Portugal was once again the host country for the second round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, although the event was held in Valpaços.
If last week the riders faced a very difficult race due to the weather, because of the heavy rain in Fafe, this time the high temperatures and the sun were the protagonists. But the strong heat did not prevent the terrain from hiding some traps, as, with the passage of the participants, very muddy areas were formed.
Mireia Badia and Rosie Rowett of the Rieju Factory Team have once again demonstrated their potential at the controls of their Rieju MR PRO, achieving very good performances in a women's class where the competition is increasing its level.
On Friday night, as usual, the SuperTest was held, a test in which Rosie Rowett set the best time, while Mireia Badia finished with a very similar time, with a difference of only hundredths of a second, but in third position.
On Saturday, on the first day of competition, Badia started off dominating the category, but when she reached the last lap, she got stuck in a mud trap, being overtaken by an opponent, so Mireia had to settle for second place. While her teammate Rosie Rowett, climbed the podium in third place.
On Sunday's second day, the battle between the riders was again very intense, although Mireia Badia was able to withstand the pressure and remained first until she took the victory in Valpaços, while Rosie Rowett, a little further back, battling with a rival from the USA throughout the day, finished in fourth position, scoring good points.
With these results, after the first two double races of the 2024 World Championship, Mireia Badia is in provisional leadership, with 72 points; her teammate, the British Rosie Rowett, is in fourth position with 55 points, very close to the podium area.
Despite suffering an accident last week in Fafe, French rider Loïc Larrieu was able to compete in this second round, finishing ninth in the Enduro-3 class on Saturday. On Sunday, despite the muddy and very deteriorated terrain, he improved his classification to finish seventh.
The third round of the season will take place in Romania, specifically in Bacau, from the 10th to the 12th of May.
Mireia Badia:
"On Saturday I was leading the race almost all day, until the last lap when I got caught in a muddy patch and a competitor made up time and overtook me, so I finished second. On Sunday I had a good performance, holding off the second place rider by a few seconds, so I'm very happy to now lead the world championship".
