Freeman
Perfect In
Italy
B
rad Freeman won both days
at the second round of the
FIM EnduroGP World Champion-
ship in Edolo, Italy, June 26-27.
The Beta rider from Great
Britain, Freeman, extended his
points lead over his nearest rival,
TM-mounted Wil Ruprecht of
Australia.
Freeman and Ruprecht had
a great battle all day Saturday.
Ruprecht went into the 12th and
final test leading Freeman by five
seconds, but Freeman fought
for those five seconds back
and then some, winning the test
and the day's overall by just two
seconds.
KTM rider Josep Garcia was
third on the day.
"It's been one of the best
battles I've had in EnduroGP,"
said Freeman. "Wil and myself
were fighting for the top time
almost every test and that really
pushed us on. We were both on
the limit and coming into the final
[Enduro test] I had to give it 100
percent to win. Hopefully tomor-
row is more of the same!"
It was.
Freeman and Ruprecht went
at it again, but this time Freeman
slowly edged away from Rupre-
cht as the day wore on and even-
tually took the win by 27 seconds
over the TM rider.
Third on the day (and eighth
on Saturday) went to seven-time
World Champion Steve Hol-
combe. The Beta rider came into
the weekend with a broken rib
suffered at the previous week's
EnduroGP in Portugal.
"That's been a brutally tough
weekend to be honest," Hol-
combe said. "I was on the back
foot coming here, having found
out I'd broken a rib during my
crash on day one in Portugal last
weekend. I was struggling for
strength and to get comfortable,
and that showed with Saturday's
result. We changed the bike
setup a little for Sunday and I
changed my mindset. I stressed
less about the injury and rode for
enjoyment. Somehow it worked
out well for third in EnduroGP."
But Freeman was firing on all
eight cylinders. "It's been bril-
liant to pick up a double win this
weekend; I can't ask for more
than that!" said Freeman. "After
yesterday's effort I knew another
four laps today would be hard
work. I rode good this morning
and that made the difference for
sure, I was able to control things
from there."
Ruprecht came away with the
Enduro2-class win both days,
while Freeman also topped the
Enduro3 class.
CN
GP of Italy (EnduroGP)
Stage 1:
1. Brad Freeman (Bet)
2. Wil Ruprecht (TM)
3. Josep Garcia (KTM)
4. Andrea Verona (GG)
5. Billy Bolt (Hus)
Stage 2:
1. Brad Freeman (Bet)
2. Wil Ruprecht (TM)
3. Steve Holcombe (Bet)
4. Andrea Verona (GG)
5. Josep Garcia (KTM)
IN
THE
WIND
P52
Beta's Brad
Freeman was a
double winner
at the EnduroGP
round in Italy.
