Eager to make his return to world championship competition, Steve Holcombe approaches the new season with renewed focus following close to a year away from racing. Now fully recovered from the ACL injury that ruled him out of the 2025 campaign, the British rider is ready to get back racing and re-establish himself at the front of the field.

Having signed with Sherco Factory Racing at the start of 2026, Steve now approaches a season that marks an important new chapter in his professional career. Quickly adapting to his new machinery, he has already shown strong pace in pre-season competition, securing podium finishes in the Italian Enduro Championship and building confidence aboard his Sherco 300SE 2T.

With a switch to the Enduro3 category for 2026, Steve faces a fresh challenge in what is expected to be one of the most competitive classes in the championship. Combining his vast experience with the characteristics of the larger-capacity two-stroke, Steve is focused on making a fast and consistent start as he targets success in both Enduro3 and the overall EnduroGP standings.

Arriving in Custonaci ahead of the opening round, Steve has already begun final preparations, walking the special tests and familiarising himself with the terrain. With a full week dedicated to setup, training, and media duties, attention now turns to delivering a strong performance when racing gets underway this evening.

The 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship begins in Custonaci, Sicily, this weekend, April 10-12, before heading Spain and Finland in May. The series continues with back-to-back rounds in Fafe, Portugal in June, followed by Saint-Agrève in France in July. The championship then comes to its close in Rhayader, Wales, for round seven on August 7-9, marking a key home round for Holcombe.

Steve Holcombe: “I’m really excited to get the 2026 season underway here in Italy. The tests are looking dry and rocky, which is typical for this area, and having raced here before, I know what to expect from the hard-pack conditions. It should make for a great opening round. There’s a lot that’s new for me this year with a different class, bike, and team, but everything has come together well during pre-season. I’ve had some solid results in the Italian Enduro Championship and feel like my preparation has built nicely heading into this weekend. It’s been almost exactly a year since I injured my knee at round one last season, so to be back, fully fit, and ready to race again is a great feeling. I’ve had more time to prepare than usual, and I still feel like I’m operating at a high level despite the time away from competition. I’m still learning and adapting to the bike every time I ride, and together with the team we’re making constant improvements to get the setup just right. Of course, there are always some nerves ahead of round one, but once I’m out there, it will feel like normal again. I’m looking forward to seeing where we’re at and getting the season started.”