&width=72&height=72&bgcolor=rgba_39_42_44_0&mode=crop "Author: nastynils")
Tough Blow for Holcombe as EnduroGP 2025 Starts with a Setback
What started as a promising weekend for Honda Racing RedMoto's Steve Holcombe quickly turned into a nightmare, as the British ace was forced to retire from a commanding lead on day two of the EnduroGP of Portugal — the opening round of the 2025 EnduroGP World Championship.
Holcombe came out swinging on Saturday, posting blistering times that earned him third overall and second in Enduro2. The Brit looked dialled in, clearly carrying the pace to challenge for the top step of the podium. But it was on day two where he truly found his flow — stamping his authority early by topping all three special tests on lap one and building a solid lead heading into the second loop.
Things took a turn in the second lap. While still running strong and finishing a close second in both the extreme and motocross tests, Holcombe’s charge came to a sudden halt during the enduro test. Navigating a mid-speed rocky section, he dabbed his left foot to regain balance and immediately felt something wrong in his knee. Though he managed to complete the test, it was clear the race was over for him.
The post-race medical checks brought some relief: no major ligament damage was detected in the initial scan. However, Holcombe is set to undergo further evaluation with a knee specialist in Italy this Wednesday to determine the full extent of the injury.
“It’s absolutely gutting,” Holcombe admitted. “Not the way I wanted to kick off the season. I know I had the speed, I was feeling good on the bike, and day two was going perfectly. I wasn’t even pushing that hard when it happened — just a slight slide, foot down, and bam — something didn’t feel right. That’s racing, though. I’ll focus now on recovery and getting back out there as soon as I can.”
For Holcombe and the Honda Racing RedMoto squad, this early blow is a bitter pill to swallow — especially after a strong winter prep. But if one thing’s certain, it’s that the Brit won't be down for long.
