance services for its customers. Riders were able to experience the competition from inside the brand’s paddock tents, just like the official riders, with a total of five participants.
Among them, Josep Marsal stood out in the Master 55 class. Riding his MR300i, he delivered a strong performance that allowed him to finish both days in second place on the podium. Also notable was Francesc Aguilar, who debuted with his new MR300i. On Saturday he secured third place in Enduro3, although unfortunately he was unable to finish on Sunday.
The next race, and second round of the Spanish Championship, will take place in Valdecaballeros (Badajoz) in two weeks, where the Rieju team will once again be present.
