Drama and Comebacks Highlight Day 1 at Polisport GP of Spain
Morning riders, it’s Paige Turner, your official BlueMoto reporter
What an absolute thriller to kick off the Polisport GP of Spain in Oliana! The gates dropped under grey skies and the Spanish mud came out fighting straight away. That thin, slippery layer from the light rain made every corner and throttle input a real test of nerve.
Brad Freeman launched like a rocket on his Beta! After lap one he was already leading Josep Garcia by a razor-thin 0.35 seconds. On lap two he started building a massive gap, looking completely untouchable as he flew through the GMOTO Enduro Tests. Heading into the final lap with over 30 seconds in hand, it felt like his victory was all but sealed.
Then came the heartbreak! On the third Enduro Test of the last lap, Freeman crashed hard and lost nearly a full minute getting back on track. The gritty British rider fought like a warrior to the finish and still claimed the E3 win, but headed straight to hospital for checks afterwards.
Josep Garcia, the home hero on his Red Bull KTM, refused to let the opportunity slip! After shaking off early mistakes in the tricky opening lap, he stayed patient, stayed smooth, and pounced when it mattered most. Garcia delivered an incredible ride to snatch the overall EnduroGP victory on the final POLISPORT Extreme Test, crossing the line in 1:03:50.36, around 45 seconds ahead. What a performance!
New Zealand’s Hamish Macdonald delivered the ride of the day and stole everyone’s hearts! After a double crash in the first test he could have easily folded, but instead he charged back through the entire pack with pure determination, won the final EXPOTRADE Cross Test, and grabbed a brilliant career-best second overall plus the E2 class win. That’s the fighting spirit we love to see!
Andrea Verona brought the second factory KTM home in third overall despite not feeling 100%. Steve Holcombe was unlucky with a mechanical in the last test and dropped to 31st, while Nathan Watson also went down but battled on to the finish.
In the women’s race, Rachel Gutish powered to victory for RIEJU, with Rosie Rowett and Nieve Holmes completing a strong podium. Romain Dagna celebrated his first-ever Junior victory and Pietro Scardina dominated the Youth class.
Mud, massive crashes, and unbelievable fighting spirit — this is why we love enduro! An epic start to the Spanish round.
Roll on to the next round — more battles, more drama, and more unforgettable moments await. See you trackside!
Paige Turner
