Garcia and Verona put Red Bull KTM on top at EnduroGP opener in Italy

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing could hardly have asked for a better start to the 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Across the opening round in Custonaci, Sicily, Josep Garcia and Andrea Verona combined for overall wins, class victories, and a 1-2 position in the championship standings after a fiercely contested weekend.

With Garcia winning on Saturday and Verona finishing runner-up on Sunday, KTM leaves Italy leading EnduroGP, Enduro1, and Enduro2.

Super Test sets the tone

The weekend started perfectly on Friday night, with Garcia taking victory in the Super Test on his KTM 250 EXC-F. Verona also made an immediate impression in his debut EnduroGP outing for the team, finishing third and putting himself right in the mix from the start.

Garcia strikes first on Saturday

Garcia carried that momentum into day one and delivered a composed, controlled ride to secure the first overall win of the season. The Spaniard topped four tests and stayed inside the top three on four more, building his advantage through consistency as much as outright speed.

He finished 5.92 seconds clear of Steve Holcombe to take the EnduroGP win, while also securing victory in the Enduro1 class.

It was exactly the kind of start Garcia wanted in his title defence.

Verona answers on home soil

Racing at home, Verona also looked strong from the very first lap. The Italian stayed in the fight all day on Saturday, then produced a big final push to secure third overall and the Enduro2 class win.

On Sunday, he stepped it up again.

After settling into a strong rhythm early, Verona steadily built his day and delivered one of the rides of the weekend to finish second overall, just 4.92 seconds behind Brad Freeman. At the same time, he completed a clean sweep of the Enduro2 category, making it two wins from two in class.

Garcia fights back on day two

Sunday was more complicated for Garcia. A few small mistakes and a crash in the cross test, where he twisted his ankle, made life harder than on day one. But the KTM rider regrouped well and fought back strongly over the closing laps.

That final push was enough to secure third overall and, crucially, another Enduro1 victory, giving him a perfect double in class and the overall championship lead leaving Sicily.

Josep Garcia said:
“The first race of the year is done and Saturday went perfectly. Today I was feeling really good, but I had a crash in the cross test where I twisted my ankle a little, and after that it was difficult to get back into my rhythm. Still, I’m happy to finish the day strong, take third overall, and secure another win in Enduro1. Leaving Italy with the overall lead is a great way to start the season.”

Andrea Verona said:
“We’ve completed the first weekend of the EnduroGP season, and it’s been really close from the first test to the last. Today I felt good on the bike and was able to improve compared to yesterday, making fewer mistakes and staying consistent throughout. The gaps were very tight, so I’m happy to come away with the Enduro2 win and second overall, just a few seconds from the victory.”

Round one in Sicily delivered a clear message: KTM arrives in 2026 with both speed and depth. Garcia already looks sharp in the title fight, Verona is immediately at home in orange, and the team heads to Spain with momentum, confidence, and control of the championship.

The next round takes place in Oliana, Spain, from May 1-3.