After six months to wait for us, to prepare for the riders and with many “speculations” of all kinds, the EnduroGP will finally see the day this weekend in the occasion of this first Grand Prix of Agadir in Morocco!

This Grand Prix is the first of eight to be held in the popular resort of Agadir. A spring heat expects the riders that all come of an intensive winter training.

The FIM gave to the Federation Royal Motocyclisme Marocaine (FRMM) but also to theFederation Motocyclisme Suisse (FMS) and Norton Sport Club of Geneva the honor of being the Grand Prix opener of the 2016 season which promises auspiciously. The NSC Genevaand its President Joël UDRY, in collaboration with the Regional Motorcycle Club of Agadirare the main architects of the famous Enduro of Agadir which celebrates its 15 years old this year.

First World round in Africa

The Norton Club of Geneva and the Regional Motorcycle Club of Agadir have drawn a track of 58 km all around Agadir the riders will have to male three times during the two days of racing with one Time Check located in the paddock. Riders therefore will make an eight and will return to the paddock at half lap for refueling. The paddock will be located on the Al-Amal Place in Agadir (downtown). The Enduro Test, near Aourir, is very tricky and technical while the Cross Test will be located next to the stadium of Adrar. The Xtreme Test should provide beautiful images; indeed, it will take place near the Casbah Oufella overlookingAgadir and the ocean. The stars of the EnduroGP and the caravan should be impressed and amazed of it! Finally, the Super Test will be worth; too, its weight in gold for TV images as well as photos… This prologue held on Friday, April 8th will be in the Agadir Beach and will offer a completely different style where sand specialists as the Rookie Nathan WATSON (GB – KTM) should shine! The report say that the terrain will obviously be very dry, dusty and rocky.

Agadir, a city situated on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and capital of the Souss-Mata region is a city open to tourism since the 50’s. Renowned worldwide for its great beach, this city-resort is more than 500 kilometers far from Casablanca and about 250 kilometers from Marrakech… Shaved by an earthquake in the 60s, Agadir now has more than 600 000 inhabitants and mainly lives by and for tourism.

For this first Enduro World round in Africa, it’s in this majestic and exotic place that Morocco Grand Prix will begin this Friday, April 8th from 18:00 with the Super Test on the beach of Agadir.

Who will be the first EnduroGP World Champion?

The Morocco Grand Prix will therefore see the debut of the brand new EnduroGP category, real “queen” category where the riders of the Enduro 1, Enduro 2 and Enduro 3 categories will all fight for the best time! And for this title of Super Champion, the contenders are legions… If Christophe NAMBOTIN (F – KTM), real machine when he is 100% fit, seems to have a little advantage, questions around his injured knee operated at the end of 2015 remains… especially as Mathias BELLINO (F – Husqvarna), 2015 E3 World Champion, seems even more hungry for titles. Alex SALVINI (I – Beta) and Matthew PHILLIPS (AUS – Sherco) will also be very serious candidates for the title of EnduroGP World Champion… Like the E3 rider Johnny AUBERT (F – Beta) or also the 2015 E1 World Champion Eero REMES (SF – TM). Blurring, by cons, remains intact on Ivan CERVANTES (ESP – KTM), plagued by physical problems for two years, the four-time World Champion could be a serious candidate for the EnduroGP and E1 crowns if he finds all its means. Finally, we will also have to count with the usual E3 riders Lorenzo SANTOLINO (E – Sherco), Manuel MONNI (I – TM), Jonathan BARRAGAN (E – Gas Gas) and Luis CORREIA (P – Beta) or on the very hungry E1 riders Anthony BOISSIERE (F – Sherco),Jamie and Danny MCCANNEY (GB) and Mikael PERSSON (S – Yamaha). Do not forget the new faces of the Outsiders Yamaha Factory team Loïc LARRIEU (F) and Cristobal GUERRERO (E) which will seek to shine bright with their new Yamaha 450 WR-F.
Rookies will be numerous this season and could well spring a surprise. While some questions remain on the former MX riders Nathan WATSON and Pascal RAUSCHENECKER (AUS – Husqvarna), American Taylor ROBERT (KTM) is already shining in recent years in the ISDE’s and could well be the surprise of the season like the former MXGP rider Davide GUARNERI (I – Honda).

Who will succeed to the MCCANNEY’s?

Three years… It’s been three years that Giacomo REDONDI (I – Honda) runs after this Junior World title! Helmed by PHILLIPS in 2013 and then by the MCCANNEY brothers in 2014 and 2015, the Italian hopes to finally achieve to win the grail. But the contenders for the World crown are legion: Diogo VENTURA (P – Gas Gas), Oliver NELSON (S – TM), but also the Honda Boys Davide SORECA (I) and Jeremy CARPENTIER (F) or the Catalan Kirian MIRABET (Sherco) are already looking for the Junior title. But the biggest threat could come from the talented Spaniard Josep GARCIA (Husqvarna). Anyway, this Junior category promises to be very tough and renewed!

Finally, in the Youth Cup 125cc, Jack EDMONDSON (GB – KTM) seems best equipped to get the title. Very fast in this pre-season, the son of the legend Paul EDMONDSON will still be wary of the Italian Mirko SPANDRE (KTM) and Frenchies Valerian DEBAUD (Yamaha) and Jean-Baptiste NICOLOT (Yamaha).

This Morocco GP is highly anticipated on both sides of the Mediterranean sea and certainly the Moroccans motorcycle fans will be numerous this weekend to encourage and appreciate the stars of the EnduroGP in Agadir where Moroccan and Swiss Federations plus the NSC Geneva and its Moroccan counterpart, the Regional Motorcycle Club of Agadir, have prepared with great passion the start of the EnduroGP era!

Informations :
– Agadir (Sauss-Mata Region);
– 230 kms from Marrakech;
– Friday, April 8th: Super Test at 18.00
– Saturday and Sunday, April 9th/10th: Start at 9h00 – Finnish around 16h00;
– Organizer: Norton Sport Club de Genève;
– Website: www.endurogp.org and www.enduro-agadir.com;
– Track: 58 kms – 3 laps;
– Free Access;
– Airport: Agadir – Marrakech (230 kms)

EnduroGP Press