The Portuguese Grand Prix, the fourth round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship and the third for the Women’s class, got underway on Friday afternoon in Fafe with the always exciting Super Test, witnessed by a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators.
Reigning World Champion Rachel Gutish arrived in Portugal leading the championship by 14 points over the second-placed rider, while her RIEJU Factory Racing teammate Rosie Rowett sat third in the standings.
In the Super Test, Gutish set the second-fastest time in the Women’s category, with Rowett securing third, setting the stage for a promising weekend.
On Saturday, riders faced three special tests along with a 50-kilometre lap to be completed three times depending on the class. High temperatures and dry conditions created heavy dust, making the race even more demanding. Rachel Gutish clearly dominated the category throughout the day, securing the victory. Meanwhile, Rosie Rowett battled intensely for second place and ultimately finished the day in a solid third position.
On Sunday, the American rider once again excelled on heavily worn special tests and a completely different terrain after overnight rain. She dominated her rivals and claimed another victory, earning valuable championship points and further extending her lead in the standings. Her teammate Rosie Rowett had a more challenging day, finishing fifth in the Women’s class. The British rider remains third in the provisional championship standings, just two points behind second place.
It was a difficult weekend for María San Miguel, who was unable to finish on Saturday but managed to complete Sunday’s race in eleventh position.
Two podium finishes for Jordi Galera, who remains championship leader
In the other categories, Jordi Galera enjoyed another strong weekend, finishing second in the Open2S category on Saturday before improving to take victory on Sunday. Thanks to these results, Galera maintains a firm grip on the championship lead.
Liam Sanjuan continues to search for his best form, finishing 11th in Junior J1 and 26th overall in Junior on the opening day. On Sunday, he repeated his 26th place finish in Junior but dropped to 12th in Junior J1.
Next weekend, the EnduroGP World Championship will once again host a double-header event in Portugal.
Rachel Gutish – RIEJU Factory Racing:
"Portugal has always treated me well, especially the races in Fafe, and this weekend was no exception. It was different racing here in the summer rather than in the spring. There was a lot of dust, a lot of heat, and the tracks deteriorated quickly, becoming very rough with deep ruts. This was the most physically demanding EnduroGP race I have competed in so far, but I rode really well. I won comfortably on both days and significantly increased my championship points advantage. The Rieju MR PRO 300i performed especially well in the Extreme Test. The agile chassis and excellent handling allowed me to flow through the difficult sections with ease. It was a very good race for me!"
