The first of back-to-back weekends in Fafe will be remembered for the maiden GP victory of the fuel-injected Fantic XE 300, while Thibault Giraudon and Valentin Mersin added to the Italian manufacturer's podium tally in the Junior and Youth classes.
A memorable weekend for Fantic at the EnduroGP of Portugal. On the opening day, Théo Espinasse made history, securing the first-ever E3 victory for the Fantic XE 300 powered by a fuel-injected Minarelli engine. The French rider delivered an outstanding performance, with the win being decided in the very last special test. On Sunday, Espinasse fought hard for a podium finish but ultimately had to settle for fifth place, capping off a positive weekend in Fafe.
The Fantic XE 300 proved equally competitive in the hands of Thibault Giraudon. He started the weekend in impressive fashion, as he secured third place in the highly competitive Junior class and took victory in Junior 2. On day 2, Giraudon staged a strong comeback ride, finishing third in Junior 2 and fourth in the Junior class.
While Riccardo Pasquato remains sidelined following an arm injury, Valentin Mersin continued his impressive run in the Youth class. In Portugal, the Team Specia Academy rider secured back-to-back runner-up finishes aboard his Fantic XE 125, moving closer to the top 3 in the championship standings.
With the fourth round of the season now completed, the EnduroGP paddock remains in Fafe for the second part of this Portuguese double-header.
Théo Espinasse:
“Saturday’s victory was special. I fought all day long to achieve the best result possible, and it was fantastic to celebrate this success with the whole team. They deserve it for all their hard work. Sunday was slightly more complicated after a crash in the Extreme Test that cost me a chance at another podium, but it was still a very positive weekend. Now it's time for a bit of rest before we go again next weekend.”
Thibault Giraudon:
“It was a positive weekend. I was very happy with my Saturday. It felt good to take the win in Junior 2 and finish third in the Junior class. On Sunday, I struggled a bit in the early stages, but I managed to fight my way back and end the day with a solid third place in J2 and fourth in the Junior class.”
