On Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April the doors of the 2024 season of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship officially opened on Portuguese soil and the town of Fafe, about 50 km from Porto, was the scene of the inaugural event of the season with a masterfully raced organized for the occasion by the Motoclub Natureza Alternativa.
The Portuguese GP race weekend kicked off on Friday 5 April with the traditional parade through the streets of the city of Fafe followed in the evening by the long-awaited Super Test packed with spectators which officially kicked off the weekend of race and the 2024 EnduroGP season.
The Portuguese GP race weekend kicked off on Friday 5 April with the traditional parade through the streets of the city of Fafe followed in the evening by the long-awaited Super Test packed with spectators which officially kicked off the weekend of race and the 2024 EnduroGP season.
The race route of the first round of the 2024 season, in which our riders battled, included a 4.8 km Cross Test on hard and at times muddy terrain, followed by a 6 km long Enduro Test with hard mixed with stones and an Extreme Test at the end of the lap that is as spectacular as it is treacherous due to its classic rocks and stones typical of Portuguese races for a total length of 1.5 km. Three laps to complete on each day of competition for a total of eighteen special tests during the entire weekend.
World debut for our Alberto, where he was not intimidated by the race or his opponents. On both days he always fought for the top positions. Unfortunately on Saturday the chain of his bike fell in the second extreme test denied him the final podium, ending the day in sixth position. On Sunday he started off strong straight away, then some errors slowed him down, but in the end he recovered and left no room for his rivals, going on to win his first World Championship race. A day that, both for him and for the Team, will be unforgettable.
His two teammates still recovering from injuries were absent.
Deny Philippaerts: “He worked well this winter and I imagined he could do well, but not like this straight away!!. He surprised us all with the coolness with which he faced this race. It’s a shame about Saturday, but he immediately showed character and determination!! Excellent work. Keep going. We hope to recover his two teammates soon too.”
