This was a difficult weekend for the Gas Gas Factory Pons Team riders in the Italian GP, with results that were difficult to accept. Diogo Ventura and Jonathan Barragán, who had been optimistic about their results in this the seventh and next to last GP of the season in the World Championship held in Fabriano, were finally disappointed in the Italian Enduro GP.

Continuing the tendency of the Enduro World Championship this season, in Fabriano, although this event was held in the centre of Italy in mid-July, it rained again… It rained on Friday and then again on Saturday, making the condition of the ground in the specials very difficult for the riders. The tough Enduro Grass Test was especially difficult and where the differences really showed in the Italian GP, a complicated race for the Gas Gas Factory Pons Team.

Despite the fact that Diogo Ventura usually takes really well to these kinds of races under bad conditions, this was the exception that confirmed the rule for the Portuguese rider for Gas Gas. He was suffering from accumulated exhaustion due to a racing calendar full of events for him. In Fabriano, Ventura had his third consecutive weekend of racing after Gordexola and Águeda.

The efforts made by the Portuguese rider to defend his third position in the World Championship table were in vain this Saturday. Ventura didn’t get into his rhythm and couldn’t find those good sensations needed to stay in front on ground that was muddy and slippery. He finished tenth. Unfortunately, the next day, with the ground now dried from the sun, the Gas Gas rider lacked the confidence needed to improve and finished twelfth. These two results were not very satisfying for the young Portuguese rider who is now fifth in the Junior classification of the World Championship. In France, in the last GP of 2016, he will have just one last chance to recover a position and end up on the EJ podium.

Nor was it an easy weekend for Jonathan Barragán, who arrived at the Italian GP after being forced to abandon because a fall in the last race of the World Championship held Gordexola. Recovered, although with a certain lack of confidence, the Gas Gas rider suffered more than he should have done in an Enduro Test which was vital for his times in the top category in Fabriano. Time differences that were impossible recover for the rider from Madrid. And despite all his efforts to make up for lost ground in the Cross Test and the Extreme, after a tough day he finished twelfth on Saturday. Barragánmanaged to get back two places on Sunday and so finished up tenth. This position means that he is now in eighth place in the classification of the maximum engine capacity of the World Championship, E3.

After the Italian GP, the Enduro World Championship starts its holiday period, taking a break from competitions until 10thand 11th September, in Cahors, in the decisive French GP.

Diogo Ventura: “It has been a complicated weekend in Italy and, the truth is, I haven’t been able to go fast at any time, on either of the days. The conditions were difficult, but usually these are the races I like. I couldn’t go fast and I don’t know why. I’ll have a few days off to rest a bit and get to France on top form to try and get back the third place in the classification, which I think is still possible. Now is the time for a rest and then to get back to work and turn around these latest results in the World Championship.”

Jonathan Barragán: “A weekend, which in terms of times, was pretty bad. On Sunday, except on one stage, I was getting good times. But I didn’t get a good first lap. On the other hand, the Cross Test and the Extreme were pretty good. However, on the first day I found it very difficult to adapt to the Enduro Test, which was what really counted for the competition. It was where the differences showed up, and after this it was difficult to make up time. The truth is I’m not very happy with the way I’m riding. I have lost some confidence. Now we only have one race left, in September, so I will take the time to work a bit more with the bike and regain the confidence I need.”

EJ
First day		Second day
1. G. Redondi	56:37.47	1. G. Redondi	1:06.22.24
2. D. Soreca	+1:14.06	2. J. García	+1:24.48
3. J. García	+1:19.80	3. D. Soreca	+1:47.42
10. D. Ventura (Gas Gas)	+3:55.08	12. D. Ventura (Gas Gas)	+5:04.01
E3
Second day		Second day
1. S. Holcombe	56:10.84	1. S. Holcombe	1:05.23.69
2. M. Monni	+29.70	2. J. Aubert	+52.52
3. J. Aubert	+1:22.30	3. M. Monni	+57.51
12. J. Barragán (Gas Gas)	+6:31.81	10. J. Barragán (Gas Gas)	+3:15.09
EJ – Classification	Points
1. G. Redondi	280
2. A. Elowson	194
3. J. García	155
5. D. Ventura (Gas Gas)	144
E3 – Classification	Points
1. S. Holcombe	244
2. J. Aubert	227
3. M. Monni	195
8. J. Barragán (Gas Gas)	103