Complete entry list and preview for 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship round one this weekend, April 10-12 in Custonaci, Sicily, the first test in a season which promises to be the most competitive yet.
As riders and teams make their ways to the island of Sicily for this weekend’s opening round of EnduroGP World Championship, anticipation is high.
Questions regarding rider, team and machinery changes are quickly answered by the timing beams and we will quickly learn who’s done their off-season homework.
Approaching the GP of Italy, this off-season has seen a multitude of shakeups from the best enduro riders on the planet, while others have opted to keep to the same programme that’s worked for them in the past.
No changes for Josep Garcia and Zach Pichon but Andrea Verona and Steve Holcombe have changed machinery, the latter joining fellow British rider Bradley Freeman and Nathan Watson in returning from lengthy injuries. And that’s just six of the top brass to start with…
Focus on the top boys
Focusing on the strong entry in the premier EnduroGP category to kick things off, we will see 33 riders from 11 nations roll off the start line in Custonaci. Impressively, of those 33 riders, 13 hold an incredible 45 world titles between them.
Adding to the fact-fest, every EnduroGP world champion crowned since 2017, plus all Junior Enduro world champions crowned since 2022, will race for EnduroGP honours in Sicily and the 2026 season.
Garcia heads stellar EnduroGP class line-up for 2026
As the defending FIM EnduroGP World Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia is one rider who’s notably decided on the latter option ahead of the 2026 season. The Spaniard has proved to be the rider to beat for the last two seasons, showing himself to be completely at home with his KTM team and 250 four-stroke as he aims for a third-consecutive title.
Garcia has company under the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing awning this year with Andrea Verona moving from GASGAS to KTM. Yes, KTM and GASGAS are sister brands, so it might not be seen as a major move for the 2025 EnduroGP vice-champion, but it’s one that will still require adapting to as he changes to the KTM chassis set-up.
2025 saw France’s Zach Pichon winning the season opener and then going on to challenge both Garcia and Verona for EnduroGP honours. It showed that the TM MOTO Boano Factory Team rider is a serious force to be reckoned with. With 2026 marking his second year on TM MOTO, the 2022 FIM Junior Enduro World Champion arrives with a hand injury but stands as serious title threat.
Freeman and Holcombe return to racing
A major talking point heading into round one is the return of two of EnduroGP’s most decorated riders. Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman, and now Sherco Racing Factory-mounted Steve Holcombe are back racing, having both sat out 2025 with knee injuries.
With 10 world titles to his name, Freeman is fired up to add to that tally in 2026 with his trusted Beta 300 two-stroke, he will be looking to get right back into the EnduroGP mix in Sicily. With pre-season races in Italy delivering winning results, the Brit appears on form to do just that.
Holcombe returns to EnduroGP in 2026 with a new look and renewed determination. By joining Sherco Racing Factory, he’s also switched from four-stroke to two-stroke machinery. The 300 two-stroke delivered so much success for the nine-time champ in the past, and Holcombe is keen to showcase that as he also directly lines-up against Freeman in E3 again.
World-class depth of talent present
Outside of the six major players in EnduroGP, the line-up is brimming with talent, podium contenders and riders targeting a season where they ste-up to challenge the pace-setters.
Sweden’s ISDE winner Albin Norrbin (Husqvarna – NSA Motors Racing Team) arrives hot off a win against many of the above top brass in the Italian championship, Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team’s Samuele Bernardini and Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo both found their way onto the EnduroGP podium in 2025, while New Zealand’s Hamish MacDonald also weighs into the 2026 EnduroGP title fight having clinched the Enduro3 championship last year and now moving to the Sherco Racing 300 four-stroke and E2 class.
Not forgetting podium contenders Matteo Cavallo (TM Moto Boano), Antoine Magain (Sherco Racing Factory), Nathan Watson (Beta Factory Racing), Theo Espinasse (Fantic Racing) and Marc Sans – who heads-up Stark Future’s all-new inclusion in the world championship).
Fresh Junior blood in EGP
All three Junior world champions from 2023-2025, Axel Semb (KR69 WET Team), Max Ahlin (Honda Racing RedMoto Enduro Team) and Jed Etchells (MotoFit Racing), plus MGR Kawasaki rider Kyron Bacon and Triumph Factory Racing’s new signing Jeremy Sydow bring the new blood to the senior classes as they challenge the big boys.
The opening round of seven includes all classes which means Enduro Women (preview in our seperate story: Competitive season ahead for Women’s Enduro World Championship).
Cristino leads the charge in Junior Enduro
With 38 riders entered, the Tsubaki FIM Junior Enduro World Championship is full of talent for 2026. Always a difficult class to predict, it will be interesting to see who will be the first to make their mark at round one. NSA Racing Team’s Kevin Cristino will be a rider closely watched for in Custonaci. The young Italian narrowly lost out on winning the category in 2025 and will be fired up to get his championship campaign off to the best possible start.
Newly signed with Triumph Factory Racing, France’s Leo Joyon will be looking to challenge Cristino for the top step of the podium in Sicily. Joyon will have company though, with his fellow countryman, Fantic Factory Racing’s Thibault Giraudon, also focused on fighting for victory. The GP of Italy marks a home race for TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Manuel Verzeroli who could be a rider to favour the dry and rocky terrain of the region.
WP Eric Auge’s Alex Puey, Triumph Italia Racing’s Luca Colorio, Johansson MPE Triumph Racing’s Will Dennett, plus 2025 FIM Youth Enduro World Champion Romain Dagna (Team KTM Pro Racing) are all likely to factor into the top five this weekend.
Strong entry for Youth Enduro class
Featuring the best youth talent in enduro, the Putoline FIM Youth Enduro World Championship will be an exciting watch. As the 2025 vice-champion, Italy’s Pietro Scardina starts as a strong favourite in 2026. Following an off-season move to Costa Ligure Youth TM Boano Race Parts, Scardina is fired up to lead from the word go in Custonaci.
Fourth overall in 2025, France’s Gabin Allemand (Team KTM Pro Racing) will aim to give the Italian a challenge for top honours as will Fantic Factory Racing’s Riccardo Pasquato and WP Eric Auge’s Yago Dominguez.
45km course planned
Friday evening sees things kick-off with the Akrapovic Super Test. Saturday and Sunday’s race days take on a 45-kilometre course into Trapani and on some of the best trails in the region. Four laps are planned (three on Sunday for Women and both days for National class riders) with the Polisport Extreme Test and GMoto Enduro Test before returning to the paddock time control ahead of another loop out for the Exportrade Cross Test, with riders then heading back to the paddock again to complete the lap.
Complete GP of Italy pre-entry list:
2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship Calendar
Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Finland – Vierumäki, Salpausselkä – 22-24 May
Round 4: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 5: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 6: GP of France – Saint-Agrève – 17-19 July
Round 7: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August
2026 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship
Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 4: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 5: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August
More information: www.endurogp.com
Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi + Nicki Martinez