Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe has won this year’s FIM Enduro 2 World Championship on the penultimate day of the season, in Portugal. The victory marks his sixth consecutive title with the Italian manufacturer, as well as their first on four-stroke machinery.
Holding a 23-point lead in the Enduro 2 standings entering the final round of the 2020 FIM Enduro World Championship in Portugal, Steve set his sights on wrapping things up early. Knowing a win would seal the deal, he hit the ground running on his Beta RR Racing 4T 350 and took an early lead in the Enduro 2, and overall, proceedings.
Clearly at home in the conditions, Steve steadily extended his advantage and with two teststogo looked set to not just top theEnduro2r esults but also the EnduroGPclassas well,thanks to a solid 17-second lead.
However,a crash put paid to his hopes of overall victory. Despite his frustration,thank fully Steve went onto finish second overall but importantl yclaimed his sixth Enduro 2 class win of the year, riding into the record books as thenewlycrowned Enduro 2 World Champion.
Steve Holcombe:“I’m just over the moon to have won the Enduro 2 World Championship today. I can’t thankthe team and Beta Motorcycles enough for all their hard work this year. When I talked about switching to the 350 four-stroke they were massively supportive. So, to repay them with this title, which is also a first for them on the four-stroke, is huge and something I’m immensely proud of. Last year was one of the toughest of my career due to illness and so the goal was to get back to winning races and riding at my best. I feel like we’re there now and it showed today. Of course, tomorrow is the big one – going for EnduroGP gold. Although tight, I’m in a good position with a four-point lead and I’m riding well. I’d love to win it, but whatever happens I already feel 2020 has been a hugely productive year with this Enduro 2title.”
