The EnduroGP of Wales returned to the motorcycle sport calendar for the first time in 15 years last August – and the event was hailed as a resounding success. Twelve months on, event director Adam Rees and the organising team from Rhayader Motor Club are building on their 2024 success by hosting the fourth round of the 2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship this weekend (1-3 August).
We caught up with Adam to get his thoughts on the ACU-supported event that will officially get underway from Cwmythig Hill in Rhayader this Friday night, before taking elite riders across 280 miles of the best enduro terrain Mid-Wales has to offer.
Q: How long does it take to plan an event of this scale?
A: “Honestly, it’s almost a year-long job. But having last year’s successful event under our belts gave us a real head start this time around. We’ve kept the core structure but added a lot more detail that will take this latest Foresightservices EnduroGP of Wales event to the next level. That’s included refining routes, updating test layouts and navigating permissions with Natural Resources Wales. We’ve built a great relationship with the local forester, and that’s made a huge difference. This year we’ve got the permissions we needed and we’re ready to go!”
Q: How big is the EnduroGP Wales organising team?
A: “The majority of the workforce comes from Rhayader Motor Club. We have around 60 volunteers that work on the event from about six months out, and that number rises to around 100 people in the final week. Once the weekend starts, we’ll have around 220 people on duty to ensure the smooth running of a world-class event. It’s a massive undertaking, but there’s a great spirit in the camp.”
Q: What’s changed for the 2025 event?
A: “We’ve basically taken everything we learned last year and built on it. The extreme tests are much more technical, and we’ve extended the enduro test with more terrain and added a lovely bit of grass track to really bring out that Welsh flavour. The cross test has a bit more flow to it as well. Things kick off with the Super Test on Friday night and that’s something that whets the appetite for the next two days of full-on time card enduro racing through Welsh forestry, mountains and moorland.”
Q: What can the riders expect from this year’s course?
A: “It’s absolutely relentless. Each day is three laps of 42 miles, so you’re looking at nearly 280 competitive miles across the entire weekend. That includes three timed special tests per lap – the pressure is high and it never really lets up. It’s hard riding at pace – not just physically but mentally. One mistake and you lose seconds you can’t get back. The top riders thrive on it.”
Q: And last year was a memorable event for the home riders?
A: “It was. We had Steve Holcombe (pictured above) win the Enduro 1 class on Saturday, narrowly beating fellow Brit Brad Freeman by only four seconds, with Josep Garcia only 1.3 seconds further behind in third. The way ‘GP Steve’ – as we now call him – was riding that Saturday morning was like something I'd never experienced before. And with the crowd cheering and the air horns going off, it was just unbelievable. Then we had another dose of excitement on the Sunday as the podium positions switched, this time Josep beating Brad by just 0.15 seconds to record the closest finish in the history of EnduroGP World Championship modern era, with Steve third. I’m hoping we can generate a similar atmosphere for the home riders again this weekend.”
Q: How do you see the race for victory going in 2025?
A: “I think the Spanish, French or Italian contenders are going to be strong this year. From a British perspective, Steve and Brad are both out with injuries in Enduro 1 which is a massive shame for them, and then you’ve got Jamie McCanney and Jed Etchells who are the highest placed home riders in the E1 points. In terms of local interest, we’ve got Alex Walton from Rhayader who’s doing the Enduro 1 world championship this season. It would be great to see him get into the top-ten at his home event!”
Q: How many riders will be taking part this weekend?
A: “There’s 131 riders on the FIM entry list, across ten different categories. Spectators will have the elite riders coming through first, and then the future stars in the youth categories who ride like they’re on rails. This weekend is also the second round of the 2025 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship. Nieve Holmes and Rosie Rowett are the highest-placed Brits in that category after one round in Portugal, so I’d encourage fans to look out for them. Then, once the FIM riders have been through, there’s another 50 or so national riders who will put on a great show as well. It’s a capacity entry, brimming with talent.”
Q: How can spectators secure tickets for EnduroGP Wales?
A: “We have a dedicated ticketing portal, with options for day and weekend tickets, as well as options for camping, caravans and motorhomes. As well as the enduro action on the course, there will also be other attractions including live bike demos, live music, trade stands, a bar and food and drink outlets.”