Kevin Cristino continues to impress aboard the Fantic XE 300. With his second consecutive double victory, he takes over the lead in the Junior World Championship. In Vila de Rei, Pietro Scardina also stepped onto the podium with a second and a third place in the Youth category. In EnduroGP, Albin Norrbin delivered a strong performance, finishing inside the top 8 on both race days and edging ever closer to the E2 podium.
After the success of the Six Days in Italy, the Enduro elite returned to the spotlight from September 12 to 14 in Vila de Rei, Portugal, for the fifth round of the EnduroGP World Championship. The event was organized by Motoclub Esganados, which laid out an extremely selective 48.5 km track, made even more challenging by dusty terrain and technical sections.
The weekend race program included three special tests to be completed three times per day: a 5 km Cross Test on hard ground mixed with sand and stones; a 900-metre Extreme Test in the heart of the town, artificial and packed with spectacular obstacles; and a 5 km Enduro Test, just a few steps from the paddock, laid out on a rocky and loose hillside. On Sunday, due to a fire that broke out near the paddock, the race was stopped at the end of the second lap, resulting in a total of 15 special tests completed over the weekend instead of the 18 originally scheduled.
With a stunning double victory – his second following the GP of Wales – Kevin Cristino took over the championship lead in the Junior class. The Italian was unstoppable throughout the Portuguese weekend, posting excellent times in all the special tests aboard his Fantic XE 300 with a fuel-injected Minarelli engine.
It was a tougher round for Axel Semb, who set the fastest Junior time in Friday’s SuperTest but suffered a crash on the first day of racing that affected the outcome of his weekend. With fifth and fourth place finishes in the Junior class and two second places in Junior2, the Swede had to relinquish the lead to his Fantic colleague but will be eager to fight back in the final two EnduroGP rounds.
Albin Norrbin once again showed excellent form, fighting all weekend for the top positions. On Saturday, the Swedish rider aboard the Fantic XEF 310 set strong times that put him in contention for the top 5 and the E2 podium. A costly mistake in the final Cross Test denied him the result he deserved, but he still finished fourth in E2, just shy of the podium, and seventh overall in EnduroGP. On Sunday, Norrbin delivered another strong performance before the race was stopped at the end of the second lap due to a forest fire. An eighth overall and another fourth in E2 confirmed him among the top riders in this fiercely contested class. In the E2 championship standings, Norrbin remains third.
In the E1 class, Jed Etchells finished seventh on both days, while factory-supported Team Specia rider Matteo Pavoni was seventh on Saturday and sixth on Sunday in the E3 class.
In the Youth class, Pietro Scardina collected two more trophies with a second and a third place. Aboard the Fantic XE 125, he posted strong times in both the Extreme Test and the Enduro Test. In the provisional championship standings, Scardina currently sits third, tied on points with second.
The EnduroGP World Championship now moves to Italy, where the sixth round – the highly anticipated home GP for the Fantic Factory Racing Enduro teams and the Italian brand – will take place in Darfo Boario Terme from September 26 to 28.
Kevin Cristino:
“What a weekend here in Portugal! The start wasn’t easy with a few setbacks on the opening lap on Saturday, but then I managed to make up the lost seconds and take the win. On Sunday everything went perfectly – after two consistent laps without mistakes I had built a 20-second lead, before the race was stopped due to a fire on the course. I couldn’t have asked for more, as I also managed to take the lead in both the Junior and J2 standings. I’m really happy with the work done by Team Specia and everyone at Fantic. Now it’s heads down and full focus on the home GP. Thanks to everyone – come and cheer us on along the special tests!”
Albin Norrbin:
“It was a good weekend for me here in Portugal. It started good with a good SuperTest, so I had the confidence going in to Saturday. A good first lap put me in a good position for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, a small crash in the last Cross test cost me a podium and 5th overall but it was definitely good to see that the speed is there! Sunday was a bit more of a struggle, it was difficult to find a good feeling in the dusty and destroyed tests but I managed eight overall and another P4 in my class. Now let’s go for it in Italy!”
