Day one at the Italian Grand Prix saw the 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship deliver fierce and closely contested racing. The dry, dusty and rocky terrain of Custonaci in Sicily put the 123 entered riders through their paces, with only a few seconds separating the majority of podium finishers after more than one hour of timed special test racing.

From winning Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia opened his day one account in Sicily with the quickest time in the first POLISPORT Extreme Test. The Spaniard led TM MOTO Boano Factory Enduro Team’s Zach Pichon by three seconds, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona third, and the Sherco Racing Factory duo of Steve Holcombe and Hamish Macdonald fourth and fifth, respectively. In all, the top 10 riders were separated by just under nine seconds, setting the tone for what would be a fiercely contested day of racing.

On the following GMOTO Enduro Test, Holcombe set the fastest time on his Sherco over teammate Antoine Magain. Back in the mix following a 2025 season curtailed by a serious knee injury, Holcombe was clearly on pace with his new team setting. The EXPOTRADE Cross Test saw Garcia close out lap one with another quickest time to establish a lead of almost eight seconds over Holcombe in second and Verona in third. Despite nursing a broken thumb sustained pre-season, Pichon was fighting hard in fourth, with Magain looking menacing in fifth, just 0.06 seconds behind the TM MOTO rider.

As they ended lap two with Verona fastest on the EXPOTRADE Cross Test, the overall standings tightened up once more. Garcia now held a slender two-second lead over Holcombe, while Magain in third was holding a two-second advantage over Verona in fourth. Fantic Factory Racing’s Theo Espinasse was firmly in the mix too, sitting just 0.45 seconds behind the KTM rider in fifth. The final five special tests would prove crucial.

Holcombe won the penultimate GMOTO Enduro Test and then beat Garcia on the final EXPOTRADE Cross Test to keep the pressure on the KTM rider. But the defending EnduroGP champ responded perfectly by winning the penultimate test of the day to extend his lead out to six seconds with just the final GMOTO Enduro Test remaining. Despite Holcombe setting the fastest time, Garcia had him covered, diminishing any hopes the Brit had of winning first time out with Sherco.

Instead, Garcia took the victory, getting the defence of his EnduroGP crown off to a perfect start. Pleased with his efforts, Holcombe ended his day as runner-up, with Verona finally disposing of Magain in fourth to secure the final step of the podium with third. Finishing just 0.11 seconds behind Magain, Espinasse was fifth and looking rejuvenated with Fantic.

In what proved to be an emphatic return from injury, Holcombe claimed a well-deserved victory in the Enduro3 class. Espinasse was second, with NSA Racing’s Albin Norrbin third.

In the Enduro1 class, Garcia took the victory on day one over Magain in second, with Triumph Italia Racing’s Morgan Lesiardo in third.

Verona rode to a 15-second margin of victory in the Enduro2 category, with Pichon second. Beta Factory Team’s Nathan Watson completed the podium in third.

For complete GP of Italy results: www.endurogp.com/2026-results

2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP 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 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