Fantic Factory Racing Enduro kicked off the 2025 EnduroGP World Championship with strong results at the opening round in Fafe, Portugal. Albin Norrbin secured top 10 finishes overall on both race days. Kevin Cristino was right in the mix for victory in the Junior class, joined on the Junior2 podium by Axel Semb. In the Youth category, Pietro Scardina impressed with a third and a second place.
On April 5th and 6th, the 2025 FIM EnduroGP World Championship kicked off in Portugal, with the town of Fafe – located in the heart of the Braga district – providing a picturesque backdrop for the highly anticipated season opener. It all started on Friday evening with the traditional SuperTest, held under pouring rain, which did not discourage the crowd that turned out in large numbers to witness the best enduro riders in the world.
The event, organized by the Motoclub Natureza Alternativa, featured a technical and selective course totaling 61.6 km, consisting of three special tests repeated three times over the two days of racing. The course included a spectacular and treacherous 1.8 km Extreme Test, featuring the classic granite rocks typical of Portuguese races, followed by a 4.6 km Cross Test on soft and occasionally muddy terrain, and finally a 5 km Enduro Test, also on soft terrain.
It was a positive start to the season for the Fantic Factory Racing Enduro riders, beginning with the remarkable performances of Albin Norrbin, who placed the Fantic XEF 310 inside the overall top 10 on both days. The Swedish rider secured eighth and ninth places in the EnduroGP class, while in E2 he twice finished just off the podium in fourth – showing both speed and consistency. His teammate, Jed Etchells, not quite at his best following a training crash, managed seventh place in E1 on the opening day, improving to sixth the following day and finishing 15th overall.
In the Junior class, Kevin Cristino came very close to the top step of the podium in the season opener. After setting excellent times across all special tests on day one, he was narrowly beaten to first place in the final test. He ended Saturday with second place in both the Junior and Junior2 classes. On Sunday, the Italian once again showed impressive speed aboard the Fantic XE 300 with a fuel-injected Minarelli engine but lost valuable time when his chain came off in a deep rut. Despite this unlucky setback, he finished third in the Junior class and second in Junior2.
Axel Semb also stepped onto the Junior2 podium with two third-place finishes and placed fourth overall in Junior on both days – a commendable result given he was dealing with the flu.
In the Youth class, Pietro Scardina showcased his great skills aboard the Fantic XE 125, finishing third on day one and second on Sunday, while recording the best class times in the second and third Extreme Tests.
With the season opener in the books, the EnduroGP World Championship will move to Oliana, Spain, from May 2nd to 4th for the second round of the 2025 season.
Albin Norrbin:
“A good one! I am happy with the results I achieved here in Portugal – I had a good feeling. The E2 class is really tough, and I earned two fourth places, but it is the overall results that really boost my confidence, with eighth and ninth. Now, we will try to repeat those results in Spain.”
Kevin Cristino:
“Saturday’s outcome was a bit unlucky, as I was leading the Junior class, but in the final special test, my main rival posted a very strong time in the Enduro Test and I ended up second. Sunday didn’t go as planned either, but that’s racing – I will make up for it in Spain. The speed is there.”
Axel Semb:
“Considering the circumstances, we can be happy with this weekend of racing. I was quite sick and had to dig deep on both days, and we brought home some important points in both the Junior and Junior2 classes. I will definitely aim to improve at the Spain GP and secure podiums in the Junior class as well.”
Pietro Scardina:
“It was a good weekend of racing. The Youth class is very competitive, but the season is long, and I will give my best in Spain too. My final result with a third and a second place is a solid start to the season.”
